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THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  ILLINOIS 

LIBRARY 


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BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


McLean  county, 


ILLINOIS. 


11^: 


'A  people  that  take  no  pride  in  the  noble  achie-jetneuts  of  retnotc  ancestors  ■will  never  achieve 
anything  -worthy  to  be  remembered  -xith  pride  by  remote  generations.'''' — Macaulay. 


CHICAGO: 
THE  S.  J.  CLARKE  PUBLISHING  COMPANY. 

1899. 


"Biograpluj  i5  the  only  true  hi.stori)."--[:mci\son. 


PRKFACK. 


^ 


=^7^  HE  greatest  of  English  historians,  Macaulay,  and  one  of  the  most 
brilliant  writers  of  the  present  century,  has  said  :  "The  histcfry  of  a 
country  is  best  told  in  a  record  of  the  lives  of  its  people."  In  con- 
j  formity  with  this  idea,  the  Biographical  Record  has  been  prepared. 
V,  Instead  of  going  to  musty  records,  and  taking  therefrom  dry  statistical 
,;  matter  that  can  be  appreciated  by  but  few,  our  corps  of  writers  have 
gone  to  the  people,  the  men  and  women  who  have,  by  their  enterprise 
and  industry,  brought  this  county  to  a  rank  second  to  none  among 
those  comprising  this  great  and  noble  State,  and  from  their  lips  have  the  story  of  their  life 
struggles.  No  more  interesting  or  instructive  matter  could  be  presented  to  an  intelligent 
public.  In  this  volume  will  be  found  a  record  of  many  whose  lives  are  worthy  the  imitation 
of  coming  generations.  It  tells  how  some,  commencing  life  in  poverty,  by  industry  and 
economy  have  accumulated  wealth.  It  tells  how  others,  with  limited  advantages  for  securing 
an  education,  have  become  learned  men  and  women,  with  an  influence  extending  throughout 
the  length  and  breadth  of  the  land.  It  tells  of  men  who  have  risen  from  the  lower  walks  of 
life  to  eminence  as  statesmen,  and  whose  names  have  become  famous.  It  tells  of  those  in 
every  walk  in  life  who  have  striven  to  succeed,  and  records  how  that  success  has  usuallv 
cro\vned  their  efforts.  It  tells  also  of  many,  very  many,  who,  not  seeking  the  applause  of  the 
world,  have  pursued  the  "  even  tenor  of  their  way,"  content  to  have  it  said  of  them,  as  Christ 
said  of  the  woman  performing  a  deed  of  mercy — "  They  have  done  what  they  could."  It 
tells  how  many,  in  the  pride  and  strength  of  young  manhood,  left  the  plow  and  the  anvil,  the 
lawyer's  office  and  the  counting-room,  left  every  trade  and  profession,  and  at  their  country's 
call  went  forth  valiantly  "  to  do  or  die,"  and  how  through  their  efforts  the  Union  was 
restored  and  peace  once  more  reigned  in  the  land.  In  the  life  of  every  man  and  of  every 
woman  is  a  lesson  that  should  not  be  lost  upon  those  who  follow  after. 

Coming  generations  will  appreciate  this  volume  and  preserve  it  as  a  sacred  treasure,  from 
the  fact  that  it  contains  so  much  that  would  never  find  its  way  into  public  records,  and  which 
would  otherwise  be  inaccessible.  Great  care  has  been  taken  in  the  compilation  of  the  work, 
and  every  opportunity  possible  given  to  those  represented  to  insure  correctness  in  what  has 
been  written  ;  and  the  publishers  flatter  themselves  that  they  give  to  their  readers  a  work  with 
few  errors  of  consequence.  In  addition  to  biographical  sketches,  portraits  of  a  number  of 
representative  citizens  are  given. 

The  faces  of  some,  and  bjographical  sketches  of  many,  will  be  missed  in  this  volume. 
For  this  the  publishers  are  not  to  blame.  Not  having  a  proper  conception  of  the  work,  some 
refused  to  give  the  information  necessary  to  compile  a  sketch,  while  others  were  indifferent. 
Occasionally  some  member  of  the  family  would  oppose  the  enterprise,  and  on  account  of  such 
opposition  the  support  of  the  interested  one  would  be  withheld.  In  a  few  instances  men 
never  could  be  found,  though  repeated  calls  were  made  at  their  residence  or  place  of  business. 


August,  1S90. 


The  S.  T-  Clarke  Publishing  Co. 


91026^ 


I^sDE 


Adams,  James  W 5S1 

Alexander,  George  J 318 

Allen,  Charles 342 

Anderson,  John 521 

Anderson,  William  G 626 

Abrogast,  Enos 740 

Armbruster,  George 510 

Arnold,  George  \V 582 

Arnold,  John  \V 564 

Ashton,  1-  rederick  T 239 

Augustine,  Captain  Henry....  107 

Bach,  William  R 181 

Baker,  Hiram T4 

Baker.  Luman  E 199 

Baker,  R.  H 723 

Baker,  Samuel  W 534 

Baldridge,  H.  Clarence 531 

Ballard,  Dr.  James  L G44 

Banks.  Marks 210 

Barclay,  Jesse  E 155 

Baremore,  John 324 

Barger,  Joseph  B  156 

Barker,  Addison  L 109 

Barnes,  Joshua 667 

Barnura,  Samuel  F 248 

Beaver,  William  H 240 

Bechtel,  James  W 616 

Beck,  John  A 128 

Beck,  Levi 632 

Beich.Paul 130 

Bell,  Henr\-L ;«0 

Bender,  George 365 

Benjamin,  Reuben  M 24 

Bishop,  Charles  E 197 

Bishop,  George 405 

Bishop,  Frank 793 

Bishop,  James 682 

Bliss,  Leonard  H 715 

Blough,  John  M 476 

Blum,  Frederick 383 

Bossingham,  John  H '3i2 

Bowman,  George  W 234 

Bradner,  Mrs.  George 472 

Bradburv,  William  T 794 

Bright,  fohn  H 521 

Brock,  Elias 367 

Brokaw,  Abraham 619 

Brown,  George  W 71 

Buck,  John  t 666 

Buck,  Oliver  H 706 

Buffham,  George 512 

Burgess,  Rev.  "Geogre  H 126 


Burke,  Byron  R 108 

Bush,  Samuel 213 

Butler,  Henry 776 

Butler,  James  P 139 

Buttolph,  William  W 157 

Byers,  Edward 747 

Capen,  Charles  1 483 

Capen,  Henry 150 

Capen,  Luman  W 477 

Capp,  Theophilus  F 431 

Carlisle,  Thomas  C 171 

Carlock,  Winton 542 

Cartmell,  Zachariah  L 393 

Casey,  G.  Lewis 507 

Champion,  George 160 

Chism,  Merritt 557 

Claggott,  Bernard  J 346 

Clark,  Elijah  W 798 

Clark,  Harrison  H 345 

Cline,  William  H 827 

Conger,  Aaron  H 649 

Conklin,  Isaac 661 

Connerv,  Morris 302 

Cook,  John  W 538 

Cooper,  H.  F 791 

Corpe,  Edgar  S 601 

Covey,  Dr.  J.  E 275 

Co.x,  James  H 455 

Creber,  John   727 

Creel,  John  H 829 

Crosby,  Russell  W 739 

Crothers,  Dr.  Eli  K 470 

Crumbaugh,  Daniel  T 366 

Crumbaugh,  James  H.  L 336 

Crumbaugh,  James  T 395 

Crumbaugh,  Leonard  A 348 

Cunningham,  William  E 758 

Daniel,  Joshua  C 416 

Darnall,  JohnM   584 

Darrah,  Delmar  D 114 

Darst,  Isaac 258 

Davis,  Judge  David 9 

Decker,  Philip  J 622 

Denman,  Mathias  E 442 

Depew,  Loren  H 251 

Deutsch,  John 377 

Dillon.  Ellis 231 

Dimmett.  Samuel  H 539 

Doolev,  Charles  W 824 

Dufif,  Andrew  M 254 

Dunlap,  George  N 548 


Dunlap,  John 294 

Dunlap,  Oliver  W 71 

Dunmire,  Daniel 170 

Dunn,  William  A 774 

Dye,  Ross  P 709 

Easterbrook,  Joseph  M 781 

Eckhardt,  Frederick 247 

Edwards,  Frank 344 

Edwards,  Richard 34 

Ehresman.  Joseph 634 

Ela.  George  P 486 

Elder,  Dr.  Horace  W 49 

Erickson.  Alexander  G 545 

Ewing,  Elmer  E 347 

Ewins,  Chester  R 509 

Ewins,  John  A 434 

Famsworth,  Enos  Hale 576 

Ferre,  Lyman 172 

Fifer,  Joseph  W  22 

Fisher,  Dr.  Thompson  D 330 

Flegel,  Robert 311 

Foster,  George  J 457 

Foster,  John  M 45 

Fowler,  William  M 381 

Frank,  Cyrus 636 

Frankeberger,  Francis  M 289 

Freeman.  George  W 527 

Fry.  Simon 552 

Fulton,  Albert 357 

Gaffren,  Otto  W 607 

Gantz,  William  S 620 

Garee,  John 823 

Gastraan,  George  W 440 

Geiger,  John  G 202 

Gerbrick,  Mark 331 

Giese,  Henry  F 604 

Goodheart.  James 320 

Graham.  Robert  O 755 

Gratz,  Peter 286 

Gray,  John  R 191 

Greene,  Lauton 752 

Green,  Milton  A 599 

Gregory,  Byron 253 

Gregorv,  John 287 

Griffith',  Perry  R 532 

Grove,  Augustus 777 

Hagar,  Marshal  J 635 

Hatl.  Rinaldo  M 73 

Hallam,  Dr.  William  L 550 


INDEX. 


Mallowell,  Robert' C 394 

Halsey,  Alexander 480 

Hamilton,  Arthur  C 778 

Hamilton,  C.  A 780 

Hanson,  Dr.  Owen  T 236 

Hanson,  Pleasant  M 338 

Haney,  Rev.' Milton  L ]'24 

Harber,  Benja  liin  K 201 

Harber,  Edgar  V 328 

Harding,  Oliver  S 418 

Harms,  Hiiwert  W 6(>2 

Harness,  Milton 189 

Harris,  Dr.  H.  L 797 

Hartley,  Fred 624 

Harwood,  James  \V 447 

Harwood,  Thomas  K 200 

Hasenwinkle,  William 730 

Hawthorn,  John 65(5 

Hayden,  John   R 479 

Hayes,  John  W 87 

Haynes,  John 90 

Hedge,  Horace  O 059 

Henderson,  John  T 146 

Hendryx,  Lewis  C 362 

Henline,  Milton 263 

Hersey,  Lynn  E 127 

Hester,  John 569 

Hewett,  Edwin  C 64 

Hickey,  Capt.  John 384 

Hilts,  Samuel  R 214 

Hofmann,  Albert  A 299 

Hollis,  Allen  R 387 

Horn,  Dr.  \V.  L 808 

Horr,  Elijah 222 

Hougham,  J.  A 829 

Houser,  Harrison 561 

Howard,  Ansel  D 698 

Howard,  William   H   401 

Howe,  Dr.  Bliss  S 424 

Hubbard,  Dr.  Silas WJ 

Hunter,  William  I) ;«9 

Hurley,  David 745 

Ingram,  Joseph 670 

Irish,  Thomas  D 801 

Jackson,  Henry  L 763 

Jacobs,  Christian.    775 

Jeffries.  John 571 

Johnson,  Francis  A 6.31 

Johnson,  Henry  B 820 

Johnson,  Robert  R 303 

Johnston,  James 7S6 

Jones,  Francis  M 218 

Jones,  Lattie  G 307 

Jones,  William  N 615 

Karr,  Henry  A 488 

Karr,  Philip  A 62 

Kaufman,  Joseph  D 207 

Kelley,  Abram 546 

Kelso,  Dr.  George  B 47 

Kepner,  Jerome  T 560 

Kerbaugh,  Andrew  J 266 

Kerrick,  Nimrod 41 

Kilgore,  Thomas  B 229 

Kinsella,  Edward 368 

Kinsey,  Samuel  B 704 


Kirkpatrick,  Jonathan  H 641 

Kirk  Patrick,  Samuel  C 147 

Koch,  Christian  F 43 

Kraft,  Daniel  W 815 

Kreiger,  Henry .5.59 

Kuhn.  Bert   M 2(i7 

Kuhn,  Jacob  A 271 

Lackland,  Melvin  P 492 

Lain,  William  S 640 

Lake,  Charles  H   2.33 

Landis,  Elias   392 

Langstaff,  Dr.  H.  W 613 

Lawrence,  Alexander  D 699 

Lawrence,  Capt.  Harrison  ....  419 

Leaf,  William 145 

Leech,  Robert  K 216 

Lenney,  John  13 2.52 

Lennon,  John  B 104 

Lewis,  George  H 167 

Ling,  Louis  E 69 

Little,  Dr.  Jehu   120 

Loar,  Dr.  James  J 711 

Loar,  James  L 115 

Loehr,  M  iss  Susan 208 

Longworth,  David  N 679 

Loudon,  Robert 192 

Lucas,  Benjamin  L 684 

McComb,  George  H 467 

McConnell,  John 325 

McCormick,  Marion 688 

McElwain,  Charles  J 515 

McFarland,  Daniel .505 

McFarland,  Dr.  David  H 4.38 

McKay,  Rev.  Stanley  A 98 

McReynolds,  Edward 361 

Macy,  William  H 414 

Maddux,  William 255 

Marker,  George  E 495 

Marsh,  John 7(>5 

Martens,  Charles (■)90 

Martin,  jamesT 422 

Martin,  Willet   L 340 

Matern,  Louis 4.54 

Matheny,  Charles  W 744 

Matthews.  David  .M 761 

Meeth,  Jacob 462 

Melcher,  Asa 137 

Merchant,  Ira .590 

Merritt,  E.  M 79() 

Merwin,  Washington  I _.  436 

Messer,  Isaac 484 

M inter,  Williamson  V 668 

Mitchell,  Isaac  J 149 

Mittan,  Dr.  Frank  J .588 

Moats,  Francis  M 296 

Model,  Alexander 293 

Montgomery,  Rev.  Joseph. . . .   169 

Mooney,  John 245 

Moore,  Asa  H 100 

Morris,  Charles  H 672 

Morrison,  Frank 209 

Moots,  Charles  E 215 

Muhl,  Frederick  C 655 

Myers,  Colostin  D 724 

Myers,  Henry  C 410 

Myers,  Jacob  W 621 


Nafziger,  Albert  N 398 

Nafziger,  Christian  F 412 

Nafziger,  Fred  A 404 

Nagel,  John 343 

Neill,  Capt.  Hugh 653 

Neville,  James  S .587 

Nickerson,  William  D 572 

Noble,  Seth  S 133 

Norris,  John  H 86 

O'Kane,  Daniel  G 751 

Ogden,  Albert 397 

Ogg,  Howard 811 

Olsen,  Peter  E ,547 

Ongley,  Fred  W 469 

Otto,  Daniel  J 51 

Otto,  Daniel  S 1.59 

Otto,  J.  E 807 

Otto,  John 671 

Parke,  Dr.  Charles  R .54 

Parkhurst,  Dr.  Harvey 449 

Parr,  Marion '..  568 

Patterson,  William  H 68 

Patton,  Edward 802 

Paul,   William 707 

Paullin,  Thomas  L 799 

Peasley,  Rev.  Sylvester 182 

Peirce  Charles  M 4.58 

Pendergast,  John 651 

Peterson,  William  A 273 

Phoi-nix,  Fred  S 784 

Pickering,  John  L 602 

Pierson,  Arthur  V 385 

Pierson,  James  S 428 

Pitts,  John  Joseph ,563 

Pitts,  Joseph  A 624 

Place,  Jason  T 606 

Piatt,  Jesse 496 

Plumley,  David  K 301 

Popple,  lohnS 475 

Potts,  Herbert  A 460 

Pray.  .Mrs.'  Emily 309 

Price,  Charles  A 718 

Priest.  George  W 514 

Pumpelly,  Thomas  B 683 

Read,  Gordon  H 498 

Rees,  Sanmel 295 

Reeves,  Henry  G 212 

Reeves,  William 710 

Rhodecap,  Philip  W 522 

Rhodes,  Aaron  P 97 

Rhodes,  John  H.  S 363 

Rhodes,  William  J   3.59 

Richardson,  Matthew 423 

Rigby,  Mrs.  Delia  H 804 

Riggs,  William  H 728 

Rinehart,  Isaac  N 792 

Risser,  John  P .520 

Robb,  Hugh 541 

Robb,   .Matthew 694 

Rockhold,  John 335 

Rodman,  Arthur 20 

Rose,  J.  Nelson 669 

Ross,  George  A 461 

Ross,  William  H.  H 717 

Roth,  Christian 720 


INDEX. 


Rowley,  Edmund  J 313 

Russell,  Cyrenus 825 

Russell,  Roliand  A 5~^ 

Rust,  Lee &S8 

Rutledge,  Leander 427 

Rutledge,  Owen  C 451 

Ryburn,  Edward 406 

Sample,  Alfred 567 

Sanders,  James  T 178 

Schneider,  Mrs.  Catherine....  400 

Schneider,  John  A 50 

Schroeder,  Dr.  Herman 596 

Scogin,  John  X 308 

Scott,  John  L 510 

Scott,  John  \V 702 

Scott,  William 734 

Scrimg-er,  Rev.  George  E 110 

Sellers,  George  M 332 

Shaver,  Morton  V 220 

Sholtey,  Levi  \V 585 

Sholty,  Jacob 85 

Skaggs,  Louis  E 525 

Skinner,  Asa  W 748 

Skinner,  Oliver  R ;.    ..   117 

Smith,  Charles  E 642 

Smith,  James 374 

Smith,  John  A 681 

Smith,  Stephen  M   821 

Smith,  Theodore  S 570 

Snell,  James  T 735 

Spence,  John  H 19 

Spencer,  Jonathan 250 

Spreen,  William  F 88 

Stanger,  David  W 89 

Stansbury,  Mrs.  Eliza 712 

Stapleton,  John 452 


Stauffer,  Tobias  S -674 

Stephens,  Abraham 579 

Stephens,  James  A 637 

Stiles,  John 812 

Stine,  Hugh  D 18 

Stine,  James  M 17 

Stipp,  John  M 813 

Stringtield,  George  A 95 

Stubioleheld,  C.  Wesley 566 

Stubblelield,  David  R 135 

Stubblelield,  Edward 719 

Stubblefield,  George  W 187 

Stubblelield,  Lafayette 292 

Stuckey,  Joseph 226 

Stump,  AlexanderE 665 

Swayne,  Henry  S 140 

Swinehart,  George 686 

Tavenner,  James  W 168 

Thomson,  Charles  E   664 

Thompson,  Joseph  J 154 

Thompson,  William 581 

Tipton,  Thomas  F 816 

Townsend,  Joseph 754 

Trimmer,  Scott 523 

Tuthill,  Dr.  John  A 327 

V'ance,  James 379 

Vance,  John  W 489 

Vance,  Peter  H   465 

A'asev,  Lucius  A 421 

\"aug'han,  Hugh 4.30 

\'incent.  James  M 691 

^'reeland,  John  H 737 

Wahl,  Jacob 491 

Wakefield,  John  E 516 

Wallberg,  Lewis  P 533 


Warlow,  Jonathan  B 269 

W'aters,  Charlton  D 411 

Way  bright,  Adam 276 

Weakley,  Joseph  M 318 

Weeks,  Thomas 625 

Welch,  Alfred  J 238 

Welch,  James  A 618 

Welch,  William 595 

West,  Simeon  H 766 

Wheatley,  George  W'  . . . .' 448 

White,  Albert  K 246 

White,  George  W 742 

White,  Harley  J 652 

White,  Ora  E 85 

White,  Samuel  R 58 

White,  William  R 278 

Whitmer,  Peter 608 

Wiles,  William 18 

Wiley,  William 819 

Wiley,  Rev.  William  R 129 

W'illerton,  Samuel  B  3-56 

Willhite,  Theodore  S 826 

Williams,  Martin 639 

W'ilson  Edward 176 

W'ilson,  Isaac 701 

W' ilson,  Thomas 783 

Wmn,  Henry 803 

Wintz,  Peter 368 

Wolfe,  Augustus  G 265 

Wright,  Dr.  Samuel 225 

Wright.  William  H 603 

Wyckoff,  Jacob 760 

Young;  J.  William 722 

Young  W'illiam 402 

Zeiters,  Elmer  J 119 

Zook,  Adam 314 


OF  THE 
i;mveRSITY  of  laiNOIJ 


DAVID   DAVIS. 


BIOGRAPHICAL. 


JUDGE  DAVID  DAVIS  was  born  on 
the  9th  day  of  March,  1S15,  in  Cecil 
county,  Maryland.  His  family  was  of 
Welsh  origin,  but  had  been  settled  in  that 
county  more  than  a  centurj',  and  had  ac- 
quired in  every  particular  the  distinctive 
features  of  American  nationalit}'.  He  was 
unfortunate  in  the  loss  of  his  father  at  an 
early  age;  but  the  kindness  of  an  uncle  in 
many  ways  atoned  in  some  measure  for  his 
early  privation.  His  father  left  sufficient 
estate,  not  only  to  educate  him  in  classical 
acquirements,  but  enough  to  enable  him  to 
live  beyond  the  apprehension  of  want,  dur- 
ing the  years  of  unproductive  life,  in  the 
early  career  of  manhood.  This  patrimony 
was,  through  the  dishonesty  and  negligence 
of  his  guardian,  lost  to  him.  Having  at- 
tended the  local  schools  of  Maryland,  at  the 
age  of  thirteen  he  was  entered  a  student  at 
Kenyon  College,  Ohio,  from  which  he  grad- 
uated at  the  age  of  seventeen.  Although 
he  had  no  special  talent  for  public  speaking, 
his  taste  and  inclination  directed  his  atten- 
tion to  the  bar  as  the  business  of  life.  As 
has  been  said,  he  had  sufficient  means  to 
enable  him  to  acquire  an  education  and  pro- 
fession. He  was  not  borne  down  by  the 
privations  of  povert3%  nor  was  he  enervated 
by  the  expectation  of  hereditary  riches. 
The  lines  had  fallen  to  him  in  the  golden 
mean,    between    want    and    wealth.      After 


leaving  college,  he  went  to  Lenox,  Massa- 
chusetts, and  read  law  in  the  office  of  Judge 
Henry  W.  Bishop,  then  one  of  the  leading 
lawyers  of  Massachusetts.  After  remaining 
in  the  law  office  of  Judge  Bishop  about  two 
years,  he  attended  the  New  Haven  Law 
School  for  one  year.  With  a  good  classical 
education,  a  course  of  reading  in  the  office 
of  Judge  Bishop,  and  a  term  at  New  Haven, 
he  was  fully  prepared  to  enter  upon  the 
responsible  and  arduous  duties  of  a  practic- 
ing lawyer.  His  residence  in  Ohio,  and 
other  information,  impressed  on  his  mind 
the  magnitude  of  the  resources  of  the  Miss- 
issippi Valley,  especially  the  northwest;  and 
on  being  admitted  to  the  bar  he  emigrated, 
in  the  year  1835,  to  Illinois.  It  has  been 
said,  "  At  the  time  he  sought  his  home  in 
the  west  as  a  very  young  man,  he  traversed 
the  breadth  of  nearly  five  states  then  in 
comparative  infancy,  that  he  might  grow 
with  the  growth,  and  strengthen  with  the 
strength  of  that  commonwealth,  which  has 
so  honored  him  by  its  confidence,  and  whose 
history  his  name  has  enriched  in  the  ex- 
ample of  a  great  character."  He  first 
located  at  Pekin,  but  after  a  short  time,  in 
1836,  he  removed  to  Bloomington,  which 
for  a  period  of  fifty  years  was  his  home. 

In  1838  he  WBS  married  to  Miss  Sarah 
W.  Walker,  daughter  of  Judge  William  P. 
Walker,  of  Lenox,  Massachusetts.      She  wa 


IQ 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


well  worthy  to  be  the  wife  of  Judge  Davis, 
and  shared  with  him  the  privations  of  his 
early  struggles,  and  the  properity  of  his  la- 
ter triumphs,  with  all  the  grace  and  dignity 
that  is  born  of  the  beauty  of  goodness.  The 
Judge,  on  coming  to  the  years  of  responsible 
life,  followed  the  hereditarj-  tendency  of  his 
family  in  politics,  and  became  an  ardent 
Whig.  He  had  a  great  admiration  for  Mr. 
Clay,  which  amounted  to  an  enthusiasm. 
In  1840  he  was  the  Whig  candidate  in  the 
Bloomington  district  for  state  senator,  but 
the  majority  being  largely  against  his  party, 
he  was  defeated  by  Governor  John  Moore, 
then  and  for  many  years  after  one  of  the 
popular  Democrats  of  the  state.,  While  the 
Judge  was  active  in  politics,  he  did  not  per- 
mit his  party  to  interfere  with  his  practice. 
He  was  most  diligent  in  and  devoted  to  his 
profession.  Shortly  after  his  coming  to  the 
bar,  he  was  offered  the  position  of  clerk  of 
the  court,  in  which  office  he  could  make 
four  times  his  income  from  his  practice;  but 
he  declined,  having  no  doubt  the  inspiration 
of  that  hope,  which,  in  the  end  of  his  ca- 
reer, placed  him  among  the  most  distin- 
guished jurists  of  the  United  States.  Dan- 
iel Webster  had  the  same  experience  with  a 
clerkship  in  the  commencement  of  his  ca- 
reer as  a  lawyer,  and  disposed  of  it  in  the 
same  way — much  to  the  disgust  and  disa- 
pointment  of  his  father.  In  1844  Judge 
Davis  was  elected  to  the  lower  house  of 
the  Illinois  legislature,  and  distinguished 
himself  by  the  clearness  and  accuracy  of  his 
views  of  the  law,  and  his  great  capacity  of 
labor  in  the  committee  room.  He  declined 
a  re-nomination.  Although  pronounced  in 
his  political  opinions,  he  was  not  a  politi- 
cian; he  delighted  in  the  practice  of  law, 
and  the  acquirement  of  that  information 
which   would   enable  him   to  discharge  the 


higher  functions  of  judge.  During  the  time 
of  his  practice,  the  bar  of  central  Illinois 
was  very  able,  and  afterwards  became  most 
dirtingiiished.  Among  the  prominent  were 
Mr.  Lincoln,  Judge  Logan,  Judge  Douglas, 
Colonel  Baker — one  of  the  most  brilliant 
orators  of  his  day — Judge  Trumbull,  Major 
Stuart,  Mr.  Browning  and  Colonel  Hardin. 
It  would  be  untrue,  and  therefore  un- 
just to  the  memory  of  Judge  Davis,  to  rank 
him  with  some  of  those  names  as  a  practic- 
ing lawyer.  He  always  disclaimed  the  com- 
parison, and  an  honest  chronicler  should 
disclaim  it  for  him.  The  profession  of  law 
had  to  him  a  wider  range  than  the  ambition 
of  the  barrister.  Nature  had  made  him  a 
judge  by  the  same  mysterious  economy  that 
it  had  made  others  advocates,  and  while  he 
was  not  to  wear  the  glory  of  the  gown,  he 
was  to  be  graced  by  the  beauty  of  the 
ermine.  While  at  the  bar  he  had  a  judicial 
cast  of  mind,  and  his  career  as  a  lawyer 
marks  the  high  mission  and  duty  of  the  truly 
professional  in  the  economy  of  society.  In 
1847  he  was  elected  to  the  constitutional 
convention  which  framed  the  constitution  of 
1848,  and  he  bore  a  very  important  part, 
especially  in  work  providing  for  and  estab- 
lishing the  judicial  department.  During  his 
public  life  as  a  legislator  he  has  been  con- 
spicuous in  his  efforts  to  remodel  and  im- 
prove the  judicial  machinery  of  both  the  state 
and  national  governments.  The  present 
system  of  federal  appellate  jurisdiction  is 
modeled  on  the  plan  proposed  by  him  when 
a  member  of  the  senate  of  the  United 
States,  and  which  passed  that  body  with 
marked  unanimity.  At  the  time  of  the 
adoption  of  the  constitution  of  1848  he  had 
been  at  the  bar  about  twelve  years,  and 
during  that  time  had  most  diligently  given 
his  attention  to  the  practice,  and  had  im- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


pressed  upon  the  mind  of  the  bar  and  the 
people  of  central  Illinois  the  fact  that  he 
was  most  eminently  qualified  for  the  bench. 
At  the  first  election  of  judge,  without  oppo- 
sition he  was  elected  in  a  circuit  composed 
of  fourteen  counties,  embracing  McLean 
and  Sangamon.  At  the  time  he  became 
identified  with  the  bar  of  Illinois,  in  1S36, 
Mr.  Lincoln  was  struggling  in  the  com- 
mencement of  that  career  which  not  only 
made  him  conspicuous  in  the  ranks  of  the 
profession,  but  marked  him  as  one  of  the 
greatest  men  of  history.  Between  him  and 
Judge  Davis,  from  their  first  acquaintance 
to  the  close  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  life,  a  most 
cordial  intimacy  existed.  In  the  exercise  of 
that  unerring  judgment  which  enabled  the 
Judge  to  pass  upon  the  qualities  of  men,  he 
discerned  in  Mr.  Lincoln  intellectual  and 
moral  attributes  of  the  highest  order. 

After  Mr.  Davis  became  judge,  Mr.  Lin- 
coln continued  to  travel  the  circuit,  attend- 
ing court  in  all  counties  in  the  circuit,  con- 
tributing by  his  learning  and  ability  to  the 
administration  of  justice,  and  to  the  social 
enjoyment  of  life  by  a  humor  unsurpassed  in 
the  richness  of  its  merriment.  In  1S48  the 
soil  of  the  circuit  had  not  been  broken  by  the 
survey  of  a  railroad,  and  his  duties  as  judge 
required  him  to  hold  two  sessions  of  the 
court  in  each  year,  in  fourteen  of  the  largest 
counties  of  the  state.  The  clearness  and 
quickness  of  his  intellect,  his  preparatory 
education,  both  literary  and  professional, 
and  his  practice,  had  fully  capacitated  him 
to  discharge  with  promptness  the  various 
and  laborious  duties  of  his  position.  In 
some  of  the  qualities  of  a  judge  he  has  but 
few  superiors  in  the  long  line  of  judicial 
ability  with  which  our  history  as  a  people 
has  been  graced.  The  important  duty  of  a 
judge  is  not  all  performed  in  the  statement 


and  application  of  the  just  principles  of  the 
law;  these  can  be  gathered,  in  a  majority  of 
cases,  from  vast  storehouses  of  jurispru- 
dence, to  which  in  England  and  America, 
the  eminent  judges  and  lawyers  have  con- 
tributed; but  to  ascertain  the  truth,  to  elimi- 
nate error,  and  to  adjust  the  rights  of 
parties,  on  the  facts  as  they  really  exist,  is 
the  exercise  of  a  faculty  that  cannot  be  di- 
rected by  adjudged  cases.  The  preservation 
of  estates  and  the  protection  of  infants 
against  the  incompetency  or  dishonesty  of 
guardians,  and  the  rapacity  of  unscrupulous 
speculators,  marked  one  of  his  traits  as  a 
circuit  judge.  His  faithfulness  in  behalf  of 
the  trust  estate  of  wards  may  have  been 
strengthened  by  his  own  experience,  the 
estate  inherited  from  his  father  harving  been 
squandered  by  an  unscrupulous  and  irrespon- 
sible guardian.  He  had  great  faith  in  the 
ultimate  value  of  Illinois  land,  and  it  re- 
quired a  very  urgent  necessity  to  justify  the 
sale  of  an  infant's  real  estate.  His  admin- 
istration of  the  law  in  the  circuit  court  was 
most  eminently  satisfactory  to  the  people 
and  the  bar.  But  few  appeals  were  taken 
from  his  decisions,  and  his  dispatch  of  the 
public  business  was  a  marvel  of  efficiency 
and  industry.  He  was  a  natural  born  judge, 
and  while  he  was  not  tyrannical,  he  forcibly 
exercised  power  to  accomplish  the  ends  of 
justice.  After  his  election  as  judge  in  1848, 
he  ceased  any  active  agency  in  politics,  but 
continued  his  adhesion  to  the  Whig  party 
until  its  disruption  after  the  disastrous  cam- 
paign of  1852.  Although  anti-slavery  in  his 
thoughts  and  feeling,  he  disliked  the  radical 
tendency  of  the  Abolitionists.  In  the  cam- 
paign of  1858  he  took  a  great  interest,  being 
opposed  to  repeal  of  the  Missouri  compro- 
mise, and  a  devoted  friend  of  Mr.  Lincoln. 
Mr.  Lincoln  and  Judge  Douglas  had  been 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


the  great  champions  of  the  Whig  and  Demo- 
cratic parties,  and  aside  from  Judge  Davis' 
personal  attachment  to  Mr.  Lincoln,  he  was 
interested  in  him  as  the  great  leader  of  the 
opposition  to  the  Democratic  party.  Mr. 
Lincoln,  though  defeated  for  Senator,  laid 
the  foundation  in  1858  for  his  election  to  the 
Presidency.  Upon  his  great  success  in  the 
joint  debate  in  1858,  Judge  Davis,  in  com- 
mon with  the  rest  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  personal 
friends  in  Illinois,  enlarged  the  boundaries 
of  his  ambition,  and  from  that  time  he  was 
an  avowed  candidate  for  the  Presidency. 
In  that  candidacy  Judge  Davis  took  a  lively 
interest,  and  bore  a  most  distinguished  part. 
He  thought  that  the  aspirations  of  his  most 
intimate  friend  for  the  highest  office  in  the 
land  justified  his  participation  in  politics. 
The  National  Convention  of  the  Republicans 
met  in  Chicago  on  the  i6th  day  of  May, 
i860,  and  to  that  convention  he  was  one  of 
the  delegates-at-Iarge.  He  was  so  much 
devoted  to  the  interests  of  Mr.  Lincoln  that 
he  could  not  absent  himself  from  the  con- 
vention, and  besides,  it  was  Mr.  Lincoln's 
personal  desire  that  he  should  attend. 

This  was  the  first  great  convention  held 
by  the  Republican  party,  and  had  before  it 
as  candidates  the  most  distinguished  states- 
men of  that  party  and  of  its  delegates,  the 
ablest  members  and  the  most  accomplished 
politicians.  Judge  Davis,  from  the  com- 
mencement to  the  close,  was  recognized  as 
the  leader  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  forces,  and 
without  his  agency  in  that  convention  it 
may  be  doubted  whether  he  would  have  re- 
ceived the  nomination.  In  his  adhesion  to 
Mr.  Lincoln  he  was  not  actuated  by  his 
personal  friendship,  but  by  an  abiding  faith 
in  the  ability  and  integrity  of  the  man. 
While  he  had  no  apprehension  that  the 
election  of  a  Republican  as  President  would 


involve  the  country  in  war,  he  thought  that 
the  grave  responsibility  that  would  fall  upon 
the  choice  of  that  party  would  require 
ability  of  the  highest  order  and  patriotism 
of  the  most  heroic  mold.  He  took  a  great 
interest  in  the  campaign  which  followed  the 
nomination,  but  did  not  participate  in  it  as 
an  active  politician.  He  continued  to  hold 
the  Circuit  Court  uninterruptedly  until  the 
autumn  of  1862. 

During  the  first  year  of  the  war  the  De- 
partment of  Missouri,  through  the  inefficient 
administration  of  the  quartermaster,  became 
a  chaos  of  confusion,  with  millions  of 
money  contracted  and  claimed,  with  honest 
demands  delayed  and  dishonest  claims 
pressed  for  payment.  The  President,  to 
relieve  the  embarrassment  of  the  situation, 
appointed  a  commission  consisting  of  Judge 
Davis,  General  Holt  and  Mr.  Campbell,  of 
St.  Louis,  to  investigate  and  pass  judgment 
upon  the  rights  of  the  parties.  It  was  an 
immense  work  of  investigation,  and  required 
the  highest  grade  of  talent  to  bring  order 
and  justice  out  of  the  confusion.  The 
three  men  as  a  conibination  had  the  best 
quality  of  ability  for  the  task — Judge  Davis 
and  General  Holt  being  eminent  lawyers, 
and  Mr.  Campbell  being  one  of  the  most 
experienced  merchants  of  St.  Louis.  The 
findings  and  reports  of  that  commission 
have  been  quoted  by  the  highest  courts  of 
the  land,  and  the  result  accomplished  by  it 
is  an  enduring  compliment  to  the  integrity 
and  capacity  of  the  men  who  composed  it. 
During  the  fourteen  years  in  which  Judge 
Davis  presided  in  the  Circuit  Court  of 
Illinois  the  popular  estimate  which  the  bar 
and  the  people  had  made  of  his  ability  to  per- 
form the  duties  was  justified  beyond  the  most 
sanguine  expectations  of  his  friends,  so  that 
when  a  vacancy  occurred  in   the  Supreme 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


13 


Court  of  the  United  States  in  the  Circuit 
including  the  State  of  IlHnois,  he  was  recog- 
nized by  the  bar  as  the  person  to  be  ap- 
pointed to  that  responsible  position.  The 
President  had  an  acquaintance  with  all  the 
prominent  lawyers  of  the  circuit,  and  had 
the  most  intimate  knowledge  of  the  ability 
of  Judge  Davis,  and  into  his  hands,  by  the 
Constitution,  was  committed  the  power  and 
duty  of  selecting  from  those  lawyers  a  fit 
justice  for  the  most  important  court  ever 
instituted  bj'  man.  In  the  quality  of  Wash- 
ington, which  in  the  selection  of  a  public 
officer  arose  superior  to  the  obligation  of 
personal  friendship.  President  Lincoln,  as 
shown  by  his  administration,  was  not  defi- 
cient; and  it  must  be  presumed  that  in  the 
selection  of  Judge  Davis  the  public  had  a 
just  regard  for  the  exigencies  of  the  condi- 
tion of  the  country  which  prompted  his 
selection  as  one  of  the  justices  of  the  United 
States  Supreme  Court.  After  a  service  of 
fourteen  years  on  the  circuit  bench  of 
Illinois  he  was,  in  November,  1862,  trans- 
ferred to  the  higher  jurisdiction  of  the 
national  judiciary.  He  had  not  been  accus- 
tomed to  the  accuracy  of  judicial  thought 
required  in  the  preparation  of  written 
opinions,  but  had  most  thoroughly  investi- 
gated and  studied  the  law  in  all  the  leading 
features  of  its  administratton.  At  the  time 
he  became  a  member  of  the  Supreme  Court 
it  was  composed  of  some  of  the  ablest 
judges  of  its  entire  history.  The  promo- 
tion was  well  calculated  to  embarrass  him 
with  grave  apprehensions  of  his  success,  for 
while  he  was  brave  and  fearless  when  bold- 
ness was  a  virtue,  he  had  a  modest  appre- 
ciation of  his  own  ability.  His  opfnions, 
when  deliberately  formed,  though  firm, 
while  in  the  process  of  development,  were 
susceptible  to  every  legitimate  and  logical 


influence.  At  the  time  he  became  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Supreme  Court  many  questions 
of  importance  were  pending — questions  not 
of  property,  not  of  individual  reputation — 
but  great  questions  of  international  and 
public  law,  questions  of  civil  libertjj,  not  in 
the  interpretation  of  statutes,  but  in  the 
construction  of  the  constitution  of  the 
United  States.  He  was  eminently  conserv- 
ative in  the  tendency  of  his  mind  and  judg- 
ment; and  while  he  did  not  coincide  with 
many  of  the  theories  of  constitutional  con- 
struction in  favor  of  a  strong  government, 
he  believed  in  the  sovereignty  of  the  Federal 
power,  in  the  passage  and  execution  of  such 
laws  as  it  might  determine  were  within  the 
purview  of  the  Constitution,  He  believed 
in  that  theory  of  the  Constitution  which 
recognized  the  Union,  not  as  a  mere  compact 
between  the  States,  but  as  a  government 
formed  upon  the  adoption  of  the  people, 
and  creating  direct  relations  between  itself 
and  the  citizen.  In  the  discharge  of  his 
new  duty  as  a  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court 
he  soon  impressed  his  brethren  of  the  bench 
with  his  superior  judicial  qualifications,  and 
he  wrote  but  few  opinions  until  the  Ameri- 
can bar  was  satisfied  that  the  President 
made  no  mistake  in  his  selection  of  a  judge. 
The  period  of  the  war  was  remarkably 
prolific  in  forcing  upon  the  consideration  ot 
all  the  departments  of  the  Government  new 
issues  of  legal  inquiry.  The  financial  policy 
of  the  Government,  the  belligerent  rights  of 
enemies,  questions  of  personal  liberty,  mil- 
itary commissions,  questions  of  prize — in 
fact  all  the  interests  of  fifty  millions  of  peo- 
ple, both  of  peace  and  war,  were  the  sub- 
ject matter  of  jurisdictions  from  1862  to 
1877.  One  of  the  most  important  cases  of 
the  period  was  assigned  to  him — a  case 
which  excited    great    public    interest    and 


M 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD; 


provoked  much  popular  discussion.  The 
matter  at  issue,  being  a  question  of  indi- 
vidual Hberty,  and  the  power  of  the  Gov- 
ernment in  time  of  war,  made  it  one  of 
the  great  historical  cases,  ranking  in  impor- 
tance with  Marbury  vs.  Madison,  and  the 
Dartmouth  College  case.  It  is  the  case  of 
ex  parte  Milligan,  and  an  examination  of  it 
will  justify  the  resolution  of  the  McLean 
county  bar  "That  we  do  most  especially 
appreciate,  as  fine  specimens  of  judicial 
statement,  his  opinions  which  embrace  a 
discussion  of  the  genius  and  mold  of  the 
.American  government,  and  recognize  those 
opinions  as  worthy  of  a  place  among  the 
great  judicial  interpretations  of  the  Ameri- 
can Constitution."  The  leading  thoughts  of 
the  decision  are:  "  The  Constitution  of  the 
United  States  is  a  law  for  rulers  and  people 
equally  in  war  and  in  peace,  and  covers 
with  the  shield  of  its  protection  all  classes 
of  men,  and  at  all  times,  and  under  all  cir- 
cumstances. The  government,  within  the 
constitution,  has  all  the  powers  granted  to 
it,  which  are  necessary  to  preserve  its  exist- 
ance,  as  has  been  happily  proved  by  the  re- 
sult of  the  great  effort  to  overthrow  it."  It 
will  be  seen  by  an  examination  of  the  re- 
ports containing  his  opinions,  that  he  fear- 
lessly followed  the  dictates  of  an  honest 
judgment,  regardless  of  what  might  be  the 
prejudice  or  passion  of  the  hour,  and  wheth- 
er his  reason  was  on  one  side  or  the  other 
of  the  line  of  popular  clamor,  he  followed 
the  logic  of  his  convictions. 

After  the  close  of  the  war  many  cases 
came  before  the  Supreme  Court  involving 
the  constitutionality  of  the  legal  tender 
acts.  In  the  case  of  Hepburn  vs.  Griswold, 
a  majority  of  the  Court  held  that  "  There 
is  in  the  constitution  no  express  grant  of 
legislative  power  to  make  any   description 


of  credit  currency  a  legal  tender  inpayment 
of  debt."  The  effect  of  this  decision  was  to 
invalidate  by  judicial  judgment  one  of  the 
most  important  acts  of  the  Government  in 
the  prosecution  of  the  war,  and  to  disturb 
the  business  of  the  country,  by  making 
nothing  but  coin  applicable  to  the  payment 
of  debts  contracted  before  the  passage  of 
the  acts  of  Congress  providing  for  the 
issue  of  Treasury  notes.  To  that  de- 
cision Judge  Davis,  with  Judges  Swayne 
and  Miller  dissented.  In  a  short  time, 
after  the  promulgation  of  this  decision, 
other  cases  reached  the  Supreme  Court  in- 
volving the  same  question,  and  in  what  is 
known  as  the  "legal  tender  cases"  the 
Court  reversed  the  decision  of  Hepburn  vs. 
Grisivold,  by  holding,  "  The  acts  of  Con- 
gress known  as  the  Legal  Tender  Acts  are 
constitutional  when  applied  to  contracts 
made  before  their  passage,  and  are  also  ap- 
plicable to  contracts  made  since."  The 
last  decision  was  made  by  a  divided  Court, 
Judge  Davis  holding  with  the  majority  that 
Congress  had  the  power  to  pass  the  legal 
tender  acts  of  1862  and  1863.  Mr.  Choate, 
with  the  wand  of  his  genius,  has  marked 
with  beautiful  accuracy  the  perfect  judge: 
"  He  shall  know  nothing  about  the  parties; 
everything  about  the  case.  He  shall  do 
everything  for  justice;  nothing  for  himself; 
nothing  for  his  patrons;  nothing  for  his  sov- 
ereign. If  on  one  side  is  the  executive 
power  and  the  legislature  and  the  people — 
the  source  of  his  honors,  the  givers  of  his 
daily  bread — and  on  the  other  side  an  indi- 
vidual, nameless  and  odious,  his  eye  is  to 
see  neither  great  nor  small,  attending  only  to 
the  trepidations  of  the  balance."  "  Give," 
says  Mr.  Choate,  ' '  to  the  community  such  a 
Judge  and  I  care  little  who  makes  the  rest 
of  the  constitution,  or  what  party  adminis- 


THE    BIOGR.\PHICAL   RECORD. 


IS 


ters  it.  It  will  be  a  free  government."  To 
this  ideal,  high  though  it  is,  Judge  Davis  at- 
tained. Although  he  had  not  participated 
in  politics  since  the  convention  of  i860,  in 
January,  1872,  the  Labor  Reform  party 
nominated  him  for  President. 

Owing  to  the  dissatisfaction  in  the  Re- 
publican part}'  the  liberal  movement  was 
inaugurated  in  the  early  part  of  1872,  which 
culminated  in  a  convention  in  May;  and  to 
that  convention  his  name  was  submitted  as 
a  candidate.  Illinois  was  divided  between 
Judge  Davis  and  Senator  Trumbull,  which 
destroyed  the  chances  of  both.  The  friends 
of  Judge  Davis  were  largely  in  the  majority, 
but  there  being  no  state  convention  held 
in  Illinois,  the  question  had  to  be  settled  by 
an  equal  division  of  the  delegation.  The 
result  of  the  convention  was  the  nomination 
of  Mr.  Greeley,  and  the  memorable  cam- 
paign of  1872.  In  the  election  of  1876 
in  Illinois  neither  of  the  great  parties  se- 
cured a  majority  of  the  legislature,  and  the 
balance  of  power  was  held  by  the  Inde- 
pendent part,)',  which  nominated  Judge 
Davis  as  its  candidate  for  the  United  States 
Senate.  General  Logan  was  the  nominee 
for  the  Republican  party  and  various  per- 
sons were  supported  by  the  Democracy'. 
After  a  contest  lasting  from  the  first  of  Jan- 
uary until  the  first  of  March,  the  Democ- 
racy united  with  the  Independents  and 
elected  the  Judge  a  Senator  from  the  4th  of 
March,  1877.  The  honor  was  unsolicited  on 
his  part,  and  no  effort  was*  made  b\-  him 
to  influenee  the  choice  of  the  legislature. 
He  did  not  exchange  the  court  for  the 
senate  because  he  preferred  the  dignity 
and  duty  of  the  latter;  but  because  the 
legislature  tendered  him  the  place,  and 
under  all  the  circumstances  he  did  not 
/eel    at    liberty    to    decline.         His    career 


as  judge  commenced  in  1848  and  ended 
in  1877,  making  a  continuous  service  of 
twenty-nine  years  of  judicial  labor.  Upon 
his  retirement  his  brethern  of  the  bench 
left  upon  the  records  of  the  court  an  en- 
during memorial  of  his  many  virtues  as 
shown  by  correspondence.  On  the  5th  of 
March,  1877,  he  addressed  his  brethren  of 
the  court:  "  My  official  connection  with  the 
Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States  closes 
to-day.  Having  passed  all  the  years  of  my 
active  life  at  the  bar  or  on  the  bench,  it  is 
not  without  serious  misgivings  that  I  enter 
upon  a  new  sphere  of  public  service;  but  I 
have  not  felt  at  liberty  to  decline  a  seat  in 
the  Senate,  with  which  I  have  been  honored 
by  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of 
Illinois.  Having  severed  the  relations  which 
have  existed  between  us  for  so  many  years, 
I  beg  leave  to  bear  my  testimony  to  the 
eminent  learning,  ability  and  integrity  which 
have  characterized  your  judicial  labors. 
From  the  organization  of  the  government, 
the  Supreme  Court  has  been  composed  of 
able  and  upright  judges.  In  my  judgment, 
it  is  now  as  worthy  of  the  confidence  of  the 
American  people  as  it  ever  has  been  at  any 
period  of  its  history.  Since  I  was  invited 
to  its  councils  by  President  Lincoln,  six  of 
its  members  have  been  numbered  with  the 
dead.  I  take  great  satisfaction  in  the  re- 
flection that  my  relations  with  them,  and 
all  my  associates,  have  been  uniformly  kind 
and  cordial.  In  offering  you  my  parting 
salutations,  I  beg  you  to  be  assured  of  the 
respect  and  sincere  good  wishes  with  which 
I  remain  your  friend  and  servant."  To 
which  the  Court  by  letter  replied :  ' '  We 
have  received  with  sincere  regret  your  letter 
announcing  that  your  official  connection 
with  us  is  closed.  During  the  fifteen  years 
in  which  you  have  been  a  member  of  this 


i6 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


Court,  questions  of  the  gravest  character 
have  come  before  it  for  adjudication,  and 
you  have  borne  your  full  share  of  the  labor 
and  responsibility  which  their  decision  in- 
volved. We  shall  miss  you  in  the  confer- 
ence room,  your  wise  judgment  and  your 
just  appreciation  of  facts;  in  the  reception 
room,  your  kind  and  courteous  greetings. 
With  the  hope  that  your  life  in  the  future 
may  be  as  useful  as  it  has  been  in  the  past, 
and  that  the  ties  of  personal  friendship 
which  now  bind  us  so  closely  to  you  may 
never  be  broken,  we  subscribe  ourselves  very 
sincerely  your  friends." 

While  he  had  but  little  legislative  expe- 
rience when  he  became  a  member  of  the 
Senate,  he  at  once  took  a  position  among 
the  leaders  of  that  distinguished  body, 
serving  on  the  judiciary  committee  with 
Edmunds,  Conkling,  Thurman,  Garland, 
Carpenter,  and  other  great  lawyers  of  the 
American  Senate.  In  November,  1879,  less 
than  two  years  after  his  election,  Mrs. 
Davis,  who  had  been  in  delicate  health  for 
some  time,  died  at  her  old  home  in  Massa- 
chusetts, leaving  after  her  the  memory  of 
many  acts  of  kindness  in  alleviating  the 
wants  of  the  poor,  both  in  Washington  and 
the  city  in  which  she  lived  for  nearly  half  a 
century.  Judge  Davis  served  as  acting  vice- 
president  for  nearly  two  years,  and  with  but 
little  experience  in  the  technical  knowledge 
of  parliamentary  law  he  decided  every 
question  that  came  before  the  Senate  with- 
out submission,  and  never  was  reversed  by 
the  action  of  the  Senate.  In  the  Senate, 
as  in  every  other  situation,  he  commanded 
the  respect  and  confidence  of  his  associates, 
and  retired  from  that  body  at  the  end  of 
his  term  to  enjoy  the  ease  and  comfort  of 
private  life.  As  a  member  of  the  judiciary 
committee,  he  performed  faithful  service  in 


shaping  the  legislation  of  Congress  during 
the  entire  term  of  his  office. 

In  March,  1883,  upon  the  expiration  of 
his  term  as  senator,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Adeline  Burr,  of  Fayetteville,  North  Caro- 
lina, a  lady  of  many  accomplishments  and 
fitted  in  every  respect  for  the  high  social 
position  which  she  occupied  as  the  wife  of 
Judge  Davis.  After  his  retirement  from  the 
senate,  he  devoted  his  attention  to  private 
business,  which,  on  account  of  his  extensive 
property,  was  large  and  exacting.  As  he 
approached  the  age  of  seventy,  the  vigor  of 
his  constitution  and  the  vivacity  of  his 
spirits  became  much  impaired  by  the  en- 
croachments of  disease,  and  on  the  26th  of 
June,  1 886,  after  an  illness  of  several 
months,  he  passed  the  mysterious  change  of 
death.  At  the  time  of  his  decease,  though 
retired  from  public  life,  men  of  all  creeds 
and  of  all  parties  anxiously  hoped  for  his 
restoration  to  health  and  vigor.  As  a  pub- 
lic man,  he  filled  no  ordinary  space  in  the 
affections  of  the  people,  and  in  the  appre- 
ciation of  personal  friendship  throughout 
the  length  and  breadth  of  a  land  made  bet- 
ter and  happier  by  the  goodness  and  great- 
ness of  his  character.  He  left  surviving  as 
children  Mr.  George  Perrin  Davis  and 
Mrs.  Sarah  D.  Swayne  to  perpetuate  the 
worth  of  a  life  rich  in  the  goodness  of  duty 
performed.  Nature  and  education  had 
stamped  upon  him  every  lineament  of  gen- 
tility. Though  he  was  wealthy,  fortune- 
making  was  not  a  passion  of  his  life.  He 
loved  thrift,  independence  and  possession; 
but  mere  wealth  had  no  allurements  for 
him.  He  served  the  state  as  a  judge  at  a 
nominal  salary,  to  the  great  sacrifice  of  his 
pecuniary  interests,  and  his  whole  life  was 
devoted  to  the  public  service  to  the  detri- 
ment of  his  private  fortune.      His  life  was  a 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


17 


success;  not  accidental,  but  deserved.      He 

approached  the  ladder  of  fortune  and  fame 
and  placed  his  feet  on  every  round  on  which 
he  stood  as  the  result  of  his  own  labor  and 
merit.  If  he  had  opportunity,  he  created 
it;  if  he  had  success,  he  achieved  it;  if  he 
had  victory,  he  won  it.  He  produced  the 
conditions  of  his  own  advancement.  He 
filled  three  score  and  ten  years  with  good- 
ness and  crowned  them  with  greatness. 
He  commanded  the  respect  of  his  fellow- 
citizens  of  all  sections  and  of  all  parties, 
and,  in  the  language  of  Judge  Kelley:  "  He 
is  so  well  known  to  the  country  by  his 
career  as  an  independent  senator  and  a 
learned  and  conscientious  justice  of  the  su- 
preme court  of  the  United  States." 


JAMES  M.  STIXE,  of  Saybrook,  Illinois, 
after  years  of  honest  toil,  is  now  liv- 
ing a  retired  life,  enjoying  the  fruits  of  his 
industry  and  thirft.  He  was  born  in  Mon- 
roe county,  Indiana,  May  15,  1847,  ^nd  in 
his  native  count}'  and  state  he  grew  to  man- 
hood, being  reared  to  farm  life.  His  edu- 
cational advantages  were  fairly  good,  and  he 
received  a  good  common-school  education. 
He  remained  with  his  parents  until  grown, 
in  the  meantime  assisting  in  the  farm  work. 
He  was  married  in  Monroe  county,  Indiana, 
July  16,  1868,  to  Miss  Margdret  Lamen, 
also  a  native  of  Monroe  county.  After  his 
marriage,  he  located  on  a  farm  in  that 
county  land  there  engaged  in  farming  for 
five  years. 

Believing  he  could  better  himself  in  the 
prairie  state,  Mr.  Stine  came  with  his  fam- 
ily to  McLean  county  in  1874,  and  located 
first  in  \\'est  township,  where  he  rented  a 
farm  and  there  remained  three  years.  He 
then     moved     into    Arrowsmith    township. 


rented  land  and  farmed  for  nine  years.     At 

the  expiration  of  that  time  he  moved  into 
Cheney's  Grove  township,  and  purchased  a 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  si.xty  acres.  He 
did  not,  however,  locate  on  that  farm,  but 
rented  it  out,  and  on  another  rented  farm  he 
moved  with  his  family.  Four  years  later  he 
sold  the  farm  he  bought  at  a  nice  advance, 
and  later  bought  a  farm  of  three  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  in  Jasper  county,  Indiana. 
He  did  not  move  to  his  new  purchase,  but 
continued  to  reside  in  McLean  county  and 
still  continued  to  farm.  He  later  sold  his 
Indiana  farm,  but  continued  farming  in  Mc- 
Lean county  until  his  removal  to  Saybrook, 
in  1898.  In  the  meantime  he  bought  some 
nice  lots  and  built  a  good  residence,  in  Say- 
brook. In  1896  he  purchased  a  hardware 
establishment  in  Saybrook,  and  taking  into 
partnership  his  son,  H.  D. ,  he  carried  on 
that  line  of  trade,  the  son  taking  the  active 
business  management.  He  continued  in 
this  line  for  about  two  years  and  then  sold 
his  interest  to  the  son,  the  latter  continuing 
the  business. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stine  are  the  parents  of 
six  children,  H.  D.,  mentioned  above,  being 
the  eldest.  William  R. ,  the  next  born,  is 
engaged  in  the  draying  business  in  Saybrook. 
J.  B.,  Ila  M.,  James  and  Daisy  are  at  home. 

Politically,  Mr.  Stine  is  an  earnest  and 
true  Democrat,  having  supported  the  men 
and  measures  of  that  party  since  casting  his 
first  presidential  vote  for  Horatio  Seymour  in 
1 868.  He  would  never  accept  any  local 
office  save  that  of  school  director.  For  fif- 
teen years  he  served  as  a  member  of  the 
school  board,  the  greater  part  of  the  time 
being  clerk  of  the  district.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Christain  church  of  Saybrook,  of 
which  body  his  wife  is  also  a  member.  So- 
cially, they   are  held  in  high  esteem,   and 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


they  have  many  friends  in  the  eastern  part 
of  the  county,  where  they  are  well  known, 
and  where  they  have  resided  a  quarter  of  a 
century. 


HUGH  D.  STINE,  who  is  engaged  in 
the  hardware  business  in  Saybrook,  is 
one  of  the  most  active  and  enterprising  of 
the  younger  business  men  of  the  county. 
He  is  a  native  of  McLean  county,  and  was 
born  in  West  township,  March  28,  1875. 
He  is  the  son  of  James  M.  and  Margaret 
(Lamen)  Stine,  of  whom  mention  is  made 
elswhere  in  this  work.  He  remained  with 
his  parents  until  he  attained  his  majority. 
His  primary  education  was  obtained  in  the 
district  schools  of  Arrowsmith  and  Cheney's 
Grove  township,  and  was  supplemented 
by  the  high  school  of  Saybrook.  He  then 
entered  the  State  Normal  school  at  Normal, 
which  he  attended  several  terms,  finishing 
his  education  in  that  institution.  He  then 
engaged  in  teaching,  which  profession  he 
followed  about  two  years  and  a  half.  In 
1896,  he  entered  into  partnership  with  his 
father  and  engaged  in  his  present  line  of 
business.  In  the  three  years  which  have 
followed  he  has  built  up  an  excellent  trade. 
His  father  remained  with  him  until  1898, 
since  which  time  he  has  been  alone.  In 
addition  to  a  stock  of  shelf  and  heavy  hard- 
ware, he  handle  in  the  seasons  agricultural 
implements  of  allkinds,  including  repairs  for 
the  various  kinds  of  machines  in  use  by  the 
farmers.  He  has  shown  himself  a  good 
business  man,  and  is  well  deserving  of  the 
trade  which  he  has  secured. 

Religiously,  Mr.  Stine  is  connected  with 
the  Christian  church  of  Saybrook,  and  takes 
quite  an  active  part  in  the  work  of  the 
church.     At  present  he  is  one  of  the  trustees 


of  the  church.  Fraternally  he  is  a  member 
of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  has  passed 
through  all  the  chairs  of  the  lodge  in  Say- 
brook, and  is  now  past  chancellor.  He  is 
also  a  member  of  Saybrook  Lodge,  No.  460, 
I.  O.  O.  F.  As  a  stockholder  in  the  Fair 
Association  of  Saybrook,  he  takes  an 
active  interest  in  it,  and  gives  of  his  time 
and  means  to  make  it  a  success.  In  every- 
thing of  a  public  nature  for  the  best  inter- 
est of  his  adopted  city  he  shows  his  public 
spirit,  and  is  regarded  by  the  people  of  the 
city  as  one  of  its  most  enterprising  men. 
Politically,  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  is  now 
serving  as  one  of  the  aldermen  of  the  city. 


WILLIAM  WILES.  In  this  enlight- 
ened age,  when  men  of  energy,  in- 
dustry, and  merit  are  rapidly  pushing  their 
way  to  the  front,  those  who  by  their  indi- 
vidual efforts  have  won  fame  and  fortune, 
may  promptly  claim  recognition.  Years 
ago  when  the  west  was  entering  upon  an 
era  of  growth  and  development,  and 
Illinois  was  laying  its  foundation  for  a 
future  prosperity,  there  came  hither  from 
all  parts  of  Europe  men  of  sturdy  independ- 
ence, and  with  determination  to  succeed, 
that  justly  entitles  them  to  representation 
in  the  history  of  the  great  west.  Among 
this  class  is  numbered  Mr.  Wiles,  who  after 
an  active  and  useful  life  is  now  enjoying  a 
well-earned  retirement  from  labors  in  his 
pleasant  home  in  Chenoa.  He  was  born  in 
Long  Sutton,  Lincolnshire,  England,  on  the 
24th  of  May,  1820,  and  is  a  son  of  William 
and  Sarah  (Sanling)  Wiles,  whose  home  was 
in  England,  and  after  years  of  toil  and  a 
life  of  fruitfulness  were  laid  to  rest  beneath 
the  soil  they  loved  best.  William  was 
reared  in   England,    and   at  the  age  of  ten 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


19 


years,  alter  his  father's  death,  commenced 
the  struggle  for  a  hvelihood.  From  the 
commencement  of  his  career  until  his  re- 
tirement in  1883,  Mr.  Wiles  has  followed 
agricultural  pursuits,  perfecting  himself  in 
all  branches,  and  the  present  thrifty  condi- 
tion of  his  farm  in  Yates  township,  recently 
given  over  to  the  charge  of  his  son,  speaks 
for  itself  of  his  understanding  and  good 
management.  For  the  first  two  years  of 
his  working  life  he  received  the  meagre  sum 
of  eight  cents  per  day,  and  the  two  years 
following,  twelve  cents.  During  his  four- 
teenth and  fifteenth  years  he  received  sixteen 
cents  per  day,  and  throughout  all  these 
years  furnished  his  own  board.  Mr.  Wiles 
then  entered  the  employ  of  a  farmer  from 
whom  he  received  twelve  dollars  and  fifty 
cents  per  year,  and  with  whom  he  remained 
for  thirteen  years,  afterward  working  for 
various  other  farmers  until  his  twenty-sev- 
enth year.  His  experiences,  though  hard, 
were  not  without  their  benefits.  The 
thorough  understanding  and  experienced  e- 
rived  from  the  man)'  years  of  hard  labor, 
enabled  him  to  fill  the  responsible  position 
of  overseer  of  a  large  farm,  extending  over 
many  acres,  and  upon  which  he  remained 
for  seven  years. 

On  the  1 6th  of  May,  1847,  Mr-  Wiles 
married  Frances  Ann  Frank,  an  English 
woman.  Seven  children  have  been  born  to 
them,  namely:  Eliza,  deceased;  George, 
Sarah,  William,  John,  Florence,  deceased; 
and  Edward,  also  deceased..  The  four  for- 
mer were  born  before  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wiles 
left  England.  In  1857  the  family  emi- 
grated to  America,  locating  in  Eureka,  Illi- 
nois, where  the\"  resided  for  seven  years, 
and  then  came  to  Yates  township,  where 
Mr.  Wiles  had  purchased  a  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  twent}'  acres,  and  where  he  put 


into  practice  all  the  modern  and  scientific 
methods  known  to  the  agricultural  world  at 
that  time,  but  giving  the  greater  part  of  his 
attention  to  the  raising  of  hogs.  In  1883 
he  placed  the  management  of  the  farm  in 
the  hands  of  his  son  Edward,  and  removed 
to  Chenoa,  where  he  now  resides  in  his 
cheerful  and  comfortable  home,  enjoying 
the  fruits  of  his  former  active  life.  In  the 
quiet  evening  of  life,  shadows  ofttimes  come 
to  darken  our  horizon.  On  the  2d  of  Octo- 
ber, 1897,  Mr.  Wiles  experienced  the  sad 
loss  of  his  wife,  who  died  in  her  seventy- 
fifth  year.  Our  subject  gives  his  support 
to  the  Democratic  party,  and  while  not 
aspiring  to  public  office,  his  fellow-citizens 
have  called  upon  him  to  serve  as  road  com- 
missioner, which  he  has  done  for  three  terms, 
giving  due  satisfaction.  He  is  a  self-made 
man  in  every  respect;  his  life  has  been 
long,  eventful  and  useful,  and  in  his  declin- 
ing years  he  has  the  love  and  respect  of  all 
who  know  him.  He  is  not  a  member  of 
any  religious  bodj',  but  he  is  a  true  soldier 
of  the  cross,  who  upholds  and  believes  in 
the  principles  of  truth  as  taught  by  the 
Savior  of  men. 


JOHN  H.  SPENCE,  an  enterprising  and 
successful  farmer  residing  on  section  21, 
Cheney's  Grove,  McLean  county,  was  born 
in  Xenia,  Greene  county,  Ohio,  August  19, 
1850,  a  son  of  John  A.  Spence,  a  portrait 
painter  and  artist  of  considerable  ability. 
The  father  was  born  in  St.  Louis,  Mis- 
souri, of  which  place  his  father,  Henry 
Spence,  was  an  early  settler  and  business 
man.  In  Xenia,  Ohio,  John  A.  Spence 
married  Miss  Maria  Horn,  a  native  of  that 
city  and  a  daughter  of  John  Horn,  who  was 
born  in    Germany   and    was   a    pioneer    of 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


Ohio.  For  some  years  after  their  marriage 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Spence  continued  to  reside  in 
Xenia  and  then  removed  to  Illinois,  locat- 
ing in  Stanton,  where  the  father  died  in 
1858.  The  mother  is  still  living,  a  hale 
and  hearty  old  lady  of  about  seventy  years, 
and  finds  a  pleasant  home  with  our  subject. 
In  their  family  were  six  children,  five  of 
whom  are  still  living,  namely:  Sarah,  now 
the  widow  of  Elijah  Stephens,  and  a  resi- 
dent of  Denver,  Colorado;  J.  H.,  our  sub- 
ject; Mary,  wife  of  David  Shelbrick,  of 
Columbus,  Ohio;  Julia,  wife  of  John  Saylor, 
of  Saybrook,  Illinois;  and  Catherine  Card, 
a  resident  of  McLean.  Anna  died  in  child- 
hood at  Heyworth,  this  county. 

When  a  lad  of  ten  years,  John  H.  Spence 
came  with  his  mother  to  Heyworth,  and  in 
this  county  he  grew  to  manhood,  his  edu- 
cation being  mostly  acquired  in  the  public 
schools  of  Heyworth.  As  his  father  was 
dead,  he  lived  upon  a  farm  with  his  uncle, 
Robert  Mcllvain,  an  early  settler  of  Mc- 
Lean county,  and  he  early  acquired  an  e.\- 
cellent  knowledge  of  agricultural  pursuits. 
On  starting  out  in  life  for  himself,  he  rented 
and  operated  some  of  Kerrick's  land  in 
Funk's  Grove  township,  and  later  farmed 
on  the  Sherwood  land  in  Anchor  township 
for  four  years.  In  1883  he  purchased  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  near  Gibson  City, 
in  Ford  county,  and  to  the  cultivation  and 
improvement  of  that  place  he  devoted  his 
time  and  attention  for  seven  years.  He 
then  sold  out  and  returned  to  McLean 
county,  buying  a  fairly  well  improved  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  on  section 
21,  Cheney's  Grove  township,  where  he  now 
resides.  He  has  since  added  to  this  a 
twenty-acre  tract,  and  now  has  a  valuable 
and  fertile  farm  of  one  hundred  and  forty 
acres,    which  he   has  placed  under  a    high 


state  of  cultivation.  It  is  divided  into  fields 
of  convenient  size  by  well-kept  fences,  and 
he  has  built  a  good  barn  and  cribs,  set  out 
fruit  and  shade  trees  and  made  many  per- 
manent improvements  on  the  place,  so  that 
it  is  now  one  of  the  most  desirable  of  its 
size  in  the  locality. 

Politically,  Mr.  Spence  is  identified  with 
the  Prohibition  party,  but  formerly  was  a 
Republican.  He  and  his  mother  hold  mem- 
bership in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
in  Saybrook,  and  have  the  respect  and  es- 
teem of  all  who  know  them.  He  started 
out  in  life  for  himself  in  limited  circum- 
stances, but  by  hard  labor,  close  applica- 
tion, untiring  perseverance  and  good  man- 
agement he  has  become  quite  well-to-do, 
and  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  success- 
ful as  well  as  one  of  the  most  reliable  farm- 
ers of  his  community. 


ARTHUR  RODMAN,  secretary  and  man- 
ager of  the  Bloomington  Store  Fixture 
Company,  is  a  well-known  and  successful 
business  man  of  bloomington.  He  is  a 
native  of  McLean  county,  born  in  Old  Town 
township  August  17,  1865,  and  is  a  son  of 
Francis  A.  and  Angelina  (Matthews)  Rod- 
man, who  were  among  the  early  settlers  of 
the  county.  The  Rodman  family  trace 
their  ancestry  back  to  John  Rodman,  a 
Quaker,  who  was  expelled  from  England  on 
account  of  his  extreme  democratic  views, 
and  who  located  on  the  island  of  Barbados, 
where  he  became  a  large  sugar  planter, 
owning  the  entire  island.  Some  of  his  chil- 
dren later  settled  in  New  England,  and  the 
family  have  since  been  prominently  identi- 
fied with  the  history  of  this  country,  some 
occupying  high  stations,  furnishing  to  the 
country    eminent    politicians,    members    of 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


congress  and  of  the  legislature,  ministers 
of  the  gospel,  lawyers  and  military  men. 
During  the  Revolutionary  war  representa- 
tives of  the  family  took  a  prominent  part  in 
the  struggle  on  the  American  side.  One  of 
the  family  is  the  celebrated  Captain  Rod- 
man, inventor  of  the  Rodman  gun. 

Scammon  Rodman,  the  grandfather  of 
our  subject,  was  born  in  Berks  county, 
Pennsylvania,  about  1811,  and  from  there 
removed  to  Ohio,  where  he  became  an  ex- 
tensive farmer  and  stock  raiser.  He  there 
married  Eliza  Wolf,  by  whom  he  had  ten 
children.  He  became  quite  prominent  in 
Ohio,  but  with  the  thought  that  he  could 
better  himself  and  give  his  children  better 
opportunities  for  advancement,  he  came  to 
McLean  county  in  1S53  and  located  in  Old 
Town  township,  where  he  purchased  a  large 
tract  of  land,  and  again  engaged  in  general 
farming  and  stock  raising.  He  became  very 
well-to-do,  and  was  quite  prominent  in  local 
and  state  politics,  serving  his  township  as 
supervisor  and  in  other  positions.  He  was 
first  a  Whig,  and  on  the  death  of  that  party 
became  a  stanch  Republican.  He  died  in 
Old  Town  township  in  1895.  His  wife 
preceded  him  some  fifteen  years. 

Francis  A.  Rodman  was  born  in  Zanes- 
ville,  Ohio,  June  20,  1837,  and  there  spent 
his  boyhood  and  received  his  education  in 
the  public  schools.  He  came  with  the  fam- 
ily to  this  county  in  1853,  and  devoted  him- 
self to  agricultural  pursuits.  He  yet  re- 
mains an  honored  citizen  of  the  township, 
and  is  well  known  and  universally  respected. 
He  was  married  in  Old  Town  township  to 
Angeline  Matthews.  Mrs.  Rodman  died  in 
March,  1870,  leaving  four  sons.  Henry  H. 
residing  near  Bloomington.  Samuel,  now 
deceased.  Arthur,  our  subject,  is  next  in 
order    of    birth.      Bert,    a  twin    brother  of 


Arthur,  is  now  deceased.  The  parents  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Protestant 
church,  and  in  politics  the  father  is  a  Re- 
publican. 

Arthur  Rodman  was  reared  on  his  fa- 
ther's farm,  and  was  educated  in  Old  Town, 
receiving  a  good  common-school  education. 
He  was  enabled  to  pass  a  successful  exami- 
nation for  a  teacher's  certificate,  and  for 
five  successive  years  taught  the  home  school. 
By  a  coincidence  he  was  brought  into  the 
manufacturing  business;  having  invented  a 
number  of  convenient  devices  in  the  line  of 
store  fixtures,  he  engaged  in  their  manufac- 
ture. The  demand  for  them  was  much 
greater  than  was  expected,  and  in  order  to 
increase  the  facilities  for  their  manufacture 
in  1893  he  organized  the  Bloomington 
Store  Fixture  Company,  with  a  capital  stock 
of  twenty  thousand  dollars,  and  of  which  S. 
R.  White  is  president..  By  the  company  he 
was  made  secretary  and  general  manager,  a 
position  that  he  still  holds.  The  company 
occupies  much  the  larger  part  of  the  White 
building,  76x112  feet,  using  four  floors  and 
the  basement.  The  factory  is  supplied  with 
all  modern  and  up-to-date  machinery,  and 
manufacture  a  superior  line  of  bank  furni- 
ture and  store  fixtures,  and  having  a  trade 
that  extends  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific, 
and  from  the  gulf  to  the  Dominion  of 
Canada. 

Mr  Rodman  has  had  the  sole  responsi- 
bility and  management  of  the  company  since 
its  inception,  and  has  made  of  it  a  fine 
success.  Employment  is  given  to  about 
fift}'  skilled  workmen  in  making  the  furni- 
ture, which  is  the  finest  manufactured  in 
the  country,  and  is  now  one  of  the  noted  in- 
dustries of  the  city.  Mr.  Rodman  has  made 
all  the  designs  and  drawings  for  the  work, 
and  while  he  had  no  advantages  in  the  way 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL.   RECORD. 


of  instruction  in  this  line,  he  is  an  excellent 
designer,  as  is  shown  by  his  work  and 
the  demand  for  the  goods.  One  of  the 
secretB  of  his  success  is  that  his  designs  are 
all  original.  He  devotes  his  whole  time  to 
his  work  and  has  traveled  all  over  the 
country  in  the  interest  of  the  business. 

On  the  25th  of  June,  1896,  Mr.  Rodman 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  May 
Leaton,  of  Bloomington,  daughter  of  J. 
H.  Leaton,  who  was  clerk  of  the  circuit 
court  for  twelve  consecutive  years.  She  is 
a  highly  educated  woman,  a  graduate  of  the 
State  Normal,  in  the  class  of  1894.  She  is 
possessed  of  artistic  ability  of  a  high  order 
and  is  a  good  painter  in  water  colors,  and 
her  pen  sketches  are  fine.  The  walls  of 
their  beautiful  home  are  decorated  with 
specimens  of  her  artistic  work.  Their  fine 
residence  on  East  Graham  street  was  built 
from  designs  furnished  by  Mr.  Rodman,  and 
is  constructed  of  finely  selected  woods,  be- 
ing very  attractive  to  the  eye. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  :Rodman  are  members  of 
the  First  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of 
Bloomington.  Fraternally  he  is  a  member 
of  Bloomington  Lodge,  No.  43,  A.  F.  &  A. 
M. ;  Remembrance  Lodge,  No.  TJ,  I.  O.  O. 
F.;  Jesse  Fell  Lodge,  No.  164,  K.  P.  He  is 
a  representative  of  the  younger  business 
men  of  Bloomington,  and  is  deserving  of 
the  respect  in  which  he  is  held. 


HON.  JOSEPH  W.  FIFER,  LL.  D., 
stands  pre-eminent,  not  alone  among 
the  distinguished  men  of  McLean  county, 
but  of  the  state  and  nation  as  well.  He  is 
a  man  of  the  people,  standing  in  close  touch 
with  them,  and  having  that  confidence  in 
the  common  people  that  distinguished  our 
first  martyr    president,    Abraham    Lincoln. 


Like  the  latter,  he  boasts  of  no  distin- 
guished birth,  but  "blood  will  tell,"  and  if 
one  has  within  him  the  making  of  a  man, 
time  will  develop  any  talent  that  he  may 
possess.  The  truth  of  this  statement  is 
clearly  shown  in  the  life  of  "  Private  Joe  " 
Fifer,  who  has  held  the  highest  office  with- 
in the  gift  of  the  people  of  the  state  of 
Illinois,  an  office  which  he  filled  with  an 
ability  second  to  none  who  were  ever  called 
upon  to  occupy  the  exalted  position. 

Joseph  W.  Fifer  was  born  in  Staunton, 
Virginia  in  1844,  and  with  his  parents,  who 
were  natives  of  the  same  state,  emigrated 
to  McLean  county  in  1857,  locating  in  Dan- 
vers  township,  where  the  elder  Fifer  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  connection  with  his 
trade  of  brick   laying. 

Trained  to  be  loyal  and  true  to  his  coun- 
try, when  the  safety  of  the  government  was 
imperilled  by  those  who  would  sever  it  in 
twain,  with  his  brother  George,  he  walked 
to  Bloomington,  a  distance  of  fifteen  miles, 
and  enlisted  as  a  member  of  Company  — , 
Thirty-third  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry. 
George,  being  the  plder,  was  commissioned 
first  lieutenant,  while  Joseph  entered  the 
ranks  and  was  "  only  a  private."  As  such 
he  served  three  full  years,  his  career  being 
indeed  an  honorable  one.  The  Thirty-third 
regiment  experienced  hard  service,  making 
a  record  equal  to  any  in  the  service.  Just 
after  the  siege  and  fall  of  Vicksburg,  in 
which  the  regiment  took  a  prominent  and 
honorable  part,  the  Thirteenth  Army  Corps, 
to  which  it  belonged,  turned  fiercely  upon 
General  Johnston,  who  had  during  the  siege 
been  threatening  Grant's  rear.  On  July  13, 
1863,  at  Jackson,  Mississippi,  Sherman's 
force  assaulted  the  intrenchment  of  John- 
ston, at  which  time  Mr.  Fifer,  the  youthful 
private,    fell    in   front   of    a    rebel    abattis, 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


23 


pierced  through  the  body  by  a  minie  ball. 
His  comrades,  who  saw  him  fall,  thought  he 
was  surely  killed.  The  weather  was  torrid 
in  the  extreme,  and  the  surgeon.  Rev.  Dr. 
Rex,  told  Lieutenant  Fifer  that  unless  ice 
could  be  procured  his  brother  Joseph  must 
die.  It  was  fifty  miles  to  Vicksburg,  the 
nearest  place  where  ice  could  be  had, 
and  the  country  was  hostile,  wild  and  war- 
torn.  Johnston  B.  Lott,  a  comrade,  who 
touched  elbows  with  Joseph  in  the  ranks, 
bravely  volunteered  to  go  with  an  ambu- 
lance for  ice.  His  mission  succeeded,  ice 
was  procured,  and  Joseph's  life  was  saved. 
As  soon  as  the  nature  of  the  wound  would 
admit,  he  set  off,  mangled  and  almost 
dying  to  seek  health  once  more  under  his 
father's  lowly  roof,  up  in  "  God's  coun- 
try." His  recovery  from  his  terrible  wound 
was,  perhaps,  more  complete  than  was  ever 
known  from  one  of  like  severity.  For  this 
result  he  has  largely  to  thank  his  rugged 
constitution,  his  temperate  habits,  and  his 
early  inurement  to  labor  and  hardships. 
Bad  as  he  was  wounded,  he  did  not  ask  or 
receive  discharge  from  service  because  of 
disability.  His  brother  George  was  killed 
in  the  engagement  before  Fort  Esperanza, 
Texas,  a  short  time  before  the  close  of  hos- 
tilities. 

On  receiving  his  discharge,  Mr.  Fifer 
returned  to  his  old  home,  but  it  was  not  to 
there  long  remain.  He  determined,  in 
some  way,  to  secure  an  education.  While 
he  believed  that  all  labor  was  honorable,  he 
yet  had  an  ambition  to  make  for  himself  a 
name,  to  be  something  more  than  a  com- 
mon day  laborer.  His  means  were  limited, 
but  his  object  must  be  attained,  and  so  he 
entered  the  Illinois  Wesleyan  University 
from  which  he  graduated  in  June,  1868. 

After  being   admitted  to  the  bar,  it  was 


not  long  before  the  ability  of  Mr.  Fifer  was 
recognized  by  his  fellow-citizens,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1871  he  was  elected  corporation 
counsel  for  the  city  of  Bloomington.  The 
city  then  had  more  important  legislation 
than  usual,  the  new  state  constitution  hav- 
ing made  important  changes  in  the  law  of 
special  assessments.  Inexperienced  as  he 
was,  Mr.  Fifer  grappled  manfully  and  suc- 
cessfully with  these  new  questions.  In 
1872,  he  was  by  almost  unanimous  consent 
of  the  Republicans  of  the  county,  chosen 
their  candidate  for  state's  attorney  to  which 
office  he  was  elected,  and  by  re-election 
served  eight  years. 

In  1880,  Mr.  Fifer  was  elected  to  the 
state  senate,  and  it  is  only  necessary  to  say 
that  he  took  a  position  in  that  body  of 
equal  prominence  with  that  which  he  held 
at  the  bar.  He  acquired  a  state  acquaint- 
ance, and  made  friends  of  all  he  met.  A 
reputation  for  learning  and  ability  had  pre- 
ceded him,  and  he  was  awarded  places  upon 
some  of  the  most  important  committees  of 
the  senate,  among  them  the  judiciary  com- 
mittee and  the  committee  on  judicial  de- 
partment. His  experience  in  the  enforce- 
ment of  the  original  law  had  suggested 
some  important  changes  in  the  criminal 
practice,  which  he  took  an  early  opportun- 
ity to  have  incorporated  in  the  statutes  of 
the  state.  Two  of  the  most  important  of 
these  were  the  law  in  reference  to  contin- 
uances and  the  law  regulating  changes  of 
venue  in  criminal  cases.  At  the  expiration 
of  his  term  in  the  senate  he  declined  re- 
election. 

The  career  of  Mr.  Fifer  in  the  senate 
brought  him  into  prominence  before  the 
people  of  the  state,  and  in  1880  he  received 
the  nomination  of  the  state  Republican  con- 
vention for  governor  of  the  state.    The  can- 


H 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


vass  he  ftiade  was  a  brilliant  one,  and  every- 
where "Private  Joe"  was  cordially  re- 
ceived, and  his  election  was  secured  by  a 
large  majority.  For  four  years  his  admin- 
istration of  the  affairs  of  state  was  able  and 
dignified.  From  the  inception  of  the  Co- 
lumbian idea,  Governor  Fifer  was  an  enthu- 
siastic supporter  of  the  exposition;  his  in- 
fluence was  given  unreservedly  to  the  pas- 
sage of  the  various  enabling  acts  by  which 
the  general  assembly  legalized  the  transfer 
of  the  parks  and  the  issue  of  Chicago  bonds 
to  the  corporation  of  the  fair,  and  his 
signature  was  given  promptly  to  the  final 
measure  by  which  the  state  of  Illinois  made 
munificent  appropriation  for  her  buildings 
and  exhibit.  In  1892  he  was  nominated 
for  re-election,  but  was  defeated  by  John  P. 
Altgeld,  going  down  in  the  great  political 
landslide  of  that  year,  his  defeat,  however, 
being  principally  caused  by  his  advanced 
views  in  favor  of  compulsory  education.  In 
1896  he  was  a  prominent  candidate  before 
the  national  Republican  convention  for  the 
vice-presidency,  having  support  from  many 
of  the  states  of  the  union. 

On  the  15th  of  June,  1870,  Mr.  Fifer  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Gertrude 
Lewis,  and  by  this  union  there  are  two 
children.  Herman  W.  is  a  graduate  of  Will- 
iams College,  Williamstown,  Massachusetts, 
in  the  class  of  1898,  and  is  now  in  the  law 
department  of  Wesleyan  University.  Flor- 
ence is  now  the  wife  of  J.  H.  Bohrer,  one 
of  the  directors  of  the  Corn  Belt  Bank  of 
Bloomington. 

From  1 89 1  to  1893  Mr.  Fifer  was  one  of 
the  trustees  of  Wesleyan  University,  from 
which  institution  he  received  the  degree  of 
LL.  D.,  in  1892.  He  has  always  taken 
special  interest  in  educational  affairs,  his 
struggles  for  an  education  making  him  the 


more  desirous  of  giving  a  better  opportunity 
to  others,  that  they  may  not  experience 
such  hardships.  While  in  general  terms  it 
is  true  that  "  a  prophet  is  never  without 
honor,  save  in  his  own  country,"  yet  this 
can  hardly  be  said  of  Mr.  Fifer.  Those 
who  know  him  the  best,  and  have  known 
him  the  longest,  esteem  him  the  highest. 
He  is  in  the  prime  of  life,  of  vigorous  frame, 
capable  of  great  endurance,  and  full  of  ac- 
tivity. Success  has  crowned  his  efforts  in 
life,  and  he  has  acquired  a  competence  ade- 
quate to  the  wants  of  his  generous  but  mod- 
erate nature. 

REUBEN  MOORE  BENJAMIN.  Reu- 
ben Moore  Benjamin,  the  youngest  son 
of  Darius  and  Martha  (Rogers)  Benjamin, 
was  born  at  Chatham  Centre,  Columbia 
county,  New  York,  June  29,  1833.  His 
father  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  18 12,  and 
his  grandfather,  Ebenezer  Benjamin,  was 
a  captain  in  the  Revolutionary  army.  His 
father  and  his  maternal  grandfather,  Timo- 
thy Rogers,  were  of  English,  while  his  ma- 
ternal grandmother,  Sarah  (Moore)  Rogers, 
was  of  Welsh  extraction.  His  ancestors  on 
both  sides  lived  in  Connecticut  in  the  colo- 
nial times.  He  was  fitted  for  college  at 
Kinderhook  Academy,  New  York,  and  in 
1853  was  graduated  with  honor  at  Amherst 
College,  Massachusetts.  He  was  principal 
of  Hopkins  Academy  at  Hadley,  Massachu- 
sets,  1853-54;  a  student  in  Harvard  Law 
School,  1854-55;  and  tutor  in  Amherst  Col- 
lege, 1855-56.  In  April,  1856,  he  came  to 
Bloomington,  Illinois,  and  in  the  following 
September,  upon  the  examination  certifi- 
cate of  Abraham  Lincoln,  was  licensed  to 
practice  law. 

Shortly  after  his  admission  to  the  bar  he 
became  a  partner  with  General  A.  Gridley 


HON.   R.   M.   BENJAMIN. 


UCnAHY 

OF  THE 

MVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


and  Colonel  J.  H.  Wickizer,  and  remained 
with  them  as  long  as  they  continued  to  prac- 
tice law.  In  1863  he  formed  a  partnership 
with  Thomas  F.  Tipton,  afterward  circuit 
judf:;e  and  member  of  congress;  and  since 
then,  at  different  times,  he  has  been  asso- 
ciated as  partner  with  Jonathan  H.  Rowell, 
member  of  congress  for  several  terms,  Law- 
rence Weldon,  one  of  the  judges  of  the 
United  States  court  of  claims,  and  John  J. 
Morrissey.  In  1869  he  was  elected  a  dele- 
gate to  the  convention  that  framed  the 
state  constitution  of  1870,  and  served  on 
the  important  committees  of  bill  of  rights, 
municipal  corporations,  state  institutions, 
and  schedule.  The  bill  of  rights  (Article 
11),  as  drafted  by  him,  was  adopted  by  the 
full  committee  and  the  convention  with  but 
a  single  change.  He  introduced  and  caused 
to  be  incorporated  into  that  article  the  far- 
reaching  provision  that  "no  law — making 
any  irrevocable  grant  of  special  privileges 
or  immunities  shall  be  passed."  In  his 
speech  on  the  railroad  article  he  took  the 
position,  never  before  held  in  court,  that  the 
power  to  limit  the  rates  of  charges  of  com- 
mon carriers  as  the  public  good  may  require, 
is  a  governmental  power  which  no  legisla- 
ture can  irrevocably  abandon  or  bargain 
away  to  any  individual  or  corporation. 

In  1872  he  was  one  of  the  counsel  for 
the  people  in  the  celebrated  Le.xington  case 
(Chicago  &■  Alton  Railroad  Covtpany  v. 
People,  67  111.  II).  which  led  to  the  legisla- 
tion of  1873  prohibiting  e.xtortion  and  un- 
just discrimination  in  railroad  charges.  He 
was  subsequently  employed  as  special  coun- 
sel for  the  State  Board  of  Railroad  and 
Warehouse  Commissioners,  and  assisted  the 
attorney-general  in  the  prosecution  of  the 
warehouse  case  {Miuni  v.  People,  69  111. 
80),  which  was  taken  to  the  supreme  court 


of  the  United  States,  and  being  there  af- 
firmed {Miinn  V.  Illinois,  94  U.  S.  113), 
became  the  leading  case  in  the  series  famil- 
iarly known  in  1876  as  the  "Granger 
cases."  These  cases  established  the  consti- 
tutional power  of  the  legislature  to  regulate 
railroad  and  warehouse  charges,  and  there- 
by protect  the  public  against  imposition. 
In  the  later  case  [Ritgg-les  v.  People,  91  111. 
256),  decided  in  1878,  the  supreme  court  of 
this  state  declared  broadly  that  the  legisla- 
ture has  the  power  to  pass  laws  establishing 
reasonable  maximum  rates  of  charges  by 
common  carriers  or  others  exercising  a  call- 
ing or  business  public  in  its  character,  or  in 
which  the  public  have  an  interest  to  be  pro- 
tected against  extortion  or  oppression.  In 
commenting  on  this  case,  the  Western 
Jurist  says:  "It  is  probable  that  the  people 
of  the  state  are  indebted  for  the  results  of 
this  agitation  as  given  in  the  above  decision 
to  Hon.  R.  M.  Benjamin,  of  Bloomington, 
in  a  greater  degree  than  to  any  other  single 
individual.  As  a  member  of  the  constitu- 
tional convention,  he  made  the  clearest  and 
most  convincing  argument  in  favor  of  the 
rights  of  the  people  which  was  delivered  in 
that  body,  and  as  special  counsel  for  the  peo- 
ple in  the  cases  of  the  Chicago  &  Alton 
Railroad  Company  v.  People,  and  Munii  v. 
People,  have  very  materially  contributed  in 
establishing  the  principle  contended  for  by 
him  before  the  convention  and  established 
in  the  above  cases." 

The  ' '  Granger  cases  "  have  been  repeat- 
edly followed  by  the  supreme  court  of  the 
United  States:  Buddy.  Ne-.u  York  (1891), 
143  U.  S.  517;  Brass  V.  North  Dakota 
(1893),  153  U.  S.  391. 

In  1873  Mr.  Benjamin  was  elected  with- 
out opposition  to  the  office  of  county  judge 
of  McLean  county.      He  was  re-elected  in 


28 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


1877,  an^d  also  in  1882.  His  judicial  apti- 
tude, the  soundness  of  his  decisions  and  the 
quiet  ease  with  which  he  dispatched  busi- 
ness won  and  held  the  respect  and  confi- 
dence of  the  bar  and  of  the  people.  He 
preferred  not  to  be  a  candidate  again  for 
the  office  and  accordingly  retired  from  the 
bench  at  the  close  of  his  third  term,  in  De- 
cember, 1886. 

Upon  the  organization  of  the  law  depart- 
ment of  the  Illinois  Wesleyan  University 
(known  as  the  Bloomington  Law  School), 
in  1874,  Judge  Benjamin  was  appointed 
dean  of  the  law  faculty.  He  is  still  connected 
with  the  law  school,  having  charge  of  the 
subjects  of  real  and  personal  property  and 
constitutional  law.  He  has  published  the 
following  works:  "Students'  Guide  to  El- 
ementary Law,"  "Principles  of  the  Law  of 
Contracts,"  and  "Principles  of  the  Law  of 
Sales,"  which  are  used  in  several  of  the 
leading  law  schools  of  the  country.  In  1880 
the  degree  of  LL.  D.  was  conferred  on  him 
by  Illinois  Wesleyan  University. 

Judge  Benjamin  was  married  at  Chat- 
ham, New  York,  September  15,  1856,  to 
Miss  Laura,  daughter  of  Mr.  David  G. 
Woodin,  who  for  many  years  was  county 
superintendent  of  schools,  of  Columbia 
county.  New  York. 

Probably  the  part  that  Judge  Benjamin 
took  in  the  constitutional  convention  had  a 
more  directly  beneficial  effect  upon  the  citi- 
zens of  Illinois  than  any  other  of  his  acts; 
and  the  arguments  he  brought  to  bear  be- 
fore that  body,  in  behalf  of  the  people,  to 
prevent  railroad  corporations  from  unjustly 
discriminating  against  any  section  of  the 
state  or  against  any  citizen,  displayed  such 
a  deep  knowledge  of  corporation  law  and 
have  had  such  an  important  bearing  upon 
the  construction  of  law  affecting  corpora- 


tions throughout  the  nation,  that  we  here- 
with reproduce  in  full  the  speech  to  which 
reference  has  previously  been  made  (De- 
bates of  Constitutional  Convention,  Vol.  2, 
p.   1641): 

Mr.  Chairman: — Corporations,  and  es- 
pecially railroad  corporations,  have  within 
the  last  few  years  assumed  and  exercised 
powers  incompatible  with  the  public  wel- 
fare; and  perhaps  there  is  no  danger  so  much 
to  be  apprehended,  and  if  possible  guarded 
against  by  people  of  this  state  as  that  which 
has  its  source  in  the  construction  placed  by 
the  courts  upon  what  are  called  legislative, 
or  charter,  contracts.  In  theory,  railroad 
corporations  are  created  for  the  public  good. 
In  practice,  they  become  oppressive  by 
being  allowed,  under  the  claim  of  charter 
contracts,  to  fix  the  rate  of  toll  for  the 
transportation  of  persons  and  property. 

Whenever  the  public  interes:ts  demand 
the  construction  of  a  railroad,  the  legisla- 
ture, without  any  hesitancy,  authorizes  the 
corporation  to  take  private  property — the 
very  homestead — for  that  purpose.  When- 
ever the  same  public  interests  require  a  lim- 
itation of  rates  of  railroad  charges  the  plea 
is  set  up  that  the  legislature  has  no  power, 
whatever,  to  act  upon  the  matter.  The 
principle  of  public  benefit,  when  invoked  in 
aid  of  a  railroad,  is  all-powerful.  The  same 
principle,  when  appealed  to  for  the  protec- 
tion of  the  people  against  imposition  and 
extortion,  has  hitherto  been  held  to  be  ut- 
terly powerless.  The  interest  of  individuals 
must  yield  to  that  of  the  public.  The  in- 
terest of  the  public  has  been  declared  to  be 
subordinate  to  that  of  railroad  corporations. 
And  when  we  ask  for  the  reason  of  this  dis- 
tinction between  individual  rights  and  cor- 
poration rights — when  we  ask  why  it  is  that 
public  interests,  although  paramount  to  in- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


29 


dividual  interests,  must  succumb  to  corpor- 
ate interests — we  are  told  that  the  legisla- 
ture has  made  contracts  whereby  it  has  ab- 
dicated in  favor  of  corporations  the  govern- 
mental powers  intrusted  to  it  by  the  sover- 
eign people.  I  say  governmental  powers, 
because  in  the  absence  of  a  charter  contract, 
the  power  of  the  legislature  to  regulate  and 
limit  the  tolls  which  the  owners  of  railroads 
may  lawfully  take,  is  unquestionable. 

The  statutes  of  the  several  states  afford 
numberless  instances  of  legislative  limita- 
tion of  the  tolls  of  ferry,  bridge,  plank-road, 
and  turnpike  companies.  The  ordinances 
of  the  larger  cities  of  this  country  limit  the 
charges  of  hack,  omnibus  and  dray  lines. 
The  statutes  of  our  own  state  not  only  pro- 
vide for  the  condemnation  of  private  prop- 
erty for  the  sites  of  grist-mills  but  also  limit 
the  amount  of  tolls  to  be  taken  for  grinding 
at  these  mills.  In  some  of  the  states  the 
charges  of  innkeepers  and  the  fees  of  pro- 
fessional men,  and  in  nearly  all  the  states 
the  rates  of  interest  which  money-lenders 
and  bank  corporations  may  lawfully  take, 
are  regulated  and  limited  by  legislative  en- 
actment. The  power  to  make  these  laws, 
and  a  multitude  of  others  of  like  character, 
rests  on  the  right  and  duty  of  the  legislature 
to  protect  the  people  by  statutory  regula- 
tions against  imposition  and  extortions. 

Upon  authority  and  principle  it  may  be 
safely  asserted  that,  in  the  absence  of  charter 
contracts  to  the  contrary,  the  legislature 
may  from  time  to  time  regulate  and  limit 
the  tolls  which  railroad  companies  may  law- 
fully take,  in  the  same  manner  as  the  legis- 
lature may  limit  the  tolls  to  be  taken  by 
ferry,  bridge,  plank-road  and  turnpike  com- 
panies; in  the  same  manner  as  municipal 
authorities  may  regulate  and  limit  the 
charges  of  hack,  omnibus  and   dray  lines; 


in  the  same  manner  as  the  tolls  at  gristmills, 
the  charges  of  innkeepers,  the  fees  of  pro- 
fessional men,  and  interest  on  loaned  money 
may  be  regulated  and  limited.  These  are 
governmental  powers;  and  by  the  term 
"governmental  "  I  here  mean  not  judicial 
but  legislative  powers.  To  declare  what 
the  law  is,  or  has  been,  is  a  judicial  power; 
to  declare  what  the  law  shall  be,  is  legisla- 
tive. The  law  is  applied  by  the  judicial 
department  and  made  by  the  legislative. 
It  is  both  the  right  and  the  duty  of  the  leg- 
islature not  to  await  the  action  of  the  judi- 
ciary, where  the  common  law  has  furnished 
no  adequate  remedies  for  e.xisting  evils,  but 
to  take  the  initiative  and  place  limitations 
upon  tolls  and  charges,  and  fees  and  interest, 
whenever  such  limitations  are  essential  to 
the  public  good;  provided,  always,  that  the 
legislature  has  not  bartered  away,  absolutely 
beyond  recall,  to  extortioners,  the  govern- 
mental powers  whereby  it  might  otherwise 
protect  the  people  against  their  impositions. 
And  this  brings  us  directly  to  the  question, 
whether  or  not  the  governmental  powers 
entrusted  to  the  legislature,  to  be  exercised 
for  the  public  good,  as  occasion  may  require, 
are  the  subject  matter  of  contract,  of  mere 
bargain  and  sale. 

The  following  provision  was  incorpor- 
ated in  the  constitution  of  18 18,  and  re- 
tained in  that  of  1848: 

The  powers  of  the  government  of  the 
state  of  Illinois  shall  be  divided  into  three 
distinct  departments,  and  each  of  them  be 
confined  to  a  separate  body  of  magistracy, 
to-wit:  Those  which  are  legislative  to  one; 
those  which  are  executive  to  another;  and 
and  those  which  are  judicial  to  another. — 
Constitution  of   1848,  Article  2,  Section  i. 

I  maintain  that  under  this  constitutional 
provision,    which   has    been    in    force    ever 


30 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


since  this  state  was  organized,  the  legisla- 
ture has  had  no  power  as  a  party  to  make  a 
contractj  the  effect  of  which  would  be  to 
control  or  embarrass  its  governmental 
powers  and  duties.  To  hold  otherwise  is 
to  affirm  that  the  legislature  may  abdicate 
the  authority  and  relieve  itself  of  the  re- 
sponsibility conferred  and  imposed  upon 
this  department  of  the  government  by  the 
sovereign  people  of  the  state. 

"The  people  of  the  state  of  Illinois, 
grateful  to  Almighty  God  for  civil,  political 
and  religious  liberty  confided" — that  is  the 
word — confided  to  the  general  assemply 
those  powers  of  the  government  of  the 
state,  which  are  legislative  —  for  what  pur- 
pose.' "In  order  to  promote  the  general 
welfare  and  secure  the  blessings  of  liberty 
to  themselves  and  their  posterity."  At  the 
same  time  they  declared  in  the  bill  of 
rights  that  "  all  power  is  inherent  in  the  peo- 
ple, and  all  free  governments  are  founded 
on  their  authority  and  instituted  for  their 
peace,  safety  and  happiness."  The  legisla- 
ture of  a  state  is  in  no  just  sense  the  sover- 
eign of  the  state,  for  sovereignty  is  the 
parent,  not  the  offspring  of  government. 
The  sovereignty  belongs  to  the  people  of 
the  state  in  their  original  character  as 
an  independentr,community.  All  political 
power  is  inherent  —  remains  in  the  people. 
In  the  language  of  Chief  Justice  Taney: 

"The  powers  of  sovereignty  confided 
to  the  legislative  body  of  a  state  are  un- 
doubtedly a  trust  committed  to  them,  to  be 
e.xecuted  to  the  best  of  their  judgment  for 
the  public  good;  and  no  legislature  can,  by 
its  own  act,  disarm  their  successors  of  any 
of  the  powers  or  rights  of  sovereignty  con- 
fided by  the  people  to  the  legislative  body 
unless  they  are  authorized  to  do  so  by  the 
constitution  under  which  they  are  elected. 


*  *  *  And  in  every  controversy  on  this 
subject,  the  question  must  depend  upon  the 
constituiion  of  the  state  and  extent  of 
power  thereby  conferred  in  the  legislative 
body." — Oliio  Life  Insurance  and  Trust 
Cmnpatty  v.  Dcbolt,   i6  Howard,  431. 

The  power  to  regulate  the  reciprocal 
rights  and  duties  of  common  carriers  and 
private  citizens  who  may  desire  to  travel 
upon  highways  constructed  for  the  public 
use  is,  as  we  have  seen,  a  governmental 
power — one  of  the  attributes  of  sovereignty 
confided  to  the  legislature  to  be  exercised 
for  the  public  good.  And  where  is  the 
provision  of  our  state  constitution  which 
authorizes  one  legislature  to  disarm  a  suc- 
ceeding legislature  of  this  power,  the  proper 
exercise  of  which  we  have  been  taught  by 
sad  experience  is  so  essential  to  the  travel- 
ing public' 

In  another  case  Justice  Woodbury  says: 

"  One  of  the  highest  attributes  and 
duties  of  a  legislature  is  to  regulate  public 
matters  with  all  public  bodies,  no  less  than 
the  community,  from  time  to  time,  in  the 
manner  which  the  public  welfare  may  ap- 
pear to  demand.  It  can  neither  devolve 
these  duties  permanently  on  other  public 
bodies,  not  permanently  suspend  or  aban- 
don them  itself,  without  being  usually  re- 
garded as  unfaithful,  and  indeed,  attempt- 
ing what  is  wholly  beyond  its  constitutional 
competency." — East  Hartford \.  Hartford 
Bridge  Company,  10  Howard,  534. 

Now,  whether  railroad  corporations  are 
to  be  regarded  as  quasi-public  bodies,  or  as 
private  bodies,  forming  a  portion  of  the 
community,  I  maintain  that  the  regulation 
of  rates  of  toll  for  the  conveyance  of  per- 
sons and  property  upon  railroads — the  pub- 
lic highways — as  the  public  welfare  may  de- 
mand, is  a  legislative  duty,  the  permanent 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


31 


suspension  or  abandonment  of  which  is 
wholly  beyond  the  constitutional  compe- 
tency of  the  legislature.  Moreover,  a  grant 
by  a  public  agent  bound  in  the  most  solemn 
manner  not  to  throw  away  the  governmental 
interest  confided  to  it,  is  different  from  a 
grant  by  an  individual  who  is  master  of  the 
subject.  The  corporation  which  accepts 
from  the  legislature  exemption  from  gov- 
ernmental control,  knowing  that  it  is  deal- 
ing with  an  agent  bound  by  duty  not  to  im- 
pair a  public  right,  does  so  at  its  peril. 
Nay,  more;  the  corporation  which  accepts 
from  the  legislature  a  grant  of  any  essential 
attribute  of  sovereignty,  would  be  treated 
both  in  morals  and  in  law  as  a  party  to  a 
fraud  upon  the  inherent  rights  of  the  people. 

The  same  constitutional  provision  con- 
fides legislative  powers  to  one  bod}-,  e.xecu- 
tive  powers  to  another,  and  judicial  powers 
to  another.  If  legislative  powers  may  be 
disposed  of  by  contract,  why  may  not  execu- 
tive and  judicial  powers  be  sold?  ^^'e  all 
recognize  the  principle  that  executive  and 
judicial  powers  are  entrusted  to  the  gov- 
ernor and  the  judges  to  be  exercised  by 
them  while  in  office,  and  then  turned  over 
unimpaired  to  their  successors.  I  believe 
that  the  day  is  not  far  distant  when  the 
courts  of  this  country  will  settle  down  on 
the  firm  fundamental  principle  that  no  de- 
partment of  the  government,  be  it  legisla- 
tive, executive,  or  judicial,  can  abandon, 
diminish  or  bargain  away,  for  any  consider- 
ation, or  upon  any  pretense  whatever,  the 
governmental  powers  entrusted  to  it  by  the 
sovereign  people,  to  be  exercised  for  the 
promotion  of  the  general  welfare. 

When  the  people  in  this  state,  in  1S18, 
and  again  in  1848,  confided  to  the  general 
assembly  the  legislative  power  of  this  state, 
wag   it.   cpnteniplated   that  the  agents   en- 


trusted with  these  governmental  powers 
would  sell  any  portion  of  them  to  other  or- 
ganizations, or  parcel  them  out  by  contract 
to  private  corporations.'  It  is  a  well-settled 
principle  that  where  a  trust  is  confided  to  any 
class  of  persons,  the  trustees  cannot  transfer 
that  trust  to  others.  "What  trust,  what 
confidence  is  more  sacred,  more  responsible, 
than  the  power  to  make  the  laws  of  a  free 
people?  The  power  is  not  only  delegated 
to  the  two  branches  of  the  legislature,  but 
there  is  an  obligation — a  duty  imposed  upon 
them  to  make  all  such  laws  as  are  necessary 
and  proper  for  the  interests  of  the  people, 
and  good  order  of  the  body  politic." 

The  language  of  our  State  constitution, 
reason,  and  sound  policy,  all  concur  in 
bringing  us  to  the  conclusion  that  the  law- 
making power  being  entrusted  to  the  legis- 
lature by  the  constitution,  to  be  exercised 
as  occasion  maj'  require,  for  the  promotion 
of  the  general  welfare,  cannot  be  perma- 
nently transferred  to  any  other  body.  If 
the  courts  will  fall  back  upon  this  principle, 
we  need  not  feel  alarmed  at  the  growth  and 
power  of  corporations.  They  are  danger- 
ous to  the  people  only  as  they  are  allowed, 
under  the  pretense  of  a  bargain,  to  appro- 
priate to  their  own  purposes  the  govern- 
mental  powers  confided  to  the  legislature. 

"The  great  object  of  any  incorpor- 
ation," says  Chief  Justice  Marshall,  "  is  to 
bestow  the  character  and  properties  of  in- 
dividuality on  a  collective  and  changing 
body  of  men." — Providence  v.  Billings,  4 
Peters,  562. 

The  creation  of  private  corporations — 
the  bestowal  of  the  attributes  of  mdividuality 
upon  these  ideal  creatures — placing  them, 
as  to  legal  rights,  on  the  same  footing  with 
natural  persons — are  proper  subjects  of  leg- 
islative  action.     And   we   readily  concede 


32 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


that  these' ideal  creatures — private  corpor- 
ations— cannot  be  arbitrarily  destroyed  by 
the  legislature,  and  that  the  rights  which 
they  may  possess  by  virtue  of  their  individ- 
uality or  existence  are  protected  by  the 
same  constitution,  which  is  the  Magna 
Charta  of  the  whole  people.  But  in  the 
language  of  Justice  Daniel: 

"  The  opinion  seems  to  have  obtained 
that  the  right  of  property  in  a  chartered 
corporation  was  more  sacred  and  intangible 
than  the  same  right  could  possibly  be  in  the 
person  of  a  citizen;  an  opinion  which  must 
be  without  any  grounds  to  rest  upon  until 
it  can  be  demonstrated  that  the  ideal  crea- 
ture is  more  than  a  person,  or  the  corporeal 
being  is  less."  Jl'es/  River  Bridge  Com- 
pany V.  Di.x\  6  Howard,  533. 

The  legislature  may  irrevocably  dispose 
of  the  lands  and  public  buildings  and  other 
property  of  the  state.  These  are  the 
proper  subjects  of  contract  and  sale.  But 
a  legislative  contract  to  surrender  forever  to 
a  private  corporation  any  portion  of  the 
governmental  powers  of  this  State  is,  in  my 
opinion,  unconstitutional  and  void.  It  is 
unconstitutional,  because  the  constitutional 
provision,  which  has  been  in  force  here  ever 
since  we  had  a  state  organization,  confides 
— intrusts^ — these  powers  to  the  legislature 
to  be  exercised  for  the  promotion  of  the 
general  welfare,  not  to  be  bartered  away. 
It  is  void,  because  it  is  a  contract  in  vio- 
lation of  public  duty,  and  without  a  com- 
petent subject  matter.  The  legislature 
cannot  deal — cannot  traffic — with  a  sover- 
eign right  as  private  property.  Says  Justice 
Daniel: 

' '  Inever  can  believe  in  that,  to  my  mind, 
suicidal,  doctrine,  which  confers  upon  one 
legislature,  the  creatures  and  limited  agents 
of  the  sovereign  people,  the   power,  by   a 


breach  of  duty  and  transcending  the  com- 
mission with  which  they  are  clothed,  to  bind 
forever  and  irrevocably  their  creator,  for 
whose  benefit  and  by  whose  authority  alone 
they  are  delegated  to  act,  to  consequences 
however  mischievous  or  destructive.  "—C'/r/tf 
Life  Insuranee  and  Trust  Company  v.  De- 
bolt,  16  Howard,  443. 

And,  right  here  let  me  ask.  From  what 
one  source  have  the  people  of  this  state 
suffered  more  mischievous  consequences 
than  from  the  free  exercise  of  the  assumed 
right,  on  the  part  of  the  legislature,  to  sell 
out  to  railroad  corporations  the  power  of 
fixing  and  exacting  from  the  community 
rates  of  toll  without  limitations.''  In  resist- 
ing the  usurpations  of  these  wealthy  and 
powerful  corporations,  we  have  turned  our 
attention  too  much  to  that  clause  of  the 
constitution  of  the  United  States  which 
provides  that  no  state  shall  pass  any  law 
impairing  the  obligation  of  contracts,  and 
have  not  paid  sufficient  attention  to  that 
section  of  our  state  constitution  which  con- 
fides, and  only  confides,  the  legislative 
power  of  the  govertiment  to  the  general 
assembly,  and  to  that  section  of  the  bill  of 
rights  which  declares  that  "all  power  is 
inherent  in  the  people."  We  must  not  for- 
get that  a  legislative  act  or  charter  may 
contain  unconstitutional  provisions.  The 
real  question  is  not  one  of  vested  rights 
under  a  contract,  but  one  of  constitutional 
power  to  make  the  contract.  The  legisla- 
ture cannot  change  the  constitution,  or 
make  a  new  constitution,  and  yet  it  would 
be  doing  just  this  if  it  could  limit  the  gov- 
ernmental powers  of  a  future  legislature. 
And,  therefore,  I  maintain  that  corporations 
are  subject  to  governmental  powers  the 
same  as  individuals — that  the  charges  of 
railway  corporations  can  be  regulated  and 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


33 


limited  by  legislative  enactment,  the  same 
as  the  tolls  of  ferry,  bridge,  plank-road 
and  turnpike  companies;  the  same  as  the 
charges  of  hack,  omnibus  and  dray  lines; 
the  same  as  the  tolls  of  millers,  the  charges 
of  innkeepers,  the  fees  of,  professional  men 
and  interest  on  loaned  money.  The  powers 
to  make  these  regulations  and  limitations 
are,  unquestionably,  legislative,  govern- 
mental powers,  and  neither  these  nor  any 
other  legislative  powers  of  a  governmental 
nature  can  be  irrevocably  disposed  of  by 
contract  to  any  individual  or  corporation. 
There  are  and  can  be  no  vested  rights  of 
governmental  power  in  any  individual  or 
corporation  except  those  conferred  by  the 
constitution. 

Will  any  gentleman  take  the  position 
that  the  legislature  can  endow  an  individual 
or  corporation  with  the  vested  right  to  com- 
mit a  crime,  or  perpetrate  fraud,  or  prac- 
tice imposition  upon  the  public?  I  think 
not.  One  legislature  cannot,  by  contract 
or  otherwise,  prohibit  succeeding  legisla- 
tures from  enacting  laws  for  the  prevention 
and  punishment  of  crime,  fraud  and  imposi- 
tion. But  railroad  corporations  declare 
that  they  have  bought  from  the  legislature 
the  power  to  establish  and  e.xact  the  exor- 
bitant charges  they  are  now  every  day  ex- 
torting from  the  people.  Under  the  claim 
of  vested  rights  they  bid  defiance  to  —  I 
was  about  to  say  —  the  government;  but 
according  to  the  conceit  of  these  corpora- 
tions, there  is  no  government  that  can  con- 
trol and  regulate  and  limit  their  demands. 
Each  claims  to  be,  in  this  respect,  a  gov- 
ernment unto  itself  —  a  sovereignty  within 
a  sovereignty. 

The  people  sooner  or  later  will  break 
away  from  the  theory  that  a  railroad,  or 
any  private  corporation,  can  have  a  vested 


right  in  any  governmental  power.  Let  the 
next  legislature  enact  substantially  the  rail- 
way laws  of  England,  regulating  and  limit- 
ing the  rates  of  freight  and  passenger  tariffs, 
and  I  firmly  believe  that  the  courts  would 
hold  that  such  a  re-assertion  "of  govern- 
mental control  over  railroad  rates  is  not  an 
interference  with  vested  rights. 

The  time  was  when  city  or  other  munic- 
ipal corporations  claimed  that,  by  virtue 
of  their  charters,  they  held  vested  rights  in 
governmental  powers.  Even  now  the  leg- 
islature cannot  confiscate  the  private  prop- 
erty of  a  municipal  corporation,  or  change 
the  uses  of  its  private  funds  acquired  under 
the  public  faith.  But  the  courts  have  long 
since  held  that  the  legislature  cannot  trans- 
fer to  a  municipal  corporation  irrevocable, 
vested  rights  in  governmental  powers.  And, 
for  one,  I  am  ready  to  take  the  broad  posi- 
tion that  it  is  not,  and  never  has  been,  in 
the  power  of  the  legislature  of  this  state  to 
bind  its  governmental  capacities,  by  any 
arrangements  or  stipulations,  with  either 
public  or  private  corporations,  so  as  to  dis- 
able itself  from  enacting  laws  that  may  be 
deemed  essential  for  the  public  good.  The 
sovereign  people,  and  the  sovereign  people 
alone,  by  the  adoption  of  constitutional 
provisions,  can  restrict  and  bind  the  gov- 
ernmental capacities  of  the  legislature. 

After  Judge  Benjamin  ceased  speaking 
it  was  apparent  that  his  argument  pleased 
the  majority  of  his  colleagues,  several  of 
whom  rose  to  their  feet  and  sanctioned 
what  he  said  in  no  uncertain  terms.  The 
following  endorsements  are  copied  from  the 
reports: 

(Mr.  Ross)  —  Mr.  Chairman:  I  cheer- 
fully subscribe  to  the  views  of  the  gentle- 
man from  McLean  (Mr.  Benjamin).  I  think 
that  the  convention  and   the  people  of  the 


34 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


state  owe  Bim  a  debt  of  gratitude.  It  has 
the  true  ring  of  the  doctrine  that  should  be 
inculcated  by  all  our  statesmen. 

(Mr.  Bromwell)  —  Mr.  Chairman:  lam 
very  much  gratified  to  see  the  manner  in 
which  this  discussion  starts  in  this  conven- 
tion. There  have  been  doubts  expressed 
whether  this  convention,  upon  coming  to 
this  subject,  would  take  the  proper  stand  to 
secure  the  rights  of  the  people  which  have 
been  so  long  trifled  with  and  trampled 
under  foot  by  the  interpretation  of  the  law 
in  this  state;  and  I  agree  with  the  gentle- 
man from  Fulton  (Mr.  Ross)  that  the  com- 
munity at  large  owes  the  gentleman  from 
McLean  (Mr.  Benjamin)  thanks  for  the 
masterly  manner  in  which  he  has  demon- 
strated the  right  and  the  power  of  the 
people,  inhering  in,  ever  living,  and  ever 
present,  to  command  in  the  name  of  and 
for  the  people,  the  creatures  which  they 
have  put  on  foot,  the  corporations  which 
they  have  organized,  in  respect  to  the  terms 
upon  which  they  shall  enjoy  those  invalu- 
able franchises  which  they  are  lawfully  per- 
mitted to  enjoy. 


HON.  RICHARD  EDWARDS,  A.  M., 
LL.  D.  We  are  now  permitted  to 
touch  briefly  upon  the  life  history  of  one 
who  has  been  prominently  identified  with 
the  educational  affairs  of  Illinois  for  over 
thirty-five  years,  and  it  is  but  just  and  mer- 
ited praise  to  say  that  as  an  educator  he 
ranks  among  the  best  in  the  state,  and  has 
probably  done  as  much  as  any  other  man 
to  raise  the  standard  of  schools  in  this 
great  commonwealth.  He  has  been  in- 
structor and  director  in  academies  and  col- 
leges, and  as  state  superintendent  re-organ- 
ized and  developed  the   entire  school   sys- 


tem. Although  seventy-seven  years  of  age, 
he  still  takes  an  active  part  in  educational 
affairs,  being  at  the  present  time  connected 
with  the  Wesleyan  University  at  Bloom- 
ington. 

Dr.  Edwards  is  a  native  of  Wales,  born 
near  Aberystwith,  Cardiganshire,  December 
23,  1822.  His  father,  Richard  Edwards, 
Sr. ,  was  born  in  the  same  place,  in  1799, 
and  was  there  married  in  182 1,  to  Miss  Ann 
Jones,  who  was  born  in  1801,  a  daughter 
of  William  and  Margaret  Jones,  farming 
people  of  the  parish  of  Lledrod,  Wales. 
The  Doctor's  paternal  grandfather  was 
Hugh  Richard,  a  stone  mason  by  trade. 
The  father  was  also  a  brick  and  stone  ma- 
son in  his  native  land.  In  1833,  he  and 
his  family  sailed  for  the  new  world  and 
first  located  in  Portage  county,  Ohio,  but 
in  1849  located  near  Oshkosh,  Wisconsin, 
where  he  purchased  a  farm  and  to  its  im- 
provement and  cultivation  he  devoted  his 
energies  until  called  from  this  life,  in  1852. 
He  left  six  children.  The  mother  died  in 
1876. 

Like  other  members  of  the  family.  Dr. 
Edwards  spoke  nothing  but  Welsh  on  coming 
to  this  country,  and  as  his  early  life  here 
was  devoted  to  the  arduous  task  of  clearing 
and  cultivating  wild  land,  he  had  little  op- 
portunity of  attending  even  the  primitive 
district  schools  of  those  early  days  in  the 
west.  Until  attaining  manhood  he  contin- 
ued to  assist  his  father,  with  the  exception 
of  a  few  weeks  each  winter  when  pursuing 
his  studies  in  the  local  schools,  but  by  se- 
vere exertion  he  obtained  two  terms'  in- 
struction in  the  village  school  before  he  was 
twenty-two,  and  he  also  learned  the  carpen- 
ter's trade.  He  devoted  his  spare  moments 
to  reading,  of  which  he  was  fond,  and  with 
the  hope  of  fitting  himself  for  some  profes- 


HON.   RICHARD  EDWARDS. 


or  T'.'£ 
,M|VERS1TY  OF  ILUNOU 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


37 


sion  he  went  to  Bridgewater,  Massachusetts, 
in  1844,  and  entered  the  State  Normal  at 
that  place.  Having  no  means,  he  lived  with 
extreme  self-denial,  teaching  at  intervals  to 
get  mone\'  for  his  support  while  studying. 
In  this  way  he  completed  the  course  in  that 
institute  and  also  paid  his  way  through 
Rensselaer  Polytechnic  Institute  at  Troy, 
New  York,  where  he  graduated  with  honors. 
During  the  time  spent  at  Bridgewater,  he 
had  attracted  the  attention  of  Nesv  England 
educators,  and  when  through  school  at  Troy 
his  services  were  in  demand  as  a  teacher. 
He  first  taught  in  the  Bridgewater  State 
Normal  and  then  became  principal  of  the 
State  Normal  at  Salem,  Massachusetts,  then 
accepted  a  call  to  the  principalship  of  the 
St.  Louis  (Missouri)  Normal  School.  Later 
he  was  principal  of  the  St.  Louis  high 
school,  and  in  1862  he  was  given  charge  of 
the  State  Normal,  at  Normal,  Illinois,  where 
he  remained  for  thirteen  j'ears  and  a  half, 
during  which  time  the  attendance  was  in- 
creased from  two  hundred  and  eighty  to 
seven  hundred  and  seventy-seven,  and  the 
fame  of  the  institute  as  one  of  model  con- 
trol, economical  management  and  beneficial 
results  became  wide  spread.  In  addition  to 
having  direct  charge  of  the  Normal  School, 
Dr.  Edwards  took  an  active  interest  in  the 
schools  throughout  the  state  and  his  services 
as  an  organizer  were  always  in  request.  He 
labored  incessantly  to  build  up  the  grand 
system  of  schools  which  is  now  such  a 
source  of  just  pride  to  the  people  of  Illi- 
nois, and  in  this  work  he  was  ably  sustained 
by  the  board  of  education  with  a  unanimity 
which  was  surprising,  considering  the  height 
to  which  political  prejudices  at  times  arose. 
When  Dr.  Edwards  announced  his  intention 
of  resigning  the  management  of  the  Normal 
School,  Jannar}'   i,    1876,  a  strong  protest 


arose  from  both  Democrats  and  Repub- 
licans, but  to  no  avail,  and  with  the  resolu- 
tion accepting  his  resignation  it  was  put  on 
record  that  the  board  endorsed  his  wise 
management  and  control  of  the  school  and 
gave  him  credit  for  making  it  the  "best 
normal  school  on  the  continent." 

On  the  3d  of  July,  1849,  Dr.  Edwards 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Betsey  J. 
Samson,  a  native  of  Pembroke,  Massachu- 
setts, and  a  lady  of  culture  and  refinement, 
who  is  also  a  graduate  of  the  Bridgewater 
Normal  and  was  for  some  time  a  successful 
teacher.  The  children  born  of  this  union 
are  as  follows:  Annie  E.,  wife  of  Newton 
C.  Dougherty,  superintendent  of  schools  in 
Peoria;  Richard  A.,  cashier  of  First  National 
Bank,  of  Peru,  Indiana;  Ellen  S.,  was  for 
some  years  a  teacher  in  Colorado  College, 
Colorado;  Mary  C,  wife  of  Dr.  D.  C.  Ty- 
ler, of  Clifton,  Kansas;  Rev.  Nicholas  T. , 
now  pastor  of  the  First  Congregational 
church  of  Escondido,  California;  George 
H.,  a  member  and  manager  of  the  Edwards 
&  Sloan  Jewelry  Company,  of  Kansas  City, 
Missouri;  Walter  A.,  president  of  the 
Throop  Polytechnic  Institute,  of  Pasadena, 
California;  Owen  M.,  a  teacher  in  the  high 
school  of  Sandwich,  Illinois,  and  a  graduate 
of  the  Wesleyan  University;  and  Florence 
M.,  who  is  at  home  and  for  some  time  was  a 
teacher  in  Normal. 

At  Normal,  December  23,  1873,  Dr. 
Edwards  was  ordained  a  minister  of  the 
Congregational  church  by  the  Central  Illi- 
nois Congregational  Association,  and  on  re- 
signing the  presidency  of  the  Normal  School 
he  accepted  the  pastorate  of  the  Congrega- 
tional church  at  Princeton,  Illinois,  where  he 
remained  from  1876  until  1885,  his  success 
in  the  pulpit  being  fully  as  great  as  that  in 
the  school  room.      He  maintained  his  rela- 


38 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


tion  with -the  Congregational  church  until 
going  to  Carlinville,  when  he  united  with  the 
Presbyterian  church  and  joined  the  Alton 
Presbytery.  His  wife  and  family  now  hold 
membership  in  the  Second  Presbyterian 
church  of  Bloomington,  while  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Bloomington  Presbytery.  He 
had  joined  the  Second  Presbyterian  church 
of  Bloomington,  in  1863,  but  for  the  sake 
of  establishing  a  church  at  Normal,  where 
no  church  at  that  time  existed,  he  united 
with  the  Congregationalists  and  was  one  of 
the  founders  of  the  Congregational  church  at 
that  place.  The  only  secret  society  with 
which  he  has  ever  been  connected  was  the 
Union  League  at  St.  Louis  during  the  war, 
at  which  time  Judge  Drake,  of  Washington, 
was  also  one  of  its  members. 

While  pastor  of  the  Congregational 
church  at  Princeton,  Dr.  Edwards'  con- 
nection with  educational  work  was  almost 
uninterrupted,  but  he  was  not  identified 
with  any  particular  school  or  college  except 
for  eighteen  months  when  acting  as  finan- 
cial agent  for  Knox  College,  Galesburg, 
Illinois.  He  was,  however,  constantly  ad- 
dressing teachers'  institutes,  giving  advice  to 
school  boards  and  counseling  young  instruct- 
ors and  students.  In  1S86  he  was  elected 
on  the  Republican  ticket  as  superintendent 
of  public  instruction  for  the  state,  and  dur- 
ing his  four  years  in  office  the  school  law  was 
revised  and  codified  under  his  personal  di- 
rection; a  syllabus  of  work  for  teachers'  in- 
stitutes was  prepared  and  a  course  of  study 
for  country  schools  mapped  out,  a  com- 
mittee of  county  superintendents  assisting 
in  the  task.  The  energetic  manner  in  which 
the  office  was  administered  convinced  the 
legislature  that  the  state  superintendent  of 
schools  was  an  important  member  of  the 
government,  and  a  law  was  passed  enlarg- 


ing his  duties  and  powers,  and  by  the  same 
act  he  was  made  a  member  of  the  board  of 
trustees  for  the  State  University  at  Cham- 
paign and  the  State  Normal  at  Carbondale, 
which  did  much  to  bring  both  institutions 
to  a  high  state  of  perfection.  In  1890,  Dr. 
Edwards  was  renominated,  but  the  Republic- 
ans being  unsuccessful  that  year,  he  was  de- 
feated. 

On  the  expiration  of  his  term  in  1891, 
he  was  elected  to  the  presidency  of  Black- 
burn University  at  Carlinville,  Illinois,  and 
did  a  grand  work  in  building  up  that  insti- 
tution. He  had  a  very  able  corps  of  assist- 
ants, the  attendance  was  largely  increased, 
and  he  left  the  school  in  a  very  promising 
condition.  His  work  there  was  too  much 
for  him,  and  he  broke  down,  being  obliged 
to  resign  in  1893.  He  came  to  Blooming- 
ton, in  April  of  that  year,  but  was  present 
at  the  closing  exercises  of  the  class  of  1893. 
For  some  time  he  practically  lived  retired, 
though  he  lectured  in  different  parts  of  the 
state  at  educational  meetings  and  also 
preached  occasionally  as  the  occasion  re- 
quired, having  filled  most  of  the  pulpits  in 
the  towns  of  Normal,  Lexington  and  neigh- 
boring places.  In  1897,  he  was  offered 
and  accepted  the  chair  of  psychology  and 
ethics  in  the  Illinois  Wesleyan  University. 
He  is  now  giving  a  series  of  lectures  in  that 
institution  on  pedagogy,  or  the  science  of 
teaching,  and  is  particularly  well  adapted 
to  that  class  of  work,  having  made  it  a 
study  for  many  years.  Dr.  Edwards'  attain- 
ments as  a  scholar  and  his  remarkable  suc- 
cess as  an  instructor  have  been  recognized 
by  the  bestowal  of  the  degree  of  Master  of 
Arts  by  Harvard  University,  and  of  Doctor 
of  Laws  by  Shurtlifl  College,  also  that  of  D. 
D.  from  Blackburn  University  of  Carlinville. 
He  is  an  active  and  prominent  member  of 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


41 


Alumni  Club,  and  recently  prepared  an  able 
paper  on  the  Congestion  of  Population  in 
Cities,  a  subject  that  required  a  thorough 
examination  of  facts.  In  many  ways  he  is 
a  remarkable  man,  strong  and  convincing 
as  a  public  speaker  and  familiar  with  every 
detail  of  the  public  school  problem,  and  is 
quick  of  thought  and  resolute  of  action. 
He  has  met  with  unbounded  success  where 
a  man  of  less  ability  would  have  failed,  and 
to-day  ranks  high  among  the  ablest  educa- 
tors of  the  state. 


REVEREND  NIMROD  KERRICK  was 
born  October  16,  1808,  in  Loudon 
county,  Virginia.  He  was  the  first  born  of 
Thomas  and  Phoebe  Kerrick.  He  died  in 
Bloomington,  Illinois,  December  13,  1897, 
having  completed  two  months  of  his  ninetieth 
year.  His  death  resulted  from  injuries  re- 
ceived three  months  before  by  falling  upon 
the  brick  pavement,  as  he  was  walking  from 
his  own  to  the  house  of  one  of  his  sons, 
near  by.  Up  to  the  day  of  this  accident  he 
was  in  good  health,  having  comfortable  use 
of  all  of  his  faculties.  Free  from  bodily 
pains,  clear  and  vigorous  in  mind,  he  en- 
joyed the  society  of  his  family  and  friends 
and  books  through  all  his  declining  years. 

Mr.  Kerrick's  boyhood  was  spent  on  a 
Virginia  farm.  Until  he  was  sixteen  years 
old  he  had  attended  school  but  a  few  months, 
all  told.  From  eleven  to  sixteen  he  had  but 
three  weeks  of  schooling;  this  was  a  source 
of  regret  to  him  all  his  life.  He  had  a  strong 
natural  thirst  for  knowledge  from  early 
youth.  Having  learned  to  read  well  while 
a  small  boy,  he  read  again  and  again  such 
few  books  as  were  within  his  reach;  some  of 
these  he  read  so  often  that  he  knew  them 
almost  as  well  as  if  he  had  himself  written 
them.     Probably  few  men  have  lived  who 


knew  the  Bible  as  well  as  Mr.  Kerrick;  he 
could  repeat  from  memory,  with  astonishing 
accuracy,  a  large  part  of  it. 

Mr.  Kerrick's  most  remarkable  memory 
and  his  long  life  together  made  him  a  real 
connecting  link  between  the  -earlier  and 
modern  times  of  our  country.  He  well  re- 
membered General  LaFayette's  visit  to  the 
United  States  in  1824.  The  general  was  in 
Leesburg,  not  more  than  ten  or  twelve  miles 
away,  but  young  Nimrod  could  do  just  as 
good  a  day's  work  on  the  farm  that  day,  and 
he  was  left  to  do  it  while  the  older  ones 
went  to  greet  the  hero. 

In  the  fall  of  1824  Mr.  Kerrick  moved 
with  his  parents  to  Muskingum  county, 
Ohio,  traveling  overland  in  a  wagon.  He 
often  spoke  of  meeting  on  this  trip  with 
General  Jackson,  near  Wheeling,  Virginia, 
who  was  going  to  Washington  to  make 
his  contest  in  the-  House  of  Representa- 
tives for  the  presidency,  the  election  hav- 
ing been  indecisive.  Mr.  Kerrick  could 
describe  minutely  the  general's  dress,  his 
carriage,  the  number  of  his  horses  and  at- 
tendants, the  exact  order  of  travel,  etc. 
Hearing  him  relate  the  circumstances  of 
this  meeting  one  could  almost  see  the  great 
Tennesseean  and  his  outfit.  ("My  mother 
was  a  comely  woman,  still  young,  and  the 
general  bowed  graciously  to  her  as  he 
passed.")  The  Kerricks  were  not  for  Jack- 
son for  president,  but  that  "gracious  bow" 
to  the  "comely  mother"  palliated  Jackson 
politics  to  a  sensible  degree;  one  could 
still  see  it  after  seventy  years,  as  Mr.  Ker- 
rick related  the  incident. 

The  family  remained  in  Ohio  but  two 
years,  then  pushed  on  to  southeastern  Indi- 
ana, which  region  became  their  perma- 
nent home.  The  first  settlement  was  made 
in  Franklin  county,  but  later,  lands   were 


42 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


taken  and  a  final  settlement  made  in  De- 
catur county. 

At  about  twenty  years  of  age  Mr.  Ker- 
rick  had  the  only  severe,  or  dangerous  sick- 
ness of  his  long  life;  recovering  from  this, 
but  not  yet  strong,  he  took  a  school  to 
teach,  and  thus  accidentally  discovered  his 
talent  which  was  for  teaching.  About  this 
time  he  met  Thomas  O'Brien,  a  noted  Irish 
school  master,  who  had  received  a  liberal 
education  in  the  old  world.  Mr.  Kerrick 
became  O'Brien's  pupil  and  later  his  assist- 
ant; the  two  became  fast  friends  and  in- 
separable companions.  The  meeting  with 
Thomas  O'Brien  was  most  fortunate  for 
Mr.  Kerrick.  It  is  difficult  to  conceive 
how  his  great  desire  for  learning  and  edu- 
cation could  have  been  gratified  in  that 
time  but  for  this  meeting.  O'Brien  pa- 
tiently and  faithfully  imparted  while  the 
younger  man  eagerly  absorbed  the  culture 
and  learning  that  the  former  had  acquired 
under  more  favorable  conditions  in  Europe. 

For  twenty  years  Mr.  Kerrick  was  a 
school  master;  he  was  eminently  successful. 
Near  Blooming  Grove,  Franklin  county,  en- 
terprising farmers  and  villagers  built  a  sub- 
stantial brick  house  for  his  school,  and  here 
he  taught  ten  consecutive  years.  He  was 
able  to  carry  his  pupils  far  beyond  the 
schools  of  his  time  and  region.  In  mathe- 
matics he  took  pupils  as  far  as  trigonome- 
try and  surveying,  and  many  of  them  be- 
came practical  surveyors.  His  name  be- 
came, and  is  to-day,  a  household  word  in  all 
that  region.  It  is  probably  not  outside  the 
truth  to  say  that  the  character  of  no  man, 
high  or  low,  was  so  deeply  impressed  upon 
the  people  of  the  White  Water  Valley  as 
the  character  of  Nimrod  Kerrick.  Many  of 
the  men  and  women  of  that  rapidly  growing 
population  received  all   the  schooling  they 


ever  had  from  Mr.  Kerrick,  and  many  more 
received  the  larger  part  of  their  schooling 
from  him.  His  unusual  attainments  and  his 
pronounced  instincts  for  teaching. afforded 
the  young  people  of  the  country  opportuni- 
ties that  were  not  common  in  that  time. 
Among  Mr.  Kerrick's  other  attainments  he 
wrote  a  beautiful,  plain,  uniform  "hand." 
The  writer  of  this  sketch  has  received  let- 
lers  written  within  two  or  three  years  past, 
by  a  man  who  was  a  pupil  of  Mr.  Kerrick 
in  that  brick  school  house,  and  it  would  re- 
quire an  expert  to  tell  that  writing  now  from 
Mr.  Kerrick's.  This  incident  is  mentioned 
to  illustrate  the  powerful  influence  of  a  true 
teacher  and  how  that  influence  is  perpetu- 
ated. 

Happily  for  the  great  company  of  young 
men  and  young  women  who  came  under  his 
influence  as  a  teacher,  Mr.  Kerrick's  influ- 
ence was  always  for  good.  He  was  a  man 
of  singularly  pure  character.  Through  all 
his  long  journey  of  life  he  walked  uprightly, 
worked  righteousness,  and  spoke  the  truth 
in  his  heart. 

Although  born  in  a  slave  state,  Mr.  Ker- 
rick cherished  from  boyhood  a  hearty  dis- 
like for  that  slavery.  He  was  a  Republican 
in  politics  —  a  total  abstainer  from  every 
kind  of  strong  drink.  He  was  of  medium 
height  and  weight  —  in  physical  form  a 
model,  muscular,  agile,  possessing  wonder- 
ful physical  endurance.  He  was  a  pro- 
foundly grateful  man  for  the  blessings  of  life 
— satisfied  and  thankful  always  for  simple 
food  and  plain  clothing,  but  the  best  of  any- 
thing was  never  too  good,  in  his  estimation, 
for  his  family. 

All  men,  high  and  low,  rich  and  poor, 
were  men  and  brethren  to  him;  he  had 
equal  good  will  for  all  of  them;  he  respected 
men  as  men,  not  according  to  class  or  con- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


43 


dition.  He  was  strangelj'  oblivious  to  dis- 
tinctions among  men;  he  had  but  one  pur- 
pose toward  them  all,  which  was  to  do  them 
good,  and  he  approached  them  all,  whether 
of  high  or  of  low  degree,  in  the  same  re- 
spectful and  interested  spirit. 

Mr.  Kerrick  was  a  member  and  a  minis- 
ter of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  He 
was  first  licensed  to  preach  in  1848.  In 
1858  he  entered  the  southeastern  Indiana 
conference.  His  first  circuit  had  nineteen 
appointments;  he  met  and  preached  at  all 
of  these  at  least  once  a  month.  His  last 
appointment  was  Liberty,  Union  county. 
At  the  close  of  his  ministry  there,  he  moved 
to  Woodford  county,  Illinois,  and  there- 
after his  occupation  was  farming,  the  same 
to  which  he  was  used  when  a  boy.  This 
move  and  change  of  occupation  was  made 
in  the  interest,  wholly,  of  his  family.  With- 
out doubt  his  own  inclination  would  have 
led  him  to  continue  in  professional  life;  but 
he  had  now  three  good-sized  boys,  and  for 
them  he  wisely  judged  that  the  farm  would 
offer  better  opportunities  than  the  town  for 
a  right  start  in  life.  No  preference  or  wish 
of  his  own  could  stand  for  a  moment  against 
what  he  considered  to  be  for  the  interest  of 
his  family. 

While  on  the  farm,  Mr.  Kerrick  still  con- 
tinued to  preach  often.  He  was  sought  for 
to  supply  vacancies  occasioned  by  sickness 
or  absence  of  regular  pastors.  He  was  a 
Methodist,  but  not  a  sectarian.  He  fre- 
quently preached  for  other  denominations, 
and  always  heartily  enjoyed  attending  the 
preaching  services  of  any  Christian  denom- 
ination. He  preached  many  funerals,  es- 
pecially of  soldiers  of  the  war  for  the  Union. 
By  younger  ministers  he  was  greatly  revered 
and  beloved,  and  he  was  often  able  to  help 
them,  which  gave  him  the  highest  pleasure. 


Mr.  Kerrick  was  married  May  4,  1839, 
at  Fairfield,  Franklin  county,  Indiana,  to 
Miss  Mary  Masters.  Miss  Masters  was  a 
native  of  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania, 
but  removed  when  a  young  woman  with 
her  parents  to  Indiana.  Five  children  were 
born  to  the  pair,  two  daughters  and  three 
sons;  the  eldest  daughter,  and  the  eldest  of 
the  family,  Mrs.  Cyrus  Mull,  resides  in 
Manilla,  Rush  county,  Indiana.  The  sec- 
ond daughter,  Mrs.  W.  H.  Bracken,  resides 
in  Brookville,  Franklin  county.  The  old- 
est son,  William  M.,  was  killed  in  battle, 
he  fell  in  the  desperate  charge  of  the  Union 
forces  upon  the  Confederate  works  at  Vicks- 
burg.  May  22,  1863.  He  was  barely  nine- 
teen years  old  when  he  was  killed.  The 
second  son,  Leonidas  H.,  and  the  young- 
est, Thomas  C. ,  reside  in  Bloomington, 
Illinois.  Mr.  Kerrick's  last  years  were  spent 
in  Bloomington.  Mrs.  Kerrick  survives, 
and  still  maintains  the  home  in  which  Mr. 
Kerrick  died.  At  the  advanced  age  of 
eighty-three  years,  she  possesses  remarkable 
health  and  strength.  Her  well-known  and 
exceptionally  strong  mental  characteristics 
remain  to  her  unimpaired. 

We  have  given  herein  a  brief  and  very 
imperfect  account  of  a  remarkable  life;  a 
life,  it  is  true,  not  distinguished  by  deeds 
which  startle  or  which  bring  renown;  but  a 
long,  faithful,  unselfish  life,  full  of  labors 
for  the  enlightenment  and  uplifting  of  man- 
kind; a  life  that  touched  many  other  lives, 
and  always  to  do  them  good — never  to  do 
them  harm. 


HON.  CHRISTIAN  F.  KOCH.  There 
is  no  element  which  has  entered  into 
our  composite  national  fabric  which  has 
been  of  more  practical  strength,  value  and 
utility  than  that  furnished   by  the  sturdy, 


44 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


persevering  and  honorable  sons  of  Germany, 
and  in  the  progress  of  our  union  this  ele- 
ment has  played  an  important  part.  In- 
tensely practical,  and  ever  having  a  clear 
comprehension  of  the  ethics  of  life,  the 
German  contingent  has  wielded  a  powerful 
influence,  and  this  service  cannot  be  held  in 
light  estimation  by  those  who  appreciate 
true  civilization  and  true  advancement. 

Among  Bloomington's  most  popular  citi- 
zens is  Mr.  Koch,  its  present  mayor,  who 
was  born  in  Eslingen,  Wurtemburg,  Ger- 
many, March  17,  1849,  and  when  a  child 
of  three  years  was  brought  to  this  country 
by  his  parents,  John  F.  and  Caroline  T. 
(Deininger)  Koch,  also  natives  of  the  Fa- 
therland. His  maternal  grandfather,  Johan 
Fredric  Deininger,  was  of  old  French  Hu- 
guenot stock,  his  ancestors  having  been 
driven  from  France  by  the  edict  of  Nantes 
and  taking  refuge  in  Wurtemburg.  The 
Deininger  family  can  be  traced  back  to 
1600.  John  Koch,  father  of  our  subject, 
belonged  to  a  family  of  very  extensive  mill 
owners,  and  he  himself  was  a  millwright  by 
trade,  being  one  of  the  first  in  Blooming- 
ton.  On  coming  to  the  new  world  the 
family  first  located  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  but 
five  years  later  took  up  their  residence  in 
Bloomington  when  its  population  was  not 
over  two  thousand.  For  a  number  of  years 
the  father  was  foreman  in  the  old  tcarble 
furniture  factory  in  this  city,  and  here  he 
died  in  1876.  The  mother  is  still  living 
and  makes  her  home  in  Bloomington.  Both 
were  faithful  members  of  the  German 
Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

Christian  F.  Koch  began  his  education 
in  the  public  schools,  and  for  two  years  was 
a  student  in  the  Wesleyan  University  of 
Bloomington.  Having  learned  the  mill- 
vVright's  trade,    he  worked   with   his  father 


for  four  or  five  years  and  then  embarked  in 
the  grocery  business  on  West  Front  street, 
where  he  still  carries  on  operations  with 
marked  success.  In  1892  he  assisted  in  or- 
ganizing the  German  National  Loan  As- 
sociation, of  which  he  has  been  president 
from  the  start,  and  is  also  a  director  of  the 
Equitable  Loan  Association,  now  the  lead- 
ing association  of  the  kind  in  this  part  of 
the  country.  He  is  also  connected  as  presi- 
dent with  an  insurance  order,  known  as  the 
Pioneer  Reserve  Association,  which  now 
has  a  membership  of  one  thousand,  large- 
ly Bloomington  people,  but  subordinate 
branches  have  been  started  at  Peoria,  Lin- 
coln, Pontiac,  Normal  and  other  places, 
and  so  rapidly  is  it  growing  that  its  mem- 
bership will  undoubtedly  number  between 
two  and  three  thousand  before  the  close  of 
the  year. 

Mr.  Koch  married  Miss  Katie  L.  Feisel,  a 
daughter  of  Rev.  Jacob  Feisel,  a  prominent 
pioneer  Methodist  Episcopal  minister  of 
this  state,  who  had  charge  of  a  German  con- 
gregation in  Bloomington  at  an  early  day, 
and  was  a  presiding  elder  for  a  number  of 
years.  He  died  about  three  years  ago  in 
Quincy.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Koch  were  born 
two  daughters:  Lulu  C,  now  the  wife  of 
H.  W.  Peters,  of  St.  Louis,  Missouri;  and 
Emma  K.,  who  died  in  June,  1896. 

Since  attaining  his  majority,  Mr.  Koch 
has  been  prominently  identified  with  the 
Republican  party,  and  served  as  alderman 
from  the  third  ward  from  1883  until  1887. 
In  the  spring  of  1890,  he  was  urged  to  ac- 
cept the  nomination  for  mayor  on  the  Re- 
publican ticket,  and  though  he  made  no 
particular  effort,  he  was  elected  by  a  hand- 
some majority  over  a  prominent  man  in 
the  Democratic  field.  Never  were  the  reins 
of  city  government  in  more  capable  hands, 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


4S 


and  one  noteworthy  feature  of  his  adminis- 
tration was  the  final  settlement  with  the  Jen- 
ney  Electric  Light  Company,  which  had  es- 
tablished a  plant  here  and  taken  advantage 
of  the  people  in  various  ways.  It  was  nec- 
essary to  annul  the  contract  with  them, 
and  it  finally  resulted  in  a  settlement  under 
which  the  city  came  into  absolute  possession 
of  a  plant  at  a  cost  of  nineteen  thousand 
dollars  less  than  the  original  contract  price. 
He  was  not  re-elected  at  the  succeeding 
election  as  it  was  his  intention  to  withdraw 
from  politics.  In  the  spring  of  1897  a  re- 
organization of  the  city  under  the  general 
law  was  strongly  agitated  by  business  men 
and  citizens  in  general  as  there  had  been 
some  dissatisfaction  with  the  special  charter 
and  the  preceding  administration.  There 
seemed  to  be  a  general  disposition  on  the 
part  of  the  people  to  turn  over  a  new  leaf 
to  the  extent  of  getting  under  the  general 
law  and  a  broader  government,  better 
adapted  to  the  advanced  needs  and  wants 
of  the  city,  and  a  general  change  in  the 
council  and  administration  of  the  city. 
This  resulted  in  Mr.  Koch  being  again 
strongly  urged  to  enter  the  field  as  the  Re- 
publican nominee  for  mayor.  His  nomina- 
tion was  uncontested  and  he  was  triumph- 
antly elected.  He  has  since  worked  under 
the  new  form  of  government,  and  during 
this  administration  many  improvements 
have  been  made  in  the  city,  including  the 
erection  of  a  new  city  hall.  It  is  one  of  the 
best  paved  cities  of  its  size  in  the  country, 
having  now  about  twenty-four  miles  of 
paved  streets  and  having  expended  for  pav- 
ing twenty-five  thousand  dollars,  the  proper- 
ty owners  fifty  thousand,  making  a  total  of 
seventy-five  thousand  dollars,  during  the 
two  years  of  Mr.  Koch's  incumbencey  of 
the  office. 


Mr.  Koch  and  his  family  hold  member- 
ship in  the  German  Methodist  church,  of 
which  he  is  a  trustee  and  treasurer,  and  in 
which  he  has  also  served  as  superintendent 
of  the  Sunday  school.  Socially^  he  is  quite 
prominent;  is  a  member  of  Mozart  Lodge. 
F.  &  A.  M;  and  is  past  chancellor  of  Blucher 
Lodge,  K.  P.,  of  which  he  is  one  of  the  found 
ers,  having  been  a  member  of  the  mother  lodge 
— Damon,  No.  10.  He  is  president  of  the 
Bloomington  Colliseum  Association,  which 
has  erected  a  building  at  a  cost  of  about 
twenty  thousand  dollars.  He  is  emphatic- 
ally a  man  of  enterprise,  positive  character, 
indomitable  energy,  strict  integrity  and  lib- 
eral views,  and  is  thoroughly  indentified 
with  the  growth  and  prosperity  of  his  adopt- 
ed city  and  state. 


JOHN  MATHER  FOSTER  is  one  of  the 
most  prosperous  farmers  and  influential 
citizens  of  Dale  township,  McLean  county, 
Illinois.  His  career  has  been  most  remark- 
able, yet  his  success  is  by  no  means  the 
result  of  fortunate  circumstances,  for  it  has 
come  to  him  through  energy,  labor  and  per- 
severance, directed  bj'  an  evenly  balanced 
mind  and  by  honorable  business  principles. 
He  is  a  man  of  keen  discrimination  and 
sound  judgment,  and  in  business  affairs  is 
energetic,  prompt  and  notably  reliable. 

Mr.  Foster  was  born  in  Meigs  township, 
Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  May  30,  1833,  a 
son  of  John  and  Celia  Ann  (Ballou)  Foster, 
natives  of  New  Hampshire  and  Ohio  respect- 
ively. The  paternal  grandfather,  John 
Mathers  Foster,  Sr.,  a  descendant  of  In- 
crease Mather,  of  colonial  fame,  was  edu- 
cated for  the  ministry,  but  preferring  the 
legal  profession,  he  afterward  read  law. 
From  New  Hampshire  he  removed  to  Mas- 


46 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


sachusetts,  and  when  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject was  eleven  years  old  went  to  Ohio, 
where  he  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his 
chosen  profession  and  also  taught  school. 
He  died  in  that  state.  He  married  Mrs. 
Alice  (West)  Carlyle,  who  was  the  grand- 
mother of  our  subject.  He  had  one  brother, 
William  S.  Foster,  who  served  as  a  colonel 
in  the  Revolutionary  war. 

John  Foster,  father  of  our  subject,  came 
from  New  Hampshire  to  Indiana  at  the 
age  of  eleven  years,  remaining  until  the  age 
of  seventeen,  when,  finding  that  the  man 
he  was  working  for  was  not  reliable  finan- 
cially, he  left  without  any  money  and 
walked  back  to  his  old  home  in  Ohio,  in 
company  with  his  uncle,  William  Stevens, 
sleeping  out  many  nights  on  the  way,  or  in 
barns  whenever  he  could  get  permission. 
On  reaching  home  he  began  work  for  his 
uncle,  Col.  William  Foster,  and  with  the 
money  thus  earned  paid  off  an  indebtedness 
of  three  dollars  and  seventeen  cents.  He 
then  had  ten  dollars  in  silver  remaining, 
and  with  this  he  began  life  for  himself.  At 
first  he  worked  at  any  employment  which 
he  could  find,  and  finally  saved  enough 
money  with  which  to  purchase  a  small 
tract  of  land  at  one  dollar  and  a  quarter 
per  acre.  This  he  cleared  and  improved 
himself,  and  after  building  a  little  home 
thereon,  he  married  Miss  Celia  Ann  Ballou. 
a  daughter  of  Welcome  Ballou,  a  repre- 
sentative of  a  prominent  pioneer  family  of 
Ohio  from  Rhode  Island.  Her  mother, 
who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Arelia  Taft, 
was  a  native  of  Massachusetts.  Mr.  Fos- 
ter brought  his  bride  on  horseback  to  the 
home  he  had  prepared  for  her,  and  as  he 
prospered  in  his  farming  operations  he 
added  to  his  place  from  time  to  time  until 
he  had  a  good  sized  farm,    which  he  finally 


sold  to  his  only  brother,  Dan  Foster,  for 
ten  thousand  dollars.  Upon  that  place  our 
subject  was  born.  The  father  went  to  New 
York  and  invested  seven  thousand  dollars 
in  a  stock  of  goods,  which  he  took  to  Cum- 
berland, Ohio,  opening  up  a  store  at  that 
place.  Although  this  was  his  first  experi- 
ence in  mercantile  trade,  he  prospered  in 
his  new  undertaking  and  continued  in  busi- 
ness there  for  several  years.  He  had  the 
entire  confidence  and  respect  of  his  fellow 
citizens  and  was  called  upon  to  fill  many 
township  offices.  On  selling  his  store  he 
purchased  a  farm  adjoining  the  town,  and 
there  he  continued  to  make  his  home  until 
coming  west,  though  he  retained  the  place 
for  some  time  afterward,  it  being  finally 
sold  by  our  subject  for  thirty  thousand  one 
hundred  dollars.  He  was  extensively  in- 
terested in  sheep  raising,  and  one  year  sold 
ten  thousand  pounds  of  wool  for  over  ten 
thousand  dollars.  In  Vermont  he  pur- 
chased seventy-three  of  the  Spanish  merino 
sheep,  for  which  he  paid  seven  thousand  six 
hundred  dollars,  which  he  took  to  his  home, 
where  he  already  held  from  five  hundred  to 
one  thousand  Pennsylvania  merinos  and 
blacktops.  He  was  the  first  in  his  com- 
munity to  import  those  animals;  he  crossed 
the  breeds  and  has  sold  many  as  high  as 
three  hundred  dollars  a  head.  In  1866  Mr. 
Foster  came  to  McLean  county,  in  com- 
pany with  his  wife's  parents  and  our  sub- 
ject, having  the  year  previous  purchased 
the  farm  in  Dale  township  now  owned  and 
occupied  by  his  son,  who  at  that  time  was 
given  charge  of  the  place,  while  he  practically 
lived  retired  for  many  years.  He  also  pur- 
chased nine  hundred  and  forty-five  acres 
in  Ford  county,  which  afterward  became 
the  property  of  our  subject's  sons,  Charles, 
John,   Loren  and  Ivan.      It  is  under  a  high 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


47 


state  of  cultivation  and  pleasantly  located 
near  Gibson  City.  The  father  had  charge 
of  that  farm  until  failing  eyesight  rendered 
him  almost  blind.  He  always  lived  with 
our  subject,  and  here  died  May  ii,  1898, 
when  almost  ninety-two  years  of  age.  his 
birth  having  occurred  November  12,  1806. 
He  was  a  shrewd,  capable  business  man, 
and  his  advice  was  often  sought  by  his 
neighbors  and  friends,  who  held  him  in  high 
regard  on  account  of  his  sterling  worth  and 
many  excellencies  of  character.  Politicall)-, 
he  was  first  a  Whig  and  later  a  Repub- 
lican. His  estimable  wife,  who  was  born 
June  27,  1S12.  is  still  living.  Of  the  five 
children  born  to  them,  three  reached  j'ears 
of  maturity,  but  only  our  subject  and  Mrs. 
Eliza  McClellan,  of  Champaign  county,  Illi- 
nois, are  now  living. 

During  his  boyhood  and  youth,  John  M. 
Foster,  of  this  review,  received  a  good  prac- 
tical education  and  for  two  years  he  success- 
fully engaged  in  teaching  school.  When  his 
father  retired  from  mercantile  life  and  pur- 
chased his  farm  near  Cumberland  our  sub- 
ject was  given  charge  of  the  sheep,  which 
was  a  very  responsible  position.  He  dis- 
charged his  duties  in  a  highly  satisfactory 
manner,  however,  and  displayed  excellent 
business  ability  in  the  sale  of  both  sheep 
and  wool.  In  his  native  state,  Mr.  Foster 
married  Miss  Electa  B.  Moore,  of  Noble 
county,  Ohio,  who  died  before  he  came 
west,  leaving  one  son,  Charles  M.,  a  pros- 
perous farmer  of  Ford  county,  Illinois,  who 
was  four  years  old  when  brought  bj-  his  fa- 
ther to  this  state.  Mr.  Foster  was  again 
married,  April  i,  1868.  his  second  union 
being  with  Miss  Alice  King,  who  was  born 
August  29,  1847.  a  daughter  of  William 
and  Ann    King,  of   Bloomingtcn   township. 

Four   children   blessed    this   union:     John 
3 


Stanhope,  born  October  9,  1S70,  married 
Ella  Vaughan,  and  is  now  engaged  in  farm- 
ing in  Ford  county;  Loren  K. ,  born  March 
25,  1875,  married  Myrta  Moberly,  by  whom 
he  has  one  child,  and  now  has  charge  of  his 
father's  farm;  Ivan  V.,  borrT  August  22, 
1879,  died  January  14,  1897;  and  Alice  Bal- 
lou,  born  December  14,  1882,  is  at  home. 
After  successfully  managing  his  father's 
farm  for  a  few  j-ears,  Mr.  Foster  was  given 
a  small  place,  to  which  he  has  added  from 
time  to  time  as  his  financial  resources  have 
increased  until  he  now  has  almost  eight 
hundred  acres  of  valuable  land  in  Bloom- 
ington  and  Dale  township,  being  one  of  its 
heaviest  tax  payers.  He  generally  raises 
from  five  to  twenty  thousand  bushels  of 
corn  annually  and  now  has  sixty  thousand 
bushels  upon  the  place,  the  crops  of  three 
years.  As  a  stock  raiser  he  has  also  met 
with  excellent  success,  making  a  specialty 
of  hogs  and  shorthorn  cattle.  In  his  po- 
litical views,  Mr.  Foster  has  always  been  a 
stalwart  Republican,  and  was  a  great  ad- 
mirer of  President  Garfield,  of  whom  his 
mother  was  a  second  cousin;  he  has  never 
cared  for  political  preferment  but  for  twen- 
tj'-five  years  has  most  creditably  and  ac- 
ceptably served  as  school  director  in  his 
district.  In  the  progress  of  his  community 
he  has  ever  manifested  a  deep  interest  and 
has  ever  taken  his  part  in  support  of  those 
measures  calculated  to  prove  of  public 
benefit. 


GEORGE  B.KELSO,  M.  D.  Canada  has 
furnished  to  the  United  States  many 
bright,  enterprising  young  men  who  have 
left  the  Dominion  to  enter  the  business  and 
professional  circles  of  this  country.  Among 
this  number  is  Dr.  Kelso,  proprietor  of  the 


48 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Bloomington  Home  Sanitarium  and  a  lead- 
ing physician  of  that  city.  He  inherited 
somewhat  of  the  strong,  rugged  and  per- 
severing characteristics  developed  by  his 
earlier  environment;  which,  coupled  with  the 
livelier  impulses  of  his  Celtic  blood,  made 
him  at  an  early  day  seek  wider  fields  in 
which  to  give  full  scope  to  his  ambition  and 
industry — his  dominant  qualities. 

The  Doctor  was  born  in  Bruce,  Ontario, 
Canada,  June  i6,  i860,  and  is  a  son  of 
Thompson  and  Mary  (Cameron)  Kelso. 
The  father  was  born  in  the  north  of  Ireland, 
of  Scotch  ancestry,  the  family  having  fled 
thither  from  their  old  home  in  Scotland  on 
account  of  persecution  during  Cromwell's 
reign  in  England.  When  a  young  man,  the 
father  crossed  the  Atlantic  and  took  up  his 
residence  near  Ottawa,  Canada.  There  he 
married  Mary  Cameron,  who  was  born  in 
Cornwall,  Canada,  and  belonged  to  an  old 
Scotch  family.  Soon  after  their  marriage 
they  removed  to  Bruce  when  that  region 
was  an  almost  unbroken  wilderness,  being 
numbered  among  its  pioneers.  There  the 
father  developed  a  farm,  on  which  he  and 
his  wife  still  reside.  In  early  life  they 
united  with  the  Episcopal  church,  but  now 
hold  membership  in  the  Presbyterian 
church,  with  which  he  is  officially  con- 
nected. Politically  he  is  a  Liberal,  and 
has  taken  quite  an  active  and  prominent 
part  in  local  politics,  and  has  been  called 
upon  to  fill  a  number    of  official  positions. 

Dr.  Kelso  is  the  third  in  order  of  birth 
in  a  family  of  ten  children,  and  in  the  com- 
mon and  high  schools  of  his  native  prov- 
ince, he  acquired  a  good  practical  educa- 
tion, which  well  fitted  him  to  engage  in 
teaching — a  profession  which  he  successfully 
followed  for  three  and  a  half  years  as 
principal   of   the   village   school.       In   the 


meantime  he  read  medicine;  and  later  pur- 
sued a  three,  years  course  in  the  medical 
department  of  the  University  of  Michigan, 
at  Ann  Arbor,  where  he  was  graduated  in 
1886.  He  first  opened  an  office  at  New- 
berry, Upper  Michigan,  and  during  the 
year  and  a  half  he  spent  at  that  place  was 
quite  successful,  there  being  a  great  deal  of 
surgical  work  to  be  done  in  the  lumber 
camps.  He  next  engaged  in  practice  for  a 
short  time  at  Ishpemmg,  Michigan,  near 
Marquette,  but  as  the  climate  did  not  agree 
with  his  health,  he  was  forced  to  leave  a 
good  practice  and  come  further  south. 

In  October,  1886,  Dr.  Kelso  married 
Dr.  Anna  E.  Caldwell  Clark,  who  had 
graduated  with  him  at  Ann  Arbor.  She  is 
a  native  of  Oxford,  Maine,  and  prior  to  read- 
ing medicine  had  received  a  good  classical 
and  musical  education  in  the  east  and 
abroad.  In  the  fall  of  1888  they  came  to 
Bloomington,  and  at  first  engaged  only  in 
general  practice.  Being  among  the  first 
lady  physicians  in  the  city,  Mrs.  Kelso  was 
soon  at  the  head  of  a  good  practice,  and 
in  1S94  they  established  the  Bloomington 
Home  Sanitarium,  which  they  have  since  so 
successfully  conducted.  They  started  in  a 
small  way,  but  as  their  patronage  steadily 
increased,  they  enlarged  their  facilities  in 
1897  by  adding  fifteen  rooms  to  their  build- 
ing for  surgical  work,  and  also  a  fine  oper- 
ating room,  with  all  necessary  appliances. 
They  are  now  well  prepared  to  treat  all 
kinds  of  surgical  and  medical  cases,  and 
take  both  male  and  female  patients.  The 
sanitarium  is  centrally  located,  and  is  the 
only  one  in  the  city,  and  besides  having  a 
fine  home  patronage,  their  patients  come 
from  all  parts  of  Illinois  and  surrounding 
states. 

Fraternally,    both   the    Doctor  and   his 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


49 


wife  are  members  of  the  Central  Illinois 
Homeopathic  Medical  Society.  He  is  a 
close  and  thorough  student,  a  man  of  deep 
research,  and  his  investigations  into  the 
science  of  medicine  and  his  skillful  applica- 
tion of  the  knowledge  he  has  thereby  ob- 
tained has  won  him  a  place  in  the  foremost 
ranks  of  the  medical  fraternity.  Among 
the  secret  societies  to  which  he  belongs  are 
Bloomington  Lodge,  No.  44,  F.  &  A.  M. ; 
Remembrance  Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  P.,  in  which 
he  has  passed  all  the  chairs;  and  the  Knights 
of  Pythias  fraternity.  At  present  he  is 
serving  as  medical  examiner  for  the  Odd 
Fellows  Lodge.  Besides  his  sanitarium,  he 
owns  a  pleasant  home  in  Bloomington, 
where  he  and  his  wife  delight  to  entertain 
their  many  friends. 


HORACE  W.  ELDER,  M.  D.,  is  en- 
gaged in  the  practice  of  medicine  and 
surgery  in  Bloomington,  and  has  that  love 
for  and  devotion  to  his  profession  which 
has  brought  to  him  success  and  won  him  a 
place  among  the  ablest  representatives  of 
the  medical  fraternity  in  the  count}-.  He 
was  born  in  Bloomington,  November  28, 
1859,  and  is  a  son  of  Dr.  William  A.  Elder, 
now  deceased,  who  was  a  prominent  and 
successful  physician  of  that  city.  The  fa- 
ther was  a  native  of  Waterloo,  New  York, 
and  on  coming  west  when  a  young  man, 
first  located  in  St.  Louis,  where  he  read 
medicine  and  graduated  from  the  St.  Louis 
Medical  College.  He  came  to  Blooming- 
ton and  for  many  years  was  one  of  the 
leading  and  influential  citizens  of  the  place, 
as  well  as  one  of  its  ablest  medical  prac- 
titioners. He  was  one  of  the  founders  of 
the  public  library  of  the  city  and  was  a 
faithful  member  of  the  Second  Presbyterian 


church.  He  died  January  3,  1895,  hon- 
ored and  respected  by  all  who  knew  him. 
The  mother  of  our  subject  was  in  her  maid- 
enhood Miss  Mary  E.  Owen,  a  daughter  of 
Dr.  Robert  C.  Owen,  of  Homer,  New 
York.  She  is  still  living  in  Bloomington 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  church. 
Our  subject  is  the  oldest  of  the  three  chil- 
dren of  the  family,  the  others  being  Lil- 
lian, wife  of  J.  P.  Walker,  of  Blooming- 
ton; and  Josephine  M.,  at  home. 

During  his  boyhood  and  youth  Dr. 
Elder,  of  this  review,  attended  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  city  and  was  gradua- 
ted from  the  high  school  in  1876.  He 
then  studied  pharmacy  for  two  years  in  the 
Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy,  and  on 
his  return  to  Bloomington  was  employed  as 
a  drug  clerk  until  1885,  when  he  embarked 
in  the  drug  business  on  his  own  account, 
conducting  a  store  there  for  six  years.  Go- 
ing to  St.  Louis,  he  took  a  two  years 
course  in  the  Marion  Simms  Medical  Col- 
lege and  one  year  at  the  Barnes  Medical 
College,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in 
the  spring  of  1893.  The  following  year  he 
spent  in  Chicago,  and  in  1894  went  to  Phila- 
delphia, taking  a  post-graduate  course  at 
Jefferson  Medical  College.  Five  j'ears  of 
preparation  had  well  fitted  him  for  his 
chosen  profession,  and  on  opening  an  office 
in  Bloomington  in  1895,  he  was  not  long  in 
building  up  an  excellent  practice.  After  the 
death  of  his  father  many  of  his  old  patients 
came  to  our  subject,  and  he  now  has  quite 
an  extensive  private  practice.  He  is  also 
a  member  of  the  medical  staff  of  the  Dea- 
coness Hospital,  and  also  has  charge  of  the 
general  practice  in  the  Bloomington  Free 
Polyclinic,  of  which  he  is  one  of  the 
founders  and  which  has  proved  quite  a  suc- 
cess, having  between  five   and  six  thousand 


so 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


treatments  the  first  year.  He  gives  his  en- 
tire attention  to  the  duties  of  his  profes- 
sion, is  examining  physician  for  a  number 
of  prominent  insurance  companies,  and  is 
a  prominent  member  of  the  McLean  County 
Medical  Society.  He  is  a  progressive  phy- 
sician and  keeps  well  posted  on  the  latest 
discoveries  and  theories  in  the  science  of 
medicine  and  surgery.  Of  a  pleasant,  ge- 
nial manner,  he  makes  many  friends,  is 
quite  prominent  socially,  and  is  a  member 
of  the  Royal  Arcanum. 

On  the  7th  of  April,  1885,  Dr.  Elder 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Ella  C. 
Slater,  a  daughter  of  Mrs.  G.  B.  Slater,  of 
Brooklyn,  New  York,  and  they  now  have 
one  son,  Edmund  W.  The  Doctor  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  St.  Mathews  Episco- 
pal church,  and  in  the  best  social  circles  of 
the  city  occupy  an  enviable  position. 


JOHN  A.  SCHNEIDER.  A  brilliant  ex- 
ample of  a  self-made  American  citizen 
and  a  grand  exemplification  of  the  progress 
that  an  ambitious  foreigner  can  make  in  this 
country  of  unbounded  opportunities,  is 
shown  in  the  case  of  Mr.  Schneider,  one  of 
the  leading  German-American  residents  of 
Bloomington.  His  singular  success  is  due 
to  his  own  energy  and  the  high  ideal  which 
his  lofty  and  laudable  ambition  placed  be- 
fore him.  Success  in  any  walk  of  life  is  an 
indication  of  earnest  endeavor  and  persever- 
ing effort, — characteristics  that  our  subject 
possesses  in  an  eminent  degree. 

Mr.  Schneider  was  born  in  Deidesheim, 
Bavaria,  Germany,  May  29,  1845,  but  the 
ancestral  home  of  the  family  was  at  Ruperts- 
berg.  His  grandfather,  Michael  Schneider, 
was  one  of  the  most  prominent  and  influen- 
tial citizens  of  that  place,  and  at  the  time  of 


his  death  was  serving  as  burgomaster  or 
mayor.  Many  of  the  cousins  of  our  subject 
still  hold  prominent  positions  there.  His 
father,  Henry  Schneider,  owned  large  vine- 
yards and  was  quite  extensively  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  wines  and  in  distilling 
liquors,  in  which  he  also  dealt.  At  the  time 
of  his  removal  to  Deidesheim  he  had  to  pay 
one  thousand  dollars  for  citizenship,  al- 
though that  place  was  only  a  mile  from  his 
old  home  in  Rupertsberg.  He  married 
Katherine  Baer,  who  belonged  to  an  old 
Lutheran  family,  and  they  became  the  par- 
ents of  seven  children,  all  of  whom  are  still 
living,  namely:  Henry,  who  served  for 
nine  jears  in  the  German  army  and  partici- 
pated in  the  Franco- Prussian  war;  John  A., 
our  subject;  Bernhardt,  a  resident  of  Bloom- 
ington; Katherina;  Michael;  Elizabeth;  and 
Theresa.  All  reside  in  Germany  with  the 
exception  of  our  subject  and  Bernhardt. 
The  father  died  in  1893,  the  mother  in 
1863. 

For  seven  years  during  his  boyhood  John 
A.  Schneider  attended  the  public  schools  of 
his  native  place,  for  a  time  was  a  student  in 
a  night  school,  and  pursued  his  studies  un- 
der private  tutors  at  home.  He  learned 
the  cooper's  trade  in  a  shop  conducted  in 
connection  with  his  father's  business.  Aft- 
er coming  to  the  United  States  he  worked 
at  that  trade  as  a  journeyman  at  different 
places,  including  three  years  at  Peoria. 
In  1866,  he  located  in  Evansville,  Indiana, 
where  he  learned  the  baker's  trade  and  con- 
tinued to  work  at  the  same  there  for  two 
years.  Later  he  went  to  Missouri  and  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  west,  and  finally  in  1874 
came  to  Bloomington,  where  in  Mr.  Gerk- 
en's  bakery  he  was  emploj'ed  as  foreman 
until  1882,  when  he  resigned  his  position 
and  embarked   in   business  on  his  own  ac- 


J 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


51 


count  at  the  corner  of  Grove  and  Center 
streets,  doing  all  the  work  himself.  His 
trade  having  steadily  increased,  he  was  ob- 
liged to  seek  more  commodious  quarters, 
and  in  1886  he  purchased  a  large  brick 
block  at  the  corner  of  Center  and  Oliver 
streets.  He  occupies  the  whole  building, 
which  is  forty-four  by  ninety-nine  feet,  two 
stories  in  height,  with  a  basement.  This  is 
fitted  up  with  the  latest  improved  machinery 
and  ovens,  making  it  a  thoroughly  modern 
plant.  Besides  his  large  retail  trade,  he 
now  doesoneof  the  largest  wholesale  baking 
businesses  in  central  Illinois,  shipping  his 
goods  to  Indiana  points,  Kankakee,  Dan- 
ville and  Pekin,  Illinois.  Fie  furnishes  em- 
ployment to  si.xteen  men.  Coming  to  the 
new  world  as  he  did  without  capital,  he  de- 
serves great  credit  for  the  success  that  he 
has  achieved  in  life,  it  being  due  entirely  to 
his  own  industry,  enterprise,  perseverance 
and  good  management. 

On  the  2nd  of  February,  1870,  at  St. 
Charles,  Missouri,  Mr.  Schneider  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  G.  Danzebrink, 
a  daughter  of  Bernhardt  and  Katherina 
(Grove)  Danzebrink,  natives  of  Germany 
and  now  residents  of  St.  Charles.  The  fa- 
ther came  to  the  United  States  during  his 
boyhood,  in  1812,  and  is  a  pensioner  of  the 
Mexican  war  and  was  also  a  soldier  of  the 
Civil  war.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schneider  have 
two  daughters:  Josie  K.  is  now  the  wife  of 
Richard  E.  Hurst  and  to  them  has  been  born 
a  daughter,  Leah,  while  by  a  former  mar- 
riage she  has  a  son,  John  W.  Penner  Hurst. 
Lillian,  the  second  daughter  of  our  subject, 
married  Henry  A.  Ulbrich,  of  Bloomington, 
and  has  one  son,  Harry  A.,  a  bright  boy  of 
two  years.  Our  subject  and  his  wife  have 
a  pleasant  home  at  the  corner  of  Grove  and 
West  streets. 


Although  of  foreign  birth,  America  has 
no  more  loyal  or  patriotic  citizen  than  Mr. 
Schneider,  who,  as  a  Republican,  is  promi- 
nently identified  with  local  political  affairs, 
and  does  all  in  his  power  to  advance  the 
interests  of  city,  state  and  nation.  For 
four  years  he  most  efficiently  served  as  su- 
pervisor of  Bloomington  township,  and  while 
in  that  office  gave  his  support  to  the  meas- 
ure of  letting  children  remain  in  the  orphans' 
home  until  eighteen,  instead  of  turning  them 
out  at  si.xteen,  and  the  bill  was  passed.  He 
also  moved  to  have  convict  labor  in  state  in- 
itutions  abandoned,  and  it  was  also  carried 
before  the  board.  At  the  re-organization  of 
the  city  in  1897,  fourteen  aldermen  were 
elected — one-half  for  two  years  and  one- 
half  for  one  year.  He  was  among  the  num- 
ber and  in  casting  lots  he  drew  the  shorter 
term,  serving  during  the  year  of  1897-8. 
He  was  chairman  of  the  committee  on  streets 
and  alleys  and  most  ably  respected  the  third 
ward.  Socially,  he  is  an  honored  member 
of  Mozart  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M. ;  Uhland  Lodge, 
I.  O.  O.  F.;  and  Shabbonay  Tribe,  I.  O.  R. 
M.,with  which  he  has  been  connected  si.xteen 
years  and  has  served  as  treasurer  ten  years 
of  that  time.  He  also  belongs  to  National 
Union,  Pythias  Lodge,  No.  161,  K.  P.,  of 
which  he  is  a  charter  member  and  trustee, 
and  a  member  of  the  Uniformed  Rank  No. 
22,  K.  P.  He  has  been  chieftain  of  the 
League  of  Red  Men,  Pocahontas  Tribe,  and 
a  member  of  the  Turners  Society. 


DANIEL  J.  OTTO,  who  is  practically 
living  a  retired  life  on  his  fine  farm  in 
section  30,  Normal  township,  is  a  splendid 
representative  of  that  class  ot  German- 
American  citizens  who  have  done  so  much 
to  advance  the  material  interests  of    their 


52 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


adopted  coiSntry.  For  many  years  he  was 
one  of  the  most  active  and  enterprising 
farmers  in  the  county,  industrious  as  the 
day  was  long,  but  in  the  lapse  of  time  he 
has  accumulated  sufficiently  of  this  world's 
goods  to  enable  him  to  lay  aside  business 
cares  and  take  life  easy.  It  is  not  his  na- 
ture, however,  to  be  idle,  so  he  still  does 
such  work  as  he  may  feel  inclined  to  do. 
He  was  born  in  Hessen,  Germany,  Septem- 
ber II,  1833,  and  there  received  his  primary 
education  in  his  native  language.  His  fa- 
ther, John  Otto,  was  a  native  of  the  same 
province,  and  by  occupation  was  a  farmer. 
He  married  Mrs.  Margaret  Brenneman,  in'e 
Otto,  who  was  a  distant  relative,  and  they 
became  the  parents  of  three  children:  Anna, 
who  married  Henry  Eisenfeld,  of  Peru,  111.; 
Daniel  J.,  our  subject;  and  Jacob,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years  on  the  old 
home  place  in  Pennsylvania.  By  her  first 
husband,  Samuel  Brenneman,  Mrs.  Otto 
had  three  children:  Mary,  Samuel  and 
Katie. 

In  1845  John  Otto  came  with  his  family 
to  the  United  States  and  located  in  Somer- 
set county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  pur- 
chased what  was  known  as  soldier's  lot, 
comprising  two  hundred  acres  of  land,  which 
was  all  in  timber,  and  from  which  very  little 
clearing  had  been  done  and  on  which  no 
improvements  had  been  made.  With  the 
energy  characteristic  of  the  race  he  went  to 
work,  cleared  the  land  and  in  due  time  had 
a  good  farm.  He  remained  on  that  farm 
during  the  remainder  of  his  life,  dying  in 
1857.  His  wife  survived  him  but  one  year, 
when  she,  too,  passed  to  her  reward. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  but  twelve 
years  old  when  he  accompanied  his  parents 
to  the  United  States,  and  for  about  one 
year  after  his  arrival  he  attended  the  public 


schools  of  Somerset  county,  Pennsylvania, 
and  acquired  a  fair  knowledge  of  the  En- 
glish language.  After  that  short  time  in  the 
schools  of  his  adopted  country  he  com- 
menced work  with  his  father  in  clearing  the 
farm  of  its  heavy  timber,  and  in  the  school 
of  experience  acquired  the  greater  part  of 
the  knowledge  now  possessed.  He  remained 
with  his  father  until  twenty-one  years  old, 
when  he  left  home  and  came  to  McLean 
county,  Illinois.  This  was  in  the  spring  of 
1855.  For  two  years  he  worked  by  the 
month  for  various  persons,  and  then  rented 
a  farm  in  Allin  township  on  which  he  re- 
mained six  years,  in  the  meantime  accumu- 
lating sufficient  means  to  purchase  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  in  the  same  town- 
ship. This  he  improved  while  still  continu- 
ing to  work  his  rented  land.  His  first  pur- 
chase was  made  in  i860,  and  this  he  later 
traded  for  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  also 
in  Allin  township.  After  residing  on  this 
last  farm  for  four  years  he  sold  it  for  fifty 
dollars  an  acre  and  in  1867  moved  to 
Champaign  county,  where  he  purchased 
a  farm  of  four  hundred  acres  on  which  he 
remained  for  six  years.  He  was  not  pleased, 
however,  with  that  farm,  and  in  1875  traded 
it  for  a  farm  of  two  hundred  and  twenty- 
three  acres  in  Normal  and  Dry  Grove  town- 
ships. McLean  county,  giving  in  addition 
four  thousand  dollars  in  cash.  It  was  his 
judgment  that  the  land  in  Normal  township 
was  far  superior  to  that  in  Champaign 
county,  and  he  has  never  felt  any  reason  to 
change  his  mind  in  that  regard. 

On  returning  to  McLean  county,  Mr. 
Otto  located  on  the  Normal  farm  and  there 
remained  twelve  years,  during  which  time 
he  made  several  purchases  of  land  as  his 
means  permitted.  He  first  purchased  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Dry  Grove  town- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


53 


ship,  and  a  little  later  ninety  acres  in  Nor- 
mal township,  then  eighty-  acres  more  in 
Dry  Grove  township,  adjoining  his  first 
purchase  of  ninety  acres.  He  next  bought 
eighty  acres  adjoining  the  last  eighty,  after 
which  he  bought  eighty  acres  more  in  Nor- 
mal township,  adjoining  his  first  ninety, 
paying  for  the  same  one  hundred  dollars 
per  acre.  His  next  purchase  was  of  forty- 
three  acres  adjoining  the  other  place,  for 
which  he  paid  one  hundred  and  seventeen 
dollars  per  acre. 

On  the  27th  of  April,  1857,  Mr.  Otto 
married  Miss  Jacobina  Otto,  a  native  of 
Butler  county,  Ohio,  and  daughter  of  Daniel 
and  Barbara  Otto.  Her  father  moved  to 
McLean  county  at  an  earl}'  day  and  became 
one  of  the  large  land  owners  of  the  county. 
By  this  union  ten  children  were  born,  four 
of  whom  died  in  infancy.  Of  those  who 
reached  mature  jears,  John  E.  married 
Mary  Bohrer,  and  they  have  had  six  chil- 
dren, four  of  whom  are  living,  Gertrude  B., 
Lillian,  Hattie  and  Elsie.  They  reside  in 
Drj-  Grove  township.  Samuel  B.  married 
Mary  Basting,  by  whom  he  had  three  chil- 
dren, Mabel,  Roy  and  Ralph.  His  second 
marriage  was  with  Sarah  Baumetz,  and  they 
have  one  child,  Grace.  They  are  living  in 
Normal  township.  Albert  married  Minnie 
Basting,  and  they  have  four  children,  Clara, 
May,  Pearl  and  Alvin.  They  reside  in  Dry 
Grove  township.  Eliza  married  Henry  C. 
Lowrey,  and  with  their  two  children,  Joseph 
Otto  and  Lawrence,  they  live  in  Storey 
county,  Iowa.  George  D.  married  Jennie 
Meyer,  and  they  have  three  children, 
Harvey  M.,  Blanche  and  Chester.  They 
reside  in  Normal  township.  Charles  E. 
married  Gertrude  Kirkpatrick,  and  they 
have  one  child,  Cleta.  Their  home  is  in 
Normal  township. 


On  the  30th  of  September,  1SS4,  Mrs. 
Otto  departed  this  life,  and  her  remains 
were  interred  in  the  cemetery  at  Blooming- 
ton.  She  was  a  good  woman,  a  kind  and 
loving  wife  and  mother,  and  had  many 
friends  to  mourn  her  loss.  October  6, 
1886,  Mr.  Otto  again  married,  taking  as 
his  wife  Miss  Mary  Houston,  a  native  of 
Monroe  county,  Indiana,  and  daughter  of 
Alfred  Houston,  who  is  now  living  a  retired 
life  in  Rantoul,  Illinois.  There  are  no 
children  by  this  last  union,  but  in  January, 
1890,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Otto  adopted  the  or- 
phan son  of  a  brother  of  Mrs.  Otto,  and 
the  little  one,  Allen  C.  Houston,  is  now 
attending  the  district  school. 

Mr.  Otto  has  always  kept  the  best 
grade  of  stock,  hogs,  cattle  and  horses, 
and  has  always  endeavored  to  feed  all  the 
grain  he  raised.  For  eighteen  years  he 
was  engaged  in  the  business  of  fattening 
cattle  for  the  market,  and  in  this  line  was 
unusually  successful.  In  fact  success  has 
crowned  all  his  efforts  in  life.  On  coming 
to  this  county  he  had  a  good  chopping  axe, 
which  he  wielded  with  a  good  strong  arm, 
and  from  which  it  may  almost  be  said  that 
with  it  he  hewed  out  a  fortune,  for  it  was  his 
entire  capital.  He  is  now  the  owner  of  over 
eight  hundred  acres  of  as  fine  land  as  there 
is  in  McLean  county,  which  is  truly  the 
garden  spot  of  the  state.  All  his  land  is 
under  cultivation  and  well  improved  in 
every  respect,  having  excellent  farm  houses 
and  barns,  with  such  outbuildings  as  are 
necessary  in  carr}ing  on  well  regulated 
farms.  On  his  farms  he  has  pat  down 
over  six  thousand  dollars  worth  of  tiling, 
and  made  man\'  other  substantial  improve- 
ments. 

Politically,  Mr.  Otto  is  a  Republican  on 
national  issues,  but  in  local  elections  is  de- 


54 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


cidedly  independent,  voting  for  the  best 
men  regardless  of  the  party  names  which 
they  wear.  He  has  never  cared  for  office, 
but  served  one  term  as  a  member  of  the 
county  board  of  supervisors  from  Dry 
Grove  township,  and  was  also  assessor  of 
that  township  for  one  term.  For  nine 
years  he  was  trustee  of  schools  in  Dry 
Grove  township,  and  for  two  years  served 
in  the  same  office  in  Normal  township.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Mennonite  church,  with 
which  he  has  been  connected  since  he  was 
si.xteen  years  old.  His  wife  is  a  member 
of  the  Christian  church.  Both  are  held  in 
the  highest  esteem,  and  they  have  many 
friends  throughout  the  county,  who  esteem 
them  for  their  worth's  sake. 


CHARLES  ROSS  PARKE,  M.  D.,  is  the 
oldest  practicing  physician  of  Bloom- 
ington,  and  one  of  the  most  eminent  mem- 
bers of  the  profession  in  this  section  of  the 
state.  One  of  the  most  exacting  of  all  the 
higher  lines  of  occupation  to  which  a  man 
may  lend  his  energies  is  that  of  the  physi- 
cian. A  most  scrupulous  preliminary  train- 
ing is  demanded  and  a  nicety  of  judgment 
little  understood  by  the  laity.  Then  again 
the  profession  brings  its  devotees  into  almost 
constant  association  with  the  sadder  side  of 
life, — that  of  pain  and  suffering, — so  that  a 
mind  capable  of  greal  self  control  and  a 
heart  responsive  and  sympathetic  are  essen- 
tial attributes  of  him  who  would  assay  the 
healing  art.  Thus  when  professional  suc- 
cess is  attained  in  any  instance  it  may  be 
taken  as  certain  that  such  measure  of  suc- 
cess has  been  thoroughly  merited.  Lacking 
in  none  of  the  attributes  of  the  eminent 
medical  practitioner.  Dr.  Parke  has  long  oc- 
cupied a  leading  place   in   the   ranks  of  his 


professional  brethren,  and  his  reputation 
extends  far  beyond  the  boundaries  of  this 
county. 

A  native  of  Parkesburg,  Chester  county, 
Pennsylvania,  he  was  born  on  the  25th  of 
June,  1S23,  and  is  a  son  of  George  Wash- 
ington and  Mary  (Ross)  Parke.  The  family 
is  of  Scotch-Irish  extraction  and  was  found- 
ed in  America  by  the  Doctor's  great-grand- 
father, who  left  his  home  in  the  north  of 
Ireland  and  emigrated  to  the  new  world, 
prior  to  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  Taking 
up  land,  he  made  a  good  home  and  reared  a 
family.  His  son  William  Parke,  grandfa- 
ther of  our  subject,  was  one  of  the  heroes 
in  the  war  for  independence.  He  belonged  to 
the  "  Flying  Camp,"  and  participated  in  a 
number  of  battles.  After  the  establishment 
of  the  republic,  he  became  one  of  the  im- 
portant factors  in  the  public  life,  and  in 
Pennsylvania  served  as  a  member  of  the  state 
legislature,  and  was  also  a  member  of  the 
committee  of  safety  during  the  war. 

George  W.  Parke  was  a  native  of  Parkes- 
burg, Pennsylvania,  and  after  arriving  at 
years  of  maturity  engaged  in  farming,  in 
milling  and  in  the  tanning  business.  He 
was  recognized  as  one  of  the  most  progress- 
ive and  enterprising  men  of  the  town  of 
Parkesburg,  which  was  built  upon  a  part  of 
the  land  originally  purchased  by  our  sub- 
ject's great-grandfather  and  derived  its  name 
from  the  Parke  family.  A  section  of  his 
farm  is  still  in  possession  of  his  descend- 
ants. George  W.  Parke  served  as  register 
of  deeds  at  Westchester  for  some  time,  and 
during  the  war  of  18 12  carried  arms  in  de- 
fence of  his  country's  flag.  Another  mem- 
ber of  the  family  who  attained  prominence 
in  military  circles  was  General  John  G. 
Parke,  a  cousin  of  the  Doctor,  who  was  re- 
tired   from   his    command  at    West  Point. 


CHARLES   ROSS   PARKE,   M.  D. 


/.icn.'.ny 

OF  THE 
liMVERSITY  OF  ILLINO/f 


THE    BIOGR.\PHICAL    RECORD. 


57 


George  \\'.  Parke  was  twice  married,  the 
mother  of  our  subject  being  his  second  wife. 
She  belonged  to  an  honored  family  of 
Chester  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  by  her 
marriage  she  became  the  mother  of  three 
children,  but  the  Doctor  is  the  only  one 
now  living.  The  parents  both  retained 
their  residence  in  the  Keystone  state  until 
death,  and  both  had  passed  the  eightieth 
milestone  on  life's  journey  when  called  to 
the  home  beyond.  They  were  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  church,  and  commanded 
the  respect  of  all  who  knew  them. 

Dr.  Parke  acquired  his  preliminary  edu- 
cation in  the  common  schools  near  his 
home,  later  pursued  his  studies  at  West- 
chester, Pennsylvania,  and  then  attended 
Science  Hill,  a  private  school,  conducted 
by  Joshua  Hoopes,  a  Quaker  educator. 
He  began  preparation  for  his  profession  as 
a  student  in  the  office  of  Dr.  Wilmer  Worth- 
ington,  and  subsequently  took  a  three 
years'  course  in  the  University  of  Penns3i- 
vania,  at  Philadelphia,  where  he  was  grad- 
uated in  the  class  of  1S47.  For  a  year 
thereafter  he  practiced  in  Delaware  county, 
Pennsylvania,  and  in  the  fall  of  1848  came 
to  Illinois,  locating  at  Como,  on  the  Rock 
river,  in  Whiteside  county.  Attracted  by 
the  discovery  of  gold  in  California,  how- 
ever, he  crossed  the  plains  in  the  spring  of 
1 S49,  going  as  surgeon  to  the  Como  Com- 
pany. He  now  belongs  to  the  societj- 
known  as  "The  '49s  of  Chicago."  The 
party  journeyed  to  Sacramento  and  thence 
proceeded  up  Feather  river,  fording  that 
stream  at  Marysville,  when  only  one  adobe 
house  marked  the  site  of  the  town.  Dr. 
Parke  spent  the  winter  among  the  mines, 
and  in  the  spring  returned  to  Marysville  for 
groceries.  In  the  meantime  quite  a  village 
had  sprung  up,  and  a  steamboat  lay  at  the 


wharf,  while  in  other  parts  of  the  state 
were  little  towns,  indicating  the  rapid  de- 
velopment of  the  region.  In  the  fall  of 
1850  Dr.  Parke  went  to  Sacramento,  where 
he  engaged  in  the  practice  of-  medicine  for 
a  few  months.  Starting  for  home,  he  took 
passage  at  San  Francisco  on  a  schooner 
bound  for  Panama,  but  in  a  storm  they 
were  obliged  to  seek  harbor  oS  Cape  St. 
Lucas,  and  in  another  gale  were  driven  by 
the  winds  to  the  vicinity  of  the  Sandwich 
Islands.  Eventually  they  sailed  eastward 
until  they  reached  the  coast  of  Central 
America,  where  the  passengers  hired  teams 
to  convej-  them  by  way  of  Lake  Nicaragua 
to  Graytown  or  San  Juan,  where  the  canal 
is  now  being  constructed.  Arriving  too 
late  to  take  the  steamer,  they  went  on  an 
English  vessel  to  Chagres.  and  thence  to 
New  Orleans. 

The  Doctor  then  came  to  the  north  and 
after  practicing  his  profession  near  Peoria, 
Illinois,  for  a  year,  came  to  Bloomington  in 
1852.  He  found  here  a  small  village  of 
twenty-five  hundred  people,  and  has  wit- 
nessed its  splendid  growth  and  development 
into  a  populous  and  enterprising  city.  He 
continued  in  practice  here  until  the  ist  of 
August,  1855,  when,  through  the  instru- 
mentality of  the  Russian  minister,  he  re- 
ceived an  appointment  to  a  position  as  sur- 
geon in  the  regular  army  of  the  czar,  and 
went  to  the  Crimea,  where  he  served  in  the 
hospital  in  the  capital  city  until  peace  was 
declared.  He  was  then  sent  to  the  holy 
city  of  Kiev,  and  later  traveled  through 
Prussia,  spending  some  time  in  Berlin. 
Subsequently  he  went  to  France  and  Den- 
mark, then  over  the  mountains  to  Stock- 
holm, Sweden,  back  to  Prussia,  thence  to 
Berlin,  to  Paris  and  to  Brussels,  London, 
and  Southampton,   sailing   from  the  latter 


58 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


place  for  his  native  land,  where  he  arrived 
on  Thanksgiving  day  of  1857.  Thus,  through 
extensive  travel  on  the  continent,  he  gained 
a  comprehensive  and  accurate  knowledge  of 
European  countries,  their  peoples  and  the 
manners  and  customs  of  the  old  world, — a 
knowledge  that  has  since  enriched  his  con- 
versation with  anecdote  and  reminiscence. 

Dr.  Parke  spent  the  winter  after  his  re- 
turn with  his  father,  and  in  the  spring  of 
1858  again  came  to  Bloomington,  where  he 
resumed  the  general  practice  of  medicine. 
He  was  married  on  the  3d  of  October,  1866, 
to  Mrs.  Lucy  Keith,  of  this  city,  a  daughter 
of  Edmund  Uidlake,  formerly  of  Winches- 
ter, Kentucky.  They  lost  their  only  child, 
and  on  account  of  the  poor  health  of  his 
wife.  Dr.  Parke  removed  to  a  plantation  in 
the  south,  where  they  remained  until  Mrs. 
Parke  was  fully  restored,  returning  in  1870. 
The  Doctor  has  been  an  active  practitioner 
in  Bloomington,  and  now  has  a  large  office 
practice.  He  is  also  chief  of  the  medical 
staff  of  St.  Joseph's  Hospital  and  surgeon 
of  that  institution,  which  he  aided  the  Sis- 
ters in  founding,  making  it  one  of  the  most 
perfectly  equipped  hospitals  in  central  Illi- 
nois. He  has  a  very  large  surgical  prac- 
tice and  has  successfully  performed  many 
difficult  and  important  operations.  His  suc- 
cess in  this  branch  of  the  profession  is  due 
to  his  wonderfully  minute  and  accurate  ac- 
quaintance with  anatomy,  combined  with 
e.xquisite  power  of  diagnosis,  a  cool  head, 
steady  muscles  and  great  mechanical  genius. 
He  has  ever  been  a  close  student  of  his  pro- 
fession, and  his  comprehensive  knowledge 
of  the  principles  of  the  medical  science  ren- 
ders him  an  eminent  follower  of  this  im- 
portant calling. 

Dr.  Parke  is  a  valued  member  of  the 
McLean  County  Medical  Society,  of  which 


he  has  served  as  president;  of  the  State 
Medical  Association,  and  of  the  American 
Medical  Association,  and  has  twice  served 
as  a  member  of  the  board  of  pension  exam- 
iners by  appointment  of  President  Cleve- 
land. Dr.  Parke  was  the  first  president  of 
the  George  Rogers  Clarke  Chapter  of  the 
Sons  of  the  American  Revolution,  in  Bloom- 
ington. He  has  served  for  several  years  as 
president  of  the  Library  Association  of 
Bloomington,  and  is  an  advocate  of  all 
measures  and  movements  which  tend  to  ad- 
vance the  intellectual,  material,  social  and 
moral  welfare  of  the  city.  He  has  enjoyed 
honors  and  success  in  his  professional  ca- 
reer, but  in  private  life  has  gained  that 
warm  personal  regard  which  arises  from 
true  nobility  of  character,  deference  for  the 
opinions  of  others,  kindliness  and  geniality. 


SAMUEL  R.  WHITE.  The  career  of 
Samuel  R.  White  is  so  closely  inter- 
woven with  the  progress  and  development 
of  Bloomington  that  the  history  of  the  city 
would  be  incomplete  without  the  record  of 
his  life.  To  say  of  him  that  he  has  risen 
unaided  from  comparative  obscurity  to  rank 
among  the  most  successful  men  of  this  sec- 
tion of  Illinois,  is  a  statement  that  seems 
trite  to  those  familiar  with  his  life,  yet  it  is 
bnt  just  to  say  in  a  history  that  will  descend 
to  future  generations  that  his  business 
record  has  been  one  that  any  man  would 
be  proud  to  possess.  Beginning  with  no 
capital  save  determined  purpose  and  lauda- 
ble ambition,  he  has  worked  his  way  steadily 
upward  step  by  step  until  he  is  now  occupy- 
ing a  position  of  prominence  and  trust  in 
the  industrial  world  reached  by  very  few 
men.  Through  his  entire  business  career 
he  has  been  looked  upon  as  a  model  of  in- 
tegrity and  honor,  never  making  an  engage- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


59 


ment  that  he  has  not  fulfilled,  and  standing 
to-day  as  an  example  of  what  determination 
and  force,  combined  with  the  highest  degree 
of  business  integrity,  can  accomplish  for  a 
man  of  natural  ability  and  strength  of  char- 
acter. 

A  native  of  the  neighboring  state  of  In- 
diana, Mr.  White  was  born  in  Huntington, 
December  27,  1846,  and  is  a  son  of  James 
and  Lucy  (Phelps)  White.  The  father  was 
born  in  North  Carolina,  and  when  about 
four  years  old  lost  his  father.  He  spent  his 
youth  in  the  place  of  his  nativity,  and  when 
about  twenty-five  years  of  age  removed  to 
Indiana.  In  his  early  manhood  he  engaged 
in  merchandising  in  Ohio,  but  on  account 
of  ill  health  removed  to  a  farm,  where  he 
carried  on  agricultural  pursuits  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  January,  1853, 
when  Samuel  R.  White  was  a  little  lad  of 
only  four  summers.  He  left  a  widow  and 
four  children  who  grew  to  mature  years, 
namely:  Mary  A.,  now  Mrs.  Foulke,  of 
\\'hiting,  Kansas;  Mrs.  Laura  A.  Reed,  of 
Bloomington;  James  and  Samuel  R.  After 
the  death  of  her  first  husband  Mrs.  White 
became  the  wife  of  John  Reed,  of  Wabash, 
Indiana,  whence  they  removed  to  Bloom- 
ington in  1884.  Mrs.  Reed  died  about 
1888,  but  Mr.  Reed  is  still  living  in  this 
city  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety  years. 
In  early  life  she  was  a  member  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church,  but  afterward  held  mem- 
bership in  the  Christian  church. 

In  the  district  schools  Samuel  R.  White 
acquired  his  education,  pursuing  his  studies 
until  seventeen  years  of  age,  through  the 
winter  season.  In  the  summer  months  he 
assisted  in  the  labors  of  field  and  meadow 
and  when  nineteen  years  of  age  he  left  the 
farm  in  order  to  serve  an  apprenticeship  to 
the  carpenter's    trade   in  Wabash  county, 


Indiana.  In  1868  he  came  to  Illinois,  work- 
ing as  a  journeyman  in  various  parts  of  the 
state,  including  the  towns  of  Winona  and 
Ottawa.  In  1869  he  returned  to  Hunting- 
ton, where  he  began  contracting  on  his  own 
account  on  a  small  scale,  meeting  with  suc- 
cess in  the  undertaking.  He  was  married 
there,  and  in  the  spring  of  1870  removed 
with  his  bride  to  Bloomington.  It  was  his 
intention  to  locate  elsewhere,  but  while  seek- 
ing a  favorable  opening  he  began  working 
at  his  trade  in  this  city,  and  in  1872  entered 
upon  an  independent  business  career  as  a 
contractor  and  builder.  He  erected  a  num- 
ber of  school-houses,  dwellings  and  barns 
throughout  the  county,  and  as  he  demon- 
strated his  ability  in  the  line  of  his  chosen 
vocation  his  patronage  constantly  increased 
and  the  nature  of  his  work  partook  of  a 
more  important  xharacter.  His  force  of 
workmen  was  likewise  enlarged,  and  his  en- 
terprise and  capable  management  was 
crowned  with  a  fair  degree  of  success.  In 
1874  he  erected  the  Stevenson  hardware 
store  in  Front  street;  in  1S75  the  First  Ward 
school  building;  and  various  residences  in 
the  city  also  indicate  his  handiwork.  He 
was  thus  engaged  in  contracting  until  1S79, 
when  he  withdrew  from  that  business,  hav- 
ing in  the  meantime  turned  his  attention  to 
other  lines,  which  he  believed  would  prove 
more  profitable.  In  1873  he  established  a 
lumber  and  coal  yard  which  he  also  con- 
ducted until  1878. 

In  that  year  he  founded  what  has  be- 
come one  of  the  leading  industrial  concerns 
of  the  city.  He  began  the  manufacture  of 
house  furniture  in  an  old  mill,  which  was 
operated  by  rented  power  and  which  stood 
on  the  site  of  his  present  commodious  and 
substantial  plant.  He  utilized  his  carpenter 
shop  for  a  sales  and  store  room,  and  acted 


6o 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


as  his  own  traveling  salesman,  going  upon 
the  road  to  sell  his  goods.  Prosperity  at- 
tended the  new  venture  and  his  trade,  con- 
stantly increasing  in  volume  and  importance, 
had  in  1883  reached  such  dimensions  that 
he  was  enabled  to  erect  a  planing  mill  and 
factory,  located  at  No.  304  Douglass  street. 
As  the  years  passed  great  changes  were 
made  in  the  style  of  furniture  and  extensive 
corporations  were  monopolizing  the  trade, 
which  caused  him  to  abandon  the  manufact- 
ure of  furniture  and  begin  the  construction 
of  sash,  doors  and  blinds.  This  enterprise 
has  continued  one  of  the  leading  industrial 
concerns  of  the'eity,  and  has  proven  a  very 
profitable  investment.  In  1884,  a  fire  de- 
stroyed the  plant,  which  was  a  three-story 
frame  building,  but  with  characteristic  en- 
ergy he  made  preparation  for  the  immediate 
continuance  of  his  business  by  purchasing 
the  old  mill  in  which  he  began  operations 
and  erecting  on  the  site  the  main  part  of  his 
present  plant,  a  three-story  brick  structure, 
sixty  by  sixty  feet,  supplied  with  capacious 
boilers  and  engines  and  the  latest  improved 
machinery  for  carrying  on  the  work.  Later 
he  purchased  the  remainder  of  the  half 
block  on  which  the  plant  was  located  and 
removing  a  dwelling  and  livery  barn  built 
an  addition  to  his  factory  in  order  to  meet 
the  demands  of  his  constantly  increasing 
patronage.  The  greater  part  of  the  ground 
is  now  covered  with  the  building,  a  three- 
story  brick  structure,  one  hundred  and  fif- 
teen by  one  hundred  and  eighty  feet,  provid- 
ing ample  accommodation  for  carrying  on 
the  business.  The  plant  is  equipped  through- 
out with  the  most  modern  and  highly  im- 
proved machinery,  and  his  trade  has  more 
than  doubled  since  the  building  was  enlarged. 
He  also  manufactures  store  furniture  in  ad- 
dition  to    lumber,   sash,  doors   and   blinds. 


and  the  output  of  the  factory  is  very  large. 
In  the  conduct  of  the  enterprise  he  has  been 
very  successful,  owing  to  his  keen  discrim- 
ination, his  sound  judgment,  enterprise, 
and  executive  ability.  Only  a  small  insur- 
ance covered  the  plant  that  was  first  de- 
stroyed by  fire,  and  in  1889  he  again  suf- 
fered loss  through  the  fiery  element,  but 
with  undaunted  courage  he  continued  his 
labors  and  triumphed  over  the  difficulties 
which  he  had  met. 

Mr.  White  is  a  man  of  resourceful  busi- 
ness ability,  and  his  efforts  have  been  by 
no  means  confined  to  one  line.  He  has 
been  the  promoter  of  many  of  the  leading 
business  concerns  of  the  city,  and  has  there- 
by not  only  promoted  his  individual  pros- 
perity but  has  largely  advanced  the  welfare 
of  the  city.  On  the  site  of  his  first  planing 
mill  he  erected  four  flat  buildings  which 
were  supplied  with  all  the  conveniences  of 
that  time.  While  engaged  in  contracting 
he  was  appointed  an  expert  appraiser  for 
an  insurance  company,  and  thus  formed  an 
extensive  acquaintance  which  enabled  him 
to  secure  many  large  contracts  in  various 
parts  of  the  country,  and  furnish  employ- 
ment to  from  two  hundred  to  two  hundred 
and  fifty  men.  He  erected  buildings  for 
the  American  Sugar  Refining  Company, 
the  Realty  Cooperage  Company,  the  Pull- 
man Palace  Car  Company,  the  Bradner 
Smith  Paper  Company's  Mill,  and  repaired 
the  Hotel  Peoria  and  the  Dunlap  House. 
In  the  line  of  his  insurance  business,  he  was 
called  as  an  expert  adjuster  from  New  Or- 
leans to  Manitoba  and  from  Baltimore  to 
Denver,  settling  losses  for  various  compa- 
nies. His  tact  and  discrimination  com- 
bined with  marked  executive  ability,  made 
him  very  successful  in  that  line  of  work, 
and  his  labors  were  most  satisfactory  to  the 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


6i 


companies  he  represented.  Mr.  White  is 
now  the  representative  of  many  industrial 
and'  manufacturing  concerns,  whose  pros- 
perity is  largely  attributable  to  his  wise 
counsel  in  the  management  of  their  affairs. 
In  1894  he  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the 
Bloomington  Store  Fixture  Company,  which 
succeeded  to  the  business  of  H.  A.  Miner 
and  was  capitalized  for  twent}*  thousand 
dollars,  its  officers  being  Mr.  White,  presi- 
dent, and  Mr.  Rodman,  general  manager. 
They  manufacture  store  and  office  furniture, 
employ  forty  workmen,  and  ship  their  goods 
into  almost  every  state  of  the  Union.  In 
1894  our  subject  erected  what  is  known  as 
the  White  Block,  a  five-story  and  base- 
ment brick  structure,  seventy- six  by  one 
hundred  and  twelve  feet,  to  which  an  ad- 
dition, fifty  by  eighty  feet,  and  three 
stories  in  height,  has  been  made.  This 
building  is  supplied  with  power  from  the 
planing  mill  across  the  street,  by  rope 
transmission.  The  store  fixtures  occupy 
more  than  three  floors  and  the  basement  in 
this  large  building.  Mr.  White  is  also  in- 
terested in  the  Corn  Belt  Printing  Compan}', 
of  which  he  is  president,  and  is  a  stock- 
holder in  the  Novelty  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany, the  partners  being  C.  F.  Shunkle  and 
Mr.  \Miite.  In  this  enterprise  employment 
is  furnished  from  fifteen  to  eighteen  men. 
Mr.  White  is  likewise  interested  in  the  B.  S. 
Constant  Companj',  which  manufactures 
machinery  for  grain  elevators,  is  a  stock- 
holder in  the  A.  N.  Stevens  Company,  a 
large  grocery  firm  in  the  same  block.  The 
various  enterprises  with  which  he  is  con- 
nected furnish  employment  to  about  two 
hundred  and  fifty  men,  and  thus  materially 
aid  in  the  progress  and  advancement  of  the 
city,  for  the  general  welfare  is  dependent 
entirely  upon  commercial  activity. 


Bloomington  is  also  indebted  to  him  for 
improvements  which  add  to  her  beauty.  He 
has  laid  out  one  of  the  most  attractive  ad- 
ditions to  the  city,  called  "White's  Place." 
It  comprises  thirtj'  acres ^of  land,  and  upon 
this  property  he  placed  improvements  to  the 
value  of  thirteen  thousand  dollars,  in  the 
year  1898.  In  the  center  of  the  tract  is  a 
broad  street,  seventy  feet  wide.  This  is 
divided  into  three  equal  sections,  the  center 
being  transformed  into  a  park  adorned  with 
trees,  grass,  flowers  and  a  fountain.  On 
each  side  asphalt  paving  extends  for  sixteen 
feet.  The  lots  are  sixty  feet  wide  and  a 
building  line  insures  the  beauty  that  arises 
from  uniformity.  The  sewer,  water  and 
gas  connections  have  all  been  made  through 
the  alleys  in  the  rear,  and  heavy  teams  are 
also  to  deliver  their  goods  through  that  waj', 
so  that  the  boulevard  is  used  only  for  pleas- 
ure driving.  All  of  the  buildings  will  be 
heated  by  steam,  and  White's  Place  will 
eventually  become  one  of  the  most  beauti- 
ful districts  of  the  city.  His  own  pleasant 
home  is  located  on  Mulberry  street,  where 
he  has  resided  for  thirteen  years. 

On  the  2 1  St  of  September,  1869,  Mr. 
White  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Min- 
erva E.  Moore,  daughter  of  Samuel  and 
Elizabeth  Moore,  who  resided  in  Hunting- 
ton county,  Indiana,  six  miles  from  the  city 
of  that  name.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  White  have 
been  born  six  children  who  are  yet  living: 
Louis  A.,  who  married  Lillian  W'ood,  of 
Chicago,  and  is  engaged  in  business  in 
Bloomington;  Ora  E.,  who  is  now  interested 
in  the  management  of  the  S.  R.  White 
Manufacturing  Company,  and  married  Miss 
Minnie  Merrideth,  by  whom  he  has  one 
child,  Samuel  R. ,  Jr.;  Elizabeth,  at  home; 
Alma,  wife  of  S.  M.  McEwan,  chief  train 
dispatcher  of    the  Chicago,    Burlington  & 


62 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Quincy  Railroad,  at  St.  Joseph,  Missouri; 
Samuel  Warren,  who  is  manager  of  the 
Star  Novelty  Manufacturing  Company;  and 
Dalmar,  at  home.  The  parents  are  mem- 
bers of  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
in  which  Mr.  White  is  serving  as  trustee. 
He  also  occupies  a  similar  position  in  con- 
nection with  the  Woman's  Industrial  Home, 
and  is  a  liberal  contributor  to  both.  He 
has  always  been  willing  to  devote  his  wealth 
and  energies  to  any  feasible  undertaking 
that  would  increase  the  prosperity  of  the 
city  and  add  to  the  comfort  of  its  inhab- 
itants. His  life  has  been  a  success.  He 
has  accumulated  a  competency  and  has 
used  only  such  means  as  will  bear  the  clos- 
est scrutiny.  He  has  for  thirty  years  been 
an  active  factor  in  advancing  the  city  of 
Bloomington,  and  during  that  entire  time 
has  so  conducted  all  of  his  affairs  as  to 
command  the  esteem,  confidence  and  re- 
spect of  all  classes.  Personally  he  is  socia- 
ble, ever  willing  to  accord  to  any  one  the 
courtesy  of  an  interview,  and  is  entirely 
free  from  ostentation  or  display.  His  ac- 
tions during  his  life  have  been  such  as  to  ac- 
cord him  recognition  among  the  represent- 
ative men  of  this  great  state,  and  although 
his  career  has  not  been  filled  with  thrilling 
incidents,  probably  no  biography  in  this 
volume  can  serve  as  a  better  illustration  to 
young  men  of  the  power  of  honesty  and  in- 
tegrity in  insuring  business. 


PHILIP  A.  KARR  is  the  well-known 
superintendent  of  the  county  poor  farm 
of  McLean  county,  which  position  he  has 
held  since  March,  1893,  and  which  he  has 
filled  in  a  most  commendable  and  satisfac- 
tory manner.  A  native  of  Indiana,  he  was 
born  November  i,  1850,  twenty-four  miles 


northeast  of  Indianapolis,  and  can  trace 
his  ancestry  back  to  1640.  The  Karr 
family  is  of  Scotch  origin.  The  paternal 
great-great-grandfather  of  our  subject  was 
Captain  John  Karr,  who  served  with  dis- 
tinction as  an  officer  in  a  New  Jersey 
regiment  during  the  Revolutionary  war, 
and  later  participated  in  the  war  of  181 2. 
He  was  one  of  the  early  members  of  the 
Masonic  order  in  this  country,  and  the  Ma- 
sonic apron  which  he  carried  through  both 
wars  is  now  one  of  the  most  cherished  pos- 
sessions of  our  subject.  Later  in  life  he 
came  west  and  made  his  home  with  his 
children  in  McLean  county,  dying  at  the 
home  of  his  son-in-law,  Hiram  Buck,  near 
Leroy,  in  1840.  He  is  one  of  the  few 
Revolutionary  soldiers  buried  here.  Walter 
Karr,  the  great-grandfather  of  our  subject, 
was  born  near  Hackettstown,  New  Jersey, 
and  at  an  early  day  removed  to  Ohio,  where 
his  death  occurred.  The  grandfather, 
Philip  Karr,  owned  and  operated  a  farm 
near  that  of  General  William  Henry  Har- 
rison, in  Ohio.  He  purchased  the  place  at 
an  early  day  and  continued  to  make  his 
home  there  until  his  removal  to  Indiana, 
where  he  also  opened  up  and  improved  a 
farm.  He  died  in  the  latter  state  about 
1849  or  1850.  He  was  a  well-known  and 
prominent  business  man,  and  at  one  time 
engaged  in  the  freighting  business  from 
Cincinnati  to  Indianapolis  with  a  six-horse 
team.      He  married  a  Miss  Granger. 

Arthur  C.  Karr,  our  subject's  father, 
was  born  in  Hamilton  county,  Ohio,  De- 
cember 30,  1827,  upon  the  farm  adjoining 
that  of  General  Harrison,  but  was  reared 
in  Indiana,  remaining  under  the  parental 
roof  until  he  attained  his  majority.  At 
that  time  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Sarah  J.  Guinn,  a  native  of  West  Vir- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


63 


ginia,  and  to  them  were  born  nine  chil- 
dren, of  whom  eight  are  still  living,  our 
subject  being  the  eldest.  After  his  mar- 
riage, the  father  lived  upon  a  farm  in  In- 
diana from  1S49  until  1855,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Warren  county,  Iowa,  locating 
fifteen  miles  southeast  of  Des  Moines,  where 
the  family  lived  in  true  pioneer  style.  They 
reached  their  destination  July  4,  1S55,  but 
as  houses  were  scarce  it  was  two  months 
before  they  secured  a  home,  which  was  a 
small  log  house  with  no  floor,  no  nails  be- 
ing used  in  its  construction.  Here  the 
father  and  mother,  with  their  three  chil- 
dren, besides  two  widows  with  three  chil- 
dren each,  lived  in  one  room,  at  the  end  of 
which  was  a  huge  fire  place,  the  back  logs 
for  which  were  drawn  into  the  room  bj'  a 
horse.  Although  the  family  encountered 
all  the  hardships  of  pioneer  life,  our  sub- 
ject still  numbers  it  among  ihe  most  pleas- 
ant and  happy  winters  he  ever  spent. 
Game  was  plentiful,  hunting  was  good  and 
the  Indians  had  left  for  their  homes  farther 
west.  The  father  was  first  engaged  in  the 
sawmill  business  in  Iowa,  and  at  that  he 
prospered.  Later  he  engaged  in  merchan- 
dising, but  failed  in  business  during  the 
panic  of  1857.  That  year  he  was  also 
taken  ill  and  was  confined  to  his  bed  for 
three  years,  but  finally  recovered,  though 
his  friends  did  not  believe  it  possible  at  the 
time.  Being  a  natural  mechanic,  he  next 
worked  at  the  wagonmaker's  trade,  and 
was  considered  one  of  the  best  in  Dewitt 
county,  Illinois,  where  he  moved  September 
7,  1864.  He  manufactured  everything 
needed  in  his  business,  and  successfully 
worked  at  his  trade  until  cheap  factory- 
made  vehicles  replaced  the  better  ones 
made  by  hand.  He  was  quite  prominent 
in  Wapella  and   vicinity,  but  never  aspired 


to  office.  He  died  March  13,  1S99,  hon- 
ored and  respected  by  all  who  knew  him. 
In  1866  he  united  with  the  Christian 
church,  though  he  had  been  a  consistent 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
for  twenty  years  previous.  His  widow  is 
still  living  at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years 
and  is  still  quite  bright  and  active. 

Philip  A.  Karr,  our  subject,  began  his 
education  in  a  primitive  log  school-house 
near  Des  Moines,  with  its  greased  paper 
window  and  rude  furniture,  and  though  his 
educational  advantages  were  limited,  he  has 
by  reading  and  observation  become  a  well- 
informed  man,  having  a  broad  and  practical 
knowledge  of  men  and  affairs  that  could  not 
be  derived  from  books.  During  his  father's 
long  illness  he  began  to  work  in  the  fields 
at  the  age  of  nine  years,  cultivating  a  small 
patch  of  ground  in  order  to  assist  in  the 
support  of  the  family.  On  New  Year's  day 
of  1864,  when  it  was  thirty-six  degrees  be- 
low zero,  he  went  three  miles  and  cut  a 
load  of  wood,  which  he  brougt  home,  being 
at  that  time  only  thirteen  years  of  age. 
Since  the  age  of  ten  he  has  been  entirely 
dependent  upon  his  own  resources,  receiv- 
ing no  financial  aid  from  his  father,  and  un- 
til twenty-two  he  practically  supported  the 
family,  while  at  that  time  he  assumed  an 
indebtedness  of  three  hundred  and  fifty  dol- 
lars incurred  for  family  expenses,  and  also 
gave  his  father  a  good  home  during  the  last 
twelve  years  of  his  life. 

On  the  9th  of  October,  1S72,  Mr.  Karr 
married  Miss  Willie  A.,  daughter  of  John 
Karr,  who  was  a  resident  of  De  Witt  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  and  to  them  have  been  born 
seven  children,  name!}' :  Clara  M.,  who 
died  December  19,  1894,  at  the  age  of 
twenty  years;  Homer  G.,  employed  as  night 
watchman  at  county  farm;  Fred  T.,  who  is 


64 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


engaged  in  farming  in  Old  Town  township; 
Albert,  who  died  at  the  age  of  thirteen 
months;  Roy,  at  home;  Eunice,  who  died 
in  infancy;  and  Daisy  Dotty  Dimple,  at 
home. 

For  four  or  five  years  after  his  marriage 
Mr.  Karr  engaged  in  farming  upon  rented 
land  in  De  Witt  county,  and  then  operated 
a  thresher  and  corn  sheller  for  about  the 
same  length  of  time.  In  this  way  he  secured 
his  start  in  life,  but  felt  the  effects  of  the 
hard  times  of  1876.  In  1881  he  again 
turned  his  attention  to  farming,  and  two 
years  later  embarked  in  the  brick  and  tile 
business,  bu3'ing  the  plant  of  a  bankrupt 
company  two  miles  from  Wapella,  and  from 
a  small  beginning  he  soon  built  up  an  excel- 
lent trade.  During  the  second  year  a  stock 
company  was  formed,  and  he  served  as 
director  and  manager  until  July  4,  1883, 
when  he  retired  from  the  corporation  on  ac- 
count of  his  views  on  the  temperance  ques- 
tion. He  then  organized  another  stock 
company,  of  which  he  was  secretary,  and 
commenced  operating  a  new  plant  at  Funk's 
Grove,  where  he  did  a  successful  business, 
furnishing  employment  to  from  fifteen  to 
twenty-five  men.  He  manufactured  most 
of  the  tile  used  in  this  locality,  and  also 
shipped  considerable.  In  connection  with 
that  business  he  also  conducted  a  sawmill, 
and  success  crowned  his  well-directed  efforts. 
He  continued  his  residence  at  Funk's  Grove 
when  he  took  possession  of  his  present  office 
in  March,  1893.  By  the  county  board  of  su- 
pervisors, he  was  appointed  superintendent 
of  the  poor  farm  in  1S92,  there  being  six  in 
competition  against  him.  At  the  end  of  five 
years,  or  in  1898  he  was  re-appointed  having 
two  opponents.  This  farm  consists  of  three 
hundred  acres,  and  as  regards  buildings  and 
grounds  is  considered  the  best  county  farm 


in  central  Illinois.  It  now  has  from  one 
hundred  and  forty  to  one  hundred  and  fifty 
inmates,  though  when  Mr.  Karr  took  charge 
they  numbered  but  ninety-six.  He  has 
proved  a  most  efficient  and  popular  superin- 
tendent, the  duties  of  the  position  having 
never  been  more  faithfully  or  satisfactorily 
performed.  Since  casting  his  first  presiden- 
tial vote  for  General  U.  S.  Grant,  in  1872, 
he  has  been  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  Re- 
publican party  and  his  duties  of  citizenship 
have  always  been  most  conscientiously  dis- 
charged. He  has  served  as  school  director 
and  road  commissioner,  and  in  all  the  rela- 
tions of  life  has  been  found  true  to  every 
trust  reposed  in  him.  Socially,  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Shirley  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  No.  212,  at  McLean,  in 
which  he  has  filled  the  office  of  master  of 
exchequer.  Religiously,  both  he  and  his 
wife  are  earnest  members  of  the  Christian 
church. 


EDWIN  C.  HEWETT,  A.  M..  LL.  D.. 
for  many  years'president  of  the  Illinois 
State  Normal  University  and  now  associate 
editor  of  the  School  and  Home  Education,  a 
periodical  published  in  Bloomington  in  the 
interest  of  education,  was  born  in  Worcester 
county,  Massachusetts,  November  i,  1828, 
and  is  the  son  of  Timothy  and  Lavina  (Leon- 
ard) Hewett,  both  of  whom  were  also  na- 
tives of  Massachusetts.  Timothy  Hewett 
was  an  experienced  and  skilled  mechanic, 
and  also  engaged  in  farming  to  a  limited 
extent.  He  is  still  living,  a  well  preserved 
man  of  ninety-three  years.  His  good  wife 
passed  to  her  reward  some  years  ago.  They 
were  the  parents  of  five  children,  two  of 
whom  are  now  living. 

Dr.  Hewett,  who  was   first  in   order  of 


EDWIN    C.    HEWETT. 


of 


of 


\lUHO»' 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


67 


birth  in  the  family,  was  reared  in  his  native 
place,  and  in  the  common  schools  received 
his  primary  education.  After  passing  through 
the  Academy,  he  attended  the  Bridgewater 
State  Normal  School,  then  in  charge  of 
Nicholas  Stillinghast,  its  first  principal. 
Previous  to  his  entering  the  Normal,  he 
taught  school  for  two  terms.  After  graduat- 
ing at  the  Normal  school,  he  entered,  as  as- 
sistant, the  high  school  at  Pittsfield,  Massa- 
chusetts, where  he  remained  one  year,  aft- 
er which  he  was  called  back  to  Bridgewater 
to  become  an  assistant  at  the  Normal,  a  po- 
sition which  he  held  for  nearly  four  years. 
At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  took  charge 
of  the  Thomas  Grammar  School,  in  Woos- 
ter,  and  remained  there  two  years. 

From  Worcester,  Prof.  Hewett  was 
called  to  Normal,  Illinois,  in  1858,  the  sec- 
ond year  of  the  establishment  of  the  State 
Normal  School  at  that  place.  In  that  insti- 
tution he  held  the  position  of  Professor  of 
History  and  Geography  until  January,  1876, 
when  he  was  elected  president  of  the  insti- 
tution, to  succeed  Dr.  Richard  Edwards, 
where  he  remained  as  its  efficient  head  until 
1S90,  when  he  resigned.  The  State  Normal 
University  constantly  grew  in  its  influence 
and  plan  of  education  under  his  manage- 
ment, and  it  is  safe  to  say  that  no  other 
president  or  professor  connected  with  the 
State  Normal  School  has  had  more  to  do 
with  shaping  and  moulding  its  plan  and  de- 
veloping its  power  for  usefulness  and  influ- 
ence along  true  educational  lines  than  Dr. 
Hewett.  He  was  with  it  almost  from  its 
inception,  and  his  thirty-two  years  of  faith- 
ful devotion  could  not  help  but  leave  its 
impress  upon  its  working  force. 

Dr.  Hewett  received  his  degree  of  A.  M. 
from  the  (old)  University  of  Chicago  in 
1863,  and  the  degree  of  LL.  D.  was  con- 


ferred on  him  by  Shurtleff  College  about 
1878.  Both  honors  were  worthily  be- 
stowed. The  Doctor  has  been  an  untiring 
worker  in  educational  circles,  and  his  time 
has  not  been  confined  alone  to  teaching, 
but  he  has  written  an  excellent  work  on 
Pedagogy,  and  another  on  Psychology, 
both  of  which  are  published  by  the  Amer- 
ican Book  Company.  He  is  also  the  author 
of  a  series  of  arithmetics,  published  by 
Rand,  McNally  &  Co.,  of  Chicago,  and  all 
of  his  books  are  in  practical  use  to-day. 
As  instructor  in  Teachers'  Institutes,  he 
has  done  a  great  deal  of  valuable  work,  as 
well  as  lecturing  on  educational  topics  and 
writing  for  educational  and  other  publica- 
tions. As  an  educator  his  ability  is  un- 
questioned, and  he  has  been  honored  by 
his  associates  in  educational  work  in  various 
ways.  For  a  time  he  served  as  president 
of  the  State  Teachers'  Association  of  Illi- 
nois, and  for  many  years  he  has  been  an 
active  worker  in  the  National  Educational 
Association,  of  which  he  was  treasurer  for 
five  years.  Previous  to  his  removal  to 
Normal,  he  was  secretary  of  the  Teachers' 
Association  of  Plymouth  and  Wooster 
counties,  Massachusetts,  and  also  held 
other  positions  of   minor   importance. 

In  August,  1857,  Dr.  Hewett  was  joined 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Angeline  N.  Benton, 
a  native  of  Franklin  county,  Massachusetts, 
where  she  was  born  in  1831,  and  daughter 
of  Horace  and  Anna  (Case)  Benton,  who 
removed  to  Lee  county,  Illinois,  in  1854. 
By  this  union  two  children  were  born — 
Mrs.  R.  R.  Reeder,  born  in  i860,  and  now 
residing  in  Chicopee  Falls,  Massachusetts, 
and  Paul,  born  in  1870,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy. Mrs.  Hewett,  who  was  a  most  esti- 
mable wife  and  loving  mother,  departed 
this  life  November  21,  1895.    For  his  second 


68 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


wife,  Dr.  Hewett  married  Mrs.  Helen  E. 
Paisley,  tu'e  Clute,  of  Normal,  their  wed- 
ding ceremony  being  solemnized  in  this 
city,  August  31,  1898. 

Dr.  Hewett  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Baptist  church  for  many  years,  and  by  that 
body  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel. 
While  the  greater  part  of  his  life  has  been 
given  to- the  cause  of  education,  he  has  yet 
occupied  the  pulpit  to  some  extent,  and 
his  sermons  are  of  a  high  order  of  merit, 
such  as  one  would  naturally  expect  from 
one  of  his  learning  and  experience.  Polit- 
ically, he  has  always  been  a  staunch  Re- 
publican. 


WILLIAM  HART  PATTERSON.  In 
past  ages  the  history  of  a  country 
was  the  record  of  wars  and  conquests;  to- 
day it  is  the  record  of  commercial  activity, 
and  those  whose  names  are  foremost  in  its 
annals  are  the  leaders  in  business  circles. 
The  conquests  now  made  are  those  of  mind 
over  matter,  not  of  man  over  man,  and  the 
victor  is  he  who  can  successfully  establish, 
control  and  operate  extensive  business  in- 
terests. 

Mr.  Patterson  is  unquestionably  one  of 
the  strongest  and  most  influential  men 
whose  lives  have  become  an  essential  part 
of  the  history  of  Bloomington  and  McLean 
county.  He  was  born  in  Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania,  May  24,  1856,  and  is  a  rep- 
resentative of  one  of  the  wealthiest  and 
most  distinguished  families  of  that  state, 
being  a  son  of  John  J.  and  Lucretia  E. 
(Moore)  Patterson.  The  founder  of  the 
Patterson  family  in  this  country  was  born 
in  Ireland  of  Scotch  ancestry  and  came  to 
America  in  1702,  locating  in  Juniata  Valley, 
Pennsylvania.       At    one  time    they  owned 


all  of  that  valley.  The  great-grandfather 
of  our  subject  was  John  Patterson,  a  soldier 
of  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  the  grand- 
father was  William  Patterson,  for  whom 
our  subject  was  named.  At  the  time  of 
his  death,  the  latter  was  one  of  the  wealth- 
iest men  in  Pennsylvania.  The  maternal 
grandfather,  Silas  Moore,  was  a  prominent 
citizen  of  Hollidaysburg,  Pennsylvania,  and 
owned  a  stage  line  from  Philadelphia  to 
Pittsburg  before  the  time  of  railroads.  He 
died  in  1844,  John  J.  Patterson,  father  of 
our  subject,  was  born  in  Waterloo,  Juniata 
county,  Pennsylvania,  August  8,  1830,  and 
has  always  been  quite  prominent  in  bus- 
iness and  political  circles  of  that  state, 
owning  an  interest  in  several  railroads  and 
serving  as  United  States  senator. 

William  H.  Patterson  is  the  oldest  in 
a  family  of  seven  children,  and  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  his  native  city  he  began  his 
education.  Later  he  attended  the  Penn- 
sylvania Military  Academy  at  Chester, 
Pennsylvania,  and  then  entered  Princeton 
College  as  a  member  of  the  class  of  1877. 
After  leaving  college  he  went  to  Washing- 
ton, D.  C,  his  father  being  at  that  time 
a  member  of  the  United  States  senate, 
and  there  he  read  law  with  the  firm  of 
Shellabarger  &  Wilson,  both  ex-members 
of  congress  and  prominent  lawyers.  He 
also  attended  the  Columbia  Law  School, 
from  which  he  was  graduated  with  the  de- 
gree of  LL.  B.,  in  1879,  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  June  of  that  year. 

The  following  August,  Mr.  Patterson 
was  elected  secretary  of  the  People's  Pass- 
enger Railway  of  Baltimore,  Maryland,  and 
remained  with  that  company  as  secretary 
and  general  manager  until  they  sold  out, 
when  he  went  to  New  Mexico  on  account 
of   his  health.     While  in  New  Mexico  he 


THE    BIOGIL\PHICAL   RECORD. 


69 


was  appointed  assistant  surveyor-general 
and  held  that  position  for  one  year,  his 
home  being  in  Santa  Fe.  In  the  fall  of 
1886,  he  returned  to  Washington,  D.  C, 
and  as  general  superintendent  and  general 
manager  was  connected  with  the  Eckington 
&  Soldiers'  Home  Street  Railway,  one  of 
the  first  electric  roads  built,  remaining  there 
until  March,  1890.  He  was  also  one  of 
the  directors  of  the  People's  Road  in  Balti- 
more. On  the  1st  of  April,  1890,  he  located 
in  Bloomington  and  at  once  became  in- 
terested in  the  Bloomington  City  Railway, 
as  its  general  manager  and  president,  until 
June,  1898.  He  changed  the  road  from  a 
mule  line  to  the  electric  system,  laid  five 
miles  of  track,  and  made  many  other  im- 
provements, insuring  quicker  and  better 
service.  He  was  also  president  and  part 
owner  of  the  Lincoln  Street  Railway  Com- 
pany for  two  years;  was  connected  with  and 
for  a  time  director  of  the  Peoria  &  Pekin 
Electric  Railway.  He  has  been  president 
of  the  Illinois  Street  Railway  Association 
since  January,  1898,  when  it  was  formed, 
and  was  re-elected  to  the  office  in  June. 
He  organized  the  association  and  takes  an 
active  interest  in  it.  He  was  also  one  of 
the  organizers  of  the  Corn  Belt  Bank,  but 
refused  to  become  one  of  its  directors.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Bloomington  Club,  and 
was  one  of  the  directors  of  the  Racing  As- 
sociation, of  which  he  was  also  one  of  the 
organizers,  being  quite  a  lover  of  the  noble 
steed. 

On  the  13th  of  January,  1881,  Mr. 
Patterson  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Georgia  Evans,  of  Washington,  D.  C,  a 
daughter  of  A.  H.  Evans,  and  they  now 
have  two  sons,  William  H.,  Jr.,  and  Alexan- 
der Evans.  Mrs.  Patterson  and  the  older 
son  are  members  of  the  Episcopal   church. 


which  our  subject  also  attends  and  to  which 
he  contributes  liberally.  As  a  Republican 
he  has  always  taken  an  active  part  in  poli- 
tics and  has  served  as  a  delegate  to  state 
conventions.  He  is  ^a  public  spirited,  en- 
terprising citizen,  always  willing  to  give  his 
support  to  any  object  which  he  believes 
calculated  to  prove  of  public  benefit,  and 
has  rendered  Bloomington  efficient  service 
as  park  commissioner,  being  first  appointed 
to  that  office  in  1895  ^nd  re-appointed  in 
1897.  During  his  term  twelve  acres  were 
added  to  Miller  park,  the  lake  was  con- 
structed, the  zoo  buildings  were  erected, 
animals  bought,  a  boat  house  was  also  built 
and  boats  purchased.  All  of  these  improve- 
ments and  many  others  were  made  in  that 
park,  and  the  other  parks  were  also  beauti- 
fied and  extensively  improved.  Mr.  Patter- 
son gave  considerable  attention  to  the  work, 
and  the  city  now  has  as  fine  a  system  of 
parks  as  any  place  of  its  size  in  the  state. 


LOIS  E.  LING.  No  foreign  element  has 
become  a  more  important  part  of  our 
American  citizenship  than  that  furnished  by 
Sweden.  The  emigrants  from  that  land 
have  brought  with  them  to  the  new  world 
the  stability,  enterprise  and  perseverance 
characteristic  of  their  people  and  have  fused 
these  qualities  with  the  progressiveness  and 
indomitable  spirit  of  the  west.  We  find  a 
worthy  representative  of  this  class  in  Mr. 
Ling,  the  present  alderman  of  the  seventh 
ward  of  Bloomington  and  a  well-known  gro- 
cer of  that  city. 

Mr.  Ling  was  born  in  Ockelbo,  Gefle, 
Sweden,  November  4,  185 1,  and  is  a  son  of 
John  Peterson,  a  farmer,  who  spent  his  en- 
tire life  in  that  country.  He  received  a 
good    practical     education     in    the    public 


10 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


schools,  and  while  pursuing  his  studies  in 
the  higher  schools  of  his  native  villages,  the 
letters  were  changed  from  the  German  to 
the  English  alphabet,  so  that  he  became  fa- 
miliar with  both,  but  his  knowledge  of  the 
English  language  has  all  been  acquired 
during  his  residence  here  by  extensive  read- 
ing and  study.  He  continued  to  aid  in  the 
work  of  the  home  farm  until  1870,  when  at 
the  age  of  eighteen  years,  he  sailed  for  the 
United  States,  hoping  to  benefit  his  finan- 
cial condition,  and  his  dreams  of  the  future 
have  been  more  than  realized,  for  he  now 
occupies  a  very  prominent  place  in  business 
circles  and  public  affairs  in  Bloomington. 

Locating  first  in  Kewawnee,  Illinois, 
Mr.  Ling  found  work  with  the  railroad  com- 
pany, and  after  coming  to  Bloomington  in 
1872,  worked  for  a  time  in  the  railroad 
shops  here  and  later  in  the  mines  for  two 
years.  As  a  miner  he  received  from  five  to 
six  dollars  per  day,  and  he  thus  secured  a 
start  in  life.  For  some  time  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  city  police  force,  being  well  fitted 
for  that  position  by  early  training  in  Sweden, 
where  he  had  been  a  member  of  a  military 
club  with  old  military  men  to  drill  them. 
It  was  while  a  member  of  that  organization 
that  he  took  the  name  of  Ling,  it  being 
customary  to  give  military  men  shorter 
names,  which  the  law  gave  them  the  right 
to  adopt.  He  was  also  a  member  of  what 
was  practically  a  sharpshooters  club,  in 
which  he  stood  high,  having  practiced  shoot- 
ing from  the  age  of  ten  years.  Mr.  Ling 
was  a  patrolman  in  Bloomington  for  four 
years  or  until  the  administration  changed,  he 
being  a  Republican  in  politics.  He  obtained 
a  position  as  clerk  in  the  clothing  store  of 
Mr.  Isaac  L.  Funkand  there  hegained  hisfirst 
knowledge  of  selling  goods,  which  has  been 
of  much    practical    benefit  to  him  in    later 


years.  For  four  years  he  remained  with 
that  gentleman  and  was  then  with  his  broth- 
er for  two  and  a  half  years,  during  which 
time  he  erected  a  one-story  brick  building  at 
405  South  Allen  street,  owing  one  hundred 
and  fifteen  and  a  half  feet  there  and  one 
hundred  and  four  feet  on  West  Water  street. 
On  the  completion  of  his  building  he  put  in 
a  stock  of  groceries  and  embarked  in  busi- 
ness on  his  own  account  January  8,  1890. 
He  has  since  built  an  adjoining  store  room 
and  made  them  both  two  stories  in  height. 
One  he  uses  for  his  stock  of  groceries  and 
the  other  for  a  meat  market,  and  he  now 
gives  employment  to  six  people,  having  the 
best  grocery  trade  in  that  part  of  the  city. 
He  has  also  built  a  lovely  home  at  the  cor- 
ner upon  the  property   already  mentioned. 

On  the  15th  of  March,  1873,  Mr.  Ling 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Martha 
Soderblom,  also  of  Swedish  birth,  and  they 
now  have  two  children:  John  Albert,  who 
assists  his  father  in  the  meat  market;  and 
Emma  C.  at  home.  The  family  hold  mem- 
bership in  the  Swedish  Lutheran  church  and 
are  held  in  high  esteem  by  a  large  circle  of 
friends  and  acquaintances. 

Since  becoming  an  American  citizen,  Mr. 
Ling  has  affiliated  with  the  Republican 
party,  has  taken  an  active  part  in  local  pol- 
itics and  has  several  times  been  a  member 
of  the  executive  committee  in  his  ward.  At 
the  time  of  the  re-organization  of  the  city 
in  1897,  he  was  elected  alderman  for  the 
seventh  ward  for  a  term  of  two  years,  and 
is  now  chairman  of  the  committee  on  streets 
and  highways  and  a  member  of  the  commit- 
tees on  license  and  claims.  The  position  of 
alderman  was  really  forced  upon  him  as  it  was 
his  desire  to  give  his  entire  attention  to  his 
growing  business  interests,  but  being  elected 
through  no  effort  of  his  own,  he  is  now  giv- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


71 


ing  it  his  special  attention  and  is  proving  a 
most  efficient  and  popular  official.  Being 
quite  an  athlete  in  his  younger  days,  Mr. 
Ling  has  developed  a  fine  physique,  is  six 
feet  in  height  and  well  porportioned.  As  a 
boy  he  was  never  subject  to  fear  like  most 
lads  of  his  age.  Socially,  he  is  a  member 
of  the  Odd  Fellows  Lodge,  No.  400. 


GEORGE  W.  BROWN,  the  well-known 
superintendent  and  general  manager 
of  the  Bloomington  Stove  Company,  was 
born  in  Providence,  Rhode  Island,  July  17, 

1855,  and  is  a  son  of  George  and  Ella 
(Curren)  Brown,  the  former  a  native  of 
Gloucestershire,  England,  the  latter  of  Bel- 
fast, Ireland.  When  a  young  man  the 
father  crossed  the  Atlantic  and  took  up  his 
residence  in  Providence,  Rhode  Island, 
where  he  worked  at  the  blacksmith's  trade 
until  his  death,   which  occurred  in  January, 

1856.  Both  parents  held  membership  in 
the  Episcopal  church,  and  were  highly 
respected  by  all  who  knew  them. 

Our  subject  commenced  his  education 
in  the  schools  of  Providence,  but  after  the 
death  of  the  father  he  accompanied  his 
mother  on  her  removal  to  Atlanta,  Illinois, 
and  in  the  winter  of  1866-7  came  to  Bloom- 
ington, where  he  attended  the  public  schools 
for  a  time.  On  starting  out  in  life  for  him- 
self he  entered  the  molding  department  of 
the  Bloomington  Stove  Company's  works 
as  an  apprentice,  and  later  worked  as  a 
molder  in  that  foundry  until  August  11, 
1 898,  when  he  was  appointed  to  the  responsi- 
ble position  of  superintendent  and  general 
manager,  which  he  is  now  so  creditably  and 
acceptably  filling,  having  about  thirty  men 
under  him.  This  is  one  of  the  largest  stove 
works  in  central  Illinois,  and  his  long  con- 


nection with  it  plainly  indicates  his  skill 
and  ability  in  his  chosen  calling,  and  the 
faithful  discharge  of  the  duties  devolving 
upon  him. 

Mr.  Brown  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Jennie  Winset,  of  W^illiamsport,  In- 
diana, who  died  June  13,  1898,  leaving  five 
children,  namely:  Ellen,  Annie,  Gilbert 
W.,  George  Benjamin  and  William  J.  So- 
cially, Mr.  Brown  is  an  honored  member  of 
Remembrance  Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  P.,  and  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  and  relig- 
iously is  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  church, 
with  which  he  has  been  officially  connected. 
He  is  a  progressive  and  public-spirited  citi- 
zen who  gives  his  support  to  all  enterprises 
for  the  public  good,  and  he  has  a  host  of 
warm  friends  in  his  adopted  city. 


OLIVER  ^\.  DUNLAP.  Sound  judg- 
ment combined  with  fine  ability  in  me- 
chanical lines  has  enabled  the  subject  of 
this  biography,  a  well-known  resident  of 
Bloomington,  to  attain  a  substantial  success 
in  life  and  his  history  is  of  especial  interest. 
Although  comparatively  a  young  man,  he 
has  already  attained  a  prominent  place  in 
business  circles  and  is  now  treasurer  of  the 
Bloomington  Pressed  Brick  Company. 

Mr.  Dunlap  was  born  in  Bloomington 
June  17,  1866,  and  is  a  son  of  Eleazer 
Dunlap,  who  was  born  in  Urbana,  Cham- 
paign county,  Ohio,  October  21,  1826,  and 
losing  his  father  during  his  infancy,  he  was 
reared  by  a  Mr.  Gregg,  of  Clinton  county, 
Indiana.  During  his  early  life  the  father  of 
our  subject  engaged  in  steamboating  from 
Cincinnati  to  New  Orleans,  and  subsequent- 
ly, in  an  official  position,  was  connected 
with  a  ferry  at  Cincinnati.  There  he  mar- 
ried Miss   Lucinda  Clark,  of  Daytpn,  JCep. 


72 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


tucky,  a  native  of  Ohio  and  a  daughter  of 
Josiah  Clark,  at  that  time  a  resident  of  Day- 
ton, Kentucky.  About  i860  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Dunlap  removed  to  North  Vernon,  Indiana, 
and  in  1865  came  to  Bloomington,  where 
he  was  at  first  engaged  in  farming  and  in 
the  wood  business  in  the  southern  part  of 
the  city,  remaining  there  until  1881.  Dur- 
ing the  following  five  years  he  conducted  a 
grocery  store  at  No.  106  South  East  street, 
and  in  1888  embarked  in  the  feed  business 
at  No.  301  East  Front  street,  carrying  on 
operations  there  for  three  years.  In  con- 
nection with  our  subject,  he  formed  the 
Bloomington  Pressed  Brick  Company  in 
1892,  and  since  its  incorporation  he  has 
served  as  a  director  and  vice-president. 
For  sixteen  years  he  was  an  efficient  mem- 
ber of  the  school  board,  representing  the 
district  in  which  he  lived  in  the  southern 
part  of  the  city.  Socially,  he  has  affiliated 
with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows 
for  half  a  century,  being  at  the  present  time 
a  member  of  Remembrance  Lodge,  and  both 
he  and  his  wife  are  faithful  members  of  the 
Baptist  church.  In  the  family  are  three 
children:     Emily,  Libbie  and  Oliver  W. 

After  attending  the  public  schools  of  his 
native  city  for  some  time,  Oliver  W.  Dun- 
lap  took  a  commercial  course,  and  began 
his  business  career  in  a  brick  yard,  where 
he  learned  the  trade  of  brick  making.  At 
the  age  of  nineteen,  he  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  a  Mr.  Cannon,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Dunlap  &  Cannon,  and  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  brick  at  the  old  estab- 
lished yard  of  Heafer  &  McGregor,  making 
the  common  and  hand-made  paving  brick 
for  six  years.  They  met  with  well-deserved 
success,  their  business  steadily  increasing 
from  the  beginning  until  the  partnership 
was  dissolved   in   1892.     With  his  father, 


Mr.  Dunlap  had  experimented  with  the  clay 
at  their  present  location,  and  finding  it  suit- 
able for  their  purpose,  they  put  in  operation 
press  brick  works  in  1892,  their  plant  being 
equipped  with  modern  machinery  for  that 
purpose.  They  were  able  to  turn  out  a  fine 
quality  of  pressed  brick,  and  in  December, 
1893,  a  company  was  incorporated  under 
the  style  of  the  Bloomington  Pressed  Brick 
Company,  with  E.  Dunlap  as  president, 
Oliver  W.  Dunlap  as  treasurer,  and  J.  M. 
Elder  as  secretary.  The  capital  stock  was 
at  first  fifteen  thousand  dollars,  and  the 
output  after  a  year  or  two  was  two  million, 
five  hundred  thousand  brick  per  annum,  the 
trade  being  largely  local.  In  March,  1896, 
the  capital  stock  was  increased  to  twenty- 
five  thousand  dollars,  and  paving  brick 
machinery  was  added  to  the  plant.  They 
also  have  steam  dryers  and  down  draft 
kilns  and  other  modern  improvements  for 
brick  making.  The  present  capacity  of  the 
plant  is  five  million  brick  annually,  and 
their  paving  brick  has  been  mostly  sold  in 
Bloomington.  It  is  one  of  the  largest 
plants  of  the  kind  .in  central  Illinois;  em- 
ployment is  furnished  to  from  thirty  to 
thirty-five  hands  all  the  year  round,  and  as 
superintendent  our  subject  has  had  charge 
of  the  same  from  the  start.  He  has  in- 
vented a  machine  which  they  use  in  their 
own  business  and  which  is  now  sold  from 
coast  to  coast,  having  been  patented  both 
in  this  country  and  in  England.  It  is  a 
clay  screen,  which  they  manufacture  quite 
extensively,  and  is  in  itself  an  important 
branch  of  their  business. 

On  October  12,  1898,  Mr.  Dunlap  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Maud  Coates, 
of  Valparaiso,  Indiana,  a  daughter  of  Dr. 
H.  C.  Coates.  They  are  members  of  the 
Baptist  church,    and  socially  Mr.    Dunlap 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


73 


affiliates  with  the  Benevolent  and  Protective 
Order  of  Elks,  and  Jesse  Fell  Lodge,  Knights 
of  Pythias.  As  a  business  man  he  is  enter- 
prising, energetic  and  progressive,  and  the 
success  that  he  has  achieved  in  life  is  due 
to  his  own  well-directed  efforts. 


RINALDO  MIXTOX  HALL,  city  editor 
of  the  Daily  Leader,  of  Bloomington, 
and  a  prominent  representative  of  the  jour- 
nalistic profession,  is  a  native  of  McLean 
county,  born  near  Downs,  January  28,  1870, 
and  is  a  son  of  Taylor  Z.  and  Hannah 
(O'Xeil)  Hall,  who  were  born,  reared  and 
married  near  Uniontown,  Fayette  county, 
Pennsylvania.  The  paternal  grandfather 
was  Samuel  Hall,  who  was  born  in  1798  at 
Kennett  Square,  Chester  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, of  Quaker  parentage,  he  being  a  first 
cousin  of  Bayard  Taylor,  the  noted  traveler 
and  author.  Samuel  Hall  married  Margaret 
Kendall,  who  was  born  at  Monroe,  Fayette 
county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1800.  Her  father 
was  a  captain  in  the  Revolutionary  war  and 
served  with  honor  and  distinction.  Samuel 
Hall  died  at  the  age  of  si.xty-four,  while  his 
wife  attained  the  age  of  ninety-one  years. 
The  mother  of  Mrs.  Taylor  Hall  was  Eliza- 
beth Crow,  who  lived  to  be  eighty-five 
years  of  age,  while  her  father,  Henry  O'Xeil, 
lived  to  reach  the  four-score  mark.  They 
were  natives  of  Pennsylvania. 

Soon  after  their  marriage  the  parents 
of  our  subject  came  to  McLean  county, 
Illinois,  and  first  located  at  Old  Delta, 
where  the  father  became  one  of  the  leading 
blacksmiths  of  the  county  at  an  early  day. 
On  closing  out  that  business,  he  purchased 
a  farm  a  mile  and  a  half  northwest  of  the 
village  of  Downs,  where  he  has  since  lived. 
He  extensively  carried  on  operations  as  a 


general  farmer  for  a  number  of  years,  but  is 
now  living  retired  upon  his  home  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  enjoying  the 
fruits  of  former  toil.  He  has  been  a  life- 
long supporter  of  the  Democracy,  and  one 
of  its  most  prominejit  and  influential  mem- 
bers in  Old  Town  township,  but  has  always 
refused  political  office.  He  has,  however, 
taken  an  active  part  in  school  affairs  in  his 
district.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  faithful 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
and  are  deserving  of  the  high  regard  in 
which  they  are  uniformly  held.  They  have 
reared  a  family  of  eight  children,  namely: 
Josephine,  now  the  wife  of  R.  \V.  Cole,  of 
Leroy;  Tobie,  wife  of  George  Bishop,  of 
West  Point,  Mississippi;  Winnie,  widow  of 
Arthur  Messick,  of  Downs;  Bunnie,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years;  Kate, 
who  is  the  widow  of  Charles  Nelson  and 
resides  at  home;  Richard,  a  grain  dealer  of 
Downs;  Rinaldo  M.,  our  subject,  and  Cal- 
vin S.,  Jr. 

Rinaldo  M.  Hall  attended  the  grammar 
and  high  schools  of  Downs,  and  for  four 
years  was  a  student  in  the  Illinois  Wesleyan 
University,  where  he  took  an  active  and 
prominent  part  in  literary  and  social  affairs, 
as  a  member  of  the  Phi  Gamma  Delta  and 
Belle  Lettres  Societies.  He  took  part  in  a 
number  of  oratorical  contests  and  ranked 
high  as  a  college  orator.  He  pursued  a 
scientific  course  and  gave  special  attention 
to  Latin.  After  leaving  college  he  taught 
for  two  years  near  Downs,  and  was  then 
offered  a  position  to  do  local  work  on  the 
Daily  Leader,  with  which  he  was  connected 
for  a  year  and  a  half. 

On  the  20th  of  September,  1894,  Mr. 
Hall  married  Miss  DeLila  E.  White,  a 
daughter  of  William  R.  White,  whose  sketch 
appears   elsewhere  in   this  volunie.     After 


74 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


his  marriage  he  purchased  the  Fisher  Re- 
porter, at  Fisher,  Champaign  county,  Illi- 
nois, where  he  remained  as  editor  and  pro- 
prietor of  a  good  weekly  paper  until  May, 
1897,  when  he  sold  out  and  accepted  a  po- 
sition to  look  after  some  of  the  many  inter- 
ests of  Mr.  White  and  returned  to  Bloom- 
ington.  He  was  associated  with  his  father- 
in-law  until  May,  1898,  when  he  received 
several  good  offers,  one  of  which  was  to  do 
special  newspaper  work  at  the  Omaha  Ex- 
position. He  also  received  an  offer  from  a 
Chicago  daily  to  go  to  the  front  as  war 
correspondent,  but  not  wishing  to  leave 
home,  he  accepted  neither  of  these.  He 
did,  however,  accept  the  position  of  city 
editor  of  the  Daily  Leader,  a  Republican 
evening  daily,  with  which  he  is  still  con- 
nected. He  has  received  many  compli- 
ments from  Republican  leaders  and  mem- 
bers of  Congress  for  his  effective  work  in 
the  interests  of  the  party,  for  he  bore  an 
important  part  in  the  campaign  of  1898. 
He  is  particularly  fitted  for  his  present  re- 
sponsible position  by  education  and  prac- 
tical experience  in  all  departments  of  news- 
paper work.  He  has  always  been  very 
self-reliant  and  enterprising,  and  his  inde- 
pendence of  spirit  is  shown  by  the  fact  that 
while  in  college  he  arose  regularly  every 
morning  at  four  o'clock  to  distribute  papers 
to  earn  his  pocket  money,  rather  than  ac- 
cept it  from  his  father,  who  is  well-to-do. 
These  morning  trips  necessitated  a  walk  of 
five  miles  each  morning  before  breakfast  in 
all  kinds  of  weather.  Mr.  Hall  is  an  ardent 
Republican  and  the  only  one  of  his  family 
to  support  that  party.  Socially,  he  is  a 
member  of  Kickapoo  Lodge,  K.  of  P.,  at 
Downs,  of  which  he  is  a  charter  member, 
and  the  Modern  Woodmen,  of  Fisher, 
Champaign  count}",  Illinois,  and  did  consid- 


erable work  in  the  degree  teams.  He  is, 
however,  quite  domestic  in  his  tastes  and 
cares  more  for  his  home  than  outside  fel- 
lowship. Both  he  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Christian  church,  and  they  are 
now  building  a  beautiful  home  at  the  cor- 
ner of  Locust  and  McLean  streets — the 
finest  residence  district  in  the  city. 


HIRAM  BAKER  has  for  thirty  years 
been  a  resident  of  McLean  county, 
and  is  one  of  the  most  extensive  land  own- 
ers of  the  state.  With  wonderful  foresight 
he  discerned  the  future  development  and 
advancement  of  Illinois,  and  on  coming 
here  at  an  early  day  his  keen  sagacity 
prompted  him  to  largely  invest  in  the  rich 
prairie  land  in  the  central  section  of  the 
state.  Its  rise  in  value  has  made  him  a 
wealthy  man,  and  his  prosperity  is  certainly 
well  merited,  for  his  business  career  has 
been  one  of  probity  and  integrity,  and  his 
capable  management  and  diligence  are 
justly  crowned  with  .success. 

Mr.  Baker  is  a  native  of  the  Empire 
state.  He  was  born  in  Troy,  New  York, 
on  the  27th  of  April,  181 8,  a  son  of  Benja- 
min and  Lucy  (Ives)  Baker.  For  many 
years  his  father  was  a  resident  of  Rensse- 
laer county.  New  York,  and  there  married 
Miss  Lucy  Ives,  who  acquired  her  educa- 
tion in  that  county.  He  carried  on  agri- 
cultural pursuits,  and  not  until  late  in  life 
did  he  leave  the  old  home  to  become  a  resi- 
dent of  Peoria  count}',  Illinois,  where  his 
last  days  were  passed.  He  held  member- 
ship in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

To  the  public-school  system  of  his 
native  county  Hiram  Baker  is  indebted  for 
the  educational  privileges  he  received,  re- 


OF    THE 
JKIVEHSlTy  OF  lujNO/f 


HIRAM   BAKER. 


MRS.   HIRAM    BAKER. 


OF   THE 
JUIYERSITY  Of  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


79 


ceiving  a  good  business  education.  He  was 
early  inured  to  all  the  labors  that  fall  to  the 
lot  of  the  agriculturist,  and  assisted  his 
father  in  the  cultivation  of  the  home  farm 
until  sixteen  years  of  age.  In  1S37,  in 
company  with  his  brother  Benjamin,  he 
drove  across  the  state  to  Buffalo,  New 
York,  and  there,  putting  the  horse  and 
buggy  on  a  boat,  came  b\'  water  to  Detroit. 
From  that  point  they  drove  into  the  wild 
and  untraveled  regions  of  Michigan,  across 
corduroy  bridges  and  over  new  wagon  roads 
to  Indiana,  thence  to  Joliet,  Illinois,  and 
on  to  Peoria,  being  three  weeks  and  one 
day  upon  the  way.  Peoria  was  then 
scarcely  more  than  a  hamlet,  and  there 
was  no  really  good  building  in  the  place. 
From  that  point  Hiram  Baker  started  out 
on  a  prospecting  tour,  traveling  over  the 
present  site  of  the  city  of  Galesburg  to  a 
little  place  called  South  Cherry  Grove,  and 
on  to  Farmington,  where  he  remained  for 
about  four  years.  During  that  time  he  pur- 
chased town  lots,  built  a  residence  and  en- 
gaged in  lumbering  and  other  business 
interests.  On  the  expiration  of  that  period 
he  went  to  Charleston,  Peoria  county,  now 
called  Brimfield,  and  opened  up  a  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  fifty  acres.  He  erected  a 
house  and  began  the  development  and  im- 
provement of  his  land,  carrying  on  general 
farming  and  stock  raising.  During  that 
time  Peoria  was  his  market  for  all  supplies. 
He  lived  upon  that  farm  for  seven  years, 
and  in  the  meantime  purchased  more  land, 
devoting  his  energies  entirely  to  agricul- 
tural pursuits  and  land  investments. 

On  the  1 6th  of  December,  1847,  was 
celebrated  his  marriage  to  Miss  Sarah  Fry, 
a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  daughter  of 
Benjamin  and  Sarah  (Shafer)  Fry,  both  of 
whom  were  also  natives  of   Pennsylvania, 


Sarah  Shafer  was  a  daughter  of  Thomas 
and  Mary  Shafer,  who  were  born  in  Wash- 
ington county,  Pennsylvania.  Thomas 
Shafer  went  into  the  Continental  army 
under  General  ^^'ashington  at  the  age  of 
fourteen  years,  and  served  through  the  en- 
tire war.  He  died  at  the  age  of  ninety- 
five  j'ears.  Benjamin  and  Sarah  Fry  came 
to  Illinois  in  1S38,  and  settled  near  Peoria, 
where  he  engaged  in  farming.  They  both 
died  at  Hinsdale,  Illinois,  but  were  buried 
at  Peoria. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Baker  left  the 
farm  and  removed  to  Brimfield,  but  did  not 
sell  his  land,  it  being  still  in  his  possession. 
While  residing  there  he  was  induced  to 
hold  the  only  political  office  he  has  ever  ac- 
cepted, that  of  alderman.  His  time  and 
attention  have  been  given  entirely  to  his 
farming  interests  and  investments,  and 
while  making  his  home  in  Peoria  count}-  he 
became  the  owner  of  five  hundred  and  fifty 
acres  on  the  west  side  of  the  river.  He 
also  owned  a  section  of  land  in  Crawford 
county,  Iowa,  but  afterward  traded  it  for 
Iroquois  county  lands.  In  186G  he  re- 
moved to  Normal  in  order  to  provide  his 
children  with  better  educational  advantages, 
and  noting  the  richness  of  the  alluvial  soil 
in  this  section  of  the  state,  he  began  buying 
land  here,  and  his  holdings  are  among  the 
most  extensive  of  any  individual  owner  in 
this  locality.  When  he  arrived  in  Illinois 
he  found  many  young  men  who  had  come 
to  seek  a  fortune  in  the  west,  discouraged 
and  disheartened,  preparing  to  return  to 
the  east.  He  told  them  that  any  one  who 
would  staj'  and  gain  possession  of  land 
would  some  day  be  well  off.  Time  has 
verified  the  truth  of  this  statement,  and  al- 
though Mr.  Baker  had  a  capital  of  only  one 
hundred   dollars  when  he  came  to  McLean 


8o 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


county,  he  is  now  worth  more  than  half  a 
million.  He  has  made  many  judicious  in- 
vestments, continually  adding  to  his  prop- 
erty interests.  One  of  his  first  purchases 
in  central  Illinois  was  a  half-section  in  Ford 
county.  Later  he  bought  another  section, 
and  added  to  that  until  he  now  has  fourteen 
hundred  and  forty  acres  in  Ford  county  of 
as  fine  land  as  can  be  found  in  this  entire 
country,  and  all  splendidly  improved.  He 
never  sells  his  land,  but  continually  adds 
to  it,  and  now  has  two  thousand  acres  in 
McLean  county,  which  is  under  a  high  state 
of  cultivation  and  yields  to  him  a  good  in- 
come. He  has  also  given  to  his  two  chil- 
dren property  and  money  to  the  value  of 
sixty  thousand  dollars.  He  also  has  large 
realty  holdings  in  Iroquois  county,  and  four 
hundred  and  fifty-six  acres  of  land  in  De- 
witt  county,  on  which  there  is  not  a  hill  or 
a  slough,  all  being  rich  rolling  ground, 
highly  cultivatable.  Lands  in  Henry  coun- 
ty that  he  purchased  soon  after  his  arrival 
are  also  still  in  his  possession,  the  aggre- 
gate being  nearly  five  thousand  acres  of  the 
finest  land  of  Illinois.  His  judgment  as  to 
land  values  is  most  sound  and  reliable,  and 
he  has  depended  entirely  upon  his  own  opin- 
ion in  such  matters. 

Mr.  Baker  continued  his  residence  in 
Normal  until  May  14,  1885,  when  he  pur- 
chased a  beautiful  home  on  North  Main 
street,  Bloomington,  where  he  and  his  esti- 
mable wife  dispense  a  most  cordial  hospi- 
tality to  their  many  friends.  They  were 
formerly  members  of  the  Baptist  church. 
Two  children  were  born  to  them,  but  the 
daughter,  Hattie  B.,  died  December  17, 
1898.  She  married  George  Champion,  of 
Normal,  and  at  her  death  left  four  children, 
Gertie  B.,  George,  Jr.,  Frank  B.  and  Myr- 
tle M.     She  was  one  of  the  foremost  ladies 


of  Normal  and  was  universally  loved  and 
respected  by  all  who  knew  her.  She  was  a 
friend  to  the  poor  and  needy,  and  to  all 
who  were  in  distress,  and  was  a  woman  of 
many  excellencies  of  head  and  heart.  The 
son,  Frank  R.  Baker,  is  now  in  the  real- 
estate  business  in  Bloomington,  where  he 
has  a  fine  residence  on  Franklin  square, 
erected  and  given  him  by  his  father.  He 
married  Miss  Delia  A.  Shelton,  and  they 
have  two  children:  Fred  R. ,  who  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  graduating  class  of  1899  in 
Williams  College;  and  Beulah,  who  will 
graduate  from  the  high  school  oi  Bloom- 
ington in  June,  1899.  In  the  spring  of  1857 
Mr.  Baker  gave  one  thousand  dollars  to 
assist  in  building  the  old  Chicago  Univer- 
sity, which  was  under  the  control  of  the 
Baptist  church.  Owing  to  the  hard  times 
the  buildings  were  lost,  but  he  has  the  sat- 
isfaction of  knowing  that  later  the  institu- 
tion was  aided  in  a  most  substantial  manner 
by  John  D.  Rockefeller,  and  backed  by  him 
to  a  successful  issue.  Mr.  Baker  was  also 
one  of  six  gentlemen  to  build  a  Baptist 
church  in  Briinfield,  Illinois,  which  was 
afterwards  destroyed  by  fire. 

Such  is  the  life  history  of  one  whose 
record  is  indeed  creditable  and  worthy  of 
emulation.  He  came  to  the  west  deter- 
mined to  win  success  through  honorable 
effort  and  diligence,  and  his  close  applica- 
tion to  business,  his  keen  discrimination  and 
his  unabating  energy  have  enabled  him  to 
realize  his  hopes.  He  has  commanded 
uniform  respect  by  his  honorable  methods, 
and  enjoys  the  regard  of  all  with  whom  he 
has  been  brought  in  contact.  For  thirty 
years  a  resident  of  McLean  county  he  is 
numbered  among  her  valued  citizens,  and 
this  work  would  be  incomplete  without  the 
record  of  his  life. 


OF  THE 
JIIIVERSITY  OF  ILUNOIf 


FRANK   BAKER. 


MRS.   FRANK   BAKER. 


OF   Tl-iE. 
.MVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


!5 


JACOB  SHOLTY.  Among  the  many 
beautiful  rural  homes  of  Dale  township, 
nona  is  more  pleasant  than  that  of  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch,  who  is  one  of  the  most 
progressive  and  successful  agriculturists  of 
his  community.  He  was  born  in  that  town- 
ship on  the  2nd  of  April,  1863,  and  is  a  son 
of  Henry  and  Susan  (Swinehart)  Sholty. 
The  father  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  but 
when  small  he  went  to  Ohio  with  his  father, 
and  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years  came  with 
the  family  to  Bloomington,  Illinois.  Soon 
afterward  the  grandfather  of  our  subject  lo- 
cated in  Dale  township,  where  he  improved 
a  farm  and  continued  to  make  his  home  un- 
til his  death.  Henry  Sholty  remained  on 
the  old  homestead  until  after  his  father  died, 
but  was  married  upon  another  farm  which 
he  purchased  in  the  same  township,  and 
which  has  been  his  home  almost  continu- 
ously since,  though  for  the  past  few  years  he 
has  lived  retired  in  Bloomington.  Through 
his  own  unaided  efforts  he  has  secured  a 
competence,  and  is  now  the  owner  of  three 
hundred  and  forty  acres  of  valuable  land  in 
Dale  township.  He  is  honored  and  re- 
spected wherever  known,  and  the  success 
that  he  has  achieved  in  life  is  certainly  well- 
merited.      His  faithful  wife  died  in  1898. 

Of  the  four  children  born  to  this  worthy 
couple,  our  subject  is  the  third  in  order  of 
birth.  He  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools,  and  remained  upon  the  home  farm 
with  his  father  until  he  was  married,  June 
13,  1886,  to  Miss  Florence  Staley,  daugh- 
ter of  Andrew  Staley,  of  Dale  township. 
The  children  born  of  this  union  are  Henrv, 
Elmer,  Clara,  Fern  and  Ivan. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Sholty  purchased 
one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  rich  and 
arable  land  and  embarked  in  general  farm- 
ing and  stock  raising  on  his  own  account. 


As  he  has  met  with  success  in  his  chosen 
calling,  he  has  been  enabled  to  e.xtend  the 
boundaries  of  his  farm  from  time  to  time 
until  it  now  includes  two  hundred  and  twen- 
ty acres  of  excellent  land,  adding  to  the 
original  tract  first  twenty  acres  and  later  two 
forty-acre  tracts.  This  he  has  improved 
with  good  and  substantial  buildings,  includ- 
ing a  beautiful  home  built  in  1896  in  mod- 
ern style  of  architecture  and  supplied  with 
all  conveniences,  so  that  it  is  one  of  the 
most  elegant  country  residences  in  the  coun- 
ty and  would  add  to  the  beauty  of  any  city. 
In  his  political  affiliations  Mr.  Sholty  is  a 
Republican  and  he  has  done  much  to  ad- 
vance the  educational  interests  of  his  local- 
ity while  serving  for  two  terms  as  school  di- 
rector of  his  district.  He  and  his  wife  hold 
membership  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  and  give  liberally  to  its  support. 


ORA  E.  WHITE,  manager  of  the  S. 
R.  \\'hite  Manufacturing  Company  of 
Bloomington,  is  one  of  the  most  wide-awake 
and  enterprising  business  men  of  the  city. 
Here  he  was  born  November  17,  1872,  a 
son  of  Samuel  R.  White,  whose  sketch  ap- 
pears elsewhere  in  this  volume,  and  in  the 
public  and  high  schools  of  the  city  he  ac- 
quired his  literary  training.  Later  he  en- 
tered the  St.  Joe  (Missouri)  Business  Col- 
lege, who  was  conducted  by  his  uncle,  J. 
B.  Moore,  and  there  he  took  a  business 
course  and  also  one  in  drafting.  To  further 
fit  himself  for  his  present  business  he  spent 
a  year  in  an  architect's  office.  With  these 
preparations  he  returned  to  Bloomington 
and  entered  his  father's  factory.  As  he  be- 
came more  and  more  conversant  with  the 
business,  he  was  gradually  advanced  to  more 
responsible  positions  until  he  became  mana- 


86 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


g^er  of  the  latge  plant,  having  from  thfrty- 
five  to  forty  men  working  under  him.  Here 
everything  connected  with  house  finishing  is 
manufactured,  including  doors,  sash,  blinds 
and  all  kinds  of  wood  work,  it  being  one  of 
the  largest  factories  of  the  kind  in  central 
Illinois.  In  its  management  Mr.  White  has 
displayed  remarkable  executive  ability, 
sound  judgment  and  keen  perception,  and 
the  business  has  steadily  increased  in  vol- 
ume and  importance  until  it  is  one  of  the 
leading  industries  of  the  city.  (A  more  ex- 
tended mention  of  the  business  is  given  in 
connection  with  his  father's  sketch.) 

On  the  1 2th  of  May,  1896,  Mr.  White 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Minnette 
Meredith,  of  Brook,  Indiana,  a  daughter  of 
Rev.  H.  W.  Meredith,  a  minister  of  the 
United  Brethren  church.  They  now  have 
one  son,  Samuel  R.,  named  for  his  grandfa- 
ther. The  family  have  a  pleasant  home  at 
No.  304  East  Douglas  street,  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  resident  districts  of  Bloom- 
ington.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  White  are  mem- 
bers of  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
in  which  he  is  one  of  the  ushers,  and  he  is 
also  a  member  of  the  Young  Men's  Chris- 
tian Association.  He  is  popular  in  social, 
as  well  as  business  circles,  and  has  a  host 
of  warm  friends  throughout  the  city. 


JOHN  H.  NORRIS.— Prominent  among 
the  influential  business  men  of  Normal 
is  the  gentleman  whose  name  introduces 
this  review,  and  who  has  been  a  resident 
since  receiving  an  honorable  discharge  from 
the  government,  at  the  close  of  the  Civil 
war.  He  was  born  in  Westchester  county, 
Pennsylvania,  in  1833,  and  is  a  son  of 
Thomas  and  Mary  Norris.  The  former  was 
an   experienced   horticulturist  from   whom 


his  son  obtained  his  early  knowledge  and 
experience,  which  enabled  him  to  carry  on 
so  successfully  the  business  in  which  he  is 
at  present  engaged.  The  mother  of  our  sub- 
ject died  when  he  was  very  young,  and  his 
father  married  the  second  time,  a  lady  who 
did  not  assume  the  full  responsibility  of  a 
mother  toward  him,  consequently  he  was 
thrown  on  his  own  resources,  battling  with 
life  through  the  early  vicissitudes  of  boy- 
hood. In  1848  he  went  to  Chicago,  and 
shortly  afterward  to  Aurora,  where  he  re- 
mained some  time,  going  later  to  Granville, 
Putnam  county,  Illinois,  remaining  until  the 
opening  of  the  Civil  war,  when  he  enlisted 
as  a  member  of  Company  H,  Twentieth 
Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry.  In  1863  he 
was  captured  and  confined  in  Libby  Prison, 
being  held  as  a  prisoner  of  war  until  his  ex- 
change three  months  later,  when  he  rejoined 
his  regiment  at  Vicksburg,  and  on  the  22d 
of  July  was  wounded  in  the  battle  of  Atlanta. 
After  a  service  of  over  four  years,  he  re- 
ceived his  discharge  papers  in  1865,  at 
Springfield,  Illinois. 

Upon  his  return  to' civil  life,  he  came  di- 
rect to  Normal,  and  after  a  few  years  en- 
gaged in  his  present  business,  horticulture. 
His  nurseries  occupy  a  number  of  large 
blocks,  and  he  possesses  besides  several 
business  blocks,  which  he  has  not  yet  dis- 
posed of  for  building  purposes.  His  fruits 
are  widely  known,  and  are  in  great  demand 
at  all  seasons,  as  he  cultivates  only  the  best 
in  quality  and  flavor.  In  1865,  Mr.  Norris 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Sarah  G.  Henning, 
a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  who  was  born  in 
1835,  in  Phcenixville,  Chester  county.  Five 
children  have  been  born  to  them,  two  of 
whom  are  living,  Fannie  B.  and  Kittie  M. 
For  nearly  one  year  the  latter  held  the  re- 
sponsible position   of  librarian  of  Normal. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


^7 


The  Norris  family  attend  the  Presbyterian 
church,  and  are  held  in  the  highest  esteem. 
Mr.  Norris  is  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  and  is  a  strong 
believer  in  the  principles  of  the  Republican 
party,  to  which  he  gives  his  support.  At 
the  present  time  he  is  a  member  of  the  city 
council,  and  fills  the  office  in  a  very  accept- 
able manner.  He  is  a  public-spirited  citi- 
zen, and  is  much  honored  and  respected  by 
his  associates. 


JOHN  W.  HAYES,  president  of  the  Co- 
operative Stove  Company,  and  one  of 
its  original  members,  has  through  his  own 
exertions  attained  an  honorable  position 
and  marked  prestige  among  the  representa- 
tive business  men  of  Bloomington,  and  with 
signal  consistency  it  may  be  said  that  he  is 
the  architect  of  his  own  fortune. 

Mr.  Hayes  was  born  in  County  Water- 
ford,  Ireland,  September  17,  1858,  and  is  a 
son  of  John  and  Bridget  (Flynn)  Hayes. 
In  1862  he  accompanied  the  family  on  their 
emigration  to  the  new  world  and  located  at 
Bloomington,  Illinois,  where  the  father  was 
employed  as  a  blacksmith  in  the  Alton  rail- 
way shops  until  his  retirement  from  active 
labor,  spending  his  last  years  in  ease  and 
quiet.  He  died  in  1874,  leaving  four  chil- 
dren, namely:  Mrs.  Mary  Flynn,  a  resi- 
dent of  Bloomington;  Patrick,  of  Denver, 
Colorado;  David,  of  Bloomington,  where  he 
is  engaged  in  the  drug  business;  and  John 
W.,  of  this  review.  The  mother  is  still 
living  and  is  a  devout  member  of  Holy  Trin- 
ity Catholic  Church,  to  which  the  father 
also  belonged. 

In  the  public  schools  of  Bloomington, 
John  W.  Hayes  acquired  his  education, 
and  on  leaving  school  at  the  age  of  thirteen 


years  commenced  the  battle  of  life  for  him- 
self in  the  employ  of  the  Phcenix  Nursery, 
with  which  he  was  connected  until  nineteen. 
He  then  served  an  apprenticeship  of  four 
years  to  the  molder's  trade  in  the  Bloom- 
ington Stove  Company's  works  and  contin- 
ued in  their  employ  for  eight  years.  He 
was  then  active  in  organizing  the  Co-opera- 
tive Stove  Company  in  1886,  with  a  capital 
of  ten  thousand  dollars,  which  has  twice 
been  increased  since  that  time  and  is  now 
fifty  thousand  dollars.  He  was  elected  the 
first  president  of  the  company  and  has  since 
filled  that  office,  while  A.  C.  Hamilton 
serves  as  treasurer  and  manager,  and  C.  A. 
Hamilton  as  superintendent.  They  began 
business  in  Normal  on  a  small  scale,  doing 
most  of  their  work  and  acting  as  their  own 
salesmen.  As  their  business  steadily  in- 
creased, they  found  their  plant  at  Normal 
too  small,  and  in  1892  they  purchased  what 
is  known  as  the  Empire  works  on  the  Illi- 
nois Central  railroad.  Here  their  rnain 
building  is  three  hundred  by  forty-two  feet 
and  two  stories  in  height  and  is  built  of 
brick.  It  is  occupied  entirely  by  their 
works,  which  have  reached  e.xtensive  pro- 
portions, to  meet  the  growing  demands  of 
their  trade.  The  members  of  the  company 
started  out  for  themselves  with  a  good  prac- 
tical knowledge  of  the  business,  and  being 
ambitious,  industrious,  persevering  and  en- 
terprising, have  been  successful,  and  they 
are  now  numbered  among  the  leading  busi- 
ness men  of  the  city. 

On  November  28,  1882,  Mr.  Hayes  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Julia  Fitzger- 
ald, of  Minneapolis,  Minnesota,  formerly  of 
Bloomington,  a  daughter  of  John  Fitzger- 
ald, who  died  when  she  was  young.  Of 
the  eight  children  born  of  this  union,  Julia 
died    December    23,    1896,    at  the   age  of 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


eight  years  and  three  months.  Those  still 
living  are  Francis,  Florence,  Mona,  Lewis, 
Lauretta,  Josephine  and  John.  The  family 
resides  at  105  Kelsey  street,  and  they  are 
members  of  Holy  Trinity  Catholic  church. 
Politically,  he  has  been  a  supporter  of  the 
Republican  party  for  the  past  fourteen 
years,  but  has  never  been  a  politician  in 
the  sense  of  office  seeking.  He  has  the  re- 
spect and  confidence  of  his  business  associ- 
ates, and  is  held  in  high  regard  by  all  who 
know  him. 


WILLIAM  F.  SPREEN,  a  well-known 
and  popular  engineer  on  the  Chicago 
&  Alton  Railroad  residing  in  Bloomington, 
has  been  a  trusted  employe  of  that  company 
since  August,  1872.  A  native  of  Illinois, 
he  was  born  in  Alton,  July  18,  1853,  and  is 
a  son  of  William  and  Christina  (Wagenfield) 
Spreen.  The  father  was  born  in  1822,  in 
a  village  near  Berlin,  Germany,  and  was  a 
son  of  William  Spreen,  who  owned  and 
operated  a  farm  which  had  been  in  the  fam- 
ily for  many  years  and  is  still  owned  by  one 
of  his  grandsons.  There  the  father  grew  to 
manhood,  attending  the  schools  of  the 
neighborhood,  and  during  his  youth  he  served 
an  apprenticeship  to  the  cabinetmaker's 
trade,  which  he  followed  in  his  native  land 
until  his  marriage.  His  wife  was  a  native 
of  the  same  place,  born  in  1824,  and  was  a 
daughter  of  Franz  Wagenfield,  proprietor 
of  an  inn  and  a  very  prominent  man  in  that 
locality.  He  was  a  distinguished  officer  in 
the  German  army,  serving  with  a  rank  cor- 
responding to  that  of  our  major,  and  his 
sons  were  also  in  the  service.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Spreen  were  married  March  23,  1847,  with- 
out the  consent  of  her  parents,  and  at  once 
sailed  for  the  United  States.      Landing  in 


this  country  they  proceeded  at  once  to  Al- 
ton, Illinois,  and  had  many  hardships  to  en- 
dure in  making  a  home  in  the  new  world. 
For  a  time  the  father  worked  at  his  trade 
and  later  engaged  in  business  as  a  contract- 
or and  builder,  erecting  many  fine  residences 
in  Alton  and  two  large  factories.  At  one 
time  when  a  business  block  was  destroyed 
by  fire,  he  erected  a  temporary  building  one 
hundred  ten  by  forty-eight  feet  and  two 
stories  in  height  in  forty-eight  hours,  so 
that  business  might  be  continued  until  more 
substantial  quarters  could  be  established. 
He  became  quite  successful  and  prosperous 
and  since  1895  has  lived  retired,  enjoying  a 
well-earned  rest.  In  the  First  Baptist 
church  of  Alton  he  and  his  wife  hold  mem- 
bership, and  they  are  held  in  high  esteem 
by  all  who  know  them.  Twelve  children 
were  born  to  them,  six  sons  and  six  daugh- 
ters, but  five  daughters  died  before  they 
reached  the  age  of  two  years,  and  one  son 
at  the  age  of  twenty-two. 

William  F.  Spreen  was  educated  in  the 
second  ward  and  high  schools  of  Alton  and 
in  early  life  worked  with  his  father  for  a 
short  time.  He  then  learned  the  machin- 
ist's trade  and  soon  took  charge  of  an  engine 
and  hydraulic  pump  in  the  castor  oil  mill  of 
Captain  D.  C.  Adams.  In  1872  he  accepted 
a  position  as  fireman  on  the  Chicago  &  Al- 
ton Railroad,  running  from  Alton  east,  and 
in  the  fall  of  1875  was  promoted  to  what  is 
called  hostler,  running  an  extra  train  from 
Alton.  In  the  fall  of  1876,  he  was  called 
to  Bloomington  to  take  a  regular  engine  and 
has  been  a  resident  of  the  city  since.  He 
was  in  the  freight  service  until  1888,  when 
he  was  promoted  to  the  passenger  service, 
with  which  he  is  still  connected.  He  was 
on  the  night  express  for  some  time  until  the 
limited  was  put  on  the  road.      He  brought 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


it  on  its  first  trip  out  of  St.  Louis  and  has 
run  it  ever  since.  He  has  been  remarkably 
fortunate  in  his  railroad  career,  having  never 
had  a  serious  accident,  though  twice  he  has 
been  compelled  to  jump  from  his  engine  in 
order  to  save  his  life.  He  is  widely  and 
favorably  known  in  railroad  circles;  is  a 
member  of  the  Brotherhood  of  Locomotive 
Engineers,  in  which  he  served  for  one  term 
as  assistant  engineer;  and  is  also  connected 
with  the  Odd  Fellows  Lodge,  No.  i,  of  Al- 
ton. He  has  built  a  fine  home  at  No.  8ii 
West  Washington  street,  where  hospitality 
reigns  supreme  and  the  many  friends  of  the 
family  are  always  sure  of  a  hearty  welcome. 

On  the  25th  of  December,  1877,  was 
celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Spreen  and 
Miss  Elizabeth  Carter,  of  Alton,  and  to 
them  have  been  born  three  children:  Wal- 
ter William,  who  is  a  graduate  of  Brown's 
Business  College  and  now  holds  a  position 
with  the  drug  firm  of  Fuller  &  Fuller,  of 
Chicago;  Charles  Carter  and  Mildred  Chris- 
tina, who  is  still  attending  school.  Mrs. 
Spreen  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church  and  the  older  son  holds  mem- 
bership in  the  Christian  church. 

Mrs.  Spreen  was  born,  reared  and  edu- 
cated in  Alton,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Charles 
and  Elizabeth  (Hunt)  Carter.  The  father 
was  born  in  Northampton,  Massachusetts, 
in  1828,  and  was  a  son  of  Henry  Carter,  of 
that  place,  while  the  mother  was  born  in 
Poughkeepsie,  New  York,  and  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  William  Hunt,  who  belonged  to  an 
old  family  of  New  York  City  and  on  com- 
ing west  located  in  Springfield,  Illinois. 
Charles  Carter,  Mrs.  Spreen's  father,  was 
reared  in  his  native  place  and  in  the  fall  of 
185 1  came  to  Illinois.  The  following  year 
he  became  connected  with  the  Chicago  & 
Alton  Railroad  as  conductor,  and  after  serv- 


ing in  that  capacity  for  some  years  was 
made  train  master.  He  had  charge  of  lay- 
ing the  track  from  Springfield  to  Blooming- 
ton,  and  as  a  fuel  agent  sold  wood  from  his 
land  to  the  road  in  early  days  when  A.  H. 
Moore  was  superintendent.  On  account  of 
injuring  his  eyes,  Mr.  Carter  had  to  give  up 
railroading  and  for  a  short  time  engaged  in 
farming  at  Shipman,  Illinois.  Selling  his 
property  there,  he  moved  to  Springfield  and 
formed  a  partnership  with  a  Mr.  Hibbs,  en- 
gaging in  merchant  tailoring  under  the  firm 
name  of  Carter  &  Hibbs.  During  the  Civil 
war  they  made  many  uniforms  and  did  an 
excellent  business.  He  spent  his  last  days 
in  retirement  from  active  labor  and  died 
April  2,  1880.  His  wife  is  still  living  as 
are  also  five  of  their  children.  Both  held 
membership  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  and  have  the  respect  and  esteem  of 
all  who  knew  them. 


DAVID  W.  STANGER.— Among  the 
residents  of  McLean  county,  who  by 
their  own  efforts  have  raised  themselves  to 
a  position  of  prominence,  and  by  honesty, 
uprightness  and  good  management  have 
reached  a  fair  degree  of  prosperity,  is  the 
gentleman  whose  name  stands  at  the  head 
of  this  review.  He  comes  of  good  German- 
American  stock,  his  ancestors  being  people 
of  considerable  prominence  and  education. 
His  paternal  grandfather  emigrated  to  this 
country,  locating  in  West  Virginia.  He 
was  a  great  student  and  a  man  of  much 
natural  ability,  and  received  his  education 
in  the  best  schools  of  Germany.  He  was  a 
graduate  of  colleges  of  medicine  and  theolo- 
gy, and  received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of 
Divinity.  He  was  a  minister  in  the  German 
Lutheran  church,    and   a   wonderfully   elo- 


90 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


quent  speaker,  being  gifted  beyond  the 
average  man.  John  Stanger,  Jr.,  the  father 
of  our  subject,  was  one  of  si.x  children,  and 
moved  from  his  home  in  West  Virginia  to 
Indiana,  in  about  1820.  He  was  the  pro- 
prietor of  two  hundred  forty  acres  of  land, 
and  was  a  well-to-do  farmer,  upright  and 
honorable  in  all  his  dealings.  After  the 
death  of  his  first  wife  he  returned  to  his  old 
home,  where  he  remained  a  few  years,  and 
where  he  married  a  lady  by  whom  he  had 
ten  children.  After  his  second  marriage,  he 
returned  to  Indiana  where  he  resided  until 
his  death  in  1884.  In  his  political  convic- 
tions he  was  a  Democrat,  and  a  strong  ad- 
herent to  that  party.  Prior  to  her  mar- 
riage, the  mother  of  our  subject  was  Miss 
Kattie  Brownlow,  of  Tennessee,  and  is  a 
cousin  of  Parson  Brownlow,  of  historic  fame. 
She  died  when  our  subject  was  thirty  hours 
old,  and  was  the  mother  of  six  children. 

David  W.  Stanger,  the  subject  of  this 
review,  was  born  in  Monroe  county,  Indiana, 
October  13,  1828,  where  he  was  reared  and 
educa:ted,  the  greater  portion  of  his  time, 
prior  to  his  twenty-first  year,  in  farming. 
In  1849  he  removed  to  McLean  county, 
Illinois,  locating  in  Cheney's  Grove.  In 
March,  1853,  he  took  up  one  hundred  sixty 
acres  of  prairie  land,  upon  which  he  built, 
making  all  the  necessary  improvements, 
and  here  he  remained  for  six  years,  at  the 
end  of  that  time  going  to  California  where 
he  spent  one  year,  and  the  seven  years  fol- 
lowing in  the  gold  mines  of  Nevada.  In 
1879  he  went  to  Oregon,  where  he  spent 
some  time  prospecting,  and  then  returned  to 
Nevada  to  the  aforementioned  mines,  until 
1874,  when  he  returned  to  Illinois,  and  has 
since  made  this  state  his  permanant  home, 
living  a  quiet  and  retired  life  at  Normal. 

On    the    1 8th    of   February,    1877,   Mr. 


Stanger  was  married  to  Miss  Nannie  Duke, 
a  daughter  of  Polly  and  Joel  Duke,  and  a 
native  of  Kentucky,  who  was  born  Septem- 
ber 16,  1838,  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1866. 
No  little  ones  have  come  to  bless  this  union, 
and  as  home  is  dark  without  the  light  of 
childhood,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stanger  adopted  a 
little  girl  of  one  year  who  was  born  April 
23,  1884.  Our  subject  is  a  self-made  man, 
who  has  reached  his  present  degree  of  pros- 
perity by  his  own  individual  efforts.  Polit- 
ically, he  is  an  advocate  of  high  tariff,  stand- 
ing firmly  upon  the  Republican  platform. 
He  is  a  member  of  no  particular  church, 
but  believes  in  and  practices  those  princi- 
ples which  the  church  teaches. 


JOHN  HAYNES,  a  retired  farmer  and 
carpenter,  now  residing  in  the  city  of 
Normal,  was  born  in  Shropshire,  England, 
March  9,  1831,  and  is  the  son  of  William 
and  Ann  (Baldwin)  Haynes,  both  of  whom 
were  also  natives  of  England.  William 
Haynes  was  a  cooper  by  trade  and  a  good 
mechanic.  He  was  a  worthy  man,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  church  of  England,  a  pew  holder, 
a  free  holder  and  a  man  of  influence.  His 
counsel  to  his  children,  and  especially  to 
John,  was  to  keep  good  company  or  none, 
for  "evil  communications  corrupt  good 
morals."  He  died  in  1839,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-eight  years.  His  wife  died  later  in 
life,  and  in  a  triumphant  state  of  mind  and 
heart,  bestowing  on  her  children  the  bene- 
dictions of  God. 

The  genealogy  and  armorial  designs  of 
the  Haynes  family  runs  back  in  Montgom- 
eryshire, through  Einion  to  Gwinn,  Lord  of 
Guilsfield,  son  of  Griffith  ap  Beli,  descend- 
ant of  Brockwell  Yschithrog,  Prince  of 
Powys,    who    reigned    in    A.    D.   607,   over 


JOHN  HAYNES. 


i/a? 


?y 


'••'»'f«s,?;  If, 


liLINOn 


THF    BIOGR.\PHICAL   RECORD. 


93 


Powysland,  Wales.  Gen.  James  Haynes, 
who  captured  the  Isle  of  Jersey  under  Crom- 
well,- and  was  its  governor  in  1652,  used 
upon  his  seal  attached  to  official  papers  the 
same  arms  as  the  Shropshire  and  Mont- 
gomeryshire family  of  Haynes.  His  crest 
was  the  golden  eagle  displayed  standing  on 
a  tortoise.  He  used  as  a  motto.  "  There 
is  no  difficulty  to  him  that  wills."  The 
genealogy  of  the  family  is  traced  back  for 
.fourteen  generations,  and  is  connected  with 
the  first  families  of  Wales  with  royal  blood 
in  their  veins.  Credit  for  the  above  genea- 
logy is  due  A.  M.  Haynes,  of  Galena,  Illi- 
nois. 

William  and  Ann  Haynes  had  born  to 
them  seven  children,  five  of  whom  are  yet 
living,  viz. :  Mrs.  Margaret  Edwards,  Mrs. 
Ann  Icke,  Mrs.  Mary  Cealey,  Thomas  and 
John,  the  latter  being  the  subject  of  this 
sketch.  He  was  the  eldest  son,  and  his 
early  training  and  education  was  received 
in  his  native  place.  He  was  educated  un- 
der the  supervision  of  the  church  of  England, 
with  the  New  Testament  as  reader.  He 
completed  his  school  life  when  eleven  years 
of  age,  and  then  hired  out  to  a  farmer  for 
two  pounds  (about  ten  dollars)  and  a  pair 
of  shoes  for  one  year's  work,  but  the  shoes 
he  never  saw.  After  working  on  a  farm 
for  five  years  and  saving  some  money,  he 
bound  himself  to  a  carpenter  and  wheel- 
wright until  he  was  twenty  years  old.  After 
his  time  was  served,  he  worked  as  a  jour- 
neyman for  seven  years,  at  one  pound  (five 
dollars)  per  week. 

In  1859,  work  being  slack  in  his  native 
country,  and  seeing  no  prospect  of  speedy 
improvement,  Mr.  Haynes  turned  his  face 
westward  to  that  land  where  all  men  are 
free  and  equal,  and  where  man  is  liberally 
remunerated  for  his  labor.     After  a  stormy 


voyage  of  twenty  days,  he  arrived  in  New 
York,  February  22,  1859,  from  which  place 
he  went  at  once  to  Berlin,  Wisconsin,  thence 
to  Chicago,  and  from  there  to  St.  Louis. 
Not  finding  employment,  he  went  to  Kan- 
sas, and  from  there  to  Independence,  Mis- 
souri, having  traveled  three  thousand  miles 
before  he  was.  engaged  as  a  mechanic. 
While  he  was  employed  in  Missouri,  a  short 
distance  from  Independence,  he  unconscious- 
ly became  involved  in  the  slavery  question, 
which  caused  him  considerable  trouble,  and 
nearly  a  flogging.  One  of  his  employer's 
slaves  being  asked  by  a  fellow  workman  if 
she  would  prefer  slavery  to  freedom,  re- 
plied that  she  preferred  freedom  and  stated 
her  reasons,  to  which  Mr.  Haynes  said 
Amen.  This  came  to  his  employer's  ears, 
and  a  retraction  was  demanded  of  him,  or 
he  should  suffer  a  flogging.  He  was  willing 
to  be  flogged,  but  with  his  eyes  open  to  the 
evils  of  slaver}'  he  could  not  take  back  his 
words.  He  had  the  courage  of  his  convic- 
tions and  his  employer  saw  it.  He  was 
finally  e.xcused  because  of  his  ignorance  of 
the  existing  laws.  This  circumstance  dis- 
gusted him  with  the  laws  that  sanctioned 
human  bondage  and  so  he  left  Independence 
for  Illinois.  However,  he  stopped  for  a 
short  time  at  Hannibal,  Missouri,  where  he 
worked  at  his  trade,  but  here  he  again  got 
into  trouble  on  the  slavery  question.  On 
Sunday  he  attended  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church,  and  on  the  next  day  he  was 
discharged,  not  because  he  went  to  church, 
but  because  it  was  a  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.  North. 

From  this  slavery-cursed  state  he  hast- 
ened, and  was  pleased  to  be  located  in  a 
pure  atmosphere  before  John  Brown  left  for 
Harper's  Ferry.  In  September,  1859,  he 
arirved  at  Normal  and  found  employment  on 


54 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


the  Normal  School  building  at  one  dollar  and 
twenty-five  cents  per  day  and  his  board. 
He  worked  on  the  building  until  February, 
i860,  but  never  received  his  wages,  the  con- 
tractor drawing  his  money  and  skipping  the 
state.  So  for  his  fall  and  winter's  work  he 
received  only  his  board,  and  consequently 
feels  that  he  has  an  interest  in  the  Illinois 
State  Normal  School  which  is  likely  to  last 
his  lifetime. 

In  the  spring  of  i860,  Mr.  Haynes  went 
to  Hudson,  McLean  county,  where  he  rented 
a  small  farm  and  there  remained  for  two 
years.  During  this  early  day  there  were  no 
fences  to  keep  the  stock  within  bounds,  or 
to  keep  them  from  wandering  at  will  over 
the  prairie.  Under  these  circumstances  it 
was  necessary  to  confine  the  calf  that  the 
dam  might  remain  near  by.  On  one  occa- 
sion Mr.  Haynes  lost  a  calf,  thus  losing  that 
attraction  which  would  naturally  keep  the 
parent  cow  at  home.  He  therefore  skinned 
the  dead  calf,  placing  the  skin  on  another 
but  strange  calf,  to  induce  the  parent  to 
adopt  it,  which  she  did  after  a  very  critical 
investigation.  This  is  regarded  as  one  of 
the  greatest  impositions  that  was  ever  played 
upon  a  poor,  unsuspecting  cow.  On  this 
Hudson  farm  he  raised  good  crops,  and  his 
first  load  of  grain  he  gave  to  the  Kansas  suf- 
ferers. His  brother  Thomas  was  with  him 
at  this  time,  and  on  the  breaking  out  of 
the  civil  war,  in  1861,  Thomas  joined  the 
Fifty-second  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  and 
was  with  Sherman  on  his  march  to  the  sea. 
The  following  year  John  Haynes  also  en- 
listed, becoming  a  member  of  Company  E, 
Ninety-fourth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry, 
which  was  under  the  command  of  Colonel 
McNulty,  his  company  commander  being 
Captain  Rowe.  With  his  regiment  he  par- 
ticipated in  the  battle  of  Springfield,  Mis- 


souri, siege  of  Vicksburg,  and  other  engage- 
ments of  minor  importance.  On  account 
of  his  mechanical  skill,  he  was  the  first  win- 
ter placed  on  detached  duty.  After  the 
siege  of  Vicksburg  his  command  was  sent  to 
Brownsville,  Texas,  by  way  of  New  Orleans, 
and  at  the  latter  place  he  was  discharged  in 
June,   1865. 

On  his  return  to  civil  life,  Mr.  Haynes 
chose  for  himself  a  life  companion  in  the 
person  of  Mrs.  Mary  Dunseth,  daughter  of 
Adam  Henthorn,  to  whom  he  was  wedded 
in  September,  1865.  By  this  union  there 
were  two  children  born,  Nettie  A.,  born 
September  5,  1866.  and  an  infant  died  un- 
named, born  in  1869.  Mrs.  Mary  Haynes 
was  a  native  of  Hudson  township,  McLean 
county,  and  died  in  September,  1869.  For 
his  second  wife,  Mr.  Haynes  married  Mrs. 
Eliza  Myers,  mc  Rowe,  a  native  of  Picka- 
way county,  Ohio,  born  August  3,  1830. 
They  were  married  December  14,  1869,  and 
by  this  union  there  were  born  three  chil- 
dren: Cora  A.,  now  deceased,  October  9, 
1870;  Emma  S.,  October  17,  1872;  and 
JohnF. ,  January  4,  1876. 

In  1876  Mr.  Haynes  purchased  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  land,  near  Hudson, 
upon  which  he  resided  nine  years,  engaged 
successfully  in  farming  and  stock  raising. 
In  1883,  he  purchased  another  farm  of  eighty 
acres,  which  like  the  first,  was  under  im- 
provement. He  still  owns  the  two  farms, 
as  well  as  much  valuable  property  in  the 
city  of  Normal,  where  he  is  now  comfort- 
ably situated  in  the  evening  of  life.  He  and 
his  family  are  consistent  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  He  was  con- 
verted in  England  in  1854,  and  has  been 
identified  with  the  church  ever  since.  He 
has  held  the  office  of  trustee  and  class  leader 
since    1865,  and    has    been    a    faithful   and 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


95 


efficient  member  of  the  Sunday-school  for 
many  years,  a  teacher  of  the  Bible  class, 
for  which  he  has  received  a  diploma  each 
year  for  the  past  five  years  from  the  Loyal 
Sunday-school  Department  of  Illinois. 

In  politics  Mr.  Haynes  is  a  Republican, 
and  has  held  the  offices  of  school  director, 
road  commissioner,  and  other  minor  local 
offices  to  the  satisfaction  of  his  constituents. 
He  is  truly  a  self-made  man,  and  through 
all  his  varied  experiences  he  has  never  lost 
sight  of  that  hand  that  guides  the  world  and 
moves  the  hearts  of  men.  Looking  back 
on  his  past  life,  he  can  thus  say  with  the 
poet:  "Thus  far  the  Lord  hath  led  me 
on;  thus  far  his  power  prolongs  my  days." 


GEORGE  ALFORD  STRINGFIELD, 
the  well-known  proprietor  of  the  String- 
field  Music  House  of  Bloomington,  is  a  true 
type  of  western  progress  and  enterprise.  His 
intellectual  energy,  prudent  business  methods 
and  reliable  sagacity  have  all  combined  to 
make  him  one  of  the  ablest  business  men  of 
the  city. 

Mr.  Stringfield  is  a  native  of  McLean 
county,  born  on  a  farm  two  miles  southeast 
of  Randolph,  July  6,  1862,  and  he  is  a  rep- 
resentative of  an  honored  pioneer  family  of 
the  state  and  county.  His  grandfather, 
Alfred  M.  Stringfield,  was  born  in  Hunts- 
ville,  Alabama,  October  14,  1809,  and  when 
a  lad  of  nine  years  came  to  Illinois  with  his 
father,  John  Stringfield,  stopping  first  in 
White  county,  and  later  locating  near  Spring- 
field, in  Sangamon  county,  where  his  father 
died  only  nine  days  after  his  arrival  there. 
He  left  his  family  without  a  home  or  any 
means  of  support,  as  he  had  lost  all  his 
money  in  the   south  by  going  security  for 


others,  and  had  come  north  with  the  hope 
of  retrieving  his  lost  possessions.  After  the 
father's  death  the  family  came  to  Randolph 
Grove,  McLean  county,  and  located  on  the 
farm  now  owned  by  Dr.  Stewart,  which  was 
entered  by  the  grandfather  of  our  subject  in 
his  mother's  name.  The  family  went  to  Jo 
Daviess  county,  where  he  worked  in  the 
lead  mines  to  earn  the  money  to  enter  his 
land,  and  there  his  mother  died.  After 
securing  the  needed  amount  they  all  re- 
turned to  McLean  county,  and  the  grand- 
father turned  his  attention  to  the  improve- 
ment and  cultivation  of  his  land.  He  fol- 
lowed general  farming  throughout  life,  and 
met  with  well-deserved  success,  owning  at 
one  time  over  four  hundred  acres  of  valua- 
ble land  in  this  county.  On  the  25th  of 
March,  1832,  he  married  Miss  Amelia  T. 
Hand,  of  Randolph  Grove,  a  daughter  of 
George  C.  Hand,  who  came  here  from  Ohio, 
but  had  previously  lived  in  Pennsylvania. 
Of  the  ten  children  born  of  this  union, 
eight  reached  years  of  maturity.  The 
parents  were  both  active  and  prominent 
members  of  the  pioneer  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  of  this  region,  and  Mr.  Stringfield 
served  as  class  leader  and  steward  and  filled 
other  church  offices.  The  father  of  our 
subject  can  well  remember  the  early  camp- 
meetings  held  near  their  home,  when  the 
little  dwelling  was  filled  with  all  that  could 
could  be  accommodated  at  night  in  the  beds 
and  on  the  floor.  The  grandfather  was 
quite  a  prominent  and  influential  man  of  his 
community,  and  was  called  upon  to  fill 
several  township  offices,  including  those  of 
supervisor  and  justice  of  the  peace.  He 
died  June  15,  1895,  ^^'^  his  wife  passed 
away  September  6,  1885. 

Jesse   F.  Stringfield,  father  of  our  sub- 
ject,  was    born    in    Randolph    Grove,   this 


96 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


county,  September  26,  1835,  was  reared  on 
the  home  farm  and  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  the  neighborhood.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  1 86 1,  to  Miss  Mary  F.  Land,  who 
died  in  the  latter  part  of  1862,  leaving  one 
son,  George  A. ,  of  this  review.  She  was 
also  a  native  of  Randolph  township,  and  a 
daughter  of  George  W.  Land,  originally 
from  Kentucky.  Mr.  Stringfield  has  never 
again  married.  In  1862  he  took  a  part  of 
his  father's  farm  and  throughout  his  active 
business  life  was  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits.  After  the  death  of  his  wife  he  re- 
turned to  his  father's  home  and  for  many 
years  they  were  in  partnership  in  their  farm- 
ing operations.  In  later  years  he  had  en- 
tire charge  of  the  business  and  still  owns  a 
part  of  the  old  homestead,  but  for  the  past 
four  years  has  lived  retired  from  active  labor, 
making  his  home  with  his  son  in  Blooming- 
ton.  He  is  a  faithful  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church,  in  which  he  has 
served  as  steward  and  trustee  for  many 
years,  and  by  his  upright,  honorable  life  he 
has  gained  the  confidence  and  respect  of  all 
with  whom  he  has  come  in  contact. 

The  early  education  of  George  A.  String- 
field  was  acquired  in  the  public  schools  of 
McLean  county,  and  in  the  fall  of  188 1  he 
entered  the  Illinois  Wesleyan  University, 
where  he  pursued  his  studies  for  one  year. 
As  his  mother  died  when  he  was  only  two 
months  old,  he  was  reared  in  his  grandfa- 
ther's home,  and  after  leaving  school  he  en- 
gaged in  farming  with  his  father  on  the  old 
homestead  until  1889.  In  the  spring  of 
1889,  he  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace 
for  Randolph  township  and  filled  that  office 
for  four  years.  In  the  meantime  he  had 
acquired  a  taste  for  the  real  estate  business 
and  displayed  considerable  ability  along  that 
line,    and    on    coming    to    Bloomington,   in 


1889,  he  opened  an  office  and  for  several 
years  devoted  his  entire  time  and  attention 
to  the  real  estate  and  insurance  business, 
meeting  with  marked  success.  He  handled 
a  large  amount  of  real  estate,  mostly  for 
himself,  and  dealt  chiefly  in  farming  land, 
not  only  in  this  county  but  elsewhere  in  the 
state  and  also  in  adjoining  states.  He  has 
owned  a  great  many  hundred  acres,  and  still 
has  fifteen  hundred  acres.  He  is  yet  inter- 
ested in  the  real  estate  business,  which  he 
carried  on  exclusively  until  October,  1894, 
when  he  became  connected  with  the  old  J. 
T.  Adams  Music  House.  Later  he  took  full 
control  of  the  business  and  removed  to  his 
present  elegant  room  at  No.  528  Hoblit 
Buildings,  being  the  first  tenant  in  the  same. 
Here  he  carries  a  full  line  of  musical  mer- 
chandise, pianos,  etc.,  having  the  largest 
and  best  selected  stock  of  the  kind  in  the 
city,  and  employment  is  furnished  to  four 
people.  Besides  the  business  already  men- 
tioned Mr.  Stringfield  conducts  a  farm  of 
eight  hundred  acres,  on  which  he  employs 
a  number  of  men  to  do  general  farming. 

On  the  25th  of  November,  1891,  Mr. 
Stringfield  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Lovisa  A.  Thomas,  a  daughter  of  W.  D. 
Thomas,  deceased,  of  South  Charleston, 
Ohio.  One  child  blesses  this  union,  Aleta 
May.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stringfield  are  both 
active  and  prominent  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church,  with  which  he  has 
been  connected  for  thirteen  years,  and  has 
served  as  superintendent  of  the  Sunday- 
school  and  a  member  of  the  board.  He  is 
a  Democrat  in  politics  but  not  an  advocate 
of  the  free  coinage  of  silver,  at  a  ratio  of 
sixteen  to  one.  Courteous,  genial,  well-in- 
formed, alert  and  enterprising,  he  stands 
to-day  one  of  the  leading  representative  men 
of  the  city. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


97 


AARON  P.  RHODES.  The  world  in- 
stinctively paj-s  deference  to  the  man 
whose  success  has  been  worthily  achieved 
and  one  who  has  gained  a  high  reputation 
in  his  chosen  calling.  Through  his  own 
well-directed  efiorts,  Mr.  Rhodes  has  be- 
come one  of  the  most  prosperous,  as  well 
as  one  of  the  most  extensive  farmers,  and 
stock  raisers  of  McLean  county.  He  has 
made  good  use  of  his  opportunities,  has  con- 
ducted all  business  matters  carefully  and 
successfully  and  in  all  his  acts  displays  an 
aptitude  for  successful  management. 

This  well-known  agriculturist  of  Bloom- 
ington  township  is  a  native  of  McLean 
county,  his  birth  occurring  in  the  township 
where  he  still  lives,  on  the  i8th  of  April, 
1834.  His  parents,  John  H.  S.  and  Mary 
(Johnson)  Rhodes,  are  presented  on  another 
page  of  this  volume.  During  his  boyhood 
and  youth  he  attended  the  common  schools, 
and  became  familiar  with  all  the  duties 
which  fall  to  the  lot  of  the  agriculturist, 
aiding  his  father  in  the  work  of  the  home 
farm  until  1859,  when  he  entered  Eureka 
College  and  took  an  elective  course. 

At  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war, 
Mr.  Rhodes  oSered  his  services  to  the 
country,  enlisting  in  May,  1861,  in  Com- 
pany G,  Seventeenth  Illinois  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, which  was  first  sent  to  Missouri 
under  General  Prentice.  The}'  went  down 
the  Mississippi  river  to  Bird's  Point,  and 
later  met  the  enemy  at  Cape  Girardeau, 
Iron  Mountain  and  Pilot  Knob,  where  en- 
gagements were  brought  on.  On  the  expi- 
ration of  his  three  months'  term,  our  subject 
re-enlisted  in  the  same  company  and  regi- 
ment, and  later  participated  in  the  battles 
of  Fort  Henry,  Fort  Donelson,  Shiloh,  Mem- 
phis, Vicksburg,  Jackson  and  Black  river. 
His  first  engagement  was  at  Fredericksburg, 


and  he  later  took  part  in  all  of  the  battles 
and  skirmishes  in  which  his  regiment  was 
engaged.  He  was  mustered  out  at  Spring- 
field, Illinois,  late  in  the  year  1864  and  re- 
turned home  with  a  war  record  of  which  he 
may  be  justly  proud. 

Mr.  Rhodes  then  located  on  a  tract  of 
ninety  acres  of  land  given  him  by  his  father, 
who  owned  twenty-one  hundred  acres  in 
Bloomington  township,  and  upon  that  place 
he  still  resides,  having  built  in  1875  what  is 
considered  the  best  country  home  in  the 
township.  It  is  surrounded  by  a  beautiful 
lawn  and  in  all  its  appointments  is  a  most 
attractive  place.  Mr.  Rhodes  began  his 
business  career  as  a  dealer  in  mules,  for 
twelve  years  buying,  feeding  and  shipping 
mules  quite  extensivelj',  and  he  found  the 
business  quite  remunerative  until  1877. 
During  this  time  he  kept  adding  to  his  farm 
from  time  to  time  and  also  became  inter- 
ested in  cattle  and  hogs  as  a  feeder  and 
dealer,  and  in  heavy  draft  horses  as  an  im- 
porter and  breeder,  always  keeping  about 
fifty  head  and  selling  the  same  when  three 
or  four  years  old.  Of  more  recent  years  he 
has  lived  rather  retired,  and  now  rents  all 
of  his  land  with  the  exception  of  twenty-five 
acres.  So  prosperous  has  he  been,  that  he 
now  is  the  owner  of  ten  hundred  and  fifty 
acres  of  land  in  Bloomington  township,  and 
has  large  tracts  of  land  in  the  west.  He  is 
also  a  heavy  stockholder  in  the  Third  Na- 
tional Bank  at  Bloomington,  and  has  been 
oSered  a  directorship  but  declined.  He  was 
one  of  the  first  stockholders,  buying  his  stock 
at  first  for  one  dollar  and  eight  cents,  but 
for  bis  last  he  paid  two  dollars  and  ten  cents, 
so  valuable  has  it  become. 

Mr.  Rhodes  first  married  Miss  Mattie  M. 
Cox,  of  Bloomington,  a  daughter  of  David 
Cox,   a  farmer   of   his    neighborhood,   who 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


came  to  McLean  county  as  early  as  1826. 
They  were  married  November  21,  1864,  and 
she  died,  in  February,  1876,  leaving  two  chil- 
dren: Edward  is  a  graduate  of  the  Bloom- 
ington  high  schools,  has  also  attended  the 
college  at  Valparaiso,  Indiana,  and  spent 
four  years  at  the  State  University  at  Cham- 
paign, graduating  from  the  law  department; 
and  Ora  M.,  after  graduating  at  Normal, 
took  a  four-years  course  at  Champaign, 
where  he  was  granted  the  degree  of  A.  B., 
and  is  now  a  student  at  the  College  of  Phy- 
sicians and  Surgeons,  of  Chicago.  He  grad- 
uated from  the  Military  School  at  Cham- 
paign, and  now  holds  a  commission  as  cap- 
tain in  the  regular  army,  but  was  not  called 
into  service  during  the  Spanish-American 
war.  On  the  9th  of  November,  1882,  Mr. 
Rhodes  married  Miss  Charlotte  Reid,  of 
Champaign  county,  Ohio,  where  her  father, 
Robert  Reid,  was  a  farmer.  They  both 
died  in  McLean  county — he  in  1892 — -she  in 
1895.  Mrs.  Rhodes  taught  school  for  twelve 
years  in  Ohio,  and  after  coming  to  McLean 
county,  taught  for  four  years. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rhodes  attend  the  Chris- 
tian church  and  are  numbered  among  the 
most  prominent  and  highly  esteemed  citi- 
zens of  this  community.  He  casts  his  bal- 
lot with  the  Republican  party,  has  served 
as  supervisor  of  Bloomington  township,  and 
was  highway  commissioner  for  seven  years. 
He  has  also  served  as  township  school  trus- 
tee and  school  director  of  his  district,  and 
has  ever  taken  a  deep  and  commendable  in- 
terest in  education  affairs,  giving  his  sons 
the  very  best  of  opportunities  along  that  line. 
He  is  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  ability 
and  force  of  character  and  by  his  industry, 
close  attention  to  business  and  sound  judg- 
ment he  has  acquired  a  handsome  compe- 
tence, which  now  enables  him  to  practical- 


ly live  retired.  His  pleasant,  genial  man- 
ner, which  combined  with  his  sterling  worth, 
makes  him  one  of  the  popular  citizens  of 
his  native  county. 


REV.  STANLEY  A.  McKAY,  D.  D.,  is 
a  man  whose  whole  life  has  been  de- 
voted to  the  work  of  the  ministry,  and  he  is 
now  the  beloved  pastor  of  the  First  Baptist 
church  of  Bloomington,  with  which  he  has 
been  identified  for  the  past  three  years. 

He  was  born  in  Mansfield,  Cattaraugus 
county.  New  York,  September  11,  1850,  a 
son  of  Hiram  V.  R.  and  Tryphena  L.  (Ful- 
ler) McKay.  The  father  was  born  in  Attica, 
New  York,  March  5,  1822,  but  early  in  life 
removed  to  Cattaraugus  county  with  his  fa- 
ther, Silas  McKay,  a  pioneer  of  that  region, 
who  opened  up  one  of  the  best  farms  in  the 
central  part  of  the  county.  The  grandfa- 
ther of  our  subject  was  quite  a  prominent 
man  in  his  community,  was  captain  of  a  mi- 
litia company  and  was  known  as  Captain 
Silas  McKay.  His  great-grandfather,  Alex- 
ander McKay,  came  to  this  country  from 
Scotland.  On  the  maternal  side  our  subject 
is  a  direct  descendant  of  Roger  Williams, 
his  mother's  grandmother  being  a  Miss  Will- 
iams. All  of  his  ancestors  came  to  America 
prior  to  the  Revolutionary  war,  several  of 
whom  served  in  the  Continental  army, 
which  fact  makes  the  Doctor  eligible  to  mem- 
bership in  the  Sons  of  the  Revolution.  Hi- 
ram V.  R.  McKay,  the  Doctor's  father,  is 
the  seventh  in  order  of  birth  in  a  family  of 
ten  sons,  of  whom  nine  lived  until  the 
youngest  was  sixty  years  old.  He  engaged 
in  farming  first  at  Mansfield,  New  York, 
then  carried  on  the  same  occupation  at 
Salamanca,  but  most   of  his  life  has  been 


THE   BIOGFL\PHICAL   RECORD. 


99 


passed  in  Little  Valley,  though  he  now  lives 
in  Ellicottville,  New  York.  At  an  early  day 
he  was  a  strong  abolitionist,  and  as  a  "con- 
ductor" on  the  "  underground  railroad  "  he 
assisted  more  than  one  slave  on  his  way  to 
Canada  and  freedom.  He  has  been  a  firm 
supporter  of  the  Republican  party  since  its 
organization,  and  filled  the  office  of  justice 
of  the  peace  for  a  number  of  years.  He  is 
a  sincere  Christian  man,  was  a  member  of  a 
Freewill  Baptist  church  during  its  existence, 
served  as  deacon  and  clerk  in  the  same  for 
twenty  years.  His  wife,  who  departed  this  life 
December  3,  1S79,  was  a  faithful  member  of 
the  same  church,  and  was  a  lady  of  marked 
intelligence  and  energy  of  character.  She 
was  one  of  the  pioneer  school  teachers  of 
Cattaraugus  county,  New  York,  where  at 
the  age  of  seventeen  years  she  opened  a 
school  in  a  lumber  camp.  The  school  room 
was  only  fifteen  feet  wide,  with  seats  of 
shingle  blocks,  and  when  school  opened 
there  was  but  one  book,  a  frayed  and  worn 
New  Testament,  in  the  entire  school.  The 
book  equipment  was  later  greatly  enlarged 
by  an  edition  of  an  old  English  reader  and 
a  part  of  Cobb's  speller.  She  taught  there 
for  a  number  of  years.  She  was  born  in 
Elba,  New  York,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Cy- 
rus W.  Fuller,  who  opened  up  a  farm  in 
what  is  now  a  portion  of  the  village  of  Little 
Valley,  Cattaraugus  county.  She  was  the 
mother  of  two  children:  Stanley  A.,  of 
this  sketch;  and  Flora  L. ,  who  died  in  Min- 
nesota, May  23,  1S93. 

Dr.  McKay  began  his  education  in  the 
common  schools  of  Little  Valley,  and  later 
entered  Chamberlain  Institute  at  Randolph, 
New  York,  but  finished  his  preparation  for 
college  at  Ten  Broeck  Free  Academy,  Frank- 
linville,  that  state.  In  1874  he  became  a 
student  in  the  University  of  Rochester,  where 


he  was  graduated  with  the  degree  of  A.  B., 
in  1878.  He  then  pursued  a  three-years 
course  in  the  Rochester  Theological  Semin- 
ary, and  immediately  after  leaving  school 
in  the  spring  of  1881,  he  took  charge  of  a 
small  church  at  Lyons,  New  York,  with  a 
membership  of  sixteen,  twelve  of  these  be- 
ing active  members.  He  was  ordained  July 
13,  1881.  During  his  theological  course  his 
mother  and  both  his  wife's  parents  died. 
December  29,  1879,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Helen  S.  Crandall,  a  daughter  of  P.  M.  Cran- 
dall,  an  attorney  of  Rochester,  New  York. 
Dr.  McKay  remained  in  Lyons  until 
January,  1887,  and  built  up  the  congrega- 
tion, taking  into  the  membership  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty-five  members.  He  went 
there  as  a  mission  pastor,  but  left  it  self- 
supporting  and  free  from  debt  and  with  an 
endowment  of  five  thousand  dollars.  He 
bought  a  good  parsonage  and  also  enlarged 
the  church  edifice.  His  next  charge  was  a 
church  of  two  hundred  thirty  members  at 
Canandaigua,  New  York,  and  it  proved  a 
pleasant  pastorate.  During  the  two  years 
and  a  half  he  spent  there  he  removed  the 
indebtedness  of  forty-one  hundred  dollars, 
and  ninety  persons  were  received  into  the 
church,  mostly  by  baptism.  While  there, 
he  was  for  one  year  president  of  the  Gene- 
see Baptist  Ministers  Conference,  which  held 
its  regular  monthly  meetings  at  the  Theo- 
logical Seminary  in  Rochester.  Dr.  McKay 
was  next  called  to  Owatonna,  Minnesota, 
where  the  late  George  Pillsbury  was  erect- 
ing new  buildings  for  the  institute  now  known 
as  Pillsbury  Academy,  to  which  he  made 
large  endowments.  For  two  years  during 
his  residence  there  our  subject  lectured  at 
that  school  on  Old  Testament  history.  He 
also  had  charge  of  a  Baptist  church,  which 
at  first    numbered    only  one   hundred   and 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


ninety  members,  but  under  his  pastorate  two 
hundred  and  ten  were  added  to  the  church. 
A  new  edifice  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  twen- 
ty-four thousand  dollars,  of  which  twenty 
thousand  dollars  was  raised  for  the  building 
proper.  Dr.  McKay  next  accepted  a  call 
to  the  First  Baptist  church  of  La  Crosse, 
Wisconsin,  where  his  work  was  chiefly  in 
reconstructing  the  church  and  placing  a  fine 
new  pipe  organ  in  the  same,  these  repairs 
amounting  to  sixty-five  hundred  dollars. 
During  the  summer  of  1896  he  was  engaged 
as  supply  of  a  church  at  Wauwatosa,  a  sub- 
urb of  Milwaukee,  and  on  the  ist  of  Sep- 
tember, 1896,  received  a  call  from  the  First 
Baptist  church  of  Bloomington,  with  which 
he  has  since  been  connected.  It  is  a  strong 
church  and  one  of  the  oldest  in  the  city. 
Its  membership  is  now  eight  hundred  and 
twenty-nine.  During  his  ministry  here  Dr. 
McKay  has  removed  an  indebtedness  of 
seven  thousand  six  hundred  dollars  that  has 
hung  over  this  church  for  years,  and  he  has 
thus  gi\en  to  the  church  new  life.  He  is  a 
zealous  and  active  worker  in  the  cause  of 
the  Master  and  is  greatly  beloved  by  all  who 
know  him,  those  outside  of  his  own  congre- 
gation as  well  as  those  within.  During  his 
residence  in  Minnesota,  \\"isconsin  and  Illi- 
nois, he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
State  Board  of  Missions,  and  at  present  is 
a  member  of  the  executive  committee  for 
Illinois.  He  is  also  a  trustee  of  Shurtlifl 
College,  which  institution  conferred  the  hon- 
orary degree  of  D.  D.  upon  him  in  1898, 
and  elected  him  a  trustee  at  the  same  time. 
For  nine  years  he  was  chaplain  of  the  New 
York  State  Grange,  an  organization  which 
is  now  the  most  powerful  of  its  kind  in  the 
world  and  has  a  membership  of  eighty  thou- 
sand in  that  state.  In  the  west  his  church 
work  has  absorbed  all  his  time.      He  is  one 


of  the  working  members  of  the  College 
Alumni  Club  and  is  one  of  the  executive 
committee. 


ASA  HARVEY  MOORE  is  now  living  a 
retired  life  in  Bloomington,  but  it 
would  be  difficult  to  find  any  individual  who 
has  been  more  actively,  prominently  and 
honorably  connected  with  the  industrial 
and  commercial  interests  of  the  city  and 
state  through  a  longer  period  than  has  the 
subject  of  this  review.  His  success  in  life 
has  been  most  marked,  yet  it  is  but  the  log- 
ical result  of  well  directed  efforts.  If  those 
who  claim  that  fortune  has  favored  cer- 
tain individuals  above  others  will  but  inves- 
tigate the  cause  of  success  and  failure,  it 
will  be  found  that  the  former  is  largely  due 
to  the  wise  improvement  of  opportunity,  the 
latter  to  the  neglect  of  it.  Fortunate  en- 
vironment encompasses  nearly  every  ^man 
at  some  stage  in  his  career,  but  the  strong 
man  and  the  successful  man  is  he  who  real- 
izes that  the  proper  moment  has  come,  that 
the  present  and  not  thfe  future  holds  his  op- 
portunity. The  man  who  makes  use  of  the 
Now  and  not  the  To  Be  is  he  who  passes 
on  the  highway  of  life  others  who  started 
out  ahead  of  him,  and  reaches  the  goal  far 
in  advance  of  them.  It  is  this  quality  in 
Mr.  Moore  that  has  made  him  a  leader  in 
the  business  world  and  won  him  a  name  in 
connection  with  industrial  and  railroad  in- 
terets  that  is  known  throughout  the  state. 
He  was  born  in  Rutland,  Worcester 
county,  Massachusetts,  October  28,  1820, 
and  is  a  son  of  Asa  and  Sabra  (Lover)  Moore. 
The  father  was  born  and  reared  in  Royal- 
ston,  Massachusetts,  and  became  a  contract- 
or, builder  and  real  estate  dealer.  His  wife 
was  also  a  native  of  Royalston,  where  they 


A  H    Moore. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


103 


resided  for  some  years  after  their  marriage 
and  then  removed  to  Rutland.  Later  they 
went  to  Princeton,  but  the  father  died  at 
the  home  of  a  daughter  in  Oakham,  aged 
eighty-three  years.  They  were  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  church  and  had  a  family  of 
two  sons  and   three  daughters. 

Asa  H.  Moore  attended  the  public  schools 
of  Rutland  and  a  boarding  school  at  Worces- 
ter, Massachusetts,  after  which  he  entered 
upon  his  business  career  as  an  employe  of  the 
Boston  &  Worcester  Railroad  Company  in 
their  freight  house  at  Grafton.  Before  the 
completion  of  the  Boston  and  Albany  road, 
he  entered  the  employ  of  that  company. 
Major  George  W.  Whistler,  the  civil  engin- 
eer in  charge  of  the  construction,  wished  to 
get  from  Worcester  to  Springfield,  but  at 
that  time  there  had  been  no  passenger  train 
over  the  road.  S.  P.  Lee,  the  manager,  re- 
quested Mr.  Moore  to  take  the  Major  to 
Springfield;  they  started  at  nine  P.  M.  on 
their  run  of  sixty  miles,  arriving  at  their 
destination  at  midnight,  and  thus  Mr.  Moore 
was  conductor  of  the  first  passenger  train  on 
that  line.  Later  he  was  conductor  on  a 
train  running  from  Boston  to  Springfield  for 
five  years,  and  when  the  Old  Colony  Rail- 
road was  built  from  Boston  to  Plymouth,  he 
he  was  induced  to  join  the  latter  road  by  a 
friend  who  was  superintendent.  His  con- 
nection therewith  continued  five  years,  dur- 
ing which  time  Daniel  Webster  was  often 
one  of  the  passengers.  After  a  vacation  of  a 
year  he  was  induced  to  go  to  Laporte,  Indi- 
ana, on  the  Michigan  Southern  Railroad, 
and  was  given  the  position  of  assistant  super- 
intendent in  the  year  in  which  the  road 
was  opened.  He  had  charge  of  the  division 
from  Chicago  to  White  Pigeon,  Michigan, 
and  of  the  shops  at  Laporte,  continuing  in 
that  position  until  1854,  during  which  time 


many  improvements  were  made  on  the  road 
and  in  connection  with  the  administration 
of  its  business  affairs.  In  1854  he  left  La- 
porte, owing  to  the  persuasion  of  George 
Bliss,  of  Springfield,  a  director  of  the  Michi- 
gan Southern,  who  was  also  interested  in 
the  Chicago  and  Mississippi  road.  The 
following  morning  he  assumed  his  duties 
under  the  title  of  train  master.  The  com- 
pany with  which  he  was  now  connected  had 
run  the  second  train  from  Joliet  to  this  city. 
The  line  extended  from  Joliet  to  Alton,  and 
the  road  was  built  by  Henry  Dwight,  a  New 
York  capitalist,  who  lost  his  fortune  in  this 
venture.  After  a  year  R.  P.  Morgan,  Mr. 
Moore's  superior  officer,  resigned,  and  the 
latter  was  appointed  general  superintendent 
by  Mr.  Dwight,  of  what  is  now  the  Chicago  & 
Alton  road.  When  Mr.  Dwight  failed,  ow- 
ing all  the  employes  and  many  others.  Gov- 
ernor Matteson,  who  was  a  large  creditor, 
was  elected  president,  and  under  his  admin- 
istration and  during  the  superintendency  of 
Mr.  Moore  the  road  was  completed  from  Jol- 
iet to  Chicago,  and  from  Alton  to  East  St. 
Louis,  thus  afifording  good  terminals.  T. 
B.  Blackstone,  who  is  now  president  of  the 
road,  was  then  the  civil  engineer,  and  run 
the  line  from  Joliet  to  Chicago.  Under  his 
direction  this  road  has  gained  its  present 
high  standing  and  reliability.  Mr.  Moore 
continued  as  general  superintendent  until 
about  the  time  it  passed  from  the  hands  of 
Governor  Matteson  in  1859. 

In  the  meantime  he  had  made  extensive 
investments  in  Bloomington  real  estate, 
which  was  rapidly  increasing  in  value,  and 
at  the  time  he  resigned  he  also  owned  three 
lumber  yards,  located  in  Shirley,  McLean 
and  Bloomington.  He  also  located  the 
Shirley  and  McLean  stations  on  the  Alton 
line,  and  in  that  vicinity  owns  considerable 


I04 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


land.  He  has  prospered  in  his  lumber  and 
real  estate  business,  his  sound  judgment 
enabling  hipi  to  make  judicious  investments 
which  have  brought  him  excellent  financial 
returns.  At  one  time  he  owned  the  ground 
upon  which  the  new  Coliseum  now  stands. 
After  a  time  he  largely  sold  his  property 
outside  the  city  and  invested  his  capital  in 
various  enterprises  here.  In  1869  he  pur- 
chased the  street  car  line,  extending  from 
Grove  street  to  Normal,  and  conducted  un- 
der the  name  of  the  Bloomington  &  Normal 
Horse  Railway  Company.  He  extended  the 
line  to  the  railroad  depot,  built  the  Chest- 
nut street  branch,  the  West  Washington 
street  branch  to  the  Union  depot,  the  East 
Front  street  branch  crossing  the  Illinois 
Central  Railroad  at  Towanda  avenue,  and 
had  the  franchise  to  build  to  Miller  street 
and  the  ties  and  iron  to  be  used  in  the  con- 
struction thereof,  when  he  sold  the  entire 
line  to  John  Graham,  having  in  the  mean- 
time increased  the  length  of  the  line  from 
two  and  a  half  to  nearly  nine  miles. 

For  many  years  Mr.  Moore  continued  to 
be  one  of  the  most  extensive  real  estate 
dealers  in  the  city.  In  the  days  of  state 
banks  he  was  president  of  the  Bank  of 
Bloomington,  which  was  started  with  fifty 
thousand  dollars  in  bonds  of  the  state  of 
Illinios.  He  was  one  of  the  incorporators 
and  the  first  president,  but  later  sold  his  in- 
terest to  Isaac  Funk,  and  the  bank  is  still 
conducted  under  the  name  of  the  First  Na- 
tional. In  politics  he  has  always  been  a 
Republican,  but  has  had  neither  time  nor 
inclination  for  public  ofifice. 

In  May,  1848,  Mr.  Moore  married  Miss 
Nancy  B.  Washburne,  of  Plymouth,  Mass- 
achusetts, a  direct  descendant  of  Governor 
Bradford,  who  came  over  in  the  Mayflower, 
and  a  daughter  of  John  Washburne.     For 


fifty  years  they  have  traveled  life's  journey 
together  and  in  1898  celebrated  their  golden 
wedding.  They  had  two  children.  Thomas, 
who  was  born  in  1856,  was  burned  in  the 
Chattanooga  Hotel,  in  1888;  and  Mary  is 
now  the  wife  of  Edward  E.  Maxwell,  of 
Chicago,  by  whom  she  has  one  child,  Au- 
gustus Moore.  Mr.  Maxwell  is  manager  of 
the  large  wall  paper  establishment  of  S.  A. 
Maxwell  &  Company.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moore 
have  one  of  the  most  pleasant  homes  in  the 
city.  It  is  situated  on  North  Main  street 
and  is  surrounded  by  a  large  lawn  of  two 
and  a  half  acres.  The  name  of  Mr.  Moore 
is  inseparably  connected  with  the  develop- 
ment of  Bloomington  and  this  section  of  the 
state.  His  business  interests  have  not  only 
been  of  individual  benefit  but  have  pro- 
moted the  general  prosperity.  Years  of 
ceaseless  activity  in  the  industrial  world 
have  brought  him  wealth,  and  now  in  his 
declining  days  he  is  enjoying  the  well-earned 
fruits  of  his  former  toil. 


JOHN  B.  LENNON.— There  are  in  every 
community  men  of  great  force  of  char- 
acter and  exceptional  ability  who,  by  reason 
of  their  capacity  for  leadership,  become 
recognized  as  foremost  citizens,  and  bear  a 
most  important  part  in  the  development 
and  progress  of  their  own  locality  or  the 
state  and  nation.  Such  a  man  is  Mr.  Len- 
non,  the  well-known  secretary  of  the  Jour- 
neymen Tailors'  Union  of  America  and  the 
treasurer  of  the  American  Federation  of 
Labor. 

Mr.  Lennon  was  born  in  White  Oak 
Springs,  Lafayette  county,  Wisconsin,  Oc- 
tober 12,  1849,  a  son  of  John  Alexander 
and  Elizabeth  Fletcher  (Brown)  Lennon. 
The  ancestral  home  of  the  Lennon  family 


THE    BIOGR-\PHICAL    RECORD. 


los 


was  near  Manchester,  England,  and  there 

our  subject's  grandfather,  James  Lennon,  a 
m'achine  woodworker,  spent  his  entire  life. 
The  father  was  born  at  Manchester,  Octo- 
ber 30,  1 8 17,  and  learned  the  tailor's  trade 
as  an  apprentice  in  London.  At  the  age  of 
nineteen  he  came  to  the  United  States,  and 
after  spending  a  year  in  New  York  City, 
went  to  Buffalo,  remaining  there  a  short 
time.  He  then  came  to  Illinois,  stopping  at 
Chicago  in  1839  when  the  western  metrop- 
olis was  a  small  hamlet  on  a  wet  prairie,  and 
in  1S40  he  located  in  Warsaw,  this  state, 
though  he  worked  at  his  trade  in  Keokuk, 
Iowa,  much  of  the  time.  In  Warsaw  he  was 
married,  in  September,  1S44,  and  continued 
to  work  as  a  journeyman  in  that  locality 
until  1845,  when  he  went  to  the  lead  mines 
of  Wisconsin.  He  was  engaged  in  lead 
mining  there  until  1851,  in  which  year  he 
removed  to  Hannibal,  Missouri,  making  his 
home  there  until  the  breaking  out  of  the 
Civil  war.  Being  a  strong  abolitionist  and 
Union  man,  he  enlisted  in  Company  I, 
Third  Missouri  Cavalry,  which  was  assigned 
to  the  Army  of  the  West.  He  participated 
in  the  siege  of  \'icksburg  and  in  the  Arkan- 
sas and  Red  river  expeditions,  and  when 
mustered  out  at  the  end  of  the  war  was 
serving  as  first  major  of  his  regiment.  He 
was  in  active  service  during  the  entire  time 
with  the  exception  of  about  thirty  days 
when  suffering  from  a  wound.  Returning 
to  Hannibal,  Missouri,  he  engaged  in  mer- 
chant tailoring  at  that  place  until  1870, 
when  he  removed  to  Denver,  Colorado,  and 
continued  the  same  business  there.  He 
took  great  interest  in  the  State  Soldiers' 
Home  in  that  state,  was  the  prime  mover 
in  building  it,  and  when  it  was  completed, 
in  recognition  of  his  effective  work  he  was 
appointed  its  first  commander   by  the  gov- 


ernor.     He  resigned  the  position  at  the  end 

of  four  years  on  account  of  advancing  age, 
but  he  still  continued  to  do  merchant  tailor- 
ing, having  the  leading  business  in  his  line 
in  Denver.  He  was  one  of  its  best  known 
citizens  and  one  of  the  most  prominent  old 
soldiers  in  the  state.  He  served  as  com- 
mander of  the  State  Post  and  chairman  of 
the  relief  work  in  Denver  for  twenty  years, 
was  an  active  member  of  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity for  fifty-three  years,  and  was  an 
active  and  influential  member  of  the  Re- 
publican party.  He  died  in  September, 
1897,  honored  and  respected  by  all  who 
knew  him.  He  left  four  children,  namely: 
Mary  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Theodore  Hutch- 
inson, of  Colorado;  John  B.,  our  subject; 
Minnie,  wife  of  Frank  Van  Horn,  of  Phila- 
delphia, Pennsylvania;  and  Kate,  wife  of 
Dr.  W.  H.  Sharpley,  of  Denver.  The  mother 
"is  also  a  resident  of  Denver,  and  is  a  faith- 
ful member  of  the  Congregational  church, 
both  parents  having  united  with  that  de- 
nomination about  1848,  and  the  father 
served  as  deacon  from  1872  until  his  death. 
Mrs.  Lennon  was  born  February  4,  1S23, 
and  is  the  youngest  child  of  her  father 
by  his  second  wife.  She  is  one  of  only 
about  twelve  daughters  of  Revolutionary 
soldiers  now  living,  and  is  a  member  of  the 
Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution. 
Her  father.  Lieutenant  Samuel  Brown, 
fought  at  the  battles  of  Bunker  Hill,  Lex- 
ington and  Quebec,  and  was  taken  prisoner 
at  the  last  named  place.  After  his  ex- 
change he  served  on  the  staff  of  General 
Lafayette.  The  Brown  family  was  founded 
in  Massachusetts  by  Nicholas  Brown  about 
163 1,  and  there  Lieutenant  Brown  made 
his  home  until  1794,  when  he  emigrated  to 
Ohio,  becoming  one  of  the  very  early  pio- 
neers  of  St.    Clairsville,    Belmont  county, 


io6 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


where  he  died  in  1828.  Mrs.  Lennon  was 
born  there. 

John  B.  Lennon  was  but  two  years  old 
when  he  accompanied  his  parents  on  their 
removal  to  Hannibal,  Missouri,  and  as  that 
was  a  slave  state  at  that  time  public  schools 
were  very  few  and  his  education  was  there- 
fore limited.  Before  he  was  eleven  years 
of  age  he  began  to  learn  the  tailor's  trade, 
working  five  or  six  months  until  his  father 
entered  the  army.  During  the  war  the 
family  removed  to  the  little  town  of  Payson, 
Adams  county,  Illinois,  where  he  attended 
school  during  the  winter  and  assisted  in  the 
farm  work  through  the  summer  season. 
After  the  return  of  the  father,  the  family 
again  went  to  Hannibal,  where  our  subject 
worked  at  his  trade  and  attended  school 
occasionally  until  eighteen  years  of  age. 
He  then  entered  a  commercial  college  at 
Oberlin,  Ohio,  where  he  pursued  his  studies 
for  seven  months,  which  ended  his  school 
days. 

Subsequently  Mr.  Lennon  worked  at  his 
trade  in  Hannibal  and  Denver,  and  on  the 
5th  of  April,  1 87 1,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Juna  J.  Allen,  a  daughter 
of  Frederick  C.  Allen,  of  the  former  city. 
They  now  have  one  son,  John  Frederick. 
For  three  years  they  made  their  home  in 
Denver,  and  then  removed  to  Evanston, 
Wyoming,  where  Mr.  Lennon  engaged  in 
merchant  tailoring  for  a  time.  Returning 
to  Denver,  he  worked  as  a  journeyman  in 
that  city,  and  in  February,  1871,  he  joined 
the  Tailors  Union  on  its  organization  in 
that  city,  since  which  time  he  has  been  one 
of  its  most  active  and  prominent  workers. 
In  the  fall  of  1883  the  present  International 
Tailors  Union  was  organized  by  five  local 
unions,  all  of  which  were  in  eastern  cities, 
and  the  Denver  union  affiliated  with  them 


in  a  convention  held  in  Chicago  in  1884, 
our  subject  serving  as  a  delegate.  He  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  general  executive 
board,  and  when  a  delegate  to  the  conven- 
tion held  in  Baltimore  in  1885,  he  was  re- 
elected to  that  position.  In  1886  at  the 
convention  held  in  New  York  City,  it  was 
decided  to  elect  a  general  secretary  who 
should  devote  his  entire  time  to  the  service 
of  the  organization  and  be  paid  a  salary, 
and  Mr.  Lennon  was  chosen  for  that  respon- 
sible position,  which  he  has  since  so  credit- 
ably and  satisfactorily  filled,  being  re-elect- 
ed at  each  succeeding  election.  At  the 
convention  of  1886  it  was  also  decided  to 
establish  a  paper  devoted  to  the  interests 
of  the  organization  of  the  craft,  the  general 
secretary  to  be  editor  and  manager,  and  in 
October  of  that  year  the  paper  made  its 
first  appearance,  since  which  time  it  has 
been  issued  monthly  and  its  circulation  now 
reaches  twenty  thousand,  it  being  taken  in 
all  the  principal  cities  and  towns  in  the 
United  States  and  Canada. 

When  Mr.  Lennon  assumed  the  secre- 
taryship of  the  Journeyman  Tailors'  Union 
of  America  it  consisted  of  only  fourteen 
local  branches  with  twenty-four  hundred 
members,  but  at  present  it  represents  two 
hundred  and  seventy-five  local  branches  and 
sixteen  thousand  and  five  hundred  members, 
which  shows  the  large  amount  of  work  that 
has  been  done.  The  income  of  the  organi- 
zation the  first  year  he  was  secretary 
amounted  to  only  three  thousand  dollars, 
but  that  of  the  year  ending  July  i,  1898,  was 
one  hundred  and  twenty  thousand.  The 
tailors'  organization,  as  a  part  of  the  great 
American  labor  movement,  joined  what  is 
known  as  the  American  Federation  of  Labor, 
a  federation  of  all  the  national  and  interna- 
tional trade  unions  of  North  America,  and  to 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


T07 


all  the  annual  conventions  of  that  body  Mr. 
Lennon  has  been  a  delegate,  representing 
the  tailors'  organization  since  i  S87.  In  1 888, 
he  was  elected  treasurer  of  the  federation 
and  a  member  of  the  executive  council,  and 
has  been  annually  re-elected  to  the  same 
positions. 

\\'hen  elected  general  secretary  of  the 
Tailors'  Union,  Mr.  Lennon  moved  from 
Denver  to  New  York  City,  which  remained 
headquarters  and  his  residence  until  January 
I,  1895,  when  the  headquarters  were 
changed  to  Bloomington,  Illinois,  and  he 
came  here  to  live.  He  has  alwaj's  taken  an 
active  part  not  only  in  the  labor  movements 
but  in  social  reforms  of  all  kinds  that  would 
benefit  the  people.  In  his  capacity  of  gen- 
eral secretary  of  the  Tailors'  Union,  he  has 
traveled  through  every  state  of  the  Union 
and  the  province  of  Canada,  and  has  visited 
nearly  all  cities  of  note  in  North  America. 
His  services  have  been  of  inestimable  value 
to  the  labor  unions  all  over  the  country,  and 
he  is  held  in  high  regard  by  all  who  have 
the  pleasure  of  his  acquaintance.  He  is  a 
member  of  Bloomington  Lodge,  No.  43,  F. 
&  A.  M.,  of  which  he  is  now  senior  warden, 
and  belongs  to  the  Chapter  and  Council,  and 
is  also  a  member  of  DeMolay  Commandery. 
K.  T. 


CAPTAIN  HENRY  AUGUSTINE  is  a 
representative  and  enterprising  citizen 
of  Normal,  and  one  of  the  most  prominent 
and  practical  nursery  men  of  the  state.  He 
was  born  in  Lancaster,  Lancaster  county, 
Pennsylvania,  July  25,  1840,  and  is  a  son 
of  John  A.  and  Anna  (Miller)  Augustine, 
who  were  natives  of  Wittenberg,  Germany, 
and  Lancaster,  Pennsylvania,  respectively. 
The  former  was  an  agriculturist,  and  came 


to  this  country  when  a  boy.  He  came  to 
Canton,  Illinois,  in  1857,  where  his  death 
occurred  eleven  years  later.  His  family 
consisted  of  twelve  children,  eight  of  whom 
are  living.  Henry,  the  subject  of  this  review, 
.was  the  eighth  child  and  was  reared  and 
educated  in  the  town  of  his  birth.  He  came 
to  Illinois  with  his  parents  in  1857,  where 
he  followed  his  chosen  vocation,  agriculture. 
He  served  throughout  the  Civil  war,  enlist- 
ing in  Company  A,  Fifty-fifth  Illinois  Vol- 
unteer Infantry,  on  the  3d  of  August,  1861, 
being  enrolled  as  a  sergeant.  His  courage 
in  the  face  of  danger,  and  his  promptness  in 
the  discharge  of  duty,  soon  brought  him  to 
the  notice  of  his  superior  officers,  and  on 
August  I,  of  the  following  year,  he  was  pro- 
moted to  the  second  lieutenancy,  and  two 
months  later  to  the  first  lieutenancy.  On 
the  27th  of  June,  1 864,  he  was  commissioned 
captain,  and  the  same  year  organized  Com- 
pany I,  Fifty-first  Illinois  Volunteer  Infan- 
try, serving  his  country  until  November, 
1865,  when  he  was  mustered  out  of  service. 
His  army  life  has  been  full  of  events,  start- 
ling and  tragic,  and  to  give  a  minute  ac- 
count to  them  would  take  more  space  than 
is  allotted  to  us  in  this  volume.  Suffice  it 
is  to  say  that  he  participated  in  thirty-two 
hard-fought  and  well-contested  battles,  and 
was  one  hundred  ninety-six  days  under  fire 
of  the  enemy.  Shiloh  was  one  of  the  sev- 
eral contests  through  which  he  passed,  his 
regiment  losing  fifty-one  per  cent  of  the 
men  engaged  in  the  battle.  His  regiment 
marched  eleven  thousand,  nine  hundred  six- 
ty-five miles,  during  the  service,  losing  one 
hundred  eight  men,  and  three  hundred  thir- 
ty-three wounded  in  battle.  Two  of  his 
brothers  were  killed  during  the  war,  both  of 
whom  he  buried  on  the  field  of  battle.  One 
brother,  Michael,  was  attached  to  the  One 


io8 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Hundred  Third  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry, 
and  was  killed  during  the  battle  of  Mission- 
ary Ridge,  and  the  other,  J.  M.,  was  lieu- 
tenant-colonel of  the  Fifty-fifth  Illinois  Vol- 
unteer Infantry,  of  which  our  Henry  was  a 
member. 

Upon  his  discharge  from  the  service,  our 
subject  was  engaged  in  the  drug  business 
until  1S70,  when  failing  health  compelled 
him  to  abandon  it  for  a  vocation  which 
brought  him  more  in  contact  with  nature  in 
the  primitive  state.  He  removed  to  Pon- 
tiac,  Livingston  county,  Illinois,  where  he 
was  engaged  in  the  farming  and  nursery 
business  for  six  years,  and  at  the  end  of  that 
time  came  to  Normal,  giving  his  entire 
time  and  attention  to  the  nursery  and  fruit 
business.  Under  the  direction  of  his  well- 
disciplined  mind,  and  guided  by  the  wisdom 
that  comes  from  experience,  Mr.  Augustine 
has  built  up  a  very  extensive  and  flourish- 
ing business,  his  shipments  reaching  France, 
Germany,  England,  Scotland,  New  Zealand 
and  South  America.  He  handles  all  kinds 
of  fruits,  flowers  and  ornamental  trees,  and 
has  introduced  that  fine  specimen  of  the 
pear  called  the  Sudduth,  which  is  attract- 
ing the  attention  of  fruit-growers  and  fan- 
ciers. He  is  a  man  of  large  experience  in 
horticulture,  whose  services  and  council  are 
sought  all  over  the  state.  He  was  superin- 
tendent of  the  fruit  exhibit  for  the  state  of 
Illinois,  at  the  Columbian  Exposition,  in 
1892,  and  was  president  of  the  National 
Nurserymen's  Society,  also  president  of  the 
State  Horticulture  Society.  His  services 
are  in  constant  demand  at  all  the  meetings 
of  the  Farmers'  Institutes,  and  also  at  the 
horticultural  societies  as  a  lecturer. 

In  February,  1870,  our  subject  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Maggie  E.  Gapen, 
who  has  given  him  one  child,  Archie,  a  bright 


young  man,  who  assists  his  father  to  the 
management  of  his  extensive  business.  Mr. 
Augustine  is  a  man  of  much  benevolence,  and 
is  much  interested  in  a  number  of  charitable 
institutions.  He  has  been  identified  with  the 
Illinois  Children's  Home  and  Aid  Society  for 
sixteen  years,  and  is  now  one  of  its  directors. 
He  has  been  president  of  the  State  Sunday 
School  Association  for  some  time.  He  is  a 
prominent  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church,  and  has  been  its  Sunday  School 
superintendent  for  sixteen  years.  He  is  an 
honored  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic,  and  has  several  times  held  re- 
sponsible offices.  Mr.  Augustine  possesses 
a  cordial  and  courteous  manner,  and  is  one 
of  the  most  popular  men  of  Normal  with  the 
young  people,  who  has  the  full  confidence  of 
his  fellow-citizens,  the  result  of  an  honor- 
able and  upright  career. 


BYRON  R.  BURKE,  a  prominent  rep- 
resentati\e  of  the  agricultural  interests 
of  McLean  county,  Illinois,  now  owns  and 
operates  a  fine  farm  of  three  hundred  acres 
in  Old  Town  township,  upon  which  the 
greater  part  of  his  life  has  been  spent.  He 
is  a  native,  however,  of  New  York,  born  in 
Watertown,  Jefferson  county,  January  5, 
1S57,  and  is  a  son  of  Samuel  W.  and  Hulda 
E.  (Burke)  Burke,  who,  although  bearing 
the  same  name,  were  not  related  prior  to 
their  marriage.  The  father  was  born  near 
Alexander  Bay,  New  York,  where  he  was 
reared  in  the  usual  manner  of  farmer  boys 
of  his  day,  remaining  at  home  until  he  at- 
tained his  majority.  He  was  one  of  the 
"forty-niners"  who  went  to  California  in 
search  of  gold,  and  while  on  the  Pacific 
slope  he  met  with  fair  success.  With  his 
two  partners,    he   built  the   first   house   in 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


to9 


Placerville,  California,  and  after  digging 
gold  for  about  a  year,  they  opened  a  gen- 
eral store  at  that  place,  which  they  conduct- 
ed with  remarkable  success  from  1851  until 
1856.  Having  accumulated  considerable 
capital,  Mr.  Burke  returned  to  Watertown. 
New  York,  in  1856,  and  continued  to  make 
his  home  there  for  some  time.  There  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Hulda  E. 
Burke,  who  was  bofn  in  Indiana,  but  as  her 
parents  died  during  her  childhood,  she  was 
reared  by  her  grandparents  in  Watertown, 
New  York.  After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Burke 
purchased  a  farm  in  his  native  state  and  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits  there  until 
the  spring  of  1866,  when  he  removed  to 
McLean  county,  Illinois.  He  purchased  a 
tract  of  land  on  section  3,  Old  Town  town- 
ship, which  he  transformed  into  a  good 
farm,  and  in  connection  with  agricultural 
pursuits  also  engaged  in  business  as  a  cap- 
italist. Selling  his  farm,  he  finally  removed 
to  Bloomington,  but  a  few  years  later 
bought  the  property  now  owned  by  our  sub- 
ject, and  here  engaged  in  general  farming 
and  stock  raising  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred October  30,  1884.  He  left  a  widow 
and  six  children,  of  whom  our  subject  is 
the  oldest,  the  others  being  May,  now  Mrs. 
J.  D.  Hagan,  of  Mansville,  N.  Y. ;  Charles, 
a  physician  of  Atlanta,  Illinois;  Sada,  wife 
of  C.  W.  Dooley,  of  Bloomington;  Reed,  a 
farmer  of  Mexico,  Missouri;  and  Clara,  wife 
of  Frank  Parritt,  a  jeweler,  of  Bloomington. 
The  mother  is  still  living,  and  though  she 
makes  her  home  in  Bloomington,  she  spends 
considerable  time  in  travel. 

Byron  R.  Burke  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  McLean  county  and  of 
Bloomington,  and  remained  upon  the  home 
farm  with  his  father  until  his  marriage, 
which    was    celebrated   January  28,    1880, 


Miss  Blanche  Bovard,  a  native  of  Ohio,  be- 
coming his  wife.  Her  parents  died  when 
she  was  quite  young,  and  she  lived  with 
her  brothers  in  this  county  prior  to  her 
marriage.  The  children  born  of  this  union 
are  Mabel,  Ray,  Earle,  Edna,  Hulda  and 
Clara. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Burke  rented 
the  home  farm  until  his  father's  death, 
when  he  purchased  the  interest  of  the  other 
heirs,  and  has  continued  to  reside  thereon  up 
to  the  present  time.  He  is  a  most  thorough 
and  skillful  farmer,  and  has  met  with  excel- 
lent success  in  his  life  work.  In  connection 
with  general  farming  he  devotes  considera- 
ble attention  to  the  feeding  of  stock,  and 
this  branch  of  his  business  has  also  proved 
quite  profitable.  Though  he  usually  sup- 
ports the  Democratic  party  by  his  ballot,  he 
is  somewhat  independent  in  politics,  and  as 
a  friend  of  our  public  school  system  he  has 
most  efficiently  served  as  school  director  in 
his  district  for  twelve  years. 


ADDISON  LEROY  BARKER,  whose 
home  is  at  908  West  Washington  street, 
Bloomington,  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  having 
been  born  in  New  Haven,  Hanover  county, 
on  the  i8th  of  April,  1852,  and  is  a  son  of 
Reuben  and  Julia  Ann  (Brubaker)  Barker. 
The  former  was  a  real  estate  dealer  of  San- 
dusky, Ohio,  and  was  probably  a  native  of 
that  city.  Little  is  known  of  him,  how- 
ever, as  both  he  and  his  wife  died  of  cholera 
when  our  subject  was  an  infant  of  two 
years.  After  the  death  of  his  parents,  our 
subject  lived  with  Andrew  Brubaker,  an 
uncle,  and  a  farmer  of  New  Haven,  Ohio, 
until  the  opening  of  the  Civil  war.  Though 
but  fourteen  years  of  age,  he  went  out  with 
the  Thirty-second  Ohio  Infantry,  as  drum- 


no 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


mer  boy,  but  was  transferred  and  sent 
home,  as  he  was  not  of  age.  He  then 
went  out  with  the  regiment  of  Colonel 
Wilson,  of  Mansfield,  Ohio,  remaining  with 
them  two  years  before  he  was  permitted  to 
enlist  in  the  regular  service,  and  at  the 
expiration  of  that  time  he  enlisted  with  the 
Third  Ohio  Cavalry.  During  the  two  years 
he  was  with  General  Wilson,  he  was  in  all 
the  heaviest  battles  with  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  Shiloh,  etc.  He  was  with  the 
Third  Ohio  Cavalry  until  the  close  of  the 
war,  and  although  an  enlisted  man  for  but 
three  years,  yet  he  was  at  the  front  through- 
out the  entire  war. 

After  being  mustered  out  of  the  service, 
at  Columbus,  in  1865,  our  subject  went  to 
Joliet,  where  he  was,  for  a  few  weeks,  a 
fireman  on  a  cut-off  of  the  Michigan  Central 
railroad.  He  was  next  employed  as  fireman 
on  the  Chicago  &  Alton  railroad  for  three 
years,  and  was  then  made  switch  engineer, 
and  extra  runner  from  Joliet  to  Blooming- 
ton  and  Chicago,  running  a  freight  engine 
for  some  years.  In  1884  Mr.  Barker  re- 
moved to  Bloomington  and  has  run  passen- 
ger engines  most  of  the  time  since.  In 
recent  years  he  has  run  limited  trains 
entirely,  and  principally  between  Bloom- 
ington and  St.  Louis.  He  has  been  over 
the  road  several  thousand  times,  and  has 
never  yet  been  laid  off  for  a  day,  which  is  a 
very  remarkable  record.  During  all  his 
experience  in  railroading  Mr.  Baker  has 
met  with  but  two  bad  accidents.  At  one 
time,  while  going  at  the  rate  of  fifty  miles 
an  hour  with  a  special  train,  a  pay  car,  he 
collided  with  a  work  train,  which  was  stand- 
ing in  a  cut,  and  only  saved  himself  by 
leaping  from  the  cab.  He  was  exonerated 
from  blame,  as  he  had  previously  received 
instructions  that  the  road  was  clear.     An- 


other time,  near  Chicago,  the  engine  tipped 
over,  our  subject  sustaining  very  severe 
injuries.  When  Mr.  Barker  first  entered 
railroad  life  the  largest  engines  then  in  use 
weighed  from  thirty  to  forty  tons,  and  the 
time  required  to  run  from  Bloomington  to 
St.  Louis  was  six  hours.  Now  the  run  is 
made  in  three  hours  and  forty  minutes,  and 
engines  weighing  from  eighty  to  ninety  tons 
are  used  entirely.  He  has  been  under  a 
large  number  of  men  and  administrators  of 
the  road,  from  Mr.  Jackman,  master  me- 
chanic, down,  and  with  one  exception  is  the 
oldest  employe  of  the  road,  having  served 
honorably  and  faithfully  for  over  thirty-five 
years. 

Our  subject  is  a  member  of  Evergreen 
City  Lodge,  No.  365,  I.  O.  O.  P.,  and  is 
also  a  member  of  the  organization.  Knights 
of  Pythias,  but  owing  to  the  fact  that  he  is 
continually  on  the  road,  has  not  held  office. 
On  the  8th  of  December,  1892,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Amanda  Gaffron, 
a  daughter  of  Phillip  Williams,  who  for 
many  years  was  proprietor  of  a  grocery  on 
Market  street.  Mr.  Barker  built  his  resi- 
dence on  Washington  street,  in  1894.  It  is 
a  refined  and  cheerful  home,  containing  all 
the  modern  improvements  and  conveniences, 
and  its  hospitable  doors  are  always  open  to 
the  many  friends  and  acquaintances  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Barker. 


REV.  GEORGE  EDWIN  SCRIMGER, 
D.  D.  Only  the  history  of  the  good 
and  great  comes  down  to  us  through  the 
ages.  The  true  religion  has  been  the  strong- 
est influence  known  to  man  through  all 
time,  while  the  many  false  doctrines  that 
have  sprung  up  have  flourished  only  for  a 
day  and  then  vanished.      More  potent  at  the 


GEORGE  EDWIN  SCRIMGER,  D.  D. 


OF  Tj-'E 
JNIVERSITy  OF  ILLINO'^ 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


"3 


present  than  at  any  period  in  the  world's 
history  are  the  work  and  influence  of  Chris- 
tianity, and  among  those  who  are  devoting 
their  Hves  to  its  inculcation  among  men  is 
Dr.  Scrimger,  the  honored  pastor  of  the 
First  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Bloom- 
ington.  He  is  one  of  the  leading  ministers 
of  that  denomination  in  Illinois,  and  his  life 
is  a  source  of  inspiration  and  encouragement 
to  all  who  know  him. 

The  Doctor  was  born  in  a  log  cabin, 
near  Columbus,  Ohio,  November  29,  1849, 
a  son  of  Thomas  E.  and  Margaret  R.  (Mc- 
Cracken)  Scrimger.  The  father  was  born 
in  Virginia,  where  the  family  made  their 
home  for  many  years  and  were  slave  hold- 
ers, but  he  was  a  strong  Abolitionist.  The 
family  was  founded  in  this  country  by  two 
brothers,  natives  of  Scotland,  one  of  whom 
settled  in  Canada,  the  other  in  Virginia. 
They  had  espoused  the  cause  of  the  pre- 
tender and  for  that  offense  lost  all  their 
property  and  were  practically  banished  from 
their  native  land.  The  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  James  Scrimger,  was  a  soldier  in 
the  Revolutionary  war.  The  father  is  a 
farmer  by  occupation,  and  in  the  midst  of 
the  forests  of  Ohio  cleared  and  improved  a 
farm.  About  1853  he  brought  his  family 
to  Lexington,  McLean  county,  Illinois,  and 
there  developed  a  good  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  on  which  he  still  lives  at  the 
age  of  eighty-one  years,  his  birth  having 
occurred  July  2,  1818.  He  has  been  quite 
a  prominent  man  in  his  community,  has 
served  as  supervisor  and  school  director,  and 
is  held  in  high  regard  by  all  who  know  him. 
An  earnest,  consistent  Christian,  he  has 
long  been  an  active  worker  in  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  has  served  as  class  leader, 
steward  and  superintendent  of  the  Sunday- 
school,  and  his  home  has  always  been  the 


stopping  place  of  the  ministers.  There  have 
been  about  five  or  six  Methodist  Episcopal 
ministers  reared  in  that  locality.  The 
mother  of  our  subject,  who  was  also  a  faith- 
ful member  of  that  denomination,  was  born 
,  at  Hilliards,  Franklin  county,  Ohio,  in  Jan- 
uary I,  1817,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Henry 
McCracken,  of  Scotch-Irish  descent,  who 
came  to  Lexington,  Illinois,  with  the  Scrim- 
ger family,  and  was  a  farmer  by  occupation. 
She  died  January  28,  1862,  at  the  age  of 
forty-five  years. 

Reared  on  the  home  farm  in  this  county, 
Dr.  Scrimger  attended  the  public  schools  of 
Selma,  and  for  five  years  was  a  student  in 
Wesleyan  University,  where  he  was  grad- 
uated with  the  degree  of  A.  B.,  in  June, 
1874,  and  two  years  later  received  the  de- 
gree of  A.  M.  Standing  high  in  his  class, 
he  had  the  honor  of  being  appointed  by  the 
faculty  as  a  junior  contestant  and  his  essay 
received  the  prize.  After  his  graduation  he 
taught  in  the  University  and  at  the  same 
time  supplied  the  Wapella  circuit  as  a  local 
preacher.  In  the  fall  of  1875,  he  joined 
the  conference  and  began  a  four  years'  course 
of  reading.  His  first  appointment  was  at 
Downs,  McLean  county,  where  he  remained 
two  years,  being  their  first  stationed  pastor, 
and  the  congregation  rapidly  grew  under  his 
leadership.  He  was  ordained  a  deacon  in 
1877  and  took  supernumerary  relation.  He 
then  pursued  a  three  years'  course  at  the 
Drew  Theological  Seminary  at  Madison, 
New  Jersey,  and  supported  himself  by  sup- 
plying a  small  church  near  by.  During  his 
last  summer  there  he  supplied  the  pulpit  of 
the  Franklin  Square  Independent  Methodist 
church,  and  on  the  death  of  the  regular 
minister  at  that  time,  he  was  called  to  the 
pastorate,  but  declined  to  accept,  preferring 
to    keep    in    the    regular   work.     By  Drew 


114 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Seminary  he  was  granted  the  degree  of  B. 
D.  In  the  fall  of  1880  he  took  charge  of  a 
church  at  Havana,  Illinois,  where  he  re- 
mained for  two  years,  and  then  accepted 
the  pastorate  of  the  Second  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church  of  Springfield  and  during  his 
three  years  there  met  with  excellent  success 
in  building  up  the  membership. 

On  the  3d  of  February,  1885,  Dr.  Scrim- 
ger  married  Miss  Emma  Tracy,  of  New  Or- 
leans, a  distant  relative  of  ex-Secretary 
Tracy.  Her  father,  Thomas  G.  Tracy,  was 
a  distinguished  literary  man  of  New  Orleans 
and  at  one 'time  the  editor  of  the  Republic- 
an; being  a  northern  man  by  birth,  but  go- 
ing south  when  young,  he  became  identified 
with  the  growth  of  the  Crescent  City.  He 
was  sent  South  by  the  New  York  Tribune 
during  the  civil  war  as  a  war  correspondent. 
His  people  were  pioneers  of  New  York  state. 
He  died  while  on  a  visit  to  his  daughter, 
Mrs.  Scrimger,  in  Danville,  February  11, 
1893.  The  children  born  to  the  Doctor  and 
his  wife  are  Ruth,  Edwin  Tracy,  Paul  and 
Margaret. 

In  1885,  Dr.  Scrimger  took  charge  of 
Trinity  church,  Quincy,  and  in  the  fall  of 
1887  was  appointed  to  Grace  church,  Deca- 
tur, where  he  remained  for  four  years,  which 
period  marked  an  important  epoch  in  the 
growth  of  the  church,  both  spiritually  and 
financially.  The  church  property  was  im- 
proved by  steam  heat  and  a  pipe  organ. 
In  1 89 1  he  was  appointed  presiding  elder  of 
the  Danville  district,  and  during  his  six  years 
in  that  position  his  time  was  fully  occupied 
as  he  had  thirty-four  charges  under  his  di- 
rection. It  was  at  this  time,  in  1892,  that 
Illinois  Wesleyan  University  conferred  upon 
him  the  degree  of  D.  D.  In  the  fall  of 
1897  he  was  appointed  to  his  present  charge 
— the  First  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of 


Bloomington — and  during  the  past  year 
twelve  thousand  dollars  were  raised  for  the 
repair  fund,  and  over  one  hundred  added  to 
the  church,  which  now  has  a  membership 
of  over  twelve  hundred — the  largest  in  the 
Illinois  conference.  Dr.  Scrimger's  work 
here  is  arduous  as  he  has  no  assistant  to  help 
him.  He  often  conducts  from  three  to  four 
funeral  sermons  a  week,  performs  a  large 
number  of  wedding  ceremonies  and  has 
many  calls  to  make.  He  is  a  man  of  thought- 
ful, earnest  purpose,  of  strong  intellectual 
endowments,  of  broad  charity  and  kindly 
nature,  and  by  all  denominations  as  well  as 
his  own  people,  is  held  in  the  highest  regard. 
At  the  last  election  of  the  general  conference 
he  was  made  first  reserve  delegate.  Fra- 
ternally, he  is  a  member  of  the  blue  lodge, 
chapter  and  council  of  the  Masonic  order, 
at  Havana,  and  the  commandery  at  Danville. 


PROFESSOR  DELMAR  DUANE  DAR- 
RAH,  director  of  the  Wesleyan  School 
of  Oratory,  and  a  prominent  citizen  of 
Bloomington,  is  a  native  "of  Illinois,  born  in 
Tolono,  Champaign  county,  July  15,  1S68, 
and  is  a  son  of  Dr.  Alexander  T.  and  Eliza- 
beth H.  (Fugate)  Darrah,  the  former  a  native 
of  Ohio,  the  latter  of  Pike  county,  Illinois. 
The  maternal  grandfather  of  our  subject 
was  born  in  Virginia.  During  his  early  life 
the  father  read  medicine  and  graduated 
from  Rush  Medical  College,  Chicago,  after 
which  he  located  in  Tolono  and  engaged 
in  practice  thereuntil  1883.  He  then  came 
to  Bloomington,  and  remained  one  of  the 
prominent  and  successful  physicians  of  this 
place  until  called  from  this  life  September 
4,  1889.  He  was  also  one  of  its  leading 
and  influential  citizens  and  took  an  active 
and  prominent  part   in  public  affairs.      He 


THE   BIOGR.\PHICAL   RECORD. 


115 


served  as  supervisor  and  was  once  candidate 
for  mayor.  The  mother  died  in  June, 
1884,  leaving  three  children:  Delmar  D., 
our  subject;  Nellie,  now  the  wife  of  A.  G. 
Lain,  of  Shirley;  and  Ada  M. 

Professor  Darrah  began  his  education 4n 
the  public  schools  of  Tolono,  and  after  com- 
ing to  Bloomington  entered  the  Wesleyan 
University,  where  he  was  graduated  in  1 890 
with  the  degree  of  Ph.  B.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Phi  Delta  Theta  society.  After 
his  graduation  he  took  a  three-years'  course 
in  elocution,  oratorj-  and  dramatic  art  under 
private  teachers  in  Chicago  and  the  east, 
and  on  his  return  to  Bloomington  estab- 
lished a  school  of  oratory  which  is  co-oper- 
ative with  the  University,  except  that  the 
board  of  trustees  exercise  supervision  over 
all  of  the  departments.  The  school  now 
has  an  enrollment  of  from  fifty  to  seventy- 
five  pupils  each  year,  and  he  is  assisted  in 
his  labors  by  an  able  corps  of  instructors. 
A  thorough  and  systematic  course  of  in- 
struction has  been  established,  and  the  large 
attendance  which  the  school  has  is  sufficient 
evidence  of  the  superiority  of  the  work  ac- 
complished. It  is  the  aim  of  the  school  to 
create  expressive  readers  and  efficient  teach- 
ers and  the  studies  pursued  are  physical  cult- 
ure, Delsarte  and  the  principles  of  gesture, 
elocution,  voice  culture,  study  of  emotion, 
rhetoric,  English  literature,  etc.  Professor 
Darrah  ranks  among  the  best  readers  and 
interpreters  in  the  state,  and  has  met  with 
marked  success  in  the  conduct  of  his  school. 

On  June  21,  189S,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Isabel  Wetzell,  of 
Bloomington,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Wet- 
zell. They  are  both  members  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  church,  and  the  Professor  is  a 
prominent  member  of  the  Masonic  frater- 
ity.      He  is  editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Illi- 


nois Free  Mason,  which  was  established  by 
Owen  Scott  in  1885  and  purchased  by  our 
subject  in  1892,  who  finds  the  work  both 
pleasant  and  profitable.  It  is  the  represent- 
ative Masonic  paper  in  the  state  and  has  a 
large  circulation  which  is  constantly  increas- 
ing. Professor  Darrah  is  one  of  the  most 
influential  members  of  Bloomington  Lodge, 
No.  43,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  which  he  is  both 
past  and  present  master.  He  has  also  rep- 
resented the  lodge  in  the  Grand  Lodge  of 
the  state;  has  been  deputy  grand  lecturer  of 
the  Grand  Lodge;  district  deputy  grand 
master  for  five  years;  and  is  now  a  member 
of  the  finance  committee.  He  is  also  past 
high  priest  of  Bloomington  Chapter,  No. 
26,  R.  A.  M.;  has  been  a  representative  to 
the  grand  chapter;  and  was  one  of  the  grand 
lecturers  in  1898.  He  has  held  office  in 
Bloomington  Council;  is  past  commander  of 
DeMolay  Commandery,  and  has  been  a 
representative  to  the  grand  commandery; 
and  is  a  member  of  the  intermediate  bodies 
to  the  Peoria  Consistory. 


J.\MES  L.  LOAR,  a  prominent  and  suc- 
cessful attorney  of  Bloomington,  was 
born  in  Waynesburg,  Pennsylvania,  Janu- 
ary 24,  1864,  and  on  the  paternal  side  is  of 
German  descent.  The  family  was  founded 
in  Virginia  about  the  time  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary war,  and  later  one  branch  of  the 
family,  consisting  of  five  brothers,  came 
north.  John  Loar,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  April  21,  1826,  in  Waynes- 
burg, Pennsjivania,  where  he  grew  to  man- 
hood and  married  Miss  Maria  White,  a 
daughter  of  Israel  White,  who  was  also  a 
representative  of  an  old  Pennsylvania  fam- 
ily of  German  origin,  his  father  being  a  res- 


u6 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


ident  of  the  Keystone  state.  In  March, 
1868,  John  Loar  came  to  McLean  county, 
Illinois,  and  purchased  the  Walton  place, 
ten  miles  south  of  Fairbury,  and  six  miles 
and  a  half  northeast  of  Colfax,  being  at 
that  time  the  oldest  and  finest  farm  in  this 
section.  He  was  a  prominent  horseman, 
seHing  more  fine  horses  than  any  other  man 
in  the  county.  He  and  his  family  have  al- 
ways been  great  lovers  of  the  noble  steed, 
and  his  horses  carried  off  most  of  the  prem- 
iums at  the  fairs  where  they  were  exhib- 
ited. He  was  a  director  of  the  Fairbury 
Fair,  and  also  of  the  Belle  Prairie  Fair  for 
twenty-two  years,  and  was  one  of  the  found- 
ers and  principal  stockholders  of  the  latter. 
He  was  also  an  officer  of  the  Livingston 
County  Mutual  Insurance  Company,  which 
was  one  of  the  earliest  corporations  of  the 
kind  established.  He  was  a  successful  and 
prosperous  farmer  and  served  as  justice  of 
the  peace  in  his  township  for  some  time. 
Two  years  prior  to  his  death  he  retired  from 
active  life  and  removed  to  Colfax. 

On  the  celebration  of  his  golden  wed- 
ding in  April,  1897,  which  was  a  notable 
event  in  the  community,  all  of  his  eight  liv- 
ing children  were  present,  and  also  fourteen 
grandchildren  and  one  great-grandchild. 
Two  more  grandchildren  were  born  before 
his  death.  The  wife  and  mother  died  June 
14,  1898,  and  he  passed  away  October  5, 
1898,  honored  and  respected  by  all  who 
knew  them.  For  half  a  century  they  were 
faithful  members  of  the  Christian  church, 
and  were  among  the  early  members  of  that 
church  in  their  community.  Their  children 
were  as  follows:  Thomas  J.,  a  resident  of 
Colfax;  David  \V.,  a  druggist  of  McCook, 
Nebraska;  Elizabeth  L.,  wife  of  William 
Long,  of  Manson,  Iowa;  George  F.,  a  drug- 
gist of  Lewiston,   Illinois;  Mrs.    Emma  F. 


Gaddis,  of  Beaver  City,  Nebraska;  James 
L. ,  our  subject;  Ida  B.,  wife  of  Sherman 
Williams,  a  farmer  of  Cropsey;  and  Arthur 
M.,  who  lives  on  the  old  homestead. 

James  L.  Loar  acquired  his  early  educa- 
tion in  the  country  schools  near  his  boyhood 
home,  later  engaged  in  teaching  for  two 
years  in  McLean  county,  and  later  was 
principal  of  the  schools  at  Bluff  City,  Illi- 
nois. He  attended  the  literary  department 
of  the  Michigan  University  at  Ann  Arbor, 
and  later  the  law  department  of  the  same 
institution,  where  he  was  graduated  with 
the  degree  of  LL.  B.  in  June,  1887,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  supreme  court  of  Michi- 
gan. Going  to  Colby,  Thomas  county, 
Kansas,  he  opened  an  office,  and  was  not 
long  in  building  up  a  good  practice.  He 
was  elected  state's  attorney  in  1888  and 
again  in  1890  for  that  county,  and  while 
serving  in  that  office  had  charge  of  the 
prosecution  of  the  celebrated  ' '  Bohemian 
Club  "  case  under  the  prohibition  laws  of 
Kansas.  This  case  was  tried  six  times, 
twice  in  the  justice  courts,  three  times  in 
the  district  court  and  once  in  the  supreme 
court,  resulting  in  a  victory  for  the  state. 
It  is  perhaps  needless  to  say  that  the  liquor 
interests  were  represented  by  the  ablest 
counsel  obtainable,  and  the  case  was  con- 
sidered the  most  stubbornly  contested  in 
northwestern  Kansas.  Mf .  Loar  also  prose- 
cuted one  murder  case  and  others  of  impor- 
tance during  his  term  and  also  conducted  a 
good  private  practice.  Resigning  his  posi- 
tion in  1891,  he  removed  to  Ogden,  Utah, 
where  he  engaged  in  general  practice  until 
July,  1897,  meeting  with  excellent  success. 

While  a  resident  of  Utah,  Mr.  Loar  was 
twice  state  president  of  the  State  Sunday 
School  Association  and  for  five  years  superin- 
tendent of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Sunday 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


117 


School  in  Ogden,  which  he  made  the  larg- 
est evangelical  Sunday  school  in  the  state. 
He  was  also  twice  elected  president  of  the 
State  Epworth  League  Association,  was 
chairman  of  the  board  of  trustees  most  of  the 
time,  and  attorney  for  the  board  of  church  ex- 
tension for  five  years.  For  four  years  he  also 
represented  Bradstreet  and  other  prominent 
mercantile  agencies.  While  there  his  law 
library  was  destroyed  by  fire,  but  has  since 
built  up  another  fine  one.  He  thoroughly 
understands  the  Mormon  church,  and 
worked  hard  to  destroy  its  injurious  in- 
fluences. 

On  the  loth  of  August,  1892,  Mr.  Loar 
married  Miss  Mildred  Wood,  a  daughter  of 
Mrs.  Sarah  P.  Wood,  of  Fredonia,  Kansas. 
Her  father,  Harvey  S.  Wood,  now  deceased, 
was  a  soldier,  all  through  the  civil  war  serv- 
ing as  first  lieutenant  in  Company  E,  Six- 
teenth Ohio  Regular  Volunteer  Infantry. 
Two  daughters  have  been  born  to  our  sub- 
ject and  his  wife,  namely:  Constance  and 
Romaine.  In  July,  1897,  Mr.  Loar  brought 
his  family  to  Bloomington  where  he  has 
since  successfully  engaged  in  general  prac- 
tice, having  accomplished  more  in  two  years 
than  most  lawyers  do  in  a  much  greater 
length  of  time.  Although  not  a  criminal 
lawyer,  he  has  tried  a  number  of  important 
cases  along  that  line,  and  has  had  charge  of 
a  number  of  trial  cases.  He  has  ever  met 
with  marked  success  in  jury  trials,  as  he  is 
not  only  a  good  judge  of  law,  but,  what  is  al- 
most equally  important,  he  is  a  good  judge 
of  men.  It  is  these  qualities,  together  with 
his  great  earnestness  and  ability  as  a  speak- 
er, that  has  brought  to  him  success.  Mr. 
Loar  has  prepared  a  very  interesting  lec- 
ture entitled  "Modern  Mormonism  "  which 
he  has  delivered  with  great  success. 

Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Modern 


Woodmen  of  America  and  is  now  serving  a 
second  term  as  venerable  consul  of  his 
lodge. 


OLIVER  R.  SKINNER,  the  well-known 
director  of  the  Wesleyan  College  of 
Music  and  a  leader  in  musical  circles  in 
Bloomington,  was  born  in  Lake  Zurich,  Lake 
county,  Illinois,  February  7,  1864,  and  is  a 
son  of  David  and  Mary  C.  (Ross)  Skinner, 
natives  of  New  York,  who  were  born  near 
Geneseo,  as  were  also  their  parents.  The 
mother  was  a  descendant  of  Lord  Ross, 
who  came  to  this  country  in  the  Mayflower, 
and  the  father's  ancestors  also  came  to 
America  in  colonial  days  and  assisted  the 
colonies  in  their  struggle  for  independence 
as  soldiers  of  the  Revolutionary  war.  In 
1849,  David  Skinner,  with  two  brothers, 
came  to  Lake  county,  Illinois,  driving  five 
thousand  sheep  across  the  country,  and  he 
purchased  a  tract  of  wild  land,  to  the  culti- 
vation and  improvement  of  which  he  devot- 
ed his  energies  until  1877,  when  he  moved 
to  Normal  for  the  purpose  of  educating  his 
children.  He  died  in  1896,  leaving  three 
children.  He  was  a  supporter  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  and  as  a  campaign  speaker 
did  much  to  promote  its  interests  and  insure 
its  success.  He  was  a  faithful  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  was 
highly  respected  by  all  who  knew  him. 

Mr.  Skinner,  of  this  review,  began  his 
education  in  the  schools  of  his  native  coun- 
ty, and  after  the  removal  of  the  family  to 
Normal  was  a  student  in  the  Normal  school 
and  the  Wesleyan  University.  At  an  early 
age  he  also  took  up  the  study  of  music,  and 
for  some  time  was  a  pupil  of  Professor 
Stanley,  of  Evanston,  and  Professor  Frank 
Mueller.     In  1884  he  went  to  Perjin,  Prus- 


Ii8 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


sia,  and  entered  ther  middle  classes  of  the 
KuUak  "Neue  Akademie  der  Tonkunst," 
where  he  took  up  the  study  of  piano  under 
Professors  Eckhoff,  Rhenius  and  Jean  Vogt; 
harmony  under  Heinrich  Throm;  and  organ 
under  the  noted  concert  player,  Franz  Grun- 
icke.  At  the  end  of  the  first  year  he  en- 
tered the  higher  classes  and  pursued  his 
studies  under  Franz  Kullak,  Albert  Becker 
and  Franz  Grunicke.  During  that  year  he 
appeared  in  several  concerts  and  won  the 
praise  of  critical  Berlin  audiences.  During 
the  first  summer  vacation  he  studied  Hen- 
selt's  and  Tausig's  methods  with  Heinrich 
Throm,  a  pupil  of  these  masters,  and  also 
began  the  study  of  the  higher  branches  of 
theory  and  composition  with  Albert  Becker, 
the  composer  of  the  Hallelujah  cantata, 
which  was  sung  at  one  of  the  great  concerts 
given  at  the  World's  Fair,  and  the  director 
of  the  noted  cathedral  choir  in  Berlin.  For 
over  two  years  Mr.  Skinner  earnestly  pur- 
sued his  studies  under  these  masters,  and 
during  the  second  summer's  vacation  he 
mastered  Bussler's  Harmony  in  order  ac- 
quire greater  theoretical  technique. 

Returning  to  his  home  in  the  fall  of 
1887,  Mr.  Skinner  founded  the  Blooming- 
ton  Conservatory  of  Music,  which  met  with 
excellent  success  and  numbered  at  the  end 
of  the  second  year  over  two  hundred  and 
fifty  pupils.  At  that  time  Mr.  Skinner  and 
John  R.  Gray  decided  to  consolidate  the 
Bloomington  Conservatory  and  the  Illinois 
College  of  Music,  and  the  school  thus  formed 
has  since  been  known  as  the  Wesleyan  Col- 
lege of  Music,  with  which  Mr.  Skinner  has 
been  connected  for  the  past  nine  years.  As 
a  teacher  he  stands  high  in  the  public  opin- 
ion, which  fact  is  attested  by  his  long  list 
of  talented  pupils.  The  school  is  the  larg- 
est of   its  kind   in  central   Illinois  and  now 


has  an  attendance  of  over  six  hundred, 
there  being  but  one  or  two  musical  colleges 
larger  in  Chicago.  The  college  has  eight 
most  competent  and  thorough  teachers,  and 
many  of  its  graduates  are  now  teaching  in 
Chicago,  Jacksonville  and  other  places,  and 
a  number  have  continued  their  studies  in 
Europe.  During  the  past  five  years  Mr. 
Skinner  has  given  special  training  in  a  course 
of  gymnastics  for  the  hand,  arm  and  fingers, 
and  his  work  in  this  line  has  been  followed 
by  such  wonderful  results  in  the  way  of  giv- 
ing the  student  self-control,  perfect  relaxa- 
tion as  well  as  tension  where  needed  in  solv- 
ing the  problem  of  execution,  that  it  is  now 
introduced  into  the  general  course  of  the 
college.  He  has  played  at  state  teacher 
associations  with  pronounced  success,  and 
has  given  concerts  at  frequent  intervals  in 
addition  to  his  daily  duties  as  a  teacher. 
He  is  a  writer  of  more  than  ordinary  ability, 
and  is  a  regular  contributor  to  leading  mus- 
ical journals.  As  a  composer  and  editor  he 
also  ranks  high  among  young  writers,  and 
his  "Sketches"  have  won  favorable  com- 
ment from  such  men  as  Liebling,  Presser, 
Sherwood,  Gleason  and  other  critics.  Dur- 
ing the  past  year  he  has  done  considerable 
revising  and  editing  standard  teaching  pieces 
for  eastern  publishers.  For  seven  or  eight 
years  he  was  organist  at  the  First  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  of  Bloomington,  and  now 
holds  that  position  in  the  Christian  church. 
He  organized  and  carried  on  the  Mendels- 
sohn Male  Chorus  for  a  number  of  years. 

On  the  17th  of  August,  1896,  Mr.  Skin- 
ner was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Farie 
Stevick,  of  Naperville,  Illinois.  Mrs.  Skin- 
ner is  a  very  talented  soprano  and  a  most 
successful  teacher,  having  for  the  past  three 
years  been  principal  of  the  vocal  depart- 
ment of  the   Wesleyan  College   of    Music. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


119 


She  is  eminently  qualified  to  impart  the 
most  thorough  and  artistic  instruction  to 
her  pupils,  and  has  enrolled  more  students 
in  the  vocal  department  than  any  previous 
teacher.  For  several  years  she  was  a  stu- 
dent at  the  Cincinnati  Conservatory,  and 
for  three  years  pursued  her  studies  with  the 
noted  Italian  master,  Signor  Carpi,  of  the 
Chicago  Conservatory — now  of  Milan,  Italy. 
Her  voice  has  a  phenomenal  compass,  ex- 
tending to  E  above  high  C,  and  is  through- 
out pure  and  melodious  in  quality.  She 
possesses  a  pleasing  personalit}'  and  the  gift 
of  enthusing  her  pupils.  She  is  now  soloist 
and  leader  of  the  choir  of  the  Christian 
church,  though  she  and  her  husband  hold 
membership  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  and  in  social  as  well  as  musical  cir- 
cles they  occupy  an  enviable  position. 


ELMER  J.  ZEITERS,  a  leading  and  rep- 
resentative citizen  of  Dale  township, 
has  made  his  home  in  McLean  county,  Illi- 
nois, since  the  i8th  of  March,  1882,  and 
has  been  actively  identified  with  its  agri- 
cultural interests,  owning  and  operating  at 
present  a  fine  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres.  He  was  born  July  7,  1864, 
in  Hummelstown,  Dauphin  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, of  which  place  his  parents,  Jacob 
and  Matilda  (Bomgardner)  Zeiters,  were 
also  natives,  as  was  also  the  paternal  grand- 
father, George  Zeiters,  who  was  born  on 
the  same  farm  where  the  birth  of  our  sub- 
ject and  his  father  occurred.  The  family 
was  originally  from  Germany  and  were  pio- 
neers of  Dauphin  county.  There  the  father 
of  our  subject  engaged  in  farming  and  was 
one  of  the  well-to-do  and  prominent  citizens 
of  his  community.  On  leaving  his  native 
.state  and  coming  west  in  1883,  he  first  lo- 


cated in  Dry  Grove  township,  McLean 
county,  Illinois,  and  after  living  there  two 
years  removed  to  Funks  Grove  township, 
where  he  followed  his  chosen  occupation, 
that  of  a  farmer.  His  next  home  was  in 
Montgomery  township.  Ford  county,  Illi- 
nois, but  is  now  living  in  Calhoun  county, 
Iowa,  where  he  has  purchased  a  farm.  His 
wife  still  survives,  and  with  them  resides 
their  oldest  son,  George,  while  our  subject 
and  their  only  daughter,  Mrs.  Lizzie  Burk- 
hart,  live  in  this  county,  the  latter  being  a 
resident  of  Dry  Grove  township. 

Elmer  J.  Zeiters  acquired  his  literary 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  remained  with  his  father  until 
he  attained  his  majority,  when  he  started 
out  in  life  for  himself  as  an  agriculturist. 
On  the  22d  of  December,  1SS6,  he  married 
Miss  Lizzie  Sholty,  a  sister  of  Jacob  Sholty, 
who  is  represented  on  another  page  of  this 
volume.  To  them  have  been  born  five 
children,  of  whom  four  are  now  living: 
Harry,  Ethel,  Estella  and  Orville. 

For  one  year  after  his  marriage,  Mr. 
Zeiters  rented  the  farm  which  he  now  owns 
and  then  purchased  the  place.  It  is  one  of 
the  richest  and  most  productive  farms  in  the 
county,  and  he  has  refused  ninety  dollars  an 
acre  for  it.  He  engaged  quite  successfully 
in  general  farming  and  stock-raising  until 
1S97,  when  he  removed  to  Covell  and 
embarked  in  business  as  a  general  mer- 
chant and  dealer  in  grain  and  coal,  having 
charge  of  the  entire  business  of  the  village 
with  the  exception  of  the  blacksmithing. 
He  built  up  an  excellent  trade  and  also 
served  as  postmaster  of  the  place,  but  pre- 
ferring farm  life,  he  sold  his  business  in- 
terests there,  resigned  his  office  and  returned 
to  the  farm  in  the  spring  of  1899.  He  has 
remodelled   his  residence,    transforming   it 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


into  a  fine  country  home,  and  is  now  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits. 
He  takes  quite  an  active  interest  in  educa- 
tional affairs,  and  in  1899  was  elected  school 
trustee  of  his  district,  which  office  he  is  now 
most  creditably  filling.  Although  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Lutheran  church,  he  attends  and 
gives  his  support  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  of  Covell,  in  which  his  wife  holds 
membership.  He  is  widely  and  favora- 
bly known  in  both  business  and  social 
circles,  and  has  won  the  confidence  and 
respect  of  all  with  whom  he  has  come  in 
contact. 


JEHU  LITTLE,  M.  D.  The  world  has 
little  use  for  the  misanthrope.  The 
universal  truth  of  brotherhood  is  widely 
recognized,  also  that  he  serves  God  best  who 
serves  his  fellow  men.  There  is  no  pro- 
fession or  line  of  business  that  calls  for 
greater  self-sacrifice  or  more  devoted  atten- 
tion than  the  medical  profession,  and  the 
successful  physician  is  he,  who  through  love 
of  his  fellow  men,  gives  his  time  and  atten- 
tion to  the  relief  of  human  suffering.  Dr. 
Little  is  one  of  the  ablest  representatives 
of  this  noble  calling  in  Blooinington,  and  is 
to-day  serving  as  pension  examiner. 

The  Doctor  was  born  in  Salem,  Wash- 
ington county,  Indiana,  October  6,  1833, 
and  is  a  son  of  Richard  and  Sarah  (Hughes) 
Little,  also  natives  of  that  county,  where 
they  were  reared  and  married.  Our  sub- 
ject's paternal  great-grandfather  was  a  na- 
tive of  Virginia,  but  the  grandfather,  Jehu 
Little,  was  born  in  Kentucky  and  was  a 
pioneer  of  Washington  county,  Indiana, 
locating  twelve  miles  from  Salem.  The 
great-grandfather  was  a  soldier  of  the  Revo- 
lutionary  war.     The   mother,    who   was  a 


faithful  member  of  the  Baptist  church,  died 
in  her  native  county,  and  in  1842  the  father 
removed  to  Clark  county,  Illinois,  where  he 
purchased  a  farm  and  made  his  home  until 
called  to  his  final  rest.  He  held  member- 
ship in  the  Methodist  Protestant  church, 
and  was  held  in  high  esteem  by  all  who 
knew  him. 

Dr.  Little  is  one  of  a  family  of  five  chil- 
dren, and  acquired  his  early  education  in 
the  schools  of  Clark  county,  later  attending 
Marshall  College,  of  Marshall,  Illinois,  and 
the  Normal  University,  of  Normal,  Illinois. 
In  the  meantime  he  taught  school  for  four 
years,  and  on  completing  his  education  was 
principal  of  a  school  in  Bloomington  for  one 
year.  At  the  opening  of  the  Civil  war  he 
enlisted  in  Company  G,  Thirty-third  Illinois 
Volunteers,  known  as  the  Normal  Regiment, 
but  was  soon  detailed  to  act  as  hospital 
steward  of  the  regiment,  and  in  January, 
1862,  was  detailed  as  brigade  hospital  stew- 
ard at  Ironton,  Missouri.  On  the  6th 
of  October  of  the  same  year  he  was  ap- 
pointed hospital  steward  of  the  Regular 
army.  United  States  of  "America,  by  the 
secretary  of  war,  Edward  M.  Stanton,  -and 
assigned  to  duty  at  the  large  hospital  in 
Chicago,  where  he  had  a  great  deal  of  power. 
On  the  1 2th  of  January,  1863,  he  was  com- 
missioned assistant  surgeon  of  the  Twenty- 
fourth  Missouri  Volunteer  Infantry  by  Gov- 
ernor Gamble  of  Missouri,  and  joined  the 
regiment  at  West  Plains,  that  state,  remain- 
ing with  it  until  it  was  mustered  out  at  the 
expiration  of  its  term  of  enlistment  in  Octo- 
ber, 1864.  He  was  with  the  regiment  in 
the  field  in  southeastern  Missouri,  western 
Kentucky,  Tennessee  and  Louisiana,  and  in 
the  celebrated  Red  river  campaign  under 
Banks;  was  with  General  Sherman's  com- 
mand through  Mississippi  from  Vicksburg  to 


JEHU   LITTLE,   M.   D. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


123 


Meridian;  and  then  went  to  southern  Ten- 
nessee and  northern  Mississippi  under  Gen- 
eral A.  J.  Smith,  of  the  Sixteenth  Army 
Corps.  Dr.  Little  always  displayed  great 
heroism  in  the  presence  of  danger,  and  in 
1864,  right  after  the  battle  of  Tupelo,  Mis- 
sissippi, he  volunteered  to  remain  with  the 
wounded  of  the  army,  knowing  well  that  he 
would  be  captured  by  the  enemy,  and  he 
was  the  only  surgeon  who  would  make  the 
sacrifice.  After  being  taken  prisoner  he  was 
first  sent  with  the  wounded  to  the  Federal 
hospital  at  Mobile,  then  to  Meridian,  Mis- 
sissippi, from  there  to  the  noted  prison  in 
Cahaba,  Alabama,  and  thence  to  Montgom- 
ery, Alabama,  and  on  to  Libby  prison,  Rich- 
mond, Virginia,  where  with  three  hundred 
and  fifty  others  he  was  finally  released  Sep- 
tember I,  1864,  after  nearly  three  months 
imprisonment.  He  was  then  sent  to  An- 
napolis and  later  to  Washington,  District  of 
Columbia,  where  he  was  granted  a  furlough 
of  one  month,  a  part  of  which  he  spent  in 
Bloomington.  On  the  ist  of  October,  he 
rejoined  his  regiment  at  Jefferson  barracks, 
St.  Louis,  and  with  it  went  in  pursuit  of 
Price,  who  had  invaded  Missouri  with  the 
intention  of  capturing  St.  Louis.  After 
driving  that  rebel  general  from  the  state, 
the  regiment  was  mustered  out  October  28, 
1864,  on  the  expiration  of  the  term  of  en- 
listment. At  four  different  times  during  his 
service.  Dr.  Little  was  in  charge  of  small- 
pox hospitals  located  at  Ironton,  Missouri; 
Union  City,  Tennessee;  Cape  Girardeau, 
Missouri;  and  Alexandria,  Louisiana;  and  for 
a  time  had  charge  of  the  government  hos- 
pital at  Vicksburg.  In  1863,  as  surgeon  of 
the  Fourth  Missouri  Cavalry,  he  accom- 
panied Colonel  George  E.  Waring  on  his 
perilous  expedition  after  Forrest  in  Ken- 
tucky and  Tennessee,  being  the   only  sur- 


geon with  the  command.  In  southwestern 
Missouri,  when  facing  a  larger  force,  the 
commander  called  for  a  volunteer  to  ride 
sixty  miles  in  the  night  to  Ironton  for  re-en- 
forcements. The  Doctor  came  forward  and 
offered  his  services,  and  taking  a  horse  rode 
there  and  back  in  safety,  though  surrounded 
on  all  sides  by  bushwhackers.  This  was 
only  one  of  many  times  when  he  displayed 
great  bravery  and  came  to  the  assistance  of 
his  comrades.  After  being  mustered  out 
with  the  Twenty-fourth  Missouri  Volunteer 
Infantry,  Dr.  Little  went  to  New  York  City 
and  attended  a  course  of  lectures  at  the  Bel- 
levue  Hospital  Medical  College,  and  a  spring 
term  in  the  Long  Island  Hospital  Medical 
College,  graduating  June  24,  1865.  He  was 
then  examined  by  the  army  medical  exam- 
ining board  in  New  York  and  commissioned 
assistant  surgeon  of  the  One  Hundred  Tenth 
United  States  Colored  Infantry,  which  he 
joined  September  9,  1865,  at  Nashville, 
Tennessee,  and  with  which  he  remained,  un- 
til February  6,  1866,  when  he  was  mustered 
out  at  Huntsville,  Alabama. 

Dr.  Little  had  commenced  the  study  of 
medicine  before  entering  the  army,  having 
attended  medical  clinics  and  lectures  in 
Chicago.  He  opened  an  office  for  the  prac- 
tice of  his  chosen  profession  in  Blooming- 
ton  in  February,  1866,  but  the  following 
July  removed  to  Leroy,  where  he  enjoyed 
an  extensive  country  practice  for  ten  years. 
He  returned  to  Bloomington  in  May,  1877, 
and  has  since  engaged  in  general  practice 
here,  though  making  a  specialty  of  the  dis- 
eases of  women  and  children.  After  sell- 
ing out  in  Leroy,  he  went  to  Philadelphia, 
in  January,  1S77,  and  there  took  a  post- 
graduate course  in  Jefferson  Medical  College. 
He  was  not  long  in  building  up  a  good  prac- 
tice in  Bloomington,  which  he  still  enjoys. 


124 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


He  is  a  prominent' member  of  the  McLean 
County  Medical  Society,  the  Illinois  State 
Medical  Society,  and  the  American  Medical 
Association.  He  has  been  secretary  and 
president  of  the  first  named  and  is  now  its 
treasurer,  and  has  often  read  papers  before 
the  different  societies,  and  has  contributed 
many  valuable  articles  to  medical  journals. 
He  is  now  secretary  of  the  United  States 
board  of  pension  examiners  appointed  by 
the  commissioner  of  pensions. 

On  the  7th  of  February,  1S67,  Dr. 
Little  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Helen  M.  Humiston,  of  Abingdon,  Knox 
county,  Illinois,  who  was  educated  at  Gales- 
burg,  and  to  them  have  been  born  four 
children,  namely:  Mary  A.,  wife  of  Lewis 
Sensenny,  of  Chatham;  Richard  H.,  who 
for  the  past  four  years  has  been  connected 
with  the  Chicago  Tribune,  and  who  distin- 
guished himself  as  its  staff  correspondent 
at  Havana,  Cuba,  during  the  winter  of 
1898-9;  Willie,  who  died  at  the  age  of  two 
years;  and  Lillian,  at  home.  The  Doctor 
attends  the  Unitarian  church  and  is  liberal 
in  his  religious  views.  His  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.  For  twenty-two  years  he  has 
made  his  home  at  No.  606  East  Taylor 
street. 

Since  the  organization  of  the  Republic- 
an party.  Dr.  Little  has  been  one  of  its 
stanch  supporters  and  was  one  of  the  or- 
ganizers of  the  original  Fourth  Ward  Mc- 
Kinley  Club,  in  March,  1896,  and  was  its 
president  the  last  three  months  of  the  cam- 
paign of  1896;  organized  the  McLean  coun- 
ty soldiers  into  the  Union  Veterans'  Patri- 
otic League,  of  Bloomington,  in  August, 
1896,  and  from  the  very  start  he  was  its 
honored  president.  He  is  also  an  active 
and  prominent  member  of  the  Grand  Army 


of  the  Republic,  and  at  different  times  has 
served  as  adjutant,  surgeon  and  commander 
of  the  post  in  Bloomington.  In  1895  he 
was  elected  medical  director  of  the  Depart- 
ment of  Illinois  for  one  term,  has  usually 
been  a  delegate  to  the  department  encamp- 
ment, and  was  once  a  delegate  to  the  na- 
tional encampment.  He  is  an  active  worker 
and  secretary  of  the  Illinois  Association  of 
Union  Ex-Prisoners  of  War,  and  for  twenty 
years  has  been  a  member  of  Bloomington 
Lodge,  No.  43,  F.  &  A.  M.  For  almost  a 
quarter  of  a  century  he  has  been  numbered 
among  the  valued  citizens  of  Bloomington 
who  have  been  devoted  to  the  public  wel- 
fare. He  has  manifested  the  same  loyalty 
in  days  of  peace  as  in  days  of  war,  and  all 
who  know  him  have  for  him  the  highest 
regard. 


REV.  MILTON  L.  HANEY,  who  makes 
his  home  in  the  city  of  Normal,  is  one 
of  the  most  successful  evangelists  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  is  not 
only  a  preacher  of  the  gospel  of  rare  power, 
but  he  has  a  military  record  of  which  any 
man  might  well  be  proud.  He  was  born  in 
Savannah,  Richland  county,  Ohio,  January 
23,  1825,  and  is  the  son  of  Rev.  James  and 
Mary  (Bevans)  Haney  his  father  being  a 
native  of  Ireland,  who  came  to  this  country 
a  youth  of  sixteen  years,  and  located  first  in 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  married  and 
raised  a  family  by  his  first  wife,  and  later 
moved  to  Ohio  where  after  death  of  first 
wife  he  married  the  mother  of  our  subject, 
where  he  engaged  for  a  time  in  farming, 
and  in  local  preaching.  While  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, feeling  that  he  was  called  of  God,  he 
entered  the  ministry  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church,    and    became    a    minister   of 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


125 


prominence  and  ability,  devoting  nearly  all 
his  life  to  his  chosen  work,  his  field  of  labor 
being  principally  in  the  states  of  Ohio  and 
Illinois.  During  the  war  of  1S12  he  served 
his  adopted  country  faithfully  and  well,  and 
while  residing  in  Ohio  served  for  two  years- 
in  the  state  legislature.  In  1834  he  removed 
with  his  family  to  Illinois  and  located  in 
Fulton  county,  and  in  this  state  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life  was  spent,  dying  at  the 
age  of  eighty  years.  He  was  a  good  man 
in  every  respect,  active  in  every  good  and 
righteous  cause,  and  lived  a  life  of  useful- 
ness, a  blessing  to  others  as  well  as  him- 
self. By  two  marriages,  he  became  the 
father  of  fourteen  children,  four  of  the  num- 
ber becoming  prominent  ministers  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  who  have  left 
the  impress  of  their  mind  and  individuali- 
ty upon  thousands,  especially  in  the  mili- 
tary tract  of  Illinois.  Two  of  the  four  are 
yet  living  and  actively  engaged  in  preaching 
the  gospel  of  the  Son  of  God. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  came  to  Illi- 
nois with  his  parents,  in  1834,  being  at  the 
time  nine  years  of  age.  He  received  his 
early  training  and  education  in  Fulton  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  completing  his  course  in  Platts- 
ville,  Wisconsin.  His  early  life  was  spent 
on  a  farm,  and  in  farming  he  continued  to 
engage  until  1846,  when  he  felt  a  decided 
call  to  the  ministry,  and  was  soon  ordained 
to  the  ministry  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  and  until  1861  was  actively  engaged 
in  preaching  the  gospel,  serving  as  pas- 
tor of  some  of  the  most  prominent  churches 
of  that  denomination  in  the  state. 

At  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war  he  saw 
the  necessity  of  defending  the  integrity  of 
his  country  against  its  contemplated  disso- 
lution by  the  southern  states  of  the  union, 
and  offering  his  services  to  the  government. 


was  commissioned  as  captain  of  Company  F, 
Fifty-fifth  Illinois  Infantry,  and  after  five 
months' command  of  his  company,  he  was 
commissioned  chaplain  of  the  regiment  and 
served  as  such  until  near  the  expiration  of 
his  term  of  service,  when  he  was  commis- 
sioned as  colonel  of  the  veteran  regiment, 
near  the  close  of  the  war.  January  i,  1865, 
he  was  honorably  discharged.  All  through 
the  war,  and  prior  to  being  commissioned 
colonel,  he  showed  himself  every  inch  a 
soldier,  as  well  as  a  true  christian  man. 
At  the  battle  of  Pittsburg  Landing,  when  a 
portion  of  the  Federal  troops  became  panic 
stricken  and  retreated  in  confusion,  although 
but  a  chaplain,  he  was  the  man  of  all  the  en- 
tire force  to  bring  order  out  of  confusion. 
He  went  from  point  to  point  on  the  scene  of 
carnage  importuning  the  men  to  be  soldiers 
worthy  of  the  cause  they  represented,  and  to 
show  their  courage  by  defending  it  like  men. 
Whenever  he  found  men  enough  to  rally,  he 
spoke  to  them  in  words  of  kindness,  but 
with  firmness  and  enthusiasm.  The  result 
was  almost  phenomenal — the  men  rallied, 
got  together  and  defeated  the  enemy.  It  is 
said  by  some  of  the  officers,  high  in  rank, 
that  they  never  heard  such  eloquence  falling 
from  the  lips  of  man,  as  Chaplain  Haney 
urged  the  dispirited  soldiers  to  renewed  ac- 
tion. He  seemed  to  be  truly  inspired  of 
God,  and  was  in  great  dread  of  the  Federal 
cause  being  defeated. 

Another  instance  may  be  mentioned  of 
the  daring  and  bravery  of  the  chaplain.  At 
the  battle  of  Atlanta,  a  portion  of  the  Union 
forces  were  thrown  into  disorder  and  con- 
fusion caused  by  the  death  of  General  Mc- 
Pherson.  Chaplain  Haney  jumped  into  the 
breach,  rallied  the  retreating  forces  and  took 
the  enemy's  position.  For  this  meritorious 
achievement    Congress    voted    him    a    gold 


126 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


medal,  which  he  honorably  but  humbly 
wears.  As  captain,  chaplain  and  colonel, 
his  men.  loved  and  trusted  him.  His  hu- 
mane treatment  of  his  men  in  tent,  on  the 
march,  in  battle  or  in  the  hospital,  endeared 
him  to  them,  and  herein  laid  his  strength 
and  influence  over  them.  He  commanded 
through  respect  and  love. 

On  his  discharge  from  the  service  in  Jan- 
uary, 1865,  Colonel  Haney  re-entered  the 
pulpit,  and  served  as  pastor  for  a  short  time, 
but  seeing,  as  John  Wesley  did,  a  larger 
parish  than  that  assigned  him  by  the  bishop, 
he  became  an  evangelist,  a  calling  that  he  has 
followed  with  wonderful  success  for  the  last 
twenty-two  years,  and  it  is  estimated  that 
no  less  than  ten  thousand  souls  have  been 
turned  to  God  through  his  agency.  The 
widespread  influence  of  this  man  of  God 
will  only  be  known  in  eternity,  for  like  a 
pebble  thrown  in  a  body  of  water,  its  influ- 
ence continually  widens,  and  the  result  can 
never  be  measured. 

On  the  loth  of  July,  1849,  Mr.  Haney 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  C. 
Huntsinger,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Ann 
(Holmes)  Huntsinger,  and  by  this  union  four 
children  were  born,  only  one  of  whom  now 
survives,  Conrad,  who  is  engaged  in  the 
publishing  business  in  Philadelphia.  Al- 
though more  than  three  score  years  have 
passed  in  the  life  of  this  man,  he  is  yet  act- 
ive, and  has  the  same  love  for  souls  that  in- 
spired him  to  first  enter  the  service  of  the 
Master.  He  does  not  believe  in  man  allow- 
ing his  talents  to  rust,  bnt  believes  in  using 
them  for  the  good  of  humanity  and  the  glory 
of  God.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic  and  chaplain  of  his 
regimental  society,  and  keeps  in  touch  with 
the  boys  that  wore  the  blue  during  the  dark 
days  from  1861  to  1865. 


REV.  GEORGE  HASTINGS  BUR- 
GESS, pastor  of  the  First  Congre- 
gational church  of  Normal,  is  one  of  the 
popular  and  rising  ministers  of  the  city.  He 
was  born  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  December  14, 
1857,  and  is  the  son  of  George  and  Mary 
F.  (Barbour)  Burgess,  the  former  a  native 
of  New  York,  and  the  latter  of  Massachu- 
setts. George  Burgess  was  a  man  of  refine- 
ment and  culture,  and  was  a  graduate  of 
the  College  of  the  City  of  New  York.  Al- 
though he  studied  law  and  theology,  he 
never  followed  either  as  a  profession,  but 
spent  the  greater  part  of  his  eventful  and 
useful  life  as  an  educator,  being  fitted  by 
nature  and  education  for  that  important 
profession.  As  a  public  man  he  held  sev- 
eral offices  of  trust  and  responsibility,  at 
one  time  being  postmaster  of  West  New 
Brighton,  on  Staten  Island,  New  York.  His 
good  wife  passed  to  her  reward  in  January, 
1893,  while  his  death  occurred  in  May  of 
the  same  year.  They  were  the  parents  of 
five  children — Louis  F. ,  Anna  B.,  Charles 
G.,  George  H.  and  Henry  C.  Of  the  num- 
ber four  are  yet  living. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared 
and  partly  educated  in  the  public  schools  of 
Bloomfield,  New  Jersey,  being  fitted  for 
college  by  private  instruction.  In  1879  he 
entered  Williams  College  and  took  a  four- 
years'  course,  graduating  in  1883  with  the 
degree  of  B.  A.  He  subsequently  received 
the  post-graduate  degree  of  M.  A.  After 
pursuing  a  theological  course,  he  was  called 
to  the  pastorate  of  the  Congregational 
church,  of  Hancock,  New  York,  at  which 
place  he  was  ordained  to  the  ministry.  Rev. 
Thomas  K.  Beecher  being  moderator  on 
the  occasion.  He  remained  at  this  point 
for  four  years  as  a  young,  but  growing  and 
efficient    preacher    of    the    gospel.      From 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


127 


Hancock  he  was  called  to  Roxbury,  Con- 
necticut, where  he  enjoyed  a  two  years' 
pastorate  of  successful  labor.  From  Rox- 
bury he  was  called  to  the  Third  Congrega- 
tional church  of  East  Haddam,  Connecti- 
cut, where  he  enjoyed  a  pleasant  and  prof- 
itable pastorate  of  four  years.  From  the 
latter  point  he  was  called  to  his  present 
parish,  where,  on  June  15,  1894,  he  took 
upon  himself  the  responsible  position  of 
pastor  of  the  First  Congregational  church 
of  Normal.  This  has  been  the  most  event- 
ful, and  yet  the  most  fruitful  of  all  his  pas- 
torates. In  1896  an  event  occurred  which 
brought  him  most  prominently  before  the 
public,  his  moral  character  and  theology 
being  called  in  question  by  a  rumor  that  he 
was  a  tippler,  and  to  which  was  added  cur- 
rent criticism  of  his  theology.  In  the 
proper  course  of  time  an  Ecclesiastical  Coun- 
cil was  called,  and  after  rigid  examination 
he  was  honorably  exonerated  from  both 
charges.  This  outrage  against  his  charac- 
ter and  teachings  brought  him  nearer  to  the 
hearts  of  his  people,  and  elevated  him  in 
the  estimation  of  the  public. 

Rev.  Burgess  is  a  fluent  and  forcible 
speaker,  with  a  clear  enunciation,  and  the 
use  of  the  best  English.  He,  in  truth, 
preaches  what  he  believes,  and  is  not  bound 
by  dogmatic  ideas,  nor  does  he  "  follow  the 
traditions  of  the  elders,  nor  the  command- 
ments of  men."  He  preaches  the  gospel, 
the  good  news  of  the  Son  of  God,  endeavor- 
ing to  teach  in  love. 


LYNN  E.  HERSEY,  principal  of  the 
violin  department  of  the  Wesleyan  Col- 
lege of  Music,  was  born  in  Brighton,  Ohio, 
July  29,  1863,  and  is  a  son  of  William  and 
Almira  (Patrick)  Hersey,  who    were    born, 


reared  and  married  in  Massachusetts,  where 
the  family  was  founded  in  an  early  day  in 
the  history  of  this  country.  From  their  na- 
tive state,  the  parents  removed  to  Brighton, 
Ohio,  later  to  New  London,  and  then  to 
Wellington,  Ohio,  the  father  engaging  in 
business  as  a  contractor  and  builder  in  these 
places,  being  called  from  this  life  in  1889 
at  the  latter  place.  Religiously,  he  was  a 
consistent  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church,  to  which  his  wife  also  be- 
longed. 

During  the  childhood  of  our  subject  the 
family  removed  to  Wellington,  Ohio,  and 
there  he  pursued  his  literary  studies  in  the 
common  and  high  schools.  During  this 
time  he  commenced  the  study  of  music  un- 
der local  teachers  on  the  violin,  and  after 
completing  his  literary  education  he  went 
to  Mansfield,  Ohio,  where  he  became  a 
pupil  of  Professor  Edward  Blitz,  a  private 
teacher  and  a  noted  violinist.  Subsequently 
he  entered  the  Cincinnati  College  of  Music, 
where  for  three  years  he  pursued  his  studies 
under  such  eminent  teachers  as  Henri 
Schradieck  and  Carl  Hauser.  Here  he  took 
the  higher  branches,  including  harmony  and 
theory,  and  was  graduated  from  that  insti- 
tution in  the  class  of  1885.  He  then  came 
to  Bloomington  and  engaged  in  teaching  in 
the  Wesleyan  College  of  Music  for  two 
years,  having  charge  of  the  violin  depart- 
ment. At  the  end  of  that  time  he  went  to 
Germany  and  entered  the  Leipzig  Conserv- 
atory. Having  already  laid  a  good  founda- 
tion for  his  musical  education,  he  was  ena- 
bled at  once  to  enter  the  higher  classes  and 
to  complete  the  required  work  in  much  less 
time  than  is  demanded  of  students  of  ordi- 
nary ability.  There  he  studied  under  the  di- 
rection of  Hans  Sitt,  a  celebrated  teacher, 
conductor    and    composer,  and    also    under 


228 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Freidrick  Hermann  and  Adolf  Brodsky,  who 
are  also  widely  known  violin  teachers  in 
Leipzig.  .  He  was  a  member  of  the  conserv- 
atory orchestra  while  there,  which  played 
in  public  and  won  commendable  praise. 
After  receiving  his  certificate  from  that  far- 
famed  institution,  Mr.  Hersey  returned 
home  and  resumed  his  former  position  in 
the  Wesleyan  College  of  Music,  where  he 
now  has  the  largest  class  on  the  violin  in 
the  state  outside  of  Chicago,  his  pupils  com- 
ing from  all  parts  of  Illinois.  He  is  one  of 
the  most  popular  violin  players  in  this  sec- 
tion and  his  services  are  in  great  demand  as 
a  soloist. 

In  September,  1893,  Mr.  Hersey  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Grace  Fell,  of 
Bloomington,  a  daughter  of  Robert  Fell, 
an  old  and  honored  resident  of  this  city. 
She  was  a  graduate  of  the  Wesleyan  College 
of  Music  and  there  were  few  musicians  in 
this  city  better  known  or  more  skillful.  Mr. 
Hersey  holds  membership  in  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  to  which  his  wife  also 
belonged.  Mrs.  Hersey  died  December  29, 
1898.  She  was  a  woman  of  sweet  disposi- 
tion and  with  an  unselfish  spirit.  She  de- 
voted herself  to  her  home  and  friends.  Her 
ambition  was  for  her  husband's  advance- 
ment in  his  profession  and  in  her  work  as- 
sisting him.  He  was  but  yielding  to  her 
wishes  that  she  might  be  near  and  aid  him. 
Her  death  was  indeed  a  severe  blow  to  her 
husband  and  numberless  friends. 


JOHN  A.  BECK— One  of  the  busiest, 
most  energetic  and  enterprisiug  men  of 
Bloomington  is  the  gentleman  whose  name 
introduces  this  review.  He  is  engaged  in 
the  undertaking  and  livery  business,  with 
offices  at  203  South  Main  street,  and  is  do- 


ing a  prosperous  and  extensive  business. 
He  is  a  son  of  William  and  Catherine  Beck, 
and  was  born  in  Berlin,  Ontario,  on  the 
4th  of  March,  1858.  His  education  was  re- 
ceived in  the  public  schools  of  Berlin,  and 
upon  reaching  his  seventeenth  year  he  en- 
tered the  employ  of  the  Great  Western 
Railroad  as  brakeman  on  the  Wellington, 
Gray  and  Bruce  division,  and  was  eventu- 
ally promoted  to  the  position  of  freight  con- 
ductor. After  si.\  years  he  went  to  Toledo, 
Ohio,  accepting  a  position  as  brakeman  on 
the  Lake  Shore  and  Michigan  Southern 
Railroad,  and  was  shortly  afterward  given 
charge  of  a  train,  which  he  ran  for  three 
years.  In  1884  he  resigned  from  the  em- 
ploy of  the  Lake  Shore  and  Michigan  South- 
ern Railroad  and  removed  to  Bloomington, 
where  he  ran  a  freight  train  over  the  Chi- 
cago and  Alton  Railroad  for  five  years,  and 
for  five  years  following  ran  through  passen- 
ger trains  between  Chicago  and  St.  Louis, 
and  over  the  Kansas  City  division.  He  was 
a  faithful  employ  of  the  road  for  over  ten 
years,  and  bore  the  excellent  record  of 
never  having  met  with  "an  accident  during 
that  time.  He  was  summarily  dismissed 
for  carrying  an  employe  of  the  road  with- 
out a  pass. 

In  1893  Mr.  Beck  went  to  Chicago, 
where  he  learned  the  undertaking  business, 
and  the  year  following  returned  to  Bloom- 
ington and  formed  a  partnership  with  Guy 
Carlton,  under  the  firm  name  of  Carlton  & 
Beck,  Mr.  Beck  assuming  the  entire  charge 
and  management  of  the  business.  In  con- 
nection with  the  undertaking  establishment 
the  firm  is  engaged  in  the  livery  business, 
with  large  and  commodious  stables  in  the 
center  of  the  town.  By  good  management 
and  judgment,  and  just  and  honorable  deal- 
ings,   the  business    has   prospered,    and   is 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


129 


now  the  leading  undertaking  and  livery 
business  of  Bloomington.  Our  subject  is 
also  engaged  in  the  undertaking  business  at 
Minier,  Tazewell  county,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Smith  &  Beck.  Mr.  Beck  is  busi- 
ness manager  of  this  concern,  while  his 
partner  attends  to  the  practical  side  of  the 
business. 

On  the  1 2th  of  December,  1886,  was 
celebrated  the  marriage  of  Miss  Jennie  Agnes 
Owens,  a  daughter  of  Matthew  Owens,  of 
Bloomington,  to  our  subject,  Mr.  Beck. 
One  child,  a  daughter,  Grace,  has  been 
born  to  this  happy  union.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Beck  and  their  daughter  are  at  home  at  310 
South  Main  street,  in  their  charming  resi- 
dence, which  was  built  by  Mr.  Beck,  and 
which  reflects  so  much  refinement,  good 
taste  and  domestic  luxury.  The  family  are 
prominent  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
church,  and  when  the  Men's  League,  one  of 
its  social  organizations,  was  formed,  our 
subject  was  its  second  president.  He  is  a 
member  of  a  number  of  Masonic  bodies, 
among  which  are  the  Knight  Templars  and 
Mystic  Shriners.  He  is  also  a  member  of 
the  Knights  of  Pythias,  Order  of  Red  Men, 
the  I.  O.  O.  F. ,  and  other  organizations. 
Mr.  Beck  is  a  prominent  figure  in  Bloom- 
ington, possessing  a  courteous  and  pleasing 
manner,  and  winning  friends  by  his  genial 
disposition  and  honorable  character,  which 
commands  the  respect  of  all.  In  all  rela- 
tions of  life  he  has  always  been  faithful  and 
true,  and  no  shadow  of  wrong  has  ever 
darkened  his  honorable  pathway. 


REV.  WILLIAM  R.  WILEY,  Ph.  D., 
presiding  elder  of  the  Normal  district, 
and  a  resident  of  the  city  of  Normal,  is  one 
of  the  best  known   ministers  of  the  Meth- 


odist Episcopal  church  in  the  state  of  Illi- 
nois. He  is  a  native  of  McLean  county, 
and  was  born  in  Colfax,  July  26,  1850,  be- 
ing the  son  of  William  and  Nancy  S.  (Hop- 
kins) Wiley,  who  removed  from  Indiana  to 
this  county,  locating  near  Colfax,  in  1838, 
being  thus  among  the  pioneers  of  this  local- 
ity. William  Wiley  was  a  man  of  some 
means,  and  was  a  welcome  addition  to  the 
community,  and  here  he  endured  the  hard- 
ships incident  to  pioneer  life,  but  being  a 
man  of  resolute  purpose,  he  toiled  on,  early 
and  late,  making  for  himself  and  family  a 
home  in  this  grand  county,  and  giving  his 
children  the  advantages  of  a  liberal  educa- 
tion. He  was  an  efficient  and  active  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  of 
which  body  his  wife  is  also  a  member,  and 
no  less  active.  After  a  long  and  useful  life, 
he  died  March  31,  1891,  leaving  a  devoted 
wife,  loving  children,  and  many  friends  to 
mourn  his  loss.  His  wife  is  yet  living  and 
is  one  of  the  "live  coals  on  God's  altar  "  in 
the  village  of  Colfax.  Their  family  con- 
sisted of  eight  children,  five  of  whom  are 
yet  living:  Joseph  S.,  James  S.,  Mrs.  Liz- 
zie Finchen,  Mrs.  Amelia  Smith  and  Will- 
iam R. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared 
on  the  home  farm,  near  Colfax,  and  until 
his  eighteenth  year  assisted  in  the  farm 
work  and  attended  the  public  schools  of  the 
neighborhood.  He  then  entered  Wesleyan 
University,  where,  in  addition  to  the  literary 
course,  he  studied  theology  and  was  edu- 
cated for  the  ministry.  After  the  comple- 
tion of  his  studies  at  Wesleyan  University, 
he  taught  school  for  five  years,  receiving  a 
first-grade  certificate  from  William  H.  Smith, 
then  county  superintendent  of  public  schools 
of  McLean  county.  His  first  pastorate  was 
at  Mackinaw,  in  1878-9,  and  from  1879  un- 


tjo 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


til  1882  he  served  "the  churches  at  Manito 
and  Spring  Lake,  IlHnois.  He  was  admitted 
to  the  Central  Illinois  Conference,  in  1878, 
and  on  the  4th  of  October,  1880,  he  was  or- 
dained deacon  by  Bishop  Hurst.  He  was 
ordained  elder  by  Bishop  Harris,  October 
I,  1882,  at  Lexington,  Illinois.  From  1SS2 
until  1884,  he  was  pastor  of  the  church  at 
Hudson,  and  at  Gridley  from  1884  until 
1886.  He  was  then  assigned  to  the  charge 
at  Lewiston,  and  served  until  1891.  From 
Lewiston  he  went  to  Toulon,  and  there  re- 
mained until  1894.  He  was  then  at  Ma- 
comb until  1898,  when  he  was  elevated  to 
the  office  of  presiding  elder  of  the  Normal 
district,  and  removed  to  the  city  of  Normal, 
where  he  now  resides. 

The  pastorates  of  Rev.  Wiley  have  been 
successful  to  a  remarkable  degree,  not  only 
from  a  spiritual,  but  from  a  material  stand- 
point also.  At  Macomb  he  built  a  church 
edifice  and  parsonage  costing  thirty  thou- 
sand dollars,  and  while  at  Lewiston  he  erect- 
ed one  costing  ten  thousand  dollars.  At 
other  points  where  he  has  labored,  he  has 
erected  smaller  buildings.  His  success  in  this 
line  has  been  so  great  that  he  has  been  called 
the  "  church  builder,"  by  his  brethren  of  the 
conference.  As  a  public  speaker  he  is  elo- 
quent, impressive  and  persuasive,  touching 
the  hearts  and  arousing  the  consciences  of 
his  hearers.  Back  of  all  this,  however,  is 
the  hold  he  has  on  the  Divine  hand,  with- 
out which  his  life  work  would  have  proved 
abortive. 

On  the  8th  of  June,  iSSo,  Rev.  Wiley 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Gertrude 
M.  Green,  who  was  born  in  Bloomington, 
but  who  was  reared  in  Towanda,  where  she 
received  her  education.  She  is  a  daughter  of 
Hamilton  and  Elizabeth  Green,  natives  of 
New  York  state.      By  this  union  seven  chil- 


dren have  been  born:  Hamilton,  Earl, 
Robert,  Lillian,  Elizabeth,  Mildred  and 
Ruth.  In  his  pastoral  work,  Mrs.  Wiley 
has  been  of  great  assistance  to  her  husband. 
In  politics,  Mr.  \\'iley  is  a  Republican,  but 
his  ministerial  labors  have  been  such  that 
he  could  give  little  time  to  political  mat- 
ters. Wherever  he  has  been  his  influence 
has  been  felt  on  the  side  of  righteousness 
and  every  good  work,  and  inside  and  out- 
side of  his  church  he  has  commanded  the  re- 
spect and  good  will  of  all. 


PAUL  BEICH  is  one  of  the  most  enter- 
prising and  progressive  business  men 
of  Bloomington,  where  he  is  now  success- 
fully conducting  the  largest  confectionery 
manufactory  in  central  Illinois.  Although 
he  is  still  a  young  man  comparatively,  his 
popularity  in  business  circles  is  established 
on  a  firm  basis — that  of  his  own  well-tested 
merit. 

Mr.  Beich  is  a  native  of  Germany,  born 
in  Wehlau,  East  Prussia,  May  22,  1864, 
and  is  a  son  of  August'  and  Hulda  (Vogel- 
sang) Beich.  The  father  was  born  and 
reared  in  Margonin,  the  mother  in  Schnei- 
demuehl,  and  after  their  marriage  they  lo- 
cated at  Wehlau,  where  the  former  served 
as  hospital  inspector  under  the  government. 
During  the  childhood  of  our  subject  the  fam- 
ily removed  to  Culm,  where  he  remained 
until  coming  to  the  new  world.  There  the 
father  served  as  overseer  of  a  cadet  school, 
which  was  one  of  the  first  established  in 
Prussia.  He  remained  with  that  institution 
until  he  retired  from  active  labor  and  now 
being  pensioned.  He  now  lives  at  Schnei- 
demuehl.  The  mother  is  a  member  of  the 
Lutheran  church  and  both  are  highly  re- 
spected old  people.     The  paternal  grandfa- 


PAUL  F.   BEICH. 


Of  THE 

JiiiVERsiry  Of  iLLiNo;^ 


THE   BIOGR.\PHICAL   RECORD. 


133 


ther  of  our  subject,  August  Beich,  Sr.,  was 
a  cloth  manufacturer  and  one  of  the  well- 
to-do  citizens  of  Margonin.  Our  subject 
has  but  one  brother,  Reinhold,  who  has  a 
government  position  in  Germany,  being 
Oberpost,  assistant  in  the  postal  service. 

Paul  Beich  attended  first  a  kindergarten 
and  later  a  private  elementary  school,  after 
which  he  was  a  student  in  the  gymnasium 
at  Culm  for  seven  years.  He  then  served 
as  regular  apprenticeship  of  three  years  in 
the  mercantile  trade,  completing  the  same 
at  the  age  of  eighteen.  In  18S2  he  came 
alone  to  America  and  at  once  took  up  his 
residence  in  Bloomington,  where  he  found 
employment  with  S.  A.  Ma.xwell  &  Company, 
dealers  in  wall  paper,  the  head  of  the  firm 
being  now  president  of  the  wall  paper  trust. 
Mr.  Beich  knew  but  little  English  at  that 
time  but  he  was  not  long  in  mastering  the 
language.  He  was  next  employed  by  Bruce 
&  Brown,  confectioners  until  1SS6,  when  he 
went  to  St.  Louis  and  connected  himself 
with  O.  H.  Peckham  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany, traveling  for  them  until  1891.  His 
territory  covered  the  entire  state  of  Illinois, 
and  while  with  that  firm  he  became  thor- 
oughly conversant  with  every  department 
of  the  business.  In  1S91  he  organized  the 
Beich  Buffe  Candy  Company  and  did  a  large 
jobbing  business  until  1S93,  when  he  sold 
out  and  returned  to  Bloomington,  purchas- 
ing the  business  of  J.  W.  Gray  &  Company, 
confectionery  manufacturers.  He  carried 
on  business  at  No.  221  East  Front  street 
until  his  increasing  business  demanded  his 
removal  to  larger  quarters,  and  he  then  lo- 
cated at  No.  107,  the  same  street  and  more 
centrally  located.  Still  later  he  removed 
to  109  and  III  East  Front  street,  where  he 
occupies  three  floors  and  a  basement,  fifty 
by  one  hundred  and  forty-five  feet.      In  his 


factory  he  employs  about  forty  people,  and 
has  eight  salesmen  upon  the  road,  covering 
a  large  amount  of  territory  in  a  number  of 
states.  From  the  beginning  his  trade  has 
constantly  increased,  and  the  success  that 
he  has  achieved  in  this  undertaking  is  due 
entire)}'  to  his  energj-,  good  business  ability 
and  sound  judgment.  January  i,  1899,  he 
purchased  an  interest  in  the  Bloomington 
Caramel  Company. 

On  the  4th  of  September,  18SS,  Mr. 
Beich  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Kit- 
tie  Gerken,  a  daughter  of  William  A.  Gerk- 
en,  a  well-known  wholesale  baker  of  Bloom- 
ington, and  to  them  have  been  born  two 
children:  Otto  Gerken  and  Albert  Charles. 
Mr.  Beich  attends  and  gives  his  support  to 
the  Episcopal  church,  of  which  his  wife  is  a 
member;  and  socially,  he  belongs  to  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Columbian  Knights, 
the  Ro\'al  Arcanum,  Mozart  Lodge,  F.  &  A. 
M.,  Bloomington  Chapter,  R.  A.  M.,  Bloom- 
ington Council,  De  Molay  Commandry,  K. 
T.,  and  the  Eastern  Star.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  National  Confectioners  Association  of 
the  United  States. 


SETH  S.  NOBLE,  for  thirteen  years 
chief  engineer  of  the  city  water-works 
of  Bloomington,  was  born  in  Randolph 
township,  McLean  county,  on  the  8th  of 
April,  1855.  His  paternal  grandfather,  Da- 
vid Noble,  born  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  in 
September,  1795,  was  of  English  descent. 
He  brought  his  family  to  Randolph  township 
in  1 83 1,  purchasing  four  hundred  twenty 
acres  of  land,  and  was  among  the  first  set- 
tlers of  that  township.  His  son,  William 
C. ,  was  born  in  Hamilton  county,  Ohio, 
February  25,  18 18,  and  was  a  boy  of  thir- 
teen when  his  father  came  to  Illinois.      He 


134 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


lived  on  the  home  farm  until  his  marriage 
with  the  mother  of  our  subject,  when  he 
farmed  for  himself  in  Randolph  township. 
October  31,  1839,  William  C.  married  Miss 
Isabel  J.  Stewart,  a  daughter  of  Samuel 
Stewart,  who  came  to  Randolph  township 
in  1828.  Five  children  have  been  born  to 
this  union,  two  of  whom  are  living,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  review  and  Mrs.  Alonzo  Cutter, 
of  Hatfield,  Massachusetts.  Three  other 
children,  a  daughter,  Alice,  and  two  infant 
sons,  are  deceased.  The  mother  followed 
them  May  10,  1855,  three  weeks  after  the 
birth  of  our  subject.  Sometime  later  Will- 
iam C.  married  Miss  Eunice  Burley,  January 
10,  1856,  by  whom  he  had  three  daughters. 
He  was  a  prosperous  and  successful  farmer 
and  was  at  one  time  assessor  of  Randolph 
township.  He  inherited  four  hundred  twen- 
ty acres  of  land  from  his  father,  two  hun- 
dred forty  of  which  he  sold  in  1873,  retiring 
from  farm  life,  and  moving  to  Blooming- 
ton.  Politically,  he  was  a  Republican,  and 
held  the  position  of  city  weigher  up  to  the 
time  of  his  death.  He  was  a  prominent 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
and  died  April,  1895.  His  widow  and  four 
married  children  survive  him. 

Seth  S.  Noble,  the  gentleman  whose 
name  introduces  this  review,  obtained  his 
earlier  education  in  the  common  schools  of 
Randolph  township,  and  later  at  the  Illinois 
Wesleyan  University,  taking  a  course  in  the 
classics.  On  the  5th  of  January,  1879,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Esther  Mer- 
cer, of  Sheffield,  Bureau  county,  Illinois, 
and  a  daughter  of  John  Mercer,  who  is  liv- 
ing in  Kansas  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight 
years.  Four  children  have  come  to  bless 
this  union,  namely:  Cora  Belle;  Herbert  C. ; 
Muriel  O.  and  Seth  S.,  Jr.  For  five  years 
after   his   marriage  our  subject    farmed    in 


Randolph  township,  and  at  the  expiration 
of  that  time  moved  to  Bloomington,  enter- 
ing the  employ  of  an  engine-builder,  and  rep- 
resenting the  concern  on  the  road.  He 
was  thus  engaged  for  two  years,  and  in 
1886  accepted  a  position  as  fireman  of  the 
city  water-works,  and  in  three  months  was 
promoted  to  the  position  of  assistant  engin- 
eer, taking  charge  at  night.  He  filled  the 
office  so  satisfactorily,  that  at  the  end  of 
fourteen  months  he  was  given  the  position 
of  chief  engineer,  a  position  which  he  holds 
at  the  present  day.  The  plant  has  been 
practically  rebuilt  under  his  superintend- 
ence, only  one  pump,  of  the  original  num- 
ber, being  retairred.  There  are  at  the  pres- 
ent time  six  engines  in  operation,  and  dur- 
ing Mr.  Noble's  connection  with  the  works 
there  has  been  an  expenditure  of  over  one 
hundred  thousand  dollars  for  improvements. 
The  well,  from  which  the  water  supply  is 
obtained,  has  been  deepened  and  a  system 
of  drive  wells  added,  the  total  pumping  ca- 
pacity now  being  estimated  at  six  million 
gallons  daily.  Our  subject  also  has  a  gen- 
eral supervision  of  the  electrical  engines  in 
the  same  building,  owned  by  the  city,  and 
used  for  lighting  purposes,  but  does  not  run 
them.  This  is  the  largest  combined  munic- 
ipal plant  in  the  state  outside  of  Chicago. 
Mr.  Noble  is  also  much  interested  in 
raising  fancy  poultry.  He  possesses  a  very 
fine  home,  with  extensive  grounds,  and 
raises  Plymouth  Rock  poultry  exclusively. 
He  has  taken  more  prizes  at  the  Illinois 
State  Poultry  Association  during  the  past 
five  years  than  any  other  person,  and  has 
also  taken  a  great  many  prizes  at  local  ex- 
hibits. At  the  Columbian  Exposition  he  re- 
ceived forty-three  dollars  in  premiums.  He 
has  made  shipments  all  over  the  United 
States  and  Canada,  and  has  twice  made  ship- 


THE   BIOGR.\PHICAL   RECORD. 


135 


ments  to  South  America,  sending  from  three 
to  five  hundred  fowls,  and  making  large  prof- 
its on  the  shipments.  He  has  sold  single 
birds  at  twenty-five  dollars,  and  now  has  his 
name  permanently  before  the  public. 

Politically,  our  subject  is  a  Republican, 
who  has  no  desire  for  public  office,  prefer- 
ring to  do  his  duty  as  a  private  citizen,  leav- 
ing office-seeking  for  others.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Evergreen  City  Lodge,  No.  265,  and 
is  past  grand  regent  of  that  lodge,  also 
present  representative  of  the  general  lodge, 
which  met  recently  at  Springfield.  He  has 
been  a  very  active  member  in  the  Grand 
Lodge,  and  has  always  been  in  favor  of  a 
just  retrenchment  in  the  expenses.  He  is 
also  deputy  in  the  local  lodge,  and  is  a 
member  of  McLean  Encampment,  No.  29. 
At  the  present  time  he  is  junior  warden,  and 
also  a  member  of  the  Canton  uniformed 
rank,  and  a  member  of  Bloomington  Lodge, 
No.  43,  F.  &  A.  M.  He  is  also  a  member 
of  the  Independent  Order  of  Forresters,  and 
has  held  all  the  offices  in  the  local  court, 
and  is  now  a  representative  to  the  High 
Court  of  the  state.  Mrs.  Noble  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Grace  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
No  man  in  Bloomington  stands  higher  in 
popular  esteem.  He  is  courteous,  genial, 
well  informed,  alert  and  enterprising,  and 
stands  to-day  one  of  the  leading  representa- 
tive men  of  his  state. 


D.-\VID  R.  STUBBLEFIELD,  one  of  the 
most  progressive,  energetic  and  suc- 
cessful agriculturists  of  McLean  county,  is  the 
owner  of  a  large  and  valuable  farm  in  Dale 
township.  His  methods  of  farm  manage- 
ment show  deep  scientific  knowledge,  com- 
bined with   sound   practical    judgment,  and 


the  results  show  that  "high  class"  farming 
as  an  occupation  can  be  made  profitable  as 
well  as  pleasant. 

A  native  of  this  county,  Mr.  Stubblefield 
was  born  in  Funks  Grove  township,  April 
13,  1846,  a  son  of  John  and  Ellisannah 
(Houser)  Stubblefield.  The  Stubblefield 
family  was  founded  in  this  country  prior  to 
the  Revolutionary  war  by  three  brothers, 
Edward,  William  and  John,  who  settled  in 
Virginia,  and  it  is  from  the  last  named  that 
our  subject  is  descended.  On  both  the  pa- 
ternal and  maternal  sides  he  is  eligible  to 
membership  in  the  order  of  the  Sons  of  the 
American  Revolution,  as  his  ancestors  bore 
an  active  part  in  the  struggle  for  independ- 
ence. 

Robert  Stubblefield,  the  paternal  grand- 
father of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Halifax 
county,  Virginia,  November  23,  1793,  and 
came  to  McLean  county,  Illinois,  in  the 
fall  of  1824,  at  which  time  he  located 
on  the  south  side  of  Funks  Grove,  but  in 
the  spring  of  1825  moved  to  the  north 
side,  where  he  built  a  cabin  and  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  took  up  quite 
a  large  tract  of  land,  about  two  thousand 
acres,  and  was  one  of  the  large  land  owners 
of  the  county  in  early  days.  He  was  a 
Whig  in  politics  and  served  as  a  soldier  in 
the  war  of  18 12.  His  death  occurred  June 
8,  1870,  when  over  seventy-six  years  of 
age.  His  first  wife  and  the  grandmother 
of  our  subject  was  Sarah  Funk,  a  sister  of 
Isaac  Funk.  For  his  second  wife  he  wed- 
ded her  sister,  Dorothy  Funk,  while  his 
brother  married  another  sister. 

John  Stubblefield,  our  subject's  father, 
was  born  in  Fayette  county,  Ohio,  June  4, 
1820,  and  was  about  four  years  old  when 
brought  by  his  father  to  McLean  county, 
where   amidst   pioneer  scenes  he  grew   to 


136 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


manhood  with  but  little  opportunity  of  at- 
tending school.  However,  he  made  the 
most  of  his  advantages,  and  by  reading  and 
observation  in  later  years  became  a  well- 
informed  man.  He  remained  under  the 
parental  roof  until  he  was  married,  Decem- 
ber I,  1842,  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  years 
to  Miss  Ellisannah  Houser,  a  native  of  In- 
diana, who  was  then  living  with  a  married 
sister  near  Atlanta,  Illinois.  Her  father, 
David  Houser,  was  born  about  1789,  in 
Maryland  and  was  of  German  descent. 
After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Stubblefield  rented 
a  log  cabin  of  Isaac  Funk,  and  during  the 
two  years  he  resided  there  he  rented  and 
operated  a  part  of  his  father's  farm.  In 
the  fall  of  1846  he  entered  forty  acres  of 
government  land  in  the  northern  part  of 
Funks  Grove  township  and  still  continues 
to  make  that  place  his  home.  Prospering 
in  his  undertakings,  he  kept  enlarging  his 
farm  until  at  one  time  he  owned  nearly 
three  thousand  acres,  all  of  which  was 
acquired  through  his  own  industry,  perse- 
verance and  good  management.  He  has 
not  only  been  one  of  the  largest  land  hold- 
ers of  the  county,  but  has  also  been  exten- 
sively engaged  in  stock  raising,  being  an 
excellent  judge  of  cattle  and  hogs,  the  for- 
mer of  which  he  sold  in  Chicago,  the  latter 
in  either  Pekin  or  Peoria.  In  early  days  he 
drove  all  his  stock  to  market  on  foot,  as 
there  were  no  railroads  at  that  time;  but 
this  was  only  one  of  the  many  hardships 
the  early  pioneers  were  called  upon  to  en- 
dure. Like  all  the  other  representatives 
of  the  family,  Mr.  Stubblefield  has  been  a 
Whig  and  later  a  Republican  in  politics, 
and  he  has  taken  quite  an  active  and  prom- 
inent part  in  local  affairs,  serving  as  county 
commissioner  when  the  new  court  house 
was   started.      He  also  filled   the   office   of 


school  treasurer  for  twenty  years.  He  is 
an  earnest  and  consistent  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  in  which  he 
has  served  as  steward,  class  leader  and 
trustee  most  of  his  life,  and  at  times  as  su- 
perintendent of  the  Sunday  school.  His 
wife  died  March  3,  1895,  and  his  second 
youngest  son  died  at  the  age  of  nine  months. 
The  other  children  are  Mrs.  Sarah  E.  Ray- 
burn,  of  Bloomington ;  David  R. ,  our  subject; 
George  \V. ;  Phineas  M. ,  who  is  now  serv- 
ing as  deputy  county  treasurer  of  this  coun- 
ty; Henry  R.,  of  Bloomington;  Mrs.  M.  F. 
Crum,  of  Cass  county,  Illinois;  Simon  P., 
of  Funks  Grove  township;  and  John  W., 
who  is  living  on  the  home  place. 

After  attending  the  public  schools  of 
Funks  Grove  for  some  time,  David  R. 
Stubblefield  took  an  elective  course  at  the 
Wesleyan  College,  Bloomington,  where  he 
was  a  student  for  six  terms.  Thus  well 
fitted  for  the  responsibilities  of  business  life, 
he  returned  home  and  remained  under  the 
parental  roof  until  twenty-four  years  of  age, 
when  he  removed  to  a  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  in  Dale  township,  given  him 
by  his  father.  He  has  greatly  improved  the 
place  by  the  erection  of  a  comfortable  resi- 
dence and  good  outbuildings,  and  in  1877 
laid  the  first  tile  ever  put  under  the  ground 
in  his  township  for  farm  drainage.  He  has 
since  laid  many  rods  of  tile,  each  year  add- 
ing to  the  amount  and  has  converted  his 
land  into  one  of  the  best  and  most  desirable 
farms  of  the  locality.  In  1886,  when  the 
water  failed  on  his  place,  he  drilled  the  first 
deep  well  in  the  township  and  put  in  a  pump 
with  a  windmill  attached,  but  since  then  a 
great  many  have  been  drilled  in  the  neigh- 
borhood. He  has  successfully  engaged  in 
general  farming,  buying,  feeding  and  ship- 
ping cattle,  and  has  added  to  his  farm  until 


THE   BIOGR.\PHICAL   RECORD. 


137 


he  now  has  four  hundred  and  forty  acres  of 
valuable  land. 

On  the  8th  of  December,  1S70,  Mr. 
Stubblefield  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Matilda  Bower,  a  daughter  of  Henry  T. 
Bower,  of  Dale  township.  To  them  have 
been  born  seven  children,  but  two  died  in  in- 
fancy. Those  now  living  are  Nellie,  wife  of 
Carey  Brant,  of  Dale  township;  Lawrence 
W.,  who  aids  his  father  in  the  operation  of 
the  home  farm;  Cora  B.,  who  is  now  attend- 
ing the  high  school  of  Bloomington;  Howard 
B.   and  Lulu  F.,  both  at  home. 

As  an  ardent  Republican,  Mr.  Stubble- 
field  takes  an  active  and  prominent  part  in 
local  politics,  and  has  most  creditably  and 
satisfactorily  filled  the  offices  of  supervisor 
for  two  years,  township  assessor  one  year, 
school  director  twelve  years,  and  school 
trustee  six  years.  While  filling  the  last- 
named  office  there  was  some  trouble  about 
the  location  of  the  new  school-house,  and 
the  case  was  brought  up  for  trial.  It  was 
carried  to  the  appellate  court  at  Springfield, 
our  subject  sustaining  all  the  trials  with  the 
exception  of  the  one  before  the  justice  of 
the  peace.  Finally,  after  a  great  deal  of 
trouble,  the  school  house  was  built.  Al- 
though the  heaviest  taxpayer  in  his  district, 
Mr.  Stubblefield  has  always  given  his  sup- 
port to  any  measure  which  would  improve 
or  benefit  the  schools  of  his  community. 
He  was  one  of  the  charter  members  of  the 
old  Covell  Grange,  and  later  joined  the 
Grange  at  Stanford,  of  which  he  served  as 
master  and  which  he  represented  in  the 
State  Grange.  He  was  connected  with  the 
Grange  for  twenty-four  years.  Religiously, 
he  has  been  a  life-long  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church  of  Covell,  to  which 
his  wife  and  children  also  belong,  and  he 
)ias  not  only  given   liberally  to  its  support 


but  has  filled  the  offices  of  class  leader, 
steward  and  Sunday-school  superintendent, 
having  filled  the  last  named  position  for 
eighteen  years.  He  is  a  man  of  recognized 
ability  and  stands  high  in  the  community 
where  he  has  so  long  made  his  home.  Those 
who  know  him  best  are  numbered  among 
his  warmest  friends,  and  no  citizen  in  Mc- 
Lean county  is  more  honored  or  highly  re- 
spected. In  1 899  he  served  as  president  of 
the  McLean  County  Farmers'  Institute. 


ASA  MELCHER,  a  well-known  con- 
tracting stair  builder  and  also  a  general 
manufacturer  of  interior  decorative  work,  of 
Bloomington,  was  born  in  that  city,  Sep- 
tember 16,  1866,  and  is  a  representative  of 
an  old  and  honored  colonial  family,  which 
was  founded  in  this  country  by  Joseph 
Melcher,  who  crossed  the  Atlantic  in  1666 
and  took  up  his  residence  in  Brunswick, 
Maine,  being  one  of  the  early  Puritan  emi- 
grants. The  family  was  originally  German, 
but  Joseph  was  of  the  third  generation  born 
in  England.  He  engaged  in  contracting  as 
a  shipbuilder  and  was  a  man  of  great  wealth 
in  those  times,  bringing  with  him  to  this 
country  twenty  thousand  dollars  in  gold. 
He  married  a  Miss  Perntern,  an  English 
%voman,  who  came  to  America  at  the  same 
time  as  her  husband  and  lived  to  the  ex- 
treme old  age  of  one  hundred  and  four 
years.  Their  son,  Noah,  also  a  ship  builder, 
died  in  Brunswick,  Maine,  at  the  age  of  one 
hundred  and  two.  He  was  a  soldier  of  the 
Revolutionary  war,  and  prior  to  that  time 
members  of  the  family  had  participated  in 
the  Indian  and  other  early  %sars  of  this 
country. 

Abner    Melcher,   the   son   of  Noah,  the 
grandfather   of   our  subject,  was   born   at 


138 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Weld,  Maine,  and  during  his  youth  learned 
the  fuller's  trade.  He  married  a  sister  of 
Samuel  R.  Morse,  the  inventor  of  the  tele- 
graph. He  continued  to  reside  in  his  na- 
tive place  until  1837,  when  he  came  to  Mt. 
Vernon,  Illinois,  and  built  a  woolen  mill,  one 
of  the  first  in  the  state.  He  did  general 
work  along  that  line,  but  the  venture  did 
not  prove  a  success,  as  he  was  ahead  of  the 
demand.  He  died  at  that  place  at  the  age 
of  seventy-five  years. 

Josiah  F.  Melcher,  our  subject's  father, 
was  born  in  Weld,  Jefferson  county,  Maine, 
September  10,  18 19,  and  was  fourteen  years 
of  age  when  he  left  that  place  and  came  with 
his  brother  Rufus,  who  was  then  twenty,  to 
Illinois,  settling  at  Mt.  Vernon,  where  they 
bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land 
for  two  hundred  dollars  in  gold.  They  erect- 
ed their  house  upon  the  present  site  of  the 
court  house  at  that  place.  After  living  there 
for  a  number  of  years,  Josiah  F.  Melcher 
went  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  spent  eight  years 
in  learning  the  stair-builder's,  house-builder's 
and  millwright's  trades.  He  remained  there 
one  year  longer,  and  in  185 1  came  to  Bloom- 
ington,  where  he  worked  for  John  W.  Evans 
for  seven  years.  He  then  embarked  in 
business  for  himself  as  a  stair-builder  and 
general  contractor  at  the  same  corner  where 
our  subject  still  continues  to  carry  on  the 
business.  The  father  conducted  a  success- 
ful business  at  that  place  for  thirty-nine 
years,  and  did  much  of  the  stair-building 
and  interior  finishing  throughout  the  city 
and  in  adjoining  towns  until  his  retirement 
from  business  in  1887.  He  is  the  author  of 
two  books  on  Theoretical  Astronomy,  and 
religious  writings,  and  is  the  inventor  of  a 
number  of  mechanical  tools  used  in  his  line 
of  business,  which  were  patented  by  him. 
In  1845  he  married  Miss  Nancy  Elizabeth 


Patterson,  of  Mt.  Vernon,  who  was  also  a 
native  of  Maine  and  died  in  1877.  Of  the 
ten  children  born  to  them,  only  four  reached 
years  of  maturity,  these  being  Newton, 
Milton,  Freeman  and  Asa,  all  stair-builders, 
but  our  sabject  is  the  only  one  now  living. 
The  family  has  been  well  represented  in  all 
the  wars  of  this  country  and  Freeman  was 
among  the  boys  in  blue  during  the  Civil 
war,  enlisting  at  Danville,  Illinois,  in  Com- 
pany C,  Si.xty-second  Illinois  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, when  only  fourteen  years  and  nine 
months  of  age.  He  died  in  the  hospital  at 
Dayton,  Ohio.  Richard,  Henry  and  Ellen 
all  died  of  cholera  at  St.  Louis  within  one 
week. 

The  literary  education  of  Asa  Melcher 
was  acquired  in  the  city  schools  of  Bloom- 
ington.  At  the  age  of  ten  years  he  began 
working  in  his  father's  shop,  where  he  served 
his  apprenticeship,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
three  found  employment  with  John  W. 
Evans,  for  whom  he  worked  five  years.  On 
his  father's  retirement  he  took  charge  of  the 
business,  which  he  has  since  successfully 
carried  on,  enjoj'ing  a  good  trade  in  this 
city  and  neighboring  towns,  where  he  has 
put  in  the  interior  finishings  of  many  of  the 
best  houses.  He  furnishes  employment  to 
three  or  four  men  all  the  time,  and  as 
occasion  demands  increases  his  force.  He 
devotes  his  whole  time  to  his  business  and 
has  met  with  excellent  success.  He  owns  a 
fine  home  at  No.  506  East  Walnut  street, 
where  he  owns  two  lots  in  the  finest  resi- 
dence district  of  the  city,  being  near  Frank- 
lin Park. 

On  the  12th  of  April,  18S7,  Mr.  Melcher 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Dora  Dyke, 
of  Bloomington,  and  to  them  were  born  four 
children,  namely:  Stanley  R. ,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  six  years;  Mildred,   Hester  and 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


139 


Eleanor.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Melcher  have 
been  members  of  the  Christian  church  for 
several  years.  Socially,  he  is  a  prominent 
member  of  Damon  Lodge,  No.  10,  K.  of  P., 
of  which  he  has  been  chancellor  a  number 
of  times,  and  he  is  eh'gible  for  membership 
in  the  Grand  Lodge.  His  political  support 
has  always  been  given  the  men  and  measures 
of  the  Democratic  party,  but  he  has  never 
been  an  aspirant  for  office.  His  career  has 
ever  been  such  as  to  warrant  the  trust  and 
confidence  of  the  business  world,  for  he 
has  ever  conducted  all  transactions  on  the 
strictest  principles  of  honor  and  integrity. 
His  devotion  to  the  public  good  is  un- 
questioned, and  arises  from  a  sincere  inter- 
est in  the  welfare  of  his  fellow  men. 


JAMES  P.  BUTLER,  the  well-known 
and  popular  proprietor  of  the  Butler 
House,  of  Bloomington,  is  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky, having  been  born  in  Scott  county, 
near  Frankfort,  on  the  2d  of  September, 
1838.  His  parents  were  William  H.  and 
Hattie  Jane  (Spicer)  Butler,  both  natives  of 
the  Blue  Grass  state.  The  family  moved 
to  Covington,  Kentucky,  when  James  was  a 
child,  and  in  1855  came  to  Bloomington, 
where  for  a  time  the  father  worked  at  his 
trade,  that  of  the  carpenter,  and  later  en- 
gaging in  the  butcher  business  with  his  son, 
dying  in  1861.  His  wife  still  lives  at  the 
advanced  age  of  eighty-two  years,  making 
her  home  with  her  son,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch.  In  her  religious  views  she  is  a  Bap- 
tist, and  her  husband  was  a  Methodist.  The 
family  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Butler  are  here 
named  in  order  of  birth:  James  P.,  the 
subject  of  this  review;  John,  a  resident  of 
Bloomington;  Thomas,  of  Chicago;  Mrs. 
Jane  Barksley,  of   Springfield,   Illinois;  Eu- 


nice, deceased,  the  wife  of  Randolph  Ar- 
lington, of  Huron,  South  Dakota;  Mrs. 
Alice  Harris,  of  Springfield;  Mrs.  Anna 
Galeman,  also  of  Springfield;  and  Mrs. 
Esther  Roberts,  of  the  same  city. 

James  obtained  his  education  at  the 
schools  of  Covington,  Kentucky,  and  Bloom- 
ington, and  learned  his  trade  with  Dedrich 
Bradner,  an  old  firm  of  Bloomington. 
For  a  time  he  worked  at  his  trade,  that  of 
tinner,  and  then  went  into  the  butcher  busi- 
ness for  himself,  taking  his  father,  Wm.  H. 
Butler,  into  the  business,  where  he  remained 
until  his  death.  Our  subject  then  sold  his 
stock  and  engaged  in  the  grocery  and  bak- 
kery  business  on  Front  street.  Selling  the 
grocery  business,  he  entered  the  police 
force,  and  was  captain  of  the  night 
force,  and  at  the  same  time  was  city  col- 
lector, and  also  alderman  from  the  third 
ward  for  two  terms.  After  this  time  our 
subject  was  elected  constable,  an  office 
which  he  held  for  two  terms,  and  was  dep- 
uty sheriff  under  Mr.  Swain.  For  fifteen 
years  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  detective 
business,  and  has  been  successfully  em- 
ployed on  some  of  the  most  important  crim- 
inal cases  in  the  state.  He  is  a  man  en- 
dowed with  the  strongest  individuality,  in- 
trepid bravery  when  in  the  face  of  most  des- 
perate situations,  and  a  phenomenal  coolness 
and  presence  of  mind  under  all  circumstan- 
ces. He  worked  the  case  that  brought  out 
the  evidence  in  the  Zura  Burns  case  of  Lin- 
coln, Illinois,  and  demanded  the  arrest  of 
O.  H.  Carpenter.  He  also  furnished  the 
evidence  that  caused  the  death  of  the  mur- 
derer of  Owen  Goodfellow,  and  a  number 
of  others.  Mr.  Butler  is  the  proprietor  of 
the  Butler  House,  and  after  making  the 
purchase  built  a  three-story  brick  addition. 
He  has  done  a   successful  business  for  the 


I40 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


past  fifteen  years,  and  is  the  oldest  hotel 
man,  in  point  of  time,  in  Bloomington. 

Mr.  Butler  and  his  wife,  who  was  before 
her  marriage  Miss  Lizzie  Cavanaugh,  of 
Ottawa,  Illinois,  are  the  parents  of  two 
sons,  and  also  have  a  little  adopted  daugh- 
ter, Myrtle.  Major  William  P.  Butler,  the 
eldest  son  of  our  subject,  is  city  engineer, 
and  was  major  of  the  First  Squadron,  First 
Illinois  Cavalry.  He  had  been  connected 
with  the  engineer  corps,  and  was  its  cap- 
tain at  the  opening  of  the  Spanish-Ameri- 
can war.  He  entered  the  United  States 
service  and  was  sent  to  Chickamauga,  and 
after  being  mustered  out  of  service  returned 
to  the  state  militia,  and  was  ordered  to 
Pana,  where  was  given  charge  of  the  troops 
during  the  riots  among  the  miners  in  that 
locality.  Major  Butler  married  Miss  Tillie 
Baumback,  by  whom  he  has  three  daugh- 
ters: Hazel,  Cecil  and  Orville.  He  has 
held  the  position  of  city  engineer  for  the 
past  eight  years,  with  much  satisfaction  to 
the  community.  Captain  Charles  E.  But- 
ler, the  youngest  son  of  our  subject,  is  cap- 
tain of  Troop  G,  First  Illinois  Volunteer 
Cavalry,  in  the  United  States  service  dur- 
ing the  Spanish-American  war.  At  the 
present  time  (May,  1S99)  's  captain  of 
Troop  B,  which  has  been  the  only  troop  at 
Pana  for  the  past  five  weeks  of  the  labor 
trouble.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Illinois  National  Guards  for  the  past  four- 
teen years,  and  was  second  lieutenant  of  his 
company.  By  his  first  wife  he  has  one 
daughter,  Edna.  While  at  Chickamauga, 
for  his  second  wife  he  married  Miss  May 
Brewer,  of  Bloomington. 

Our  subject  is  a  member  of  the  Knights 
of  Pythias,  and  in  his  political  principles  is 
a  stanch  Republican,  who  has  always  taken 
5tn  active  and  prominent  part  in  the  support 


of  his  party,  He  has  always  taken  an 
interest  in  the  welfare  of  the  city  of  his 
home,  and  is  considered  one  of  her  ablest 
citizens.  Every  enterprise  calculated  to 
promote  her  interests  finds  cordial  support 
at  his  hands,  and  he  has  been  an  invaluable 
factor  in  her  prosperity.  He  is  a  man  of 
scholarly  attainments,  pleasant  genial  man- 
ner, of  easy  approach,  and  possesses  the 
warm  regard  of  all. 


HENRY  S.  S  WAYNE.  Among  the 
prominent  men  to  whom  Bloomington 
has  been  a  place  of  residence  is  Henry 
Stewart  Swayne,  a  scientist  whose  investi- 
gations and  researches  have  greatly  enriched 
the  educational  department  of  this  city. 
For  many  years  he  was  prominently  con- 
nected with  the  active  affairs  of  business  life 
and  thus  wielded  a  wide  influence,  but  in  the 
field  of  knowledge  his  labors  were  most 
effective  and  their  result  is  immeasurable. 
In  commercial  life  he  was  eminently  prac- 
tical and  manifested  a  far-seeing  judgment 
and  discrimination  that  led  to  prosperity, 
but  in  the  realms  of  mental  advancement  he 
gave  to  the  world  an  impetus  whose  power 
can  never  be  lost,  for  each  discovery  adds  to 
the  sum  total  of  the  world's  advancement. 
His  student  life  naturally  prevented  him 
from  mingling  greatly  with  his  fellow  men, 
yet  he  was  a  gentleman  of  broad  human 
sympathies  and  by  those  who  knew  him  well 
his  companionship  was  greatly  enjoyed. 

Henry  Stewart  Swayne  was  born  in 
Columbus,  Ohio,  June  2,  1845,  and  was  a 
representative  of  an  old  and  honored  Amer- 
ican family  that  was  founded  in  the  New 
World  by  Francis  Swayne,  who  crossed  the 
Atlantic  with  William  Penn.  The  farm  up- 
on which  he  settled  near  Philadelphia  is  still 


Henry    D.   Swayne 


LIDfl'.RY 
OF   THE 

JNIVERSITY  OF  ILL!? 


THE    BIOGR.\PHICAL    RECORD. 


143 


in  possession  of  his  descendants.  Joshua 
Swayne,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  re- 
moved from  Pennsylvania  to  Virginia,  and 
there  Judge  Noah  Swayne  was  born  in  Cul- 
peper  county,  December  7,  1804.  He  was 
one  of  the  most  conspicuous  figures  in  the 
history  of  the  jurisprudence  of  the  nation. 
His  pubhc  career  e.xtended  over  a  long  pe- 
riod, and  that  of  no  member  of  the  United 
States  supreme  court  has  been  more  fearless 
in  conduct,  more  stainless  in  reputation. 
He  acquired  a  good  literary  education  in 
Waterford,  Virginia,  after  which  he  studied 
law  in  W'arrenton  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  1S23.  He  afterward  removed  to 
Ohio,  and  in  1825  opened  an  office  in  Co- 
shocton, that  state.  From  1826  until  1S29 
he  served  as  prosecuting  attorney  of  his 
county  which  was  the  beginning  of  a  public 
career  alike  honorable  to  the  state  and  to 
himself.  On  the  Democratic  ticket  he  was 
elected  to  the  Ohio  legislature,  and  in  1831 
he  was  appointed  United  States  district  at- 
torney for  Ohio,  at  which  time  he  removed 
to  Columbus,  capably  serving  in  that  posi- 
tion until  1841.  In  1833  he  declined  the 
ofBce  of  presiding  judge  of  the  common 
pleas  court.  From  the  time  of  his  retire- 
ment from  the  office  of  United  States  district 
attorney  he  engaged  in  the  private  practice 
of  law  until  appointed,  in  conjunction  with 
Alfred  Kelly  and  Gustavus  Swan,  a  fund 
commissioner  to  restore  the  credit  of  the 
state.  He  also  served  on  the  commission 
that  was  sent  by  the  governor  to  Washing- 
ton to  effect  a  settlement  of  the  boundary 
line  between  Ohio  and  Michigan,  and  in 
1840  was  a  member  of  the  committee  to  in- 
quire into  the  condition  of  the  blind.  The 
trial  of  William  Rossane  and  others  in  the 
circuit  court  at  Columbus,  in  1S53,  for  the 
burning    of    the  steamboat  Martha    Wash- 


ington, to  obtain  the  insurance,  was  one  of 
the  most  celebrated  cases  with  which  he 
was  connected.  He  also  appeared  as  coun- 
sel in  fugitive  slave  cases,  and  owing  to  his 
anti-slavery  opinions,  joined  the  Republican 
party  on  its  formation,  liberating  at  an  early 
day  the  slaves  he  received  through  his  mar- 
riage-in  1832.  In  1862  he  was  appointed 
by  President  Lincoln  a  justice  of  the  su- 
preme court  of  the  United  States,  and 
served  in  that  high  office  until  1881,  when 
he  resigned  on  account  of  advanced  age. 
The  degree  of  LL.  D.,  was  conferred  upon 
him  by  Dartmouth  and  Marietta  Colleges  in 
1863  and  by  Yale  College  in  1865.  He  died 
in  New  York  City  in  June,  18S4.  He  was 
instrumental  in  shaping  the  history  of  the 
nation,  in  forming  the  Republican  party  and 
rose  to  an  eminence  which  was  a  natural 
sequence  of  his  noble  life  and  wonderful  tal- 
ents. 

Henry  Stewart  Swayne,  son  of  the  em- 
inent jurist,  spent  his  youth  in  Columbus, 
Ohio,  and  completed  his  education  within 
the  classic  walls  of  Yale,  where  he  was 
graduated  with  the  degree  of  A.  B.  He 
afterward  studied  civil  engineering  and  was 
employed  along  that  line  on  the  construc- 
tion of  a  railroad  in  Wisconsin.  After  per- 
fecting himself  as  a  civil  engineer,  he 
turned  his  attention  in  another  direction, 
being  for  some  j'ears  engaged  in  business 
in  Toledo,  Ohio,  as  proprietor  of  an  ex- 
tensive moulding  factory.  In  his  business 
he  displayed  marked  energy,  concentration 
and  sound  judgment,  but  he  was  endowed 
with  the  mind  of  a  student  and  eagerly 
availed  himself  of  the  opportunity  of  de- 
voting his  entire  attention  to  his  scientific 
researches.  When  his  capital  enabled  him 
to  retire  from  business  life  he  put  aside  all 
care  in  that  direction,  and  after  coming  to 


144 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Bloomiiigton  in  1885  lived  practically  re- 
tired. 

Even  while  in  business  Mr.  Swayne 
was  deeply  interested  in  scientific  subjects 
and  gave  considerable  time  and  thought 
thereto.  After  taking  up  his  residence  in 
this  county  he  spent  many  hours  daily  in 
pursuing  his  investigations  in  paths  that 
others  had  trod  and  along  new  and  original 
lines.  He  made  a  specialty  of  chemistry 
and  fitted  up  a  splendid  laboratory  in  con- 
nection with  which  he  had  one  of  the 
largest  and  most  complete  scientific  libra- 
ries in  the  state.  He  inherited  the  strong 
mental  traits  of  his  father,  although  they 
were  manifest  in  a  different  department  of 
knowledge.  His  mind  was  keenly  analyt- 
ical and  he  was  never  content  until  he 
had  gained  the  mastery  of  the  subject  that 
engrossed  his  attention.  His  interest,  how- 
ever, was  not  confined  alone  to  scientific 
study.  He  endorsed  and  encouraged  every 
department  of  learning,  and  music  had  for 
him  especial  charms. 

On  the  second  of  December,  1875,  Mr. 
Swayne  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Sarah  W.  Davis,  a  lady  of  superior  culture 
and  the  daughter  of  Judge  David  Davis, 
whose  history  is  familiar  to  every  student 
of  the  annals  of  Illinois.  In  his  home  he 
delighted  to  gather  around  him  his  friends, 
and  though  their  number  was  not  ex- 
tensive they  found  him  a  most  genial  and 
entertaining  host,  and  friendship  to  him  was 
inviolable.  At  length  his  health  began  to 
fail,  and  he  went  abroad  spending  a  year 
and  a  half  in  travel  on  the  continent,  but  a 
few  months  after  his  return  his  death  oc- 
curred, Novembers,  1893. 

Perhaps  no  better  estimate  of  his  life 
and  character  can  be  given  than  in  the 
words  of  Professor  R.  O.  Graham,  dean  and 


professor  of  chemistry  in  the  Illinois  Wes- 
leyan  University,  who  was  his  intimate 
friend  and  associate  and  with  whom  he 
spent  many  hours  each  week  in  his  fine  lab- 
oratory in  the  Durley  building.  Blooming- 
ton,  engaged  in  scientific  work.  The  Pro- 
fessor said:  "  During  his  entire  life  in 
Bloomington  Mr.  Swayne  had  but  few  inti- 
mate acquaintances.  Naturally  reserved  in 
disposition,  he  was  not  well  known  by  the 
citizens  generally.  To  his  friends  he  was 
warmly  attached,  and  to  these  he  revealed 
his  warm-hearted  generous  nature.  He 
was  constantly  engaged  in  acts  of  quiet 
charity,  known  only  to  the  recipients  and 
himself.  Many  of  the  poor  in  Blooming- 
ton  sorely  mourned  his  untimely  death. 

Mr.  Swayne  was  among  the  organizers 
of  the  College  Alumni  Club,  which  has 
gained  so  strong  hold  in  the  city.  He  was 
enthusiastic  in  its  interests  and  was  made 
its  second  president.  Among  these  men  he 
was  at  his  best,  and  he  commanded  their 
highest  respect.  He  was  also  a  great  lover 
of  music  and  more  than  one  devoted  stu- 
dent in  this  line  is  indebted  to  him  for  aid 
given  in  pushing  forward  their  study.  He 
had  great  interest  in  natural  science  and  at 
the  time  of  his  death  had  planned  improve- 
ments on  a  large  scale  that  would  have 
made  him  the  possessor  of  one  of  the  most 
extensive  and  best  private  laboratories  and 
scientific  libraries  in  the  country. 

"When  he  felt  his  health  failing,  he 
spent  a  year  in  Europe,  consulting  the  best 
physicians  there.  On  returning  to  Bloom- 
ington he  again  took  up  his  scientific  studies. 
It  was  but  a  few  months,  however,  until  his 
labors  were  ended.  Leaving  the  laborato- 
ry one  evening  with  plans  for  a  full  day's 
work  there  on  the  morrow,  he  was  taken 
violently  ill  and  lived  but  a  few  days.      His 


THE    BIOGIL\PHICAL    RECORD. 


145 


unexpected  death  brought  great  sorrow  to 
those  who  knew  him  best,  to  whom  his  gen- 
erous and  unselfish  character  had  greatly 
endeared  him."  Thus  passed  away  one 
whose  life,  though  quiet  and  unostentatious, 
enriched  the  world,  and  whose  memory  re- 
mains as  a  blessed  benediction  to  those  who 
knew  him. 


WILLIAM  LEAF,  a  wealthy  and  re- 
tired farm.er,  residing  in  the  city  of 
Normal,  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  Pennsyl- 
vania, September  i,  1823,  and  is  the  son 
of  Edward  and  Ann  (Waterworth)  Leaf, 
both  of  whom  were  natives  of  England,  who 
emigrated  to  this  country  in  18 18.  Edward 
Leaf  was  a  soldier  in  the  English  army,  be- 
ing drafted  about  the  close  of  the  war  of 
1812.  He  did  not,  however,  serve  in  that 
war,  and  therefore  came  to  this  country  as 
a  man  of  peace,  and  made  a  good  and  loyal 
citizen.  On  his  arrival  here  he  located  with 
his  family  at  Philadelphia  and  there  re- 
mained a  few  years,  after  which  he  removed 
to  Canada,  but  not  finding  that  country 
congenial  to  him,  he  returned  to  Philadel- 
phia, where  he  lived  until  about  1840,  when 
he  removed  to  Steubenville,  Ohio,  but  only 
remained  there  a  very  short  time,  and  then 
removed  to  Sharp's  Landing,  Fulton  coun- 
ty, Illinois.  Here  he  purchased  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  timber  land  (the 
prairie  at  that  time  being  considered  worth- 
less) and  settled  down  to  farming.  The 
land  was  cleared  and  otherwise  improved, 
and  placed  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation. 
As  time  passed,  and  men  became  more 
familiar  with  prairie  land,  they  became 
aware  of  its  fertility.  This  proved  to  be 
the  case  with  Edward  Leaf.  Selling  his 
Fulton   county  farm,  he   moved   to  Mason 


county,  Illinois,  and  purchased  three  quar- 
ter-sections of  prairie  land,  and  each  son 
was  given  a  quarter  section.  Here  Edward 
and  Ann  Leaf  passed  to  their  reward,  the 
former  in  1869,  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven 
years,  and  the  latter  in  1865,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-three  years.  They  were  pious,  upright 
people,  honest  in  their  dealings  with  their 
fellow  men,  being  members  of  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  church,  and  living  in  strict  ac- 
cordance with  the  teachings  and  doctrines 
of  that  church.  Their  family  consisted  of 
six  children,  four  of  whom  are  yet  living. 

William  Leaf  was  the  fourth  child  in 
order  of  birth.  He  accompanied  his  parents 
in  their  various  removals,  and  in  conse- 
quence his  opportunity  for  securing  a  liberal 
education  was  not  of  the  best,  but  he  made 
the  best  use  of  the  opportunities  given 
him.  He  came  to  Illinois  a  youth  of  sev- 
enteen years,  and  assisted  his  father  in 
clearing  his  Fulton  county  farm,  and  soon 
after  the  removal  of  the  family  to  Mason 
county,  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  years, 
he  commenced  life  for  himself  on  one  of 
the  quarter-sections  purchased  by  his  fa- 
ther, and  which  was  deeded  to  him.  With 
characteristic  industry,  he  proceeded  to  im- 
prove his  tract,  engaging  in  general  farm- 
ing. He  was  prosperous  in  all  his  under- 
takings, and  was  soon  brought  into  some 
prominence  in  the  county  which  had  been 
chosen  as  his  home.  In  1848  he  was  com- 
missioned by  Governor  French  as  captain 
of  a  company  of  the  Ninth  Illinois  Militia, 
for  service  in  the  war  with  Mexico.  Hos- 
tilities ceasing  soon  after  he  was  commis- 
sioned, he  did  not  enter  the  field. 

After  more  than  thirty  years  of  laborious 
work  upon  the  farm,  in  1876  Mr.  Leaf  sold 
his  interests  in  Mason  county  and  came  to 
McLean  county,  making  his  home  in  Nor- 


146 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


mal.  After  his  removal  te  the  county  he 
purchased  here  three  farms,  one  containing 
two  hundred  and  eighty-four  acres;  one  of 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  and  the  third 
one  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  to- 
gether with  his  home  in  Normal.  He  also 
owns  a  half-section  of  land  in  Kansas. 

On  the  27th  of  August,  1846,  Mr.  Leaf 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  E. 
Couchman,  a  native  of  Nicholas  county, 
Kentucky,  born  September  24,  1824,  and 
daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Ruth  Couchman. 
By  this  union  si.x  children  were  born,  five  of 
whom  are  yet  living:  Edward  L.,  Adelia, 
Ellen,  Seabery  F.  and  Amos.  Of  these, 
Edward  is  engaged  in  farming  in  McLean 
county  and  Seabery  F.  is  a  professor  at 
Lebanon,  Kansas. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Leaf  were  consistent  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  until 
1868,  when  Mr.  Leaf's  mind  underwent  a 
change.  A  traveling  preacher  came  into 
his  neighborhood  teaching  the  people  that 
Jesus  Christ  should  come  again  as  he  went, 
and  again  dwell  on  the  earth.  This  doctrine 
he  believed  to  be  in  accordance  with  the 
teachings  of  the  Savior,  and  he  there- 
fore gave  heed  to  the  teachings  and  has 
been  since  that  time  an  earnest  and  enthu- 
siastic advocate  of  the  doctrine.  In  1879 
he  was  ordained  to  the  ministry  of  the  First 
Day  Adventist  church,  and  its  doctrine  he 
faithfully  observes  and  teaches  in  Bloom- 
ington  and  surrounding  country.  Politic- 
ally, he  is  a  Prohibitionist. 

This  worthy  couple  have  lived  in  peace 
and  harmony,  enjoying  the  good  things  a 
bountiful  Father  has  given  them,  for  more 
than  fifty  years.  On  the  27th  of  August, 
1896,  they  celebrated  the  fiftieth  anniversary 
of  their  wedded  life,  surrounded  by  children 
and  grandchildren,  together  with  a  host  of 


friends,  who  vied  with  each  other  in  atten- 
tion shown  to  those  they  loved  and  re- 
spected, and  wishing  them  a  continuance  of 
their  happy  life. 


JOHN  T.  HENDERSON,  manager  of 
the  Grand  Opera  House  of  Blooming- 
ton  and  one  of  the  leading  business  men  of 
that  city,  was  born  near  Eau  Claire,  Wis- 
consin, November  11,  i860.  His  parents, 
Matthew  and  Mary  (Edington)  Henderson, 
were  both  natives  of  Scotland,  born  and 
reared  near  Edinburg.  There  the  father 
studied  veterinary  surgery  and  successfully 
engaged  in  practice  in  that  city  until  his  emi- 
gration to  America  about  1850.  He  first 
located  near  Eau  Claire,  Wisconsin,  where 
he  took  up  government  land,  and  in  con- 
nection with  the  work  of  improvement  and 
cultivation,  he  continued  to  engage  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession.  Shortly  after 
the  birth  of  our  subject  the  family  came  to 
Bloomington,  where  the  father  engaged  in 
practice  until  called  from  this  life  in  1865. 
The  wife  and  mother  passed  away  April  10, 
1882.  They  were  consistent  members  of 
the  First  Presbyterian  church,  and  had  the 
respect  and  esteem  of  all  who  knew  them. 
They  left  four  children;  namely:  Bettie, 
now  the  wife  of  P.  R.  Griffith,  of  Blooming- 
ton;  William  E. ,  now  deceased;  Thomas  E., 
also  a  resident  of  Bloomington;  and  JohnT., 
our  subject. 

John  T.  Henderson  attended  the  public 
schools  and  later  the  high  school  of  Bloom- 
ington, where  he  was  graduated  in  1883. 
After  that  he  became  connected  with  the 
insurance  business  as  a  clerk,  but  soon  em- 
barked in  the  same  business  on  his  own  ac- 
count and  was  not  long  in  building  up  an 
excellent  trade.     He  also  organized  and  put 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


HI 


in  successful  operation  the  Bloomington  Fire 
Insurance  Company  and  later  sold  out  to 
Chicago  parties.  He  sold  his  other  insur- 
ance business  after  it  had  assumed  extensive 
proportions.  In  the  meantime  he  had  be- 
come interested  in  real  estate  in.  the  city, 
and  after  selling  his  other  business  he  took 
the  management  of  the  Grand  Opera  House, 
February  i,  1897,  also  acting  as  lessee  of 
the  same.  It  is  one  of  the  finest  equipped 
opera  houses  of  central  Illinois  and  the 
building  alone  cost  forty-five  thousand  dol- 
lars. Mr.  Henderson  has  met  with  most 
excellent  success  in  its  management,  al- 
though opera  houses  in  other  cities  have 
not  paid,  but  he  devotes  the  greater  part  of 
his  time  to  its  business  with  most  gratifying 
success  and  is  decidedly  the  right  man  in 
the  right  place.  He  is  proprietor  of  the 
Bloomington  Bill  Posting  Company,  which 
gives  employment  to  three  men  and  has  en- 
tire control  of  all  the  bill  boards  in  the  city 
of  Normal,  having  over  five  thousand  feet 
of  signs,  a  much  larger  space  than  most 
towns  of  the  size.  These  are  kept  full  of 
other  advertisements  while  not  used  for  the 
opera  house,  and  the  business  has  proved 
quite  profitable.  In  business  affairs  Mr. 
Henderson  has  displayed  remarkable  ability 
and  sound  judgment  and  is  very  popular 
with  his  business  associates. 

Socially,  he  is  a  prominent  member  of 
the  Bloomington  Club,  of  which  he  has 
been  a  director  for  two  years;  he  was  also 
one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Keystone  Club, 
and  has  served  as  chairman  of  the  board  of 
directors  since  its  incorporation  eight  years 
ago;  and  he  is  also  a  member  of  the  Bloom- 
ington Golf  Club,  as  he  is  a  lover  of  athlet- 
ics. He  belongs  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias 
fraternity,  and  attends  and  supports  the 
First  Congregational  church.      Whether  in 


public  or  private  life,  he  is  always  a  court- 
eous, genial  gentleman,  well  deserving  the 
high  regard  in  which  he  is  universally  held. 


SAMUEL  C.  KIRKPATRICK,  who  is 
living  on  his  fine  farm  on  section  30, 
Normal  township,  about  one-half  mile  from 
the  corporate  hmits  of  the  city  of  Normal, 
was  born  in  Woodford  county,  Illinois, 
June  26,  1850,  and  is  the  son  of  Samuel 
and  Anna  (Hougham)  Kirkpatrick,  the  for- 
mer a  native  of  Virginia,  born  in  1806,  who 
in  early  childhood  moved  with  his  parents, 
Thomas  and  Betsy  Kirkpatrick,  to  Adams 
county,  Ohio.  Soon  after  their  arrival 
there  his  parents  died,  and  he  was  left  an 
orphan  at  a  very  tender  age.  In  that 
county  he  grew  to  manhood,  and  in  his 
youth  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade,  which 
he  continued  to  follow  as  long  as  he  re- 
mained in  Ohio.  In  1833  he  came  to  Illi- 
nois and  located  in  Woodford  county, 
where  he  entered  some  three  hundred  or 
four  hundred  acres  of  land,  which  was  in 
its  wild  state.  On  that  land  he  erected  his 
dwelling  house,  and  also  built  a  blacksmith 
shop,  continuing  to  work  at  his  trade,  in 
connection  with  farming,  for  a  number  of 
years,  and  even  up  to  the  time  of  his  death 
did  all  his  own  work  in  that  line. 

Before  leaving  Ohio,  in  1831,  Samuel 
Kirkpatrick  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Anna  Hougham,  daughter  of  Runyan  (who 
died  September  4,  1833,  aged  fifty-three)  and 
Sarah  Hougham  (who  died  October,  1844, 
aged  sixty  years)  who  were  of  German  origin. 
By  this  union  seven  children  were  born,  six 
of  whom  grew  to  maturity  and  are  yet  liv- 
ing. Sarah  died  in  early  childhood.  Mar- 
garet married  Albert  Campbell  and  is  now 
living  in  Normal.      Melissa  J.  is  the  wife  of 


I4§ 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Joseph  H.  Sharp,  and  they  are  living  in 
Hudson  township.  Thomas  W.  married 
Amanda  McKee,  and  is  now  living  in  Ne- 
braska. Elizabeth  Ann  married  Robert 
Benson,  and  they  reside  in  Bloomington. 
Lemon  H.  married  Margaret  Kane,  and 
the}'  reside  in  White  Oak  township.  Samuel 
C.  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Both 
parents  are  now  deceased,  the  mother  dying 
in  1 871  and  the  father  in  1873.  In  politics 
he  was  a  Republican,  and  was  honored  by 
his  friends  and  neighbors  with  various  offi- 
cial positions.  He  was  supervisor  for  a 
number  of  terms,  and  also  served  as  justice 
of  the  peace  for  years.  In  addition  to 
those  positions,  he  served  as  assessor,  col- 
lector, school  director  and  school  trustee. 
In  his  business  life  he  was  quite  successful, 
and  while  starting  in  life  a  poor  boy,  he 
succeeded  in  accumulating  a  handsome 
property. 

In  his  native  country  our  subject  grew 
to  manhood,  and  in  the  district  schools  re- 
ceived his  education.  He  remained  at  home 
and  assisted  in  the  farm  work  until  after  he 
attained  his  majority.  On  the  23rd  of  No- 
vember, 1 87 1,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Amanda  Johnston,  who  was  born 
in  Danvers  township,  McLean  county,  April 
12,  1851,  and  the  daughter  of  Charles  and 
Rebecca  Ann  (Stevenson)  Johnston,  the  for- 
mer a  native  of  New  Jersey,  born  July  3, 
1 814,  and  the  latter  of  Green  county,  Ohio, 
born  November  21,  18 13.  From  his  New 
Jersey  home,  a  boy  of  seven  years,  Charles 
Johnston  was  taken  by  his  parents  to  Green 
county,  Ohio,  and  a  short  time  after  their 
arrival  there  the  mother  died,  and  two 
weeks  later  the  father  also  passed  away. 
In  that  country  he  grew  to  manhood,  and 
was  reared  to  the  life  of  a  farmer.  His 
marriage  with  Rebecca  Ann  Stevenson  was 


there  celebrated,  and  about  1847  they  came 
to  McLean  county,  and  locating  in  Danvers 
township,  he  there  took  up  a  tract  of  land, 
and  also  purchased  another  tract.  In  due 
time  he  became  a  large  land  owner  in  the 
county.  In  1858  he  removed  from  Danvers 
to  White  Oak  township,  where  he  purchased 
a  large  farm  and  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
life.  His  death  occurred  March  19,  1890, 
his  wife  preceding  him  some  two  years, 
having  died  January  i,  1888.  They  were 
the  parents  of  eleven  children,  nine  of  them 
grew  to  maturity.  James  S.  married  Mary 
J.  Kane,  and  they  reside  in  Normal.  Mary 
Ann  married  Charles  Barnes,  but  is  now 
deceased.  John  S.  married  Martha  Havens, 
who  is  now  deceased.  He  is  now  living  in 
Hudson,  Illinois.  Martha  J.  is  the  wife  of 
J.  W.  Baldridge,  and  they  reside  in  Texas. 
Joseph  H.  married  Cora  Nevious,  and  they 
reside  near  Webster  City,  Iowa.  Catherine 
is  the  wife  of  Henry  Wright,  and  they  re- 
side in  Oklahoma.  Rebecca  I.  married  John 
A.  Benson,  and  they  are  living  in  Blue 
Mound,  Kansas.  Amanda  is  the  wife  of  our 
subject.  Sarah  married  Alonzo  McKinney, 
and  they  are  living  in  White  Oak  township. 
After  his  marrage,  Mr.  Kirkpatrick  took 
his  bride  to  the  home  of  his  father,  with 
whom  they  lived  until  the  father's  death, 
after  which  they  remained  on  the  old  home 
place  for  nine  years,  and  in  1882  moved  to 
White  Oak  township,  locating  on  the  John- 
ston homestead,  which  comprised  three 
hundred  and  seventy  acres,  which  he  had 
previously  purchased,  and  there  resided  un- 
til February,  1893,  when  he  purchased  the 
farm  on  which  he  now  resides  in  Normal 
township,  comprising  one  hundred  and 
thirty-one  acres  of  excellent  land.  He  re- 
moved to  this  place  in  order  that  he  might 
give  his  children  the  benefit  of  an  education 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


UO 


in  the  Normal  University.  His  family  con- 
sists of  three  children.  Valeria  Belle  is 
now  the  wife  of  Jesse  H.  Riley,  and  they 
have  had  two  children,  but  both  are  now 
deceased.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Riley  make  their 
home  in  White  Oak  township.  _  Gertrude 
Ann  is  the  wife  of  Charles  E.  Otto,  and  they 
have  one  child,  Cleda  Marie.  They  make 
their  home  in  Normal  township.  Samuel 
C. ,  the  only  son,  is  now  a  student  in  Nor- 
mal University,  which  institution  both 
daughters  also  attended. 

Mr.  Kirkpatrick  has  the  reputation  of 
being  one  of  the  best  farmers  in  McLean 
county,  and  has  made  a  specialty  of  stock 
raising,  feeding  all  the  grain  that  he  raises, 
and  even  purchasing  from  others.  He  us- 
ually has  on  his  place  about  seventy-five  to 
one  hundred  head  of  cattle  and  two  hundred 
head  of  hogs,  which  he  prepares  for  the 
market.  He  has  also  given  considerable 
attention  to  the  raising  of  Norman  draft 
horses,  and  has  raised  some  splendid  ani- 
mals, selling  some  as  high  as  five  hundred 
dollars  each. 

Politically  Mr.  Kirkpatrick  is  a  stanch 
Republican,  with  which  party  he  has  acted 
since  casting  his  first  presidential  vote  for 
U.  S.  Grant,  in  1872.  While  residing  in 
Woodford  county,  he  served  as  justice  of 
the  peace,  school  director  and  school  trustee, 
and  since  residing  in  McLean  county  has 
been  school  director  and  road  commissioner. 
He  is  a  thoroughly  enterprising  citizen,  one 
willing  to  do  all  in  his  power  to  advance  the 
material  interest  of  the  section  in  which  he 
makes  his  home. 


ISAAC  J.  MITHELL,  one  of  the  pros- 
1  perous  and  enterprising  agriculturists  of 
McLean  county,  is  the  owner  of  a  valuable 


farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  in  Dale 
township,  which  township  is  also  the  place 
of  his  nativity.  He  was  born  December  21, 
1 86 1,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Lottie  (Eng- 
lish) Mitchell.  His  father  was  a  native  of 
Ohio,  and  when  a  young  man  came  to  this 
county  with  his  father,  Isaac  Mitchell,  Sr., 
who  was  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Dale 
township.  The  mother  of  our  subject  was 
born  in  Erie  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  was 
the  daughter  of  John  English,  who  also 
came  to  this  locality  at  an  early  day  aud 
resided  for  many  years  in  Dale  township. 

In  the  public  schools  of  the  neighbor- 
hood Isaac  J.  Mitchell  acquired  a  good 
practical  English  education,  and  also  early 
became  familiar  with  all  the  duties  and 
labors  that  fall  to  the  lot  of  the  agricultur- 
ist. He  assisted  his  father  in  the  cultiva- 
tion of  the  home  farm  until  twenty-two 
years  of  age,  and  the  following  year  en- 
tered upon  an  independent  business  career. 
He  was  then  married  and  for  a  year  rented 
and  operated  a  farm  belonging  to  Charles 
Schneider,  of  Bloomington  township,  dur- 
ing which  time  he  made  his  home  with  his 
grandmother,  Mrs.  English.  Subsequently 
he  removed  to  his  present  home,  renting 
the  land  for  six  years.  During  that  time 
he  engaged  in  threshing  quite  extensively 
and  in  that  way  combined  with  his  farming 
operations,  he  became  enabled  to  purchase 
eighty  acres  of  land  on  section  20,  Dale 
township.  He  has  since  successfully  car- 
ried on  general  farming,  and  has  extended 
the  boundaries  of  his  place  by  the  addi- 
tional purchase  of  eighty  acres,  and  from 
his  wife's  father  they  received  another 
eighty-acre  tract,  thus  making  their  farm  a 
valuable  property  of  two  hundred  and  forty 
acres.  The  greater  part  of  this  is  now 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.     A  hand- 


150 


THE    BIOGR.APHICAL   RECORD. 


some  country  residence  is  supplemented  by 
good  barns  and  substantial  outbuildings, 
and  these  stand  in  the  midst  of  well-tilled 
fields  which  yield  a  golden  tribute  in  return 
for  the  care  and  labor  bestowed  upon  them 
by  the  owner,  who  is  regarded  as  one  of 
the  most  enterprising,  progressive  and  prac- 
tical farmers  of  the  neighborhood. 

On  the  23d  of  August,  1886,  was  cele- 
brated the  marriage  of  Mr.  Mitchell  and 
Miss  Nettie  Rogers,  a  daughter  of  Thomas 
Rogers,  one  of  the  early  settlers  and  well- 
known  farmers  of  Dale  township.  They 
now  have  three  children,  Maude,  Bliss  and 
Fairy,  and  have  lost  one  daughter.  May, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  seven  years.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Mitchell  enjoy  the  warm  regard 
of  many  friends,  and  are  widely  known  in 
this  locality,  where  their  entire  lives  have 
been  passed.  They  hold  membership  in 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  in  which 
he  is  serving  as  steward  and  as  assistant 
superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school,  being 
one  of  the  active  workers  in  the  interest  of 
the  church.  He  has  always  given  his  polit- 
ical support  to  the  Republican  party  until 
the  present  year,  when  he  transferred  his 
allegiance  to  the  Prohibition  party.  He 
has  served  as  township  clerk  for  eight 
years  and  tax  collector  for  four  yeas,  dis- 
charging his  duties  in  a  most  prompt  and 
able  manner.  His  name  is  on  the  member- 
ship rolls  of  Stanford  Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F. , 
the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  the 
Court  of  Honor  and  the  Pioneer  Reserve 
Societ}',  and  by  his  brethren  of  those  orders 
is  held  in  high  regard  as  a  worthy  repre- 
sentative of  the  benevolent  and  commenda- 
ble principles  which  underlie  the  organiza- 
tions. He  enjoys  a  most  enviable  reputa- 
tion as  an  honorable  business  man,  and  his 
prosperity  is  well  merited. 


HENRY  CAPEN.  Honored  and  re- 
spected by  all,  there  is  no  man  in 
Bloomington  who  occupies  a  more  enviable 
position  in  business  and  financial  circles 
than  Henry  Capen,  not  alone  on  account  of 
the  brilliant  success  he  has  achieved,  but 
also  on  account  of  the  honorable,  straight- 
forward business  policy  he  has  ever  followed. 
He  possesses  untiring  energy,  is  quick  of 
perception,  forms  his  plans  readily  and  is 
determined  in  their  execution;  and  his  close 
application  to  business  and  excellent  man- 
agement have  brought  to  him  the  prosperity 
which  is  to-day  his. 

Mr.  Capen  'was  born  in  Seneca  Falls, 
Seneca  county.  New  York,  January  29, 
1832,  a  son  of  Luman  W.  and  Sybil  (Hos- 
kins)  Capen,  who  are  represented  elsewhere 
in  this  volume.  The  mother  died  when  he 
was  only  ten  years  old,  leaving  two  children, 
but  his  sister  died  young.  He  commenced 
his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Cayu- 
ga county.  New  York,  whither  the  family 
removed  when  he  was  six  months  old,  and 
later  he  attended  the  seminary  at  Ithaca 
and  a  select  school  at  home,  completing  his 
literary  training  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years. 
He  obtained  his  first  knowledge  of  business 
and  business  methods  in  his  father's  country 
store  at  Union  Springs,  in  Cayuga  county, 
where  business  was  carried  on  for  twenty- 
five  years  under  the  firm  name  of  Hoskins 
&  Capen,  the  senior  member  being  Laban 
Hoskins,  a  maternal  uncle  of  our  subject. 
In  1856  he  accompanied  his  father  on  his 
removal  to  McLean  county,  Illinois.  Henry 
Capen  came  into  Bloomington,  where  our 
subject  was  employed  one  year  as  a  clerk 
by  R.  R.  Landon,  the  largest  dry-goods 
merchant  in  the  city.  He  and  his  father 
then  formed  a  partnership  and  embarked  in 
the  crockery,  glassware  and  china  business. 


HENRY   CAPEN. 


OF  THE 
JNIVERSITY  OFILUNO!: 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


153 


theirs  being  the  first  store  of  the  kind  in 
the  city.  The  only  building  they  could  pro- 
cure was  a  little  carpenter  shop  on  the  east 
side  of  the  square,  a  building  that  was  sim- 
ply boarded  up.  That  winter  they  suffered 
much  from  the  cold,  but  in  the  spring  were 
able  to  rent  a  better  store  room  on  the  south 
side  of  the  square.  Their  trade  rapidly  in- 
creased until  it  assumed  extensive  propor- 
tions, and  in  the  meantime  they  opened  a 
branch  store  at  Decatur,  of  which  our  sub- 
ject took  charge  in  i860.  He  remained 
there  for  eight  years,  at  the  end  of  which 
time  the  business  was  sold.  In  1869  the 
store  in  Bloomington  was  also  sold,  and 
father  and  son  purchased  almost  a  half  in- 
terest in  the  Phcenix  Savings,  Loan  &  Trust 
Company  Bank,  of  which  the  former  became 
cashier  and  the  latter  assistant  cashier. 
This  was  one  of  the  early  savings  banks  of 
central  Illinois  and  they  continued  their 
connection  with  it  for  seven  years,  selling 
their  interests  at  the  end  of  that  time  to 
Corydon  Weed,  after  which  the  father  lived 
retired.  Our  subject,  however,  opened  an 
office  of  his  own  and  embarked  in  business 
as  a  loan  and  investment  broker.  He  still 
carries  on  operations  along  that  line,  as  the 
business  has  constantly  increased  until  five 
persons  are  now  required  to  attend  to  the 
same.  He  deals  principally  in  farm  mort- 
gages and  has  handled  millions  of  dollars 
worth  of  loans  without  losing  a  dollar  of 
principal  of  any  customer.  He  gave  his 
eldest  son,  Frank,  an  interest  in  the  busi- 
ness in  1890,  and  his  son  Fred  B.  also  an 
interest  in  1896,  the  firm  being  now  known 
as  H.  Capen  &  Sons.  Mr.  Capen  is  also  a 
stockholder,  director  and  secretary  of  the 
board  of  directors  of  the  Peoples  Bank;  a 
stockholder  and  director  of  the  Co-operative 
Stove    Company,   a    very   successful   enter- 


prise; and  was  one  of  the  original  stock- 
holders and  directors  of  the  Citizens  Gas 
Light  &  Heating  Company.  He  is  one  of 
the  most  progressive,  energetic  and  reliable 
business  men  of  the  city,  and  the  success 
that  he  has  achieved  in  life  is  certainly 
justly  merited. 

On  the  20th  of  April,  1858,  Mr.  Capen 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Henrietta 
P.  Clark,  of  Bloomington,  where  she  located 
in  1856.  Her  father  was  Rev.  Luther 
Clark,  a  Presbyterian  minister  of  Dryden, 
Tompkins  county,  New  York,  and  her  grand- 
father was  Rev.  John  Clark,  also  a  minister 
of  that  denomination.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Capen  have  been  born  two  sons,  Frank  C. 
and  Fred  B.  Frank  C.  married  May  John- 
son— they  have  one  daughter,  Helen.  Fred 
B.  married  Eda  Maier.  Both  sons  are  res- 
idents of  Bloomington.  For  thirty-three 
years  they  have  resided  at  No.  501  West 
Locust  street,  where  they  have  a  beautiful 
and  commodious  home,  surrounded  by  a 
very  large  and  lovely  lawn,  and  here  their 
many  friends  are  always  sure  of  a  hearty 
welcome.  They  have  been  life-long  mem- 
bers of  the  Presbyterian  church  and  were 
among  the  first  to  unite  with  the  congrega- 
tion with  which  they  are  now  connected. 
While  a  resident  of  Decatur,  he  served  as 
deacon,  trustee  and  treasurer  of  the  Presby- 
terian church  at  that  time,  and  has  been 
trustee  of  the  church  in  Bloomington  for 
nearly  thirty  years  and  usher  for  about  the 
same  length  of  time;  also  treasurer  for 
twenty-one  years,  having  succeeded  his  fa- 
ther, who  occupied  the  same  position  for 
fifteen  years.  During  the  erection  of  their 
elegant  new  house  of  worship,  which  was 
built  at  a  cost  of  sixty-five  thousand  dollars, 
he  was  a  member  of  the  building  committee 
and  treasurer  of  the  building  fund.      With 


IS4 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


two  or  three  others  he  superintended  the 
building  himself  and  worked  untiringly  for 
its  completion.  It  is  justly  considered  one 
of  the  finest  churches  in  central  Illinois, 
being  complete  in  all  its  appointments,  and 
much  of  the  credit  of  this  is  due  to  Mr. 
Capen's  unselfish  devotion  to  the  work.  As 
a  citizen  he  meets  every  requirement  and 
manifests  a  commendable  interest  in  every- 
thing calculated  to  promote  the  city's  wel- 
fare. In  private  life  he  is  sympathetic  and 
generous,  extending  a  helping  hand  to  the 
poor  and  needy  and  always  ready  to  aid 
those  less  fortunate  than  himself.  In  man- 
ner he  is  pleasant,  and  all  who  know  him 
esteem  him  highly  for  his  genuine  worth. 


JOSEPH  J.  THOMPSON  is  one  of  the 
prominent  young  attorneys  and  busi- 
ness men  of  Bloomington.  He  is  a  native 
of  Warren  county,  Illinois,  born  January 
14,  1868,  near  the  village  of  Kirkwood, 
then  known  as  Young  America.  His  father, 
John  W.  Thompson,  was  born  near  Carrick- 
on-the-Shannon,  County  Roscommon,  Ire- 
land, and  emigrated  to  America  when  eight- 
een years  of  age.  As  a  farmer  boy  he  be- 
gan life  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic,  work- 
ing for  a  few  years  for  Mr.  Goldsmith,  of 
Orange  county,  New  York,  the  owner  of 
the  celebrated  trotting  horse.  Goldsmith 
Maid.  While  there  he  married  Miss  Hannah 
Crofton,  a  native  of  Ireland,  and  soon  after- 
ward came  west,  settling  near  Alexis,  W^ar- 
ren  county,  Illinois,  where  he  bought  a 
small  farm.  After  living  there  for  about 
eight  years  he  purchased  a  larger  place  near 
Young  America,  in  the  same  county,  to  the 
cultivation  of  which  he  devoted  his  energies 
for  nine  years  with  most  gratifying  success. 
His  next   farm  was  near  Alexis,  where  he 


owned  six  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  valu- 
able land.  The  success  that  he  achieved  in 
life  was  due  entirely  to  his  own  well-directed 
efforts,  and  he  was  able  to  leave  his  family 
well  provided  for,  having  accumulated  a 
handsome  competence.  He  died  in  1894, 
at  the  age  of  sixty-three  years,  and  his  wife 
in  1896,  leaving  a  family  of  ten  children. 

Joseph  J.  Thompson  began  his  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  near  Alexis,  later 
attended  the  high  school  of  Aledo,  Mercer 
county,  Illinois,  and  the  Northern  Illinois 
Normal  College  at  Dixon,  where  he  took 
the  literary  and  civil  engineering  courses 
and  was  graduated  in  1888  with  the  degree 
of  C.  E.  During  the  following  two  years 
he  engaged  in  teaching  school  near  Alexis, 
and  then  read  law  in  the  offices  of  Matthews 
&  Peacock,  of  Monmouth,  and  Benjamin  & 
Morrissy,  of  Bloomington,  having  come  to 
this  city  in  1889.  Subsequently  he  attended 
the  Wesleyan  Law  College,  where  he  was 
graduated  with  the  degree  of  LL.  B.,  in 
1 89 1,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  June 
of  the  same  year.  Immediately  afterward 
he  formed  a  partnership  with  D.  D.  Dona- 
hue, and  under  the  name  of  Thompson  & 
Donahue  they  engaged  in  general  practice 
till  January  i,  1899,  when  that  firm  was 
dissolved.  He  has  been  connected  with 
some  of  the  most  important  cases  tried  in 
the  city  and  enjoys  an  excellent  practice. 
Mr.  Thompson  has  also  been  considerably 
interested  in  real  estate  in  the  city,  and  has 
bought  and  sold  a  number  of  places  to  a 
good  advantage.  He  bought  the  Park  prop- 
erty, which  was  a  brick  house  and  an  old 
landmark  on  the  corner  of  West  and  Chest- 
nut streets.  Work  was  commenced  on  the 
place  in  June,  1897,  and  by  June  of  the 
following  year  the  old  house  had  been  torn 
down    and    three    handsome    modern   two- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


155 


story  residences  erected  on  the  large  lot,  at 
a  cost  of  fifteen  thousand  dollars.  This  is 
one  of  the  most  notable  improvements  in 
the  city  in  recent  years.  His  own  beauti- 
ful home  is  at  the  corner  of  the  streets. 
For  some  time  he  has  been  agitating  pub- 
lic improvements  for  that  part"  of  the  city, 
and  has  been  instrumental  in  having  the 
ordinance  passed  for  laying  sewers  and  pav- 
ing that  district.  He  is  also  interested  in 
other  city  real  estate  and  in  farming  lands 
in  this  county  and  in  Indiana,  and  has  been 
quite  successful  in  his  real-estate  opera- 
tions. 

On  the  6th  of  November,  18S9,  Mr. 
Thompson  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Julia  E.  McNamara,  of  Alexis,  Illinois, 
a  daughter  of  Bartholomew  McNamara,  a 
farmer  by  occupation.  They  now  have 
two  children:  Aurelia  M.  and  Hannah  L. 
They  are  members  of  Holy  Trinity  Catholic 
church,  and  his  parents  were  members 
of  the  same  denomination,  being  con- 
nected with  St.  Theresa'  church  at 
Alexis,  Illinois.  Our  subject  is  an  active 
member  of  the  Democratic  party,  has 
served  as  secretary  of  the  county  cen- 
tral committee  and  the  city  committee,  and 
has  been  a  delegate  to  all  of  the  conventions 
of  his  party  up  to  the  state  convention.  In 
1896  he  received  the  nomination  of  his 
party  for  state's  attorney,  and  although  de- 
feated, ran  two  hundred  votes  ahead  of  his 
ticket,  a  fact  which  plainly  indicates  his 
popularity  and  the  high  regard  in  which  he 
is  uniformly  held. 

On  January  i,  1S99,  Mr.  Thompson 
dissolved  partnership  with  Mr.  Donahue 
and  purchased  the  Bloomington  Sunday 
Eye  and  Saturday  Truth.  In  addition  to 
these  papers  he  has  started  a  Saturday 
evening  paper,  called  the  Saturday  Evening 


Optic,  being  the  only  penny  paper  pub- 
lished in  the  county.  Besides  publishing 
his  papers  he  devotes  considerable  time  to 
the  practice  of  his  profession,  and  is  pos- 
sessed of  the  elements  of  a  successful  busi- 
ness man. 


JESSE  E.  BARCLAY.— More  than  a 
third  of  a  century  has  passed  since 
Jesse  E.  Barclay  became  a  resident  of  Mc- 
Lean county,  and  for  many  years  he  has 
been  known  as  one  ot  the  most  progressive, 
enterprising  and  practical  farmers  of  Dale 
township.  The  success  that  he  has  achieved 
in  life  is  due  entirely  to  his  own  efforts,  and 
his  excellent  property  is  a  monument  of  his 
diligence  and  business  ability. 

He  was  born  in  Madison  county,  Ken- 
tucky, January  4,  1850,  a  son  of  William 
F.  and  Mary  Jane  (Roberts)  Barclay.  The 
father  was  also  a  native  of  Madison  county, 
was  reared  to  farm  life  there  and  after  at- 
taining his  majority  married  Miss  Roberts, 
a  daughter  of  Jesse  Roberts,  one  of  the 
early  pioneers  of  that  locality.  Mr.  Bar- 
clay carried  on  farming  in  Kentucky,  but 
was  not  a  slave  owner.  In  1855  he  re- 
moved with  his  family  to  Boone  county, 
Missouri,  locating  near  Columbia,  where  he 
carried  on  agricultural  pursuits  until  1865. 
He  was  there  throughout  the  period  of  the 
Civil  war  and  both  sides  used  his  farm  as  a 
place  for  forage.  Our  subject  remembers 
seeing  seventy-five  of  General  Merrill's 
horses  fed  off  his  father's  oats.  In  1865 
the  family  came  to  Allen  township,  ^fcLean 
county,  Illinois,  where  William  F.  Barclay 
parchased  a  farm  and  made  his  home  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  in  November, 
1895.  In  his  political  affiliations  he  was  a 
Democrat,    and   religiously  was  connected 


1S6 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


with  the  Christian  church,  ef  which  his 
widow  is  also  a  member.  She  is  still  living 
on  the  old  homestead,  and  as  did  her  hus- 
band, shares  in  the  warm  regard  of  many 
friends. 

Jesse  E.  Barclay  obtained  his  prelimin- 
ary education  in  the  schools  of  Missouri, 
but  the  troublous  war  times  prevented  his 
consecutive  attendance  in  the  school  room. 
He  was  fifteen  years  of  age  when  he  came 
to  McLean  county  with  his  parents  and  here 
he  completed  a  good,  practical  education 
which  well  fitted  him  for  business  life.  He 
was  early  trained  to  habits  of  industry  and 
remained  upon  his  father's  farm  until 
twenty-seven  years  of  age,  when  he  rented 
land  nearby  and  carried  on  agricultural  pur- 
suits on  his  own  account.  In  1877  he  was 
married  and  soon  afterward  purchased  his 
present  farm,  comprising  one  hundred  sev- 
enteen and  a  half  acres  in  Dale  township. 
There  were  no  improvements  upon  the 
place  save  one  tree,  and  the  present  beau- 
tiful maple  grove  which  now  shades  the 
house  and  lawn  was  planted  by  Mrs.  Bar- 
clay. Mr.  Barclay  erected  a  commodi- 
ous and  substantial  residence,  good  barns 
and  all  the  necessary  outbuildings,  and  now 
has  one  of  the  valuable  farms  of  his  town- 
ship. In  addition  to  the  cultivation  of  the 
fields  he  is  also  engaged  in  stock  raising  and 
in  both  branches  of  his  business  is  meeting 
with  gratifying  success. 

On  the  22d  of  February,  1877,  was 
celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Barclay  and 
Miss  Elizabeth  Moran,  daughter  of  John  H. 
and  Jemima  (Carson)  Moran,  the  former  a 
native  of  New  York  City,  and  the  latter  of 
Trenton,  New  Jersey.  Her  paternal  grand- 
father was  captain  of  a  vessel  and  was  lost 
at  sea.  Her  father  loyallj'  served  his  coun- 
try in    the   Mexican  war,  and   in  order  to 


support  his  family  carried  on  agricultural 
pursuits.  After  his  marriage  he  located  in 
Trenton,  New  Jersey,  where  he  made  his 
home  until  the  5th  of  March,  1857,  when 
he  took  up  his  abode  in  this  county,  living 
on  a  farm  in  McLean  township.  At  the  time 
of  the  civil  war  he  responded  to  the  Presi- 
dent's call  for  three-years'  troops.  After 
faithfully  serving  for  two  years  of  that  time 
he  was  one  day  detailed  to  act  as  guard  to 
some  prisoners  on  a  flat  car  and  was  shot 
by  a  bushwhacker,  the  ball  penetratiag  his 
right  lung,  passing  through  the  body  and 
breaking  his  right  arm.  On  account  of  the 
disability  thus  occasioned  he  was  honora- 
bly discharged,  but  recovered  from  his  in- 
juries and  lived  until  March,  1890,  his 
death  occurring  in  Quincy,  Illinois.  His 
wife  died  twenty-eight  years  ago.  Unto 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barclay  have  been  born  three 
children:  Anna,  Henry  Otto  and  Howard 
Ellis.  The  elder  son  is  now  attending 
business  college  in  Bloomington;  Anna  is  a 
teacher,  and  in  the  winter  of  1899  taught  the 
Covell  school. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Barclay  js  a  Democrat, 
and  was  once  the  nominee  for  road  com- 
missioner, but  his  party  being  in  the  minor- 
ity he  was  defeated.  Both  he  and  his  wife 
are  consistent  members  of  the  Christian 
church  at  Stanford,  and  in  the  community 
where  they  have  so  long  resided  are  widely 
and  favorably  known. 


JOSEPH  B.  BARGER  is  a  young  man 
who  has  early  reached  a  position  of 
prominence  in  the  business  and  literary  cir- 
cles of  Normal.  He  is  the  proprietor  and 
manager  of  the  Morning  Call,  and  is  one  of 
Illinois'  native  sons,  having  been  born  in 
Shawneetown,   Gallatin  county,   November 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


157 


3,  1874.  He  is  the  eldest  son  of  Harrison 
C.  and  Mary  (Morse)  Barger,  the  latter  a 
native  of  Vermont,  and  the  former  of  Ken- 
tucky, who  came  to  Illinois  with  his  parents 
when  but  a  few  months  old,  and  was  a  con- 
tinuous resident  of  the  state  of  his  adoption, 
until  his  death  in  1880.  At  the  breaking 
out  of  the  civil  war,  in  1861,  he  enlisted  in 
Company  D,  Second  Illinois  Light  Artillery, 
known  as  Dresser's  Battery,  and  served 
throughout  the  war,  receiving  his  commis- 
sion as  second  lieutenant,  and  shortly  being 
promoted  to  the  first  lieutenancy.  He  was 
with  Sherman  on  his  march  to  the  sea,  and 
in  all  the  battles  of  the  western  army.  He 
continued  in  the  services  of  his  country  un- 
til the  close  of  the  war,  receiving  an  honor- 
able discharge.  He  was  at  one  time  asso- 
ciated with  a  partner  in  the  drug  and  book 
business  in  Shawneetown,  and  was  thus  en- 
gaged up  to  the  time  of  his  death.  The 
grandfather  of  our  subject,  Joseph  B.  Bar- 
ger, served  as  sheriff  of  Gallatin  county  for 
a  number  of  years,  and  was  appointed  post- 
master at  Shawneetown,  which  position  he 
held  for  some  years.  He  was  a  very  promi- 
nent figure  in  Gallatin  county,  during  his 
life-time,  and  was  county  clerk  fortwenty-si.\ 
years,  his  son  Harrison  C.  acting  as  his  as- 
sistant a  portion  of  the  time.  Both  were 
connected  with  the  Masonic  Order.  In  re- 
ligious views  were  Methodists  in  faith  and 
practice.  The  father's  death  was  the  result 
of  an  injury  received  during  the  civil  war. 
His  wife  now  makes  her  home  in  Normal. 
The  family  consisted  of  four  children, 
namely;  Joseph  B,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch;  Thomas  M. ;  Helen  M. ;  and  Carter, 
deceased. 

Joseph  commenced  his  education  in 
Shawneetown,  completing  it  in  Normal, 
where  be  removed  in   1883.      His  first  busi- 


ness enterprise  was  in  the  office  of  the 
Morning  Call,  as  a  member  of  the  company, 
then  known  by  the  firm  name  of  B.  S. 
Wright  &  Company.  On  the  8th  of  July, 
1897,  he  and  his  brother  Thomas  bought 
the  business,  conducting  it  until  January, 
1S98,  under  the  name  of  Barger  Brothers. 
Our  subject  then  became  its  sole  proprietor, 
acting  also  as  its  manager.  The  Morning 
Call  is  a  semi-weekly  paper,  and  is  devoted 
principally  to  the  business  interests  of  Nor- 
mal and  the  community.  Aside  from  his 
connection  with  the  Morning  Call,  Mr. 
Barger  runs  in  conjunction  with  Clarence  A. 
Burner  a  general  job  printing  business  in 
which  he  has  been  very  successful.  He  is 
a  man  of  much  penetration  and  discern- 
ment, pleasing  in  personality,  and  cordial 
in  manner.  He  has  improved  his  talents  to 
the  best  advantage,  and  his  present  high 
standing  in  Normal  is  the  result.  Frater- 
nally he  is  a  member  of  the  Modern  Wood- 
man, and  politically,  a  stanch  and  unswerv- 
ing Republican. 


WILLIAM  WALLACE  BUTTOLPH. 
— The  deserved  reward  of  a  well-spent 
life  is  an  honored  retirement  from  business, 
in  which  to  enjoy  the  fruits  of  former  toil. 
To-day,  after  a  useful  and  beneficial  career, 
Mr.  Buttolph  is  quietly  living  at  his  beauti- 
ful home  on  East  Grove  street.  Blooming- 
ton,  surrounded  by  the  comfort  that  earnest 
labor  has  brought  him. 

He  was  born  in  Middlebury,  Vermont, 
May  2,  1827,  a  son  of  David  and  Almira 
(Little)  Buttolph.  The  father  was  born  on 
the  same  farm,  in  May,  1787,  and  was  reared 
to  agricultural  pursuits,  which  he  followed 
throughout  life,  becoming  the  owner  of  one 
of  the  largest  farms  in  the  east,  it  compris- 


158 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


ing  over  four  hundred  acres.  He  died  upon 
that  place,  June  30,  1869,  honored  and  re- 
vered by  all  who  knew  him.  In  connection 
with  general  farming  he  engaged  in  sheep 
raising.  His  wife  was  a  native  of  Shore- 
ham,  V^ermont,  and  a  daughter  of  Erastus 
Little,  but  as  her  mother  died  when  she  was 
quite  young,  she  was  reared  by  her  uncle, 
Solomon  Bissel.  Her  death  occurred  in 
August,  1840,  when  our  subject  was  thirteen 
years  of  age.  She  was  a  consistent  member 
of  the  Congregational  church  and  a  most 
estimable  lady.  In  the  family  were  six 
children,  four  sons  and  two  daughters. 

Mr.  Buttolph  traces  his  ancestry  back  to 
Saint  Botolph,  who  died  in  680  A.  D., 
and  was  commemorated  June  17.  He  was 
educated  in  Germany  with  his  brother 
Adolph,  after  which  they  became  monks, 
and  on  his  return  to  England,  through  the 
favor  of  Kmg  Ethelmond,  he  was  granted  a 
site  and  began  building  a  monastery,  it  is 
thought,  near  the  present  site  of  the  Cathe- 
dral of  Saint  Botolph  at  Boston,  England, 
which  place  derived  its  name  from  Saint 
Botolph's  town.  He  was  a  prominent  man 
and  the  patron  saint  of  the  fishermen.  The 
relics  of  Saint  Botolph  were  distributed  by 
the  Bishop  of  Winchester  (A.  D.  934-984; 
among  several  monasteries.  On  the  coat  of 
arms  of  the  family  was  "All  for  conscience 
sake."  The  first  of  the  family  to  come  to 
America  were  Thomas  and  Ann  Buttolph, 
who  landed  at  Boston  in  1635,  coming  from 
Raynham,  Norfolk  county,  England.  From 
this  worthy  couple  Wendell  Phillips  was 
also  descended.  Thomas  Buttolph  was  made 
a  freeman  and  owned  Copps  Hill,  Boston, 
Massachusetts.  His  descendants  in  direct 
line  to  our  subject  were  John,  George,  Eli- 
jah and  David. 

Our  subject's  grandfather,  Elijah    But- 


tolph, was  born  in  1742,  at  or  near  Salis- 
bury, Connecticut,  and  was  a  son  of  George 
Buttolph,  of  Salisbury,  svho,  with  three 
brothers,  was  a  member  of  a  Connecticut 
regiment  in  the  Revolutionary  war  and  was 
discharged  in  New  York  City  as  a  non-com- 
missioned officer.  Elijah  Buttolph  was 
three  times  married  and  the  children  by  the 
first  union  were  reared  in  Salisbury.  His 
second  wife  was  Mrs.  Deborah  Plumley. 
He  purchased  land  at  Middlebury,  \'ermont, 
and  became  one  of  the  old  and  well-known 
residents  of  that  place,  where  he  spent  his 
remaining  days.  He  was  the  fifth  member 
of  the  Congregational  church  at  Middle- 
bury  and  a  most  excellent  man. 

William  W.  Buttolph  began  his  educa- 
tion in  the  district  schools  near  his  child- 
hood home,  and  later  attended  an  academy 
in  Middlebury.  He  remained  on  the  home 
farm,  assisting  his  father  in  its  operation 
until  he  attained  his  majority.  On  the  17th 
of  February,  1850,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Mary  A.  Manny,  of  Middle- 
bury, a  daughter  of  Hugh  Manny.  Five 
daughters  were  born  of  .this  union,  but 
three  died  when  young,  these  being  Mary, 
Nelly  and  an  infant  unnamed.  Those  living 
are  Isadore  E. ,  now  the  widow  of  Elwood 
Brown,  whose  grandfather  fought  at  the 
battles  of  Concord  and  Lexington  during 
the  Revolutionary  war;  and  Jennie  B.,  wife 
of  Calvin  Rayburn,  an  attorney,  of  Bloom- 
ington,  by  whom  she  has  two  sons,  William 
B.  and  Allan  B. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Buttolph  went  to 
Lawrence,  Massachusetts,  where  he  was 
emplo3'ed  on  the  construction  of  the  Fem- 
berton  mills,  setting  up  the  machinery,  and 
he  also  worked  in  the  machinery  department 
of  the  old  Atlantic  cotton  mills.  Returning 
to  his  native  state  he  located  at  Rutland  and 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


1 59 


entered  the  Rutland  &  Burlington  Railroad 
shops,  where  he  was  foreman  until  coming 
west  in  1858,  being  connected  with  the  Illi- 
nois Central  Railroad  for  a  time.  In  the 
spring  of  1861  he  came  to  Bloomington  and 
for  thirteen  years  had  charge  of  the  passenger 
car  department  of  the  Chicago  &  Alton 
Railroad,  during  which  time  great  changes 
were  made  in  the  cars.  He  invented  and 
patented  a  des'ise  for  ventilating  cars  which 
was  a  wonderful  improvement  at  that  time, 
and  was  used  bj-  the  Wabash  and  Chicago 
&  Alton  roads.  He  %vas  connected  with 
the  latter  road  when  there  was  such  a  de- 
mand for  cars  to  convey  soldiers  south  dur- 
ing the  civil  war.  and  some  very  poor  ones 
had  to  be  used.  In  1873  he  went  to  Hearne, 
Texas,  as  master  car  builder  for  the  Inter- 
national &  Great  Northern  Railroad,  but 
not  liking  either  the  politics  or  the  people 
of  that  region,  he  resigned  his  position  at 
the  end  of  a  year  and  returned  north.  He 
then  took  charge  of  the  freight  department 
of  the  Alton  Railroad  at  Bloomington,  with 
which  he  was  connected  until  about  a  year 
ago,  when  he  retired  from  active  life  to 
spend  his  remaining  years  in  ease  and  quiet. 
He  has  seen  a  most  wonderful  change  take 
place  in  the  railroad  service  since  he  first 
became  identified  with  it,  and  he  has  held 
some  very  important  and  responsible  posi- 
tions with  different  roads. 

Prior  to  his  marriage,  Mr.  Buttolph  was 
made  a  Mason  at  Union  Lodge,  No.  2,  F. 
&  A.  M.,  Middlebury,  Vermont,  and  was 
one  of  the  charter  members  of  Wade  Barney 
Lodge,  No.  512,  F.  &  A.  M.,  in  Blooming- 
ton. He  assisted  in  organizing  Grace 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  but  would  not 
accept  office  in  the  same,  although  he  has 
always  been  one  of  its  active  and  prominent 
piembgrs,  as  is  also  his  wife.     In  early  life 


she  was  an  Episcopalian.  They  are  now 
identified  with  the  First  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church.  Their  first  home  in  Blooming- 
ton he  erected  on  the  west  side,  but  for  the 
past  five  years  they  have  lived  in  East 
Grove  street.  They  have  a  large  circle  of 
friends  and  acquaintances  in  the  city  and 
are  held  in  high  regard  by  all  who  know 
them.  Mr.  Buttolph  is  an  honored  mem- 
ber of  the  Sons  of  the  American  Revolution. 
His  two  daughters  are  members  of  the 
Daughters  of  the  Revolution. 


D.\NIEL  S.  OTTO  is  e.xtensively  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  Dale  township, 
where  he  owns  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
of  land,  but  operates  altogether  four  hun- 
dred acres.  He  was  born  in  Somerset 
county,  Pennsylvania,  July  15,  1856,  and 
is  of  German  lineage.  His  parents  were 
Christian  and  Catherine  (BrennemannJ  Otto. 
Both  the  paternal  and  maternal  grand- 
fathers of  our  subject  were  natives  of  Ger- 
many. His  father  was  for  some  years  a 
farmer  in  Pennsylvania,  and  on  emigrating 
westward  took  up  his  residence  in  Allin 
township,  McLean  county,  where  he  pur- 
chased land  and  made  his  home  until  1866, 
when  he  removed  to  Nebraska.  He  was  a 
well-known  and  successful  farmer  and  when 
his  five  sons  were  all  at  home  they  used 
five  teams  in  operating  an  extensive  tract 
of  land,  thus  carrying  on  farming  on  a 
large  scale.  They  are  both  still  living. 
While  in  Pennsylvania  they  held  member- 
ship in  the  Ornish  church,  but  afterward 
united  with  the  Mennonite  church. 

Daniel  S.  Otto,  of  this  review,  has 
spent  nearly  his  entire  life  in  McLean 
county.  To  its  public-school  system  he  is 
indebted  for  the    edupatiooaj    privileges  he 


i5o 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


enjoyed.  His  business  training  was  re- 
ceived upon  his  father's  farm,  where  he 
remained,  not  only  until  he  had  attained 
his  majority  but  for  four  years  thereafter. 
He  began  farming  on  his  own  account  in 
Allin  township,  where  he  remained  for  two 
years.  He  was  married  January  lo,  1888, 
to  Miss  Mary  E.  Springer,  a  daughter  of 
Peter  D.  Springer,  who  is  one  of  the  e.\- 
tensive  land  owners  of  McLean  county.  He 
has  a  valuable  farm  of  two  hundred  and 
forty-five  acres,  upon  which  our  subject 
now  resides;  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in 
Dale  township,  south  of  Covell,  and  a  farm 
in  Allin  township,  but  is  living  retired  in 
Stanford.  Mrs.  Otto  was  born  and  reared 
in  Allin  township,  and  her  marriage  has 
been  blessed  with  three  children:  Edna, 
Lola  and  Alma. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Otto  operated 
his  father-in-law's  farm  in  Allin  township 
until  in  1S93,  when  he  purchased  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  land  in  Dale  town- 
ship. Here  he  has  since  resided  and  in 
addition  to  his  property  he  cultivates  his 
father-in-law's  farm,  the  two  aggregating 
four  hundred  acres.  He  is  accounted  one 
of  the  leading  agriculturists  of  his  com- 
munity and  his  well-tilled  fields  at  once 
indicate  to  the  passer-by  the  care  and  cult- 
ivation of  a  progressive  owner.  He  has 
about  one  hundred  and  ninety  acres  planted 
to  corn,  and  this  crop  he  feeds  to  his  stock. 
He  is  quite  extensively  engaged  in  raising 
horses,  cattle  and  hogs  and  is  meeting  with 
a  well-merited  prosperity.  His  business 
methods  are  systematic  and  honorable  and 
commend  him  to  the  confidence  of  all 
with  whom  he  has  dealings. 

Mr.  Otto  has  taken  quite  an  active  in- 
terest in  public  affairs  and  exercises  his 
right  of    franchise   in   support  of  the   men 


and  measures  of  the  Democratic  party. 
The  cause  of  education  finds  in  him  a 
warm  friend  and  he  has  done  effective 
service  in  this  interest  while  acting  as 
school  trustee  and  director.  He  has  also 
been  assessor  of  the  township,  and  for  a 
number  of  years  has  served  on  the  Dem- 
ocratic township  committee.  Both  he  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  Mennonite 
church  and  their  many  excellent  qualities 
have  gained  them  the  friendship  of  Dale 
township's  best  people. 


GEORGE  CHAMPION,  the  leading 
hardware  and  agricultural  implement 
dealer  of  Normal,  Illinois,  established  his 
present  business  here  in  1867,  almost  a  third 
of  a  century  ago.  He  was  born  in  Bristol, 
England,  February  24,  1840,  and  is  the  son 
of  George  and  Eleanor  (Ellis)  Champion, 
both  of  whom  were  natives  of  the  same 
country.  George  Champion,  Sr. ,  for  many 
years  made  the  city  of  Bristol  his  home, 
and  from  that  port  followed  the  sea,  engag- 
ing in  business  as  a  merchantman,  owning 
his  own  vessels  and  visiting  many  foreign 
ports.  He  died  on  the  coast  of  Africa  when 
our  subject  was  but  four  years  old.  His 
wife,  who  was  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Ellis, 
was  born  in  Bridgewater,  England,  which 
place  she  made  her  home  until  her  marriage 
with  Mr.  Champion,  when  they  settled  in 
Bristol.  Thomas  Ellis  was  the  owner  of  a 
farm  near  Bridgewater,  and  while  he  gave 
a  part  of  his  time  to  overseeing  its  cultiva- 
tion, the  greater  part  of  his  active  life  was 
spent  as  superintendent  of  a  large  bridge 
foundry.  His  wife  was  a  Miss  Bright,  an 
own  cousin  of  the  well-known  John  Bright. 
After  the  death  of  her  husband,  Mrs. 
Eleanor  Champion  remained  in  Bristol,  un- 


Of   THE 
jUlVtKSITY  OF  ILU!!0!C 


GEORGE   CHAMPION. 


MRS.  GEORGE  CHAMPION. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


i6s 


til  her  removal  to  the  United  States  in  1854. 
The  death  of  her  husband  left  her  with  four 
children,  as  follows:  Philip,  a  half  brother 
of  our  subject,  became  a  seaman,  and  was 
later  a  mate  on  a  ship  running  from  Boston 
to  Vera  Cruz,  Mexico.  He  came  to  the 
United  States  prior  to  the  removal  of  the 
rest  of  the  family.  While  returning  from  a 
trip  to  Vera  Cruz,  his  death  occurred,  and 
he  was  buried  at  sea,  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 
Athaliah  Victoria  Bright  is  now  making  her 
home  with  her  mother  in  Elgin,  Illinois. 
George  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 
Thomas  E.  is  now  living  in  Normal.  On 
coming  to  the  United  States,  the  family  lo- 
cated at  Elgin,  Illinois,  taking  up  their  home 
there  on  the  4th  of  October,  1854,  and 
there  the  mother  and  daughter  have  since 
continued  to  reside.  She  is  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  his 
education  at  Bristol,  and  was  a  graduate  of 
the  military  school  there.  Immediately 
after  his  graduation  the  family  emigrated  to 
the  United  States,  and  soon  after  their 
arrival  at  Elgin  he  commenced  to  learn  the 
wagon  maker's  trade,  but  not  liking  it,  he 
soon  left  his  employer  and  commenced  the 
carpenters's  trade,  serving  a  regular  appren- 
ticeship. After  completing  his  trade,  and 
while  still  residing  in  Elgin,  he  worked  for 
about  eighteen  mouths  as  a  journeyman. 
Not  being  able,  however,  to  stand  the  hot 
weather,  while  working  out  in  the  sun,  he 
was  compelled  to  abandon  his  trade.  This 
was  during  the  panic  of  1857,  and  the  hard 
times  succeeding,  and  there  was  very  little 
employment  for  any  one.  He  secured  a 
situation  in  a  grocery  store,  and  his  em- 
ployer being  taken  sick  soon  after,  the 
entire  charge  of  the  store  devolved  upon 
him  for   about  sixteen  months.     This  was 


the  first  opportunity  that  he  had  to  demon- 
strate his  business  ability,  and  his  adminis- 
tration of  affairs  was  such  as  to  commend 
him  to  his  employer  and  give  him  a  little 
reputation  in  the  business  world.  He  con- 
tinued in  the  store  until  just  prior  to  the 
breaking  out  of  the  civil  war,  when  he  took 
a  position  with  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  & 
St.  Paul  Railroad  Company  as  brakeman, 
and  later  as  baggage-master,  continuing  to 
be  thus  employed  for  a  year  and  a  half.  He 
remained  on  the  road  until  he  was  in  a 
collision  in  which  the  engineer  was  killed, 
which  sickened  him  of  railroad  life.  He 
then  went  into  the  shops  of  the  Chicago 
&  Northwestern  Railway  Company,  at 
Chicago,  working  under  instruction  in  the 
machine  shops.  He  remained  with  the 
company  until  his  removal  to  Normal. 
Previous  to  this,  however,  in  1862,  he  en- 
listed in  Company  B,  Sixty-ninth  Illinois 
Volunteer  Infantry,  for  one  hundred  days, 
his  regiment  being  assigned  to  garrison 
duty,  guarding  rebel  prisoners  at  Fort 
Douglas,  Chicago. 

On  the  8th  of  May,  1867,  Mr.  Champion 
located  in  Normal,  and  engaged  in  the 
agricultural  implement  business,  in  connec- 
tion with  the  hardware  and  tinware  trade, 
having  as  a  partner  his  brother  Thomas,  the 
firm  being  known  as  Champion  Brothers. 
They  were  among  the  first  to  engage  in 
business  in  Normal,  and  probably  the  first 
in  their  line.  They  had  a  good  business 
from  the  start.  In  1877  Mr.  Champion 
purchased  the  interest  of  his  brother  and 
has  since  continued  alone,  and  having  one 
of  the  largest  establishments  of  its  kind  in 
this  section,  and  doing  a  very  successful 
business.  After  about  seven  years,  the  firm 
abandoned  the  agricultural  implement  part 
of    the    business,    in    consequence    of    the 


1 66 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


ruinous  competition  following  the  OFganiza- 
tion  of  the  granges,  or  Patrons  of  Hus- 
bandry. During  the  present  year  the  agri- 
cultural implement  business  was  resumed  to 
give  employment  to  his  sons 

On  the  6th  of  January,  1869,  Mr. 
Champion  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Hattie  Baker,  daughter  of  Hiram  Baker, 
whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this 
work,  and  by  this  union  there  were  five 
children,  one  of  whom,  Ralph,  died  Novem- 
ber 2,  1880,  at  the  age  of  fourteen  months. 
Gertie  B.  married  William  J.  Burwell,  and 
they  have  four  children — Clyde  C,  Alice 
May,  Harold  Baker  and  Clarence  Goodfel- 
low.  They  reside  in  Normal.  George,  Jr. , 
married  Miss  Emily  Moore  and  they  have 
one  child,  Esther  Frances.  He  is  now  as- 
sociated with  his  father  in  busriness.  Frank 
Baker  married  Miss  \'irgie  Fisher,  and  they 
make  their  home  in  Bloomington.  Myrtle 
Marie  yet  remains  at  home.  Mrs.  Cham- 
pion was  called  to  her  reward  December  17, 
1898,  and  her  death  was  calm  and  sweet, 
for  "she  knew  in  whom  she  believeth-" 
She  was  a  devoted  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church,  and  had  the  utmost 
faith  in  the  teachings  of  the  Divine  Master. 
In  all  departments  of  church  work  she  took 
an  active  interest,  and  for  some  time  was 
president  of  the  Foreign  Missionary  Soci- 
ety of  her  church.  She  was  also  a  mem- 
ber of  Felicity  Chapter,  No.  387,  O.  E.  S., 
and  served  as  worthy  matron  of  the  order. 
The  chapter  passed  a  series  of  resolutions 
on  her  death  which  appeared  in  the  Bloom- 
ington Bulletin.  The  G.  A.  R.  Post,  of 
Normal,  also  passed  resolutions  of  condo- 
lence, she  being  an  active  member  of  the 
Relief  Corps.  A  kind.  Christian  woman, 
she  was  a  friend  to  all  her  neighbors,  and  to 
any  one  who  needed  her  help.     Her  happy, 


cheerful  disposition  endeared  her  to  a  large 
circle  of  friends  who  deeply  mourn  her  loss. 
A  loving  wife  and  affectionate  mother,  her 
death  is  a  sad  blow  to  the  loved  ones  left 
behind,  but  they  sorrow  not  as  one  without 
hope,  but  look  forward  to  the  re-union  in 
the  "  sweet  by  and  bye. " 

Fraternally  Mr.  Champion  is  a  member 
of  Normal  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.,  No.  673,  of 
which  he  was  master  for  four  years,  and 
representative  to  the  grand  lodge  seven 
terms,  and  secretary  of  the  lodge  for  eleven 
years.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Bloom- 
ington Chapter,  No.  26,  R.  A.  M.,  and  of 
DeMolay  Commandery,  No.  24,  K.  T.  In 
each  of  the  latter  organizations  he  has  re- 
fused office  on  account  of  lack  of  time. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Charles  E.  Hovey 
Post,  No.  786,  G.  A.  R.,  of  which  he  is 
past  commander.  Since  attaining  his  ma- 
jority, he  has  been  a  strong  Republican, 
and  an  earnest  advocate  of  the  principles 
of  the  party.  He  served  one  term  as 
alderman  of  the  city,  and  was  three  times 
mayor  of  Normal.  He  also  served  four 
years  as  clerk  of  the  town  .council,  and  was 
treasurer  of  the  corporation  for  three  years. 
While  serving  as  mayor  of  the  city  he  was 
instrumental  in  securing  the  electric  light 
system  for  street  lighting,  and  also  in  mak- 
ing a  number  of  needed  improvements. 
For  one  year  he  served  as  collector  of  the 
city  of  Normal,  and  the  following  year  was 
deputy  collector,  during  which  time  he  did 
all  the  business  connected  with  the  office. 
He  was  also  a  member  of  the  board  of  ed- 
ucation for  five  years,  two  years  and  a  half 
of  the  time  being  president  of  the  board. 
It  was  during  his  incumbency  of  the  office 
that  the  primary  school  building  was 
erected,  and  the  question  of  fraudulent 
bonds    that   had   been   issued    by    former 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


167 


school  boards  came  up  for  consideration. 
It  was  decided  by  the  board  to  contest  the 
payment  of  the  bonds  and  the  question  was 
carried  up  and  the  bonds  declared  null  and 
void  by  the  United  States  District  Courts. 
Much  credit  for  the  result  is  due  to  the  ef- 
forts of  Mr.  Champion:  In  addition  to  the 
public  offices  mentioned  in  which  he  has 
served,  he  has  filled  other  important  posi- 
tions and  been  on  a  number  of  important 
committees. 

For  many  years  Mr.  Champion  has  been 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  in  Normal,  and  since  his  first  con- 
nection with  that  body  has  been  a  member 
of  the  board  of  trustees,  and  for  years 
chairman  of  the  board.  He  has  also  been 
secretary  of  the  official  board  of  the  church 
since  the  board  was  orgaized.  When  the 
present  house  of  worship  was  being  erected 
he  served  as  chairman  of  the  building  com- 
mittee, a  position  which  he  was  well  qual- 
ified to  fill.  It  is  probable  that  no  man  in 
Normal  has  been  more  active  in  promoting 
the  business  interests  and  moral  welfare  of 
the  community,  and  where  best  known  he 
is  held  in  the  highest  respect. 


GEORGE  H.  LEWIS,  the  well-known 
and  popular  agent  of  the  Lake  Erie  & 
Wetern  Railroad  at  Bloomington,  was  born 
near  Covington,  Franklin  county,  Indiana, 
April  8,  1 864,  and  is  a  son  of  Eber  and  Eliza- 
beth (Stewart)  Lewis,  natives  of  Oswego 
county.  New  York,  the  former  born  in  18 16, 
the  latter  in  1819.  After  their  marriage, 
which  was  celebrated  in  Oswego,  they  re- 
moved to  Franklin  county,  Indiana,  being 
among  the  early  settlers  of  that  locality. 
Coming  to  Illinois  in  1858,  they  located  near 
Homer,    Vermillion  county,    where  the  fa- 


ther purchased  a  tract  of  wild  land,  and  to 
its  culivation  and  improvement  devoted  his 
attention  for  some  years.  He  returned  to 
Indiana  in  1866  and  this  time  took  up  his 
residence  near  State  Line  City,  Warren 
county,  where  he  bought  land  and  engaged 
in  general  farming  until  called  from  this 
life  in  1881.  There  his  widow  still  resides. 
Of  the  six  chidren  born  to  them,  our  sub- 
ject is  the  fifth  in  order  of  birth. 

During  his  boyhood,  George  H.  Lewis 
attended  the  common  schools  of  Vermillion 
county,  Illinois,  and  State  Line  City,  In- 
diana, and  later  attended  the  Mayhew  Busi- 
ness College,  of  Danville,  Illinois,  from 
which  he  was  graduated.  He  also  gradua- 
ted from  Danville  high  school  in  1872, 
then  known  as  Danville  College,  and  it  was 
two  years  later  that  he  completed  the  course 
in  the  business  college.  He  attended  the 
Teachers  Normal  School  at  Danville  in  1876, 
and  after  that  engaged  in  school  teaching  and 
farming  until  the  winter  of  1879-80.  The 
following  spring  he  commenced  learning 
telegraphy  at  Bismarck,  on  the  Chicago  & 
Eastern  Illinois  Railroad,  and  was  connected 
with  that  road  as  extra  and  regular  opera- 
tor until  the  winter  of  1882-3,  when  he 
entered  the  service  of  the  Lake  Erie  & 
Western  Railroad  in  the  office  of  which  he 
now  has  charge.  From  the  6th  of  Febru- 
ary, 1883,  he  served  as  day  operator  and 
also  as  chief  until  the  summer  of  1890, 
when  he  was  transferred  by  the  company  to 
Paxton,  Ford  county,  Illinois,  where  he 
served  as  agent  for  nine  years.  In  March, 
1 89 1,  he  was  appointed  agent  at  Bloom- 
ington, having  charge  of  both  the  ticket 
and  freight  departments  at  both  places. 
Through  his  able  management  the  interests 
of  the  company  have  been  advanced,  he 
has  built  up  a  large  and  rapidly  increasing 


i68 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


business,  and  his  personal  popularity  in 
Bloomington  and  with  many  patrons  of 
the  road  has  done  much  to  promote  its  in- 
terests. Its  business  here  has  doubled  dur- 
ing his  incumbency,  and  never  have  the  af- 
fairs of  the  road  been  better  managed.  He 
has  a  number  of  men  working  under  him, 
whose  high  regard  he  holds. 

On  the  3d  of  October,  1892,  Mr.  Lewis 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary 
Malone,  of  La  Salle,  Illinois.  She  died 
January  2,  1899,  leaving  a  little  daughter, 
Nellie. 


JAMES  W.  TAVENNER,  supreme  sec- 
retary and  chief  deputy  of  the  Pioneer 
Reserve  Association,  is  one  of  the  most  en- 
terprising and  progressive  business  men  of 
Bloomington.  He  was  born  near  McCon- 
nellsville,  Ohio,  July  10,  1851,  and  is  a  son 
of  Joseph  R.  and  Nancy  J.  (Young)  Taven- 
ner.  The  paternal  grandfather,  Jonah 
Tavenner,  was  born  in  Loudon  county,  Vir- 
ginia, and  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-three. 
His  wife  was  born  in  District  of  Columbia 
and  died  at  age  of  seventy  years.  The 
grandmother  was  one  of  the  girls  who 
strewed  flowers  in  the  path  of  Washington 
when  he  entered  Washington,  D.  C.  The 
father  of  our  subject  was  born  November 
II,  1827,  in  Loudon  county,  \'irginia,  but 
was  only  three  years  old  when  taken  by  his 
parents  to  Ohio,  and  near  McConnellsville 
he  grew  to  manhood.  He  followed  farm- 
ing continuously  until  1859,  when  he  was 
elected  county  recorder  of  Morgan  county, 
Ohio,  which  office  he  most  acceptably  filled 
for  three  full  terms,  but  resigned  on  coming  to 
McLean  county,  Illinois,  in  December,  1868. 
In  1875  he  removed  to  Vermillion  county, 
Illinois,  and  in    1883  moved   to   Blooming- 


ton, and  in  1885  removed  to  Normal. 
While  living  in  Vermillion  county  he  en- 
gaged in  farming,  also  served  as  township 
assessor  for  three  years.  For  the  past 
twelve  years  he  has  served  as  assessor  of 
Normal.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  faith- 
ful members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  and  in  early  life  took  a  very  active 
part  in  its  work.  She  is  a  native  of  Bel- 
mont county,  Ohio,  born  March  23,  1830. 
They  are  the  parents  of  five  children, 
namely:  James  W.,  our  subject;  Charles 
A.,  also  a  resident  of  Bloomington;  Emma 
J.,  wife  of  Frank  Fisher,  of  Duluth,  Min- 
nesota; and  Ella  L.,  at  home,  and  Eva,  who 
died  in  infancy.  The  family  is  well-known 
and  has  the  respect  of  all. 

James  W.  Tavenner  completed  the 
course  in  the  public  schools  of  McConnells- 
ville, Ohio.  After  the  removal  of  the  fam- 
ily to  this  county,  he  assisted  his  father 
on  the  home  farm,  and  accompanied  them 
on  their  removal  to  Vermillion  county,  re- 
turning here  in  December,  1876,  entered 
the  Normal  University  with  the  intention 
of  preparing  himself  for  a. teacher.  He  en- 
tered upon  his  chosen  profession  as  a  teacher 
in  the  district  school  near  his  home,  in  the 
meantime  continuing  his  studies  at  Normal, 
where  he  graduated  in  1888.  Later  he  was 
principal  of  the  schools  at  Williamsville  for 
two  years;  superintendent  of  the  schools  of 
Le  Roy  the  same  length  of  time;  and  prin- 
cipal of  a  ward  school  in  Bloomington  for 
two  years,  being  offered  each  position  with- 
out his  solicitation.  The  following  two 
years  he  was  superintendent  of  the  schools 
of  Chillicothe,  this  state,  and  taught  in  the 
Kankakee  County  Teachers'  Institute  for 
one  year,  his  time  being  entirely  occupied 
by  educational  affairs  until  June,  1896. 
He   was   then    district    manager    for    the 


THE   BI0GR.\PHICAL  RECORD. 


169 


Northwestern  Life  Assurance  Companj',  of 
Chicago,  in  McLean  county,  for  one  year, 
and  later  became  interested  in  the  Univer- 
sity Association  work  of  Chicago,  which 
grew  out  of  the  World's  Fair,  being  district 
manager  for  a  number  of  counties  until  De- 
cember, 1897,  when  he  entered  fraternal 
insurance  work  in  the  employ  of  the  Royal 
Circle  of  Springfield. 

In  April,  1898,  Mr.  Tavenner  organized 
the  Pioneer  Reserve  .\ssociation,  doing  all 
the  work  of  getting  up  the  constitution  and 
by-laws,  and  all  manuscripts  and  forms  per- 
taining to  the  business  with  the  exception  of 
the  medical  department.  It  is  a  fraternal 
order  on  broad  principles  and  conducted  on 
safe,  progressive  business  methods,  with  a 
self-controlling  reserve  fund  for  the  protec- 
tion of  its  members  against  assessments  in 
excess  of  twelve  in  any  one  year.  Its 
officers  are  among  the  most  prominent  and 
reliable  business  men  of  central  Illinois,  be- 
ing C.  F.  Koch,  mayor  of  Bloomington, 
supreme  president;  Judge  Joseph  W.  Maple, 
of  Pe,oria,  vice-president;  J.  W.  Tavenner, 
supreme  secretary;  C.  J.  Moyer,  cashier  of 
the  Corn  Belt  Bank,  of  Bloomington,  su- 
preme treasurer;  S.  P.  Robinson,  supreme 
counsel;  Dr.  D.  H.  Xusbaum,  supreme 
medical  director;  Hon.  S.  S.  Tanner,  of 
Minier,  supreme  orator;  C.  C.  Hassler,  edi- 
tor of  "The  Pioneer"  ;  E.  A.  Simmons,  of 
Pontiac,  supreme  guide;  Edgar  Phillips,  of 
Stanford,  supreme  guard;  and  F.  G.  White, 
of  Pontiac,  supreme  sentry.  The  directors 
of  the  association  are  T.  S.  Davy,  of  Lin- 
coln; A.  C.  Ball,  of  Pontiac;  Duett  Brown, 
of  Normal;  Dr.  M.  S.  Marcy,  of  Peoria;  and 
D.  R.  Amerman,  J.  W.  Rodgers  and  Paul 
Finnan,  all  of  Bloomington.  The  auditing 
committee  consists  of  Dr.  John  R.  Barnett, 
of  Lincoln;  Prof.  R.  O.  Graham,  of  Bloom- 


ington; and  Hon.  A.  J.  Scrogin,  of  Lexing- 
ton. Although  the  association  was  not  in- 
corporated until  September  8,  1898,  it  has 
already  met  with  most  remarkable  success, 
having  about  one  thousand  members  by  the 
1st  of  January,  1899.  The  success  of  the 
enterprise  is  due  almost  wholly  to  Mr. 
Tavenner,  who  has  attested  his  eminent  and 
pronounced  ability  as  a  business  man  and 
financier.  He  is  a  man  of  keen  discrimina- 
tion and  sound  judgment,  and  has  become 
an  important  factor  in  the  business  circles 
of  Bloomington.  His  strict  integrity  and 
honorable  dealing  commend  him  to  the  con- 
fidence of  all;  his  pleasant  manner  wins  him 
friends;  and  he  is  one  of  the  popular  and 
honored  citizens  of  Bloomington. 


REV.  JOSEPH  MONTGOMERY,  of 
Normal,  deceased,  was  born  near 
Shephardstown,  Jefferson  county,  West 
Virginia,  on  the  loth  of  October,  1S12. 
His  paternal  grandfather  was  Thomas 
Montgomery,  a  native  of  County  Tyrone, 
Ireland,  and  came  to  this  land  of  freedom 
in  1770.  He  acted  as  valet  to  General 
Washington  during  the  Revolutionary  war, 
and  at  its  close  removed  to  Maryland,  where 
his  death  occurred.  He  had  one  son, 
Thomas  Montgomery,  Jr.,  who  was  born 
September  9,  1798,  and  who  was  a  pros- 
perous farmer.  Thomas  Jr.  married  Miss 
Catherine  Hawn,  by  whom  he  had  nine 
children,  our  subject  being  second -in  order 
of  birth.  Of  these  nine  children  only  three 
survive.  He  died  June  9,  1831.  Joseph, 
the  subject  of  this  review,  was  reared  and 
educated  in  Wheeling,  West  Virginia,  and 
after  completing  his  education  taught  school 
for  a  time  and  then  entered  a  general  store 
as  a  clerk.      His  religious  inclinations  and 


i;o 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


influence  and  his  natural  ability,  comjjined 
with  a  midnight  dream,  influenced  his  mind 
to  such  a  degree  that,  with  the  sanction  of 
the  church,  he  prepared  himself  for  the 
work  of  salvation.  His  first  religious  im- 
pressions were  in  his  early  youth,  when  he 
united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
and  his  faithfulness  and  rapid  development 
soon  furnished  evidence  of  his  call  to  the 
ministry.  In  1837  he  was  received  on  trial 
into  the  Pittsburg  Conference,  having  pre- 
viously worked  under  the  presiding  elder. 
He  labored  successfully  for  fifteen  years, 
with  the  following  charges:  Lewis,  New 
Lisbon,  Hanover,  Knoxville,  Deersville, 
Leesburg,  Carrollton,  Smithfield,  St.  Clair- 
ville,  Bridgewater,  Salem,  and  Uniontown, 
Pennsylvania.  He  was  ordained  deacon  at 
Clarksburg,  West  Virginia,  in  1840,  by 
Bishop  Morris;  and  ordained  elder,  in  1841, 
by  Bishop  Roberts,  in  Pittsburg.  In  1852 
he  was  transferred  to  the  Illinois  Confer- 
ence, where  he  spent  forty-five  years,  and 
where  he  was  residing  when  called  to  his 
Master.  In  this  conference  he  served  the 
following  places:  Rushville;  Waverly;  Clin- 
ton; Lincoln;  Mechanicsburg;  Decatur  cir- 
cuit; Quincy,  Fifth  street;  Payson;  Turn 
Grove,  and  Covell;  Champaign  University 
charge;  Bement;  agent  Preachers'  Aid  So- 
ciety; Rantoul;  Taylorville;  Illiopolis;  Mon- 
ticello;  Areola;  Mahomet;  and  Warrens- 
burg.  In  1882  he  was  granted  a  super- 
numerary relation,  and  in  1883  his  relation 
was  changed  to  a  superanuated  one,  which 
he  sustained  for  thirteen  years. 

Mr.  Montgomery  was  twice  married, 
first  to  Miss  Mary  Tidd,  of  Woodfield,  Ohio, 
in  1833,  who  died  in  1871.  Five  children 
were  born  to  them,  two  sons  and  three 
daughters.  Of  this  number  three  are  still  liv- 
ing—Mrs. S.  F.  Wessel,  Mrs.  A.  B.  Sloan  and 


Reverend  Homer  B.  The  second  marriage 
of  our  subject  was  with  Miss  Rachel  Salis- 
bury, of  Camargo,  Illinois,  which  took  place 
in  1880.  Joseph  Montgomery  was  a  great 
lover  of  books,  and  a  forcible  and  eloquent 
preacher,  as  his  work  testifies,  impressive 
and  sometimes  impassioned.  As  a  pastor 
and  citizen  he  was  one  of  God's  noblemen. 
His  convictions  of  right  were  strong,  and  his 
courage  stanch  enough  to  defend  them.  He 
was  an  obliging  neighbor,  an  affectionate 
husband,  a  loving  father,  and  was  a  light 
upon  God's  earth.  He  was  among  the  old- 
est and  most  respected  members  of  his  con- 
ference, and  only  omitted  one  roll-call  in 
fifty  years.  His  illness  was  short  and  his 
end  glorious.  He  departed  to  his  heavenly 
rest  on  the  22d  of  August,  1896,  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  eighty-three  years,  ten  months 
and  twelve  days. 

Mrs.  Rachel  Montgomery,  the  widow  of 
our  subject,  is  a  daughter  of  the  Reverend 
A.  Salisbury,  and  his  wife,  Cyrena,  natives 
of  Ohio,  who  were  born  February  9,  1817, 
and  September  22,  1822,  respectively. 
They  were  married  September  20,  1838, 
and  were  the  parents  of  six  children,  three 
of  whom  are  living.  Mr.  Salisbury  was  a 
minister  of  considerable  prominence  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  took  his 
first  appointment  in  1847.  He  traveled  for 
ten  years,  but  owing  to  declining  health 
was  obliged  to  give  up  the  work  of  the  min- 
istry. He  died  February  6,  1899,  having 
reached  his  eighty-third  year.  His  wife, 
Cyrena,  died  July  28,   1888. 


DANIEL  DUNMIRE,  one  of  the  most 
prominent  and  influential  citizens  of 
Normal,  was  born  in  Miffiin  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, May  II,  1822.      His  parents  were 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


171 


Henry  and  Peggy  (Swartz)  Dunmire,  natives 
of  Pennsylvania.  The  former  was  a  car- 
penter by  occupation  and  also  a  farmer  of 
some  note.  At  the  time  of  the  civil  war  he 
was  a  war  Democrat  in  his  political  convic- 
tions, but  afterward  became  a  Republican. 
He  was  an  energetic- and  upright  man  of 
business  and  was  always  ready  to  do  a  good 
act  and  help  those  who  were  in  need  of  his 
assistance.  He  and  his  wife  were  members 
of  the  Evangelical  Association.  They  lived 
to  reach  the  ages  of  sixty-three  and  seventy- 
three  respectively. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  third  in 
order  of  birth  of  ten  children,  five  of  whom 
are  living.  He  was  reared  in  the  town  of 
his  birth  and  there  received  his  education. 
When  seventeen  years  of  age  his  parents 
moved  to  a  farm  in  Cambria  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, where  he  assisted  in  clearing  a 
farm,  also  engaging  in  the  lumber  business. 
He  remained  with  his  father  until  reaching 
his  twenty-fifth  year,  and  after  his  father's 
death,  which  occurred  about  that  time,  pur- 
chased a  portion  of  the  homestead,  contain- 
ing two  hundred  and  eighty  acres,  two  hun- 
dred and  twenty  of  which  were  his  by  right  of 
inheritance.  He  also  owned  and  operated  a 
saw-mill  in  company  with  two  of  his  broth- 
ers, which,  owing  to  his  excellent  business 
ability  and  good  management,  was  very 
successful.  In  1863,  finding  that  he  was 
overtaxing  his  strength  and  breaking  in 
health,  he  sold  his  interests  in  Pennsyl- 
vania and  came  to  Illinois,  where  he  pur- 
chased two  hundred  acres  of  improved  land 
in  Kappa,  and  commenced  farming  on  a 
very  extensive  scale.  In  1890  he  purchased 
his  charming  home  in  Normal  where  he 
now  resides,  and  where,  in  his  declining 
years,  he  lives  on  the  fruits  of  an  active  and 
well  spent  life. 


On  the  22th  of  April,  1847,  ^^r.  Dun- 
mire was  joined  in  marriage  to  Miss  Maria 
Rorabaugh,  who  was  born  in  Germany 
September  28,  1828,  and  who  came  to  this 
country  at  the  early  age  of  two  years.  The 
ten  children  of  this  happy  union  are  here 
named  in  order  of  birth:  Mary,  deceased; 
Josiah;  Lucinda;  Wesley;  Hattie;  Frank; 
Oliver,  deceased;  Sarah;  and  two  who  died 
in  infancy.  During  his  residence  in  Kappa 
Mr.  Dunmire  was  elected  to  several  offices 
of  trust  and  responsibility  which  he  filled  in 
a  manner  very  gratifying  to  the  community. 
Among  them  were  the  offices  of  school 
director  and  road  commissioner.  He  is  a 
strong  Prohibitionist  and  votes  for  the 
downfall  of  that  traffic  which  dethrones 
reason  and  makes  man  lower  than  the  brute 
creation.  Mr.  Dunmire  is  not  a  member 
of  any  denomination  but  is  attached  to  that 
body  which  believe  in  complete  holiness. 
He  is  well  versed  in  the  scriptures  and  en- 
deavors to  practice  what  they  teach,  observ- 
ing those  principles  which  teach  him  his 
duty,  first  to  God  and  then  to  his  neighbor. 


THOMAS  C.  CARLISLE,  who  is  now 
living  a  retired  life  in  Chenoa,  has  for 
forty  years  been  a  resident  of  that  city,  and 
this  volumn  would  be  incomplete  without  a 
record  of  his  life.  During  the  greater  part 
of  his  residence  in  Chenoa  he  has  been  iden- 
tified with  its  interests  and  has  become  an 
active  factor  in  its  development,  a  pro- 
moter of  many  of  its  enterprises  and  a  citi- 
zen of  worth,  whose  loyalty  to  the  public 
welfare  is  above  question.  He  was  born  in 
Shippensburg,  Pennsylvania,  March  28, 
1 83 1,  and  is  a  son  of  Henry  and  Mary 
(Griffin)  Carlisle,  both  natives  of  Pennsyl- 
vania.    The  former  was  a  gunsmith  by  oc- 


»7^ 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


cupation,  and  died  in  his  native  state.  Of 
their  five  children  three  are  living,  Thomas 
C.  being  fourth  in  order  of  birth.  He  grew 
to  manhood  in  his  native  village  and  in  the 
district  school  received  his  primary  educa- 
tion, which  was  supplemented  by  attend- 
ance at  the  Big  Spring  Academy.  After 
completing  his  studies,  he  taught  in  various 
towns  in  Pennsylvania,  until  1855  when  he 
came  west,  locating  in  Chenoa,  where  he 
also  taught  for  a  time.  After  a  residence 
of  a  few  years  he  purchased  a  farm  of 
eighty  acres  near  Lexington,  where  he 
worked  for  six  years,  teaching  school  dur- 
ing the  winter  seasons.  In  i860  he  removed 
to  Lexington  where  he  opened  a  grocery, 
and  in  1862  he  sold  his  stock  and  became 
a  dealer  in  meats,  traveling  between  Chenoa 
and  Lexington  for  seven  years.  At  the  ex- 
piration of  this  time  he  returned  to  Chenoa, 
where  he  was  employed  by  the  Chicago  & 
Alton,  and  the  Pittsburg  &  Fort  Wayne 
Railroads  as  baggage-master,  and  a  few 
years  later  as  agent  for  the  United  States 
Express  Company. 

On  the  9th  of  March,  1854,  Mr.  Car- 
lisle was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Rebec- 
ca McCahren,  who  was  born  in  Chester 
county,  Pennsylvania,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
John  McCahren.  Three  children  have  come 
to  bless  this  union,  namely:  Mary  J.  L. ,  Mar- 
tha A.,  and  John  H. ,  superintendent  of  the 
Chesapeake  &  Ohio  Railroad,  whose  pres- 
ent position  and  high  business  standing  are 
due  to  his  own  enterprise  and  sterling  qual- 
ities. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carlisle  are  prominent 
attendants  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 
They  are  ever  ready  to  help  those  in  need 
of  their  assistance,  and  join  in  each  project 
for  the  elevation  and  benefit  of  humanity. 
In  his  political  convictions,  Mr.  Carlisle  is 
a  Democrat,  and  during  the  time  that    he 


served  the  public  officially,  he  has  made  an 
admirable  record,  giving  equal  satisfaction 
as  police  magistrate  and  alderman,  serving 
in  the  former  capacity  for  four  years  and 
the  latter  eight  years.  He  is  a  man  of  dis- 
tinctive ability,  and  his  character  is  above 
a  shadow  of  reproach.  He  is  upright  and  just 
in  all  his  dealings,  and  is  highly  respected  by 
those  who  have  been  at  all  familiar  with  his 
honorable  and  useful  career. 


LYMAN  FERRE.  Few  men  were  more 
prominent  or  more  widely  known  in 
the  enterprising  city  of  Bloomington  than 
this  gentleman,  who  was  called  to  his  final 
rest  December  i,  1897.  He  was  an  im- 
portant factor  in  business  circles  and  his 
popularity  was  well  deserved,  as  in  him 
were  embraced  the  characteristics  of  an  un- 
bending integrity,  unabated  energy  and  in- 
dustry that  never  flagged.  He  was  public- 
spirited  and  thoroughly  interested  in  what- 
ever tended  to  promote  the  welfare  of  the 
city. 

Mr.  Ferre  was  born  in  Springfield, 
Massachusetts,  December  16,  1818,  and 
was  a  son  of  Solomon  Ferre  and  Margaret 
(Rumrill)  Ferre,  who  were  of  English  and 
French  descent.  The  father  was  born  April 
9,  1780,  and  died  about  1850,  while  the 
mother  was  born  in  1781,  and  died  August 
19,  1844.  She  belonged  to  a  very  old  and 
prominent  family  of  Springfield,  Massachu- 
setts. The  father  of  Solomon  Ferre  was 
an  officer  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  In  his 
native  city  our  subject  was  educated  and 
learned  the  wagon  maker's  trade,  remaining 
a  resident  of  that  city  until  coming  to 
Bloomington,  Illinois,  in  1840.  Here  he 
worked  at  his  trade  for  others  for  three 
years,  and  then  opened  a  shop  of  his  own 


LYMAN   FERRE. 


j^\MtRsa^ 


ov 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


175 


where  the  old  post  office  building  now 
stands,  on  Front  street,  near  the  corner  of 
Center.  He  engaged  in  carriage  and  wagon 
making  with  his  brother  Goodman  Ferre 
and  John  L.  Wolcott  until  March,  1843. 
when  he  left  the  business  with  those  gentle- 
men and  started  for  California  across  the 
plains,  taking  some  capital  with  him.  A 
friend  that  was  with  him  on  the  trip  speaks 
in  the  highest  terms  of  praise  of  his  faithful- 
ness and  reliability  in  every  emergency  on 
on  that  long,  tedious,  and  at  that  time  dan- 
gerous journey.  His  California  experience 
was  a  very  profitable  one  for  those  days. 
The  belt  in  which  he  carried  his  gold  dust 
is  still  a  valued  relic  in  the  family.  He 
also  embarked  in  the  cattle  business  on  a 
small  ranch.  .After  an  absence  of  about 
two  years  he  returned  to  Illinois  by  way  of 
the  Isthmus  of  Panama,  New  Orleans  and 
St.  Louis,  where  he  was  quarantined  on 
account  of  cholera  but  finally  reached  home 
in  safety,  but  suffered  from  the  effects  of 
that  dread  disease  for  years  afterwards. 

On  his  return  to  Bloomington,  Mr.  Ferre 
resumed  business  with  the  old  firm  on  Front 
street  and  from  that  time  forward  he  seemed 
to  prosper  in  all  his  undertakings.  He  very 
soon  bought  out  Mr.  \\'olcott's  interest  in 
the  business  and  soon  afterward  his  brother 
Goodman  retired  from  the  firm,  leaving 
him  sole  proprietor.  It  was  not  long  before 
his  old  shop  at  the  corner  of  Front  and 
Center  streets  was  destroyed  by  fire,  and  in 
1876  he  erected  the  large  fine  building 
known  as  the  Masonic  Temple,  the  lower 
floor  of  which  was  rented  to  the  United 
States  government  for  a  postoffice,  the  first 
contract  being  for  ten  years  and  a  renewal 
for  ten  years,  or  until  the  new  postoffice 
building  was  erected,  which  was  twenty-five 
years    in    all    as    a  postoffice.     The  entire 


third  floor  was  devoted  to  Masonic  uses. 
He  also  continued  to  carry  on  his  business 
of  carriage  and  wagon  making  in  his  build- 
ings adjoining  there  for  many  years.  In 
the  meantime  Mr.  Ferre  obtained  a  charter 
from  the  legislature  for  a  street  railway 
from  Bloomington  to  Normal,  which  he 
built,  owned  and  operated  with  a  stock 
company  for  several  years  and  finally  sold 
to  Asa  H.  Moore.  He  was  a  large  stock- 
holder in  the  Peoples  Bank  and  for  twenty- 
four  years  served  as  one  of  its  directors 
and  vice-president,  filling  both  positions  at 
the  time  of  his  death.  Mr.  Ferre  in  later 
years  devoted  much  time  in  raising  fine 
horses  and  Jersey  cows.  He  also  imported 
fine  Percheron  horses,  of  which  he  had  his 
farm  in  Normal  township  well  stocked.  He 
was  active  in  getting  the  street  railway  es- 
tablished in  Bloomington,  and  was  the  first 
president  of  the  corporation,  in  1867  and 
1868.  It  was  mainly  through  his  efforts 
and  those  of  e.\-Governor  Routt,  of  Colo- 
rado, that  the  new  court  house  was  built,  it 
being  considered  very  fine  at  that  time. 
He  was  a  man  of  keen  perception,  shrewd 
and  far-sighted,  yet  honest  and  reliable  in 
all  things,  and  he  occupied  a  most  enviable 
position  in  business  circles  both  at  home 
and  abroad. 

Mr.  Ferre  married  Miss  Jeannette  E. 
Hayes,  a  native  of  Granby,  Connecticut, 
and  a  daughter  of  Amasa  and  Ruth  (Jones) 
Hayes,  who  were  of  old  Connecticut  stock. 
The  father  died  in  that  state,  but  in  1 840  the 
mother  came  with  her  children  to  Blooming- 
ton. Mrs.  Ferre  was  born  May  28,  1 82 1 ,  and 
by  her  marriage  became  the  mother  of  three 
children — a  son  who  died  in  infancy;  Adda, 
the  second  child,  born  in  1852,  died  in  1873; 
Belle,  the  third  child,  is  the  wife  of  W.  G. 
Taylor,   of    Cleveland,   Ohio,   and  has  two 


tyS 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


daughters — Gertrude  Ferre  and  Jeannette 
Elizabeth.  Since  1S44  the  home  of  the 
family  has  been  on  Center  street,  and  there 
Mrs.  Ferre  still  resides.  She  is  a  member 
of  the  Second  Presbj'terian  church,  to  which 
Mr.  Ferre,  though  not  a  member,  contrib- 
uted liberally.  Mr.  Ferre  was  a  member  of 
Bloomington  Lodge,  No.  43,  F.  &  A.  M. ; 
Bloomington  Chapter,  R.  A.  M.,  and  De 
Molay  Commandery,  K.  T. ;  and  politically 
was  a  prominent  representative  of  the  Re- 
publican party.  His  record  is  that  of  a  man 
who,  by  his  own  unaided  efforts,  worked  his 
way  upward  to  a  position  of  wealth  and 
affluence.  In  all  places  and  under  all  cir- 
cumstances he  was  loyal  to  truth,  honor  and 
right,  justly  valuing  his  own  self-respect  as 
infinitely  more  preferable  than  fame  and  po- 
sition. In  those  finer  traits  of  character 
which  combine  to  form  that  which  we  term 
friendship,  which  endear  and  attach  man  to 
man  in  bonds  which  nothing  but  the  stain  of 
dishonor  can  sever,  which  triumph  and 
shine  brightest  in  the  hour  of  adversity — 
in  those  qualities  he  was  royally  endowed. 
He  was  always  very  loyal  to  the  state, 
county  and  city  of  his  adoption. 


EDWARD  WILSON,  one  of  the  prom- 
inent farmers  of  McLean  county,  re- 
siding in  Dale  township,  where  he  owns 
and  operates  three  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
of  land,  was  born  near  Cazenovia,  Madison 
county.  New  York,  August  6,  1827,  a  son 
of  William  and  Lydia  (Main)  Wilson. 
The  father  was  born  in  Beddington,  Eng- 
land, near  Newcastle-on-Tyne,  in  1791, 
and  with  his  parents,  Thomas  and  Mary 
Wilson,  came  to  the  United  States.  They 
located  near  Cazenovia  on  land  purchased 
of  old  Peter  Smith,  making  the  journey  to 


that  place  by  way  of  the  Hudson  and  Mo- 
hawk rivers  on  a  tlatboat  pushed  by  a  pole. 
The  vessel  on  which  they  crossed  the  At- 
lantic was  the  Mary  of  Glasgow,  then  one 
hundred  years  old,  and  which  only  made 
one  trip  afterward.  In  the  midst  of  the 
forest  near  Cazenovia,  Thomas  Wilson 
made  a  clearing  and  developed  a  good  farm 
upon  which  he  resided  for  forty  years.  He 
spent  his  last  days  there,  and  his  wife 
reached  the  very  advanced  age  of  ninety 
years,  retaining  her  mental  and  physical 
faculties  almost  unimpaired  to  the  close  of 
her  life. 

The  maternal  grandparents  of  our  sub- 
ject were  Thomas  and  Lydia  Main.  The 
former  was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  whence 
he  removed  to  Mount  Vernon,  Oneida 
county.  New  York,  and  his  death  occurred 
the  same  year  as  Thomas  Wilson  passed 
away — the  year  1822,  at  which  time  he  was 
seventy-seven  years  of  age.  His  wife  died 
in  1825  at  the  age  of  eighty-two  years. 

William  Wilson  and  Lydia  Main  were 
married  December  14,  181 5.  For  over 
forty  years  the  father  of  our  subject  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  New  York  and  then 
came  with  his  family  to  the  west.  He 
made  the  journey  on  a  lake  steamer  from 
Buffalo  to  Chicago,  arriving  in  the  latter 
city  in  June,  1844.  With  his  family  he 
spent  the  first  summer  in  Joliet,  not  being 
able  to  go  further  on  account  of  the  im- 
passable condition  of  the  roads,  caused  by 
heavy  rains.  In  the  fall  they  arrived  in 
McLean  county,  the  father  purchasing  land 
and  improving  a  farm  in  Dale  township, 
where  he  made  his  home  until  1858,  after 
which  he  lived  a  retired  life  in  Blooming- 
ton. He  had  accumulated  four  hundred 
and  eighty  acres  of  land — a  valuable  and 
very  desirable  property.       He   was  a  sup- 


THE   BI0GIL\PHICAL   RECORD. 


177 


porter  of  the  Baptist  church  and  all  of  his 
family  were  members  thereof.  He  died 
November  19,  1873,  and  his  wife  passed 
away  November  23,  1884,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-six  years.  She  was  a  woman  of 
marked  ability,  possessed  considerable  po- 
etical talent  and  "was  also  e.xceptionally 
well  informed  on  political  questions,  yet 
never  obtruded  her  opinions  on  others. 
The  church  found  in  her  a  devoted  friend 
and  her  upright  life  won  her  the  warm  es- 
teem of  all  who  knew  her.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Wilson  were  the  parents  of  nine  children, 
all  of  whom  lived  to  be  more  than  thirty 
years  of  age.  They  are  Mrs.  Samuel 
Landers,  Mrs.  William  H.  Holmes,  who 
died  in  Bloomington;  A.  Judson;  Edward; 
Henry  C,  who  removed  from  Bloomington 
to  St.  Lawrence  and  is  now  a  resident  of 
Boston,  Massachusetts;  Mrs.  H.  G.  Hart, 
of  Belleville,  New  Jersey;  Mrs.  C.  W. 
Goddard,  who  died  in  Brooklyn,  New  York; 
Walter  C. .  who  died  in  October,  1853;  and 
Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  C.  C.  Holmes,  who 
died  in  July,  1863. 

Edward  Wilson  obtained  his  preliminary 
education  in  the  common  schools  and  sup- 
plemented it  by  study  in  Cazenovia  Semi- 
nary. He  was  early  trained  to  habits  of 
industry  upon  the  home  farm,  soon  became 
familiar  with  all  the  duties  that  fall  to  the 
lot  of  the  agriculturist,  and  at  the  age  of 
eighteen  years  took  charge  of  the  home 
farm,  displaying  marked  ability  in  its  man- 
agement. In  addition  to  the  cultivation  of 
grains  he  successfully  carried  on  stock  rais- 
ing and  became  one  of  the  prominent  young 
men  of  the  township.  When  his  father  re- 
moved from  the  township  he  purchased  a 
part  of  his  present  farm,  a  tract  of  raw 
land,  upon  which  not  a  furrow  had  been 
turned  nor  an  improvement  made.      He  did 


the  first  plowing  and  planting  there,  erected 
the  first  house  and  in  course  of  time  trans- 
formed his  land  into  a  rich  and  valuable 
tract.  He  erected  a  fine  and  commodious 
residence  in  1873,  and  it  is  surrounded  by 
a  beautiful  grove  of  his  own  planting.  The 
Wilson  home  is  one  of  the  most  attractive 
in  the  entire  township,  and  the  substantial 
improvements  and  well-cultivated  fields  in- 
dicate the  enterprise  and  progressiveness  of 
the  owner. 

Mr.  Wilson  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Mrs.  Louisa  McWhorter,  a  daughter  of  John 
Perry,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Danvers. 
He  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  February  22, 
1800,  and  when  a  young  man  went  to  Jes- 
samine county,  Kentucky,  whence  he  came 
to  Illinois  in  1836.  By  trade  he  was  a 
shoemaker  and  followed  that  occupation 
throughout  his  entire  life.  He  married 
Charity  Pew,  a  daughter  of  Warren  Pew, 
who  removed  from  North  Carohna  to  Ken- 
tucky at  an  early  day.  Mrs.  Wilson  was 
born  in  the  latter  state,  May  29,  1832,  and 
was  brought  by  her  parents  to  Illinois  on 
the  13th  of  October,  1836.  They  located 
in  Dry  Grove  township,  where  the  father 
purchased  a  farm  which  he  cultivated  in 
addition  to  shoemaking  until  his  retirement 
from  business  life.  He  died  in  August, 
1865,  and  his  wife  passed  away  March  30, 
1873.  Their  daughter  Louisa  became  the 
wife  of  Stephen  McWhorter,  and  by  that 
marriage  had  one  son,  also  named  Stephen, 
who  is  now  one  of  the  prominent  citizens 
of  Omaha,  Nebraska,  and  the  treasurer  of 
the  State  Agricultural  Society. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wilson  began  their  do- 
mestic life  upon  the  farm  which  has  since 
been  their  home,  and  by  their  united  labors 
have  made  it  one  of  the  most  beautiful  and 
desirable  country  seats  in  McLean  county. 


178 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Four  children  have  been  born  to  them: 
WilHam  W.,  who  is  now  connected  with  the 
^tna  Silk  Company,  of  Chicago;  Esther, 
now  the  wife  of  D.  M.  Davison,  of  Blooin- 
ington,  by  whom  she  has  two  children, 
Edith  E.  and  Edward  H. ;  and  Walter  C, 
who  is  still  at  home;  and  John  P.,  who  died 
August  8,  1872. 

As  the  years  have  passed  and  Mr.  Wil- 
son has  successfully  prosecuted  his  labors 
he  has  been  enabled  to  add  to  his  posses- 
sions until  he  is  now  the  owner  of  three 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  rich  and 
arable  land,  all  under  a  high  state  of 
cultivation,  and  is  accounted  one  of  the 
most  diligent,  practical  and  enterprising 
agriculturists  of  the  community.  His  at- 
tention, however,  is  not  directed  entirely  in 
this  line,  as  he  has  found  time  to  faithfully 
serve  his  fellow  townsmen  in  public  office. 
He  has  been  township  collector,  was  asses- 
sor for  six  years,  and  was  five  times  elected 
justice  of  the  peace,  serving  fourteen  years. 
For  over  twenty  years  he  was  school  director 
and  the  cause  of  education  has  found  in 
him  a  warm  friend.  The  day  after  attain- 
ing his  majority  he  cast  his  first  vote  and 
since  that  time  has  missed  but  one  election. 
He  has  always  been  a  staunch  Republican, 
has  frequently  served  as  delegate  to  the 
conventions  and  was  in  one  convention  that 
voted  one  hundred  and  fifty-five  times  for 
Judge  Tipton.  He  was  one  of  the  early 
members  of  the  Grange,  and  he  and  his 
family  all  belong  to  the  Baptist  church  of 
Bloomington,  to  the  support  of  which  he 
contributes  liberally,  taking  an  active  part 
in  its  development  and  upbuilding.  He  is 
esteemed  as  one  of  the  most  reliable  farm- 
ers of  Dale  township  and  well  deserves 
representation  among  the  leading  citizens 
of  Dale  township. 


J  AMES  T.  SANDERS,  a  well-known  real- 
estate  dealer  and  prominent  resident  of 
Bloomington,  Illinois,  was  born  in  Millers- 
burg,  Kentucky,  December  24,  1840,  and  is 
a  son  of  James  R.  and  Martha  (Smith) 
Sanders,  both  of  whom  are  now  deceased, 
the  former  dying  in  1872,  the  latter  in  1864, 
during  the  trying  days  of  the  civil  war. 
The  father  was  born  in  Grafton,  New 
Hampshire,  in  1799,  and  belonged  to  an 
old  New  England  family.  He  was  a  mer- 
chant and  land  owner.  The  paternal  grand- 
father, Ezra  Sanders,  was  a  life-long  resi- 
dent of  the  old  Granite  state,  and  was  a 
soldier  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  while  the 
maternal  grandfather,  Alexander  Smith,  a 
farmer  of  Millersburg,  Kentucky,  was  a 
soldier  of  the  war  of  18 12  and  a  son  of  a 
Revolutionary  hero.  He  was  a  Presbyterian 
in  religious  belief,  while  the  paternal  grand- 
father was  a  Swedenborgian,  and  the  par- 
ents were  members  of  the  Christian  church. 
Mr.  Sanders,  of  this  review,  acquired 
his  elementary  education  in  the  schools  of 
Millersburg,  and  later  was  a  student  in  the 
Kentucky  Wesleyan  University,  where  he 
was  graduated  in  1859.  The  following  year 
he  came  to  Jacksonville,  Illinois,  where  he 
learned  telegraphy,  and  continued  to  follow 
it  until  1883,  being  located  for  two  years  in 
Joliet,  the  same  length  of  time  at  Towanda, 
and  for  twenty-five  years  in  Delavan,  Illi- 
nois, where  he  had  charge  of  all  the  Chicago 
&  Alton  Railroad  business  and  of  the  West- 
ern Union  Telegraph  Company.  He  was 
one  of  the  incorporators  of  the  Delavan 
Homestead  Building  &  Loan  Association, 
with  which  he  was  connected  until  leaving 
that  place,  and  for  a  number  of  years 
served  as  city  clerk.  For  the  past  eight 
years,  however,  he  has  been  successfully 
engaged  in   the   building   and  loan  business 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


179 


in  Bloomington,  and  is  interested  in  otiier 
business  enterprises.  In  his  undertakings 
he  has  met  with  well-merited  success,  and 
is  to-day  one  of  the  substantial  and  reliable 
citizens  of  that  place.  He  was  made  a 
Mason  in  Delavan  Lodge  in  1872. 

On  the  19th  of  September,  1867,  Mr. 
Sanders  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Sue  A.  Pike,  of  Bloomington,  and  to  them 
were  born  four  children,  two  of  whom  are 
now  deceased:  Augusta  died  in  infancy  in 
1870;  Bernadine  M.,  was  born  November 
28,  1878,  died  on  Memorial  day,  1894. 
Harold  Pike,  born  November  7,  1871,  was 
educated  in  the  Delavan  schools  and  the 
Normal,  Illinois,  high  school,  now  with  the 
Wells  Fargo  Express  Company  in  Chicago. 
Royal  W. ,  born  March  25,  1873,  was  edu- 
cated in  Delavan  schools  and  was  one  of  the 
youngest  students  who  ever  graduated  at 
the  State  Normal  University,  being  a  mem- 
ber of  the  class  of  1892,  when  only  nineteen 
years  of  age.  He  is  now  professor  of  math- 
ematics and  history  of  the  Bloomington  high 
school.  He  entered  West  Point  Military 
Academy  on  competitive  e.xamination  in 
1894,  but  came  home  on  account  of  the 
death  of  his  only  sister.  Being  refused  a 
re-appointment  he  lost  the  advantage  of  a 
military  education.  He  was  married  Sep- 
tember 2,  1897,  to  Miss  Delia  Soverns,  of 
Bloomington. 

Mrs.  Sanders  was  born  in  Casco,  Cum- 
berland county,  Maine,  March  25,  1842,  a 
daughter  of  Harrison  W.  and  Susan  A.  (May- 
berry)  Pike.  Her  paternal  grandfather  was 
Noah  Pike,  farmer  of  Fryeburg,  Maine,  and 
a  descent  of  John  Pike,  who  came  from 
England  to  America  in  1637  and  located  at 
Limerick,  Maine.  The  father  was  born  in 
Fryeburg,  August  19,  1803,  and  was  one  of 
^  family  of  twenty-four  children,  nearly  all 


of  whom  lived  to  old  age.  He  was  a  very 
strong  and  practical  man,  as  well  as  a  shrewd 
and  capable  business  man,  and  was  wholly 
self-educated.  On  Mayberry  Hill,  Cumber- 
land county,  Maine,  he  was  married  Octo- 
ber I,  1837,  to  Miss  Susan  A.  Mayberry, 
who  was  born  February  3,  18 13,  a  daughter 
of  Edward  and  Mary  (Johnson)  Mayberry. 
Her  grandfather.  Captain  Richard  May- 
berry, served  with  distinction  as  an  officer 
in  the  Revolutionary  war;  his  record  is  found 
in  the  Lexington  Alarm.  The  family  is  an 
early  and  prominent  one  in  New  England. 
Harrison  W.  Pike  owned  and  operated  a 
farm  in  Casco,  Maine,  until  he  and  his  wife, 
accompanied  by  their  seven  small  children, 
came  to  Bloomington,  Illinois,  in  1854. 
Two  brothers,  Meshech  and  Theophilus, 
also  came  with  him.  Here  he  engaged  in 
general  merchandising  and  speculating  and 
met  with  excellent  success.  He  was  one  of 
the  honored  pioneers  and  highly  respected 
citizens  of  Bloomington.  His  family  at- 
tended the  Unitarian  church.  He  died 
June  2,  1S77,  his  wife  February  12,  1878. 
In  their  family  were  seven  children,  all  of 
whom  were  educated  here.  They  are  as 
follows:  Noah  H.,  Sue  A.,  Ivory  H.,  Al- 
pheus  H.,  Anna  M.  and  Mary  A.  All  of  the 
sons  were  soldiers  of  the  Civil  war.  Alpheus 
H.  was  the  youngest  soldier,  so  far  as  the 
records  show,  who  enlisted  at  the  beginning 
of  the  war,  being  only  fourteen  years  of  age; 
he  enlisted  at  the  beginning  of  the  strife 
and  carried  a  musket  all  through  that  strug- 
gle. He  was  for  seven  months  incarcerated 
in  Andersonville  and  other  war  prisons, 
while  Ivory  H.,  now  a  resident  of  Chicago, 
was  in  the  same  prisons  eleven  months. 
Alpheus  H.,  died  suddenly  in  the  fall  of 
1892,  from  the  effects  of  his  prison  life,  then 
drawing  a  pension  of  $2  a  month. 


i8o 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Mrs.  Sanders  began  her  education,  in 
the  schools  of  Casco,  Maine,  and  after  com- 
ing west  with  the  family  attended  the 
Bloomington  schools  and  the  State  Normal 
Uni%'ersity,  after  which  she  taught  success- 
fully for  six  years,  the  latter  part  of  the 
time  being  employed  in  the  schools  of 
Bloomington.  After  marriage,  while  resid- 
ing in  Delavan,  her  time  was  principally 
occupied  by  home  duties,  but  she  has 
always  been  more  or  less  prominently  iden- 
tified with  public  affairs  along  certain  lines. 
She  is  a  member  of  the  Eastern  Star,  hav- 
ing been  state  treasurer  of  the  same 
for  twelve  consecutive  years;  also  state 
treasurer  of  the  Woman's  Relief  Corps  for 
one  year;  later  state  president  of  that  or- 
ganization for  one  year;  at  the  reunion  of 
the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  held  at  De- 
troit, Mich.,  in  1891,  she  was  elected  na- 
tional president  of  the  order.  One  year 
later  presided  over  the  ever  memorable  con- 
vention held  at  Washington,  D.  C. ;  she 
was  grand  vice  templar  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Good  Templars  in  1865-6-7,  the 
highest  office  a  woman  could  hold  in  that 
order  at  that  time.  She  has  always  taken 
considerable  interest  in  school  work  and 
everything  tending  toward  reform;  but  on 
coming  to  Bloomington,  November,  1892, 
she  determined  to  keep  out  of  public  office. 
This  she  could  not  well  do,  as  the  people 
knew  her  ability  as  a  leader  and  the  success 
with  which  she  always  met  in  the  manage- 
ment of  public  affairs.  Her  first  public 
work  here  was  in  connection  with  the  With- 
er's  public  library  as  a  trustee,  and  in  1894 
she  was  elected  its  president,  which  office 
she  most  efficiently  filled  for  three  years, 
and  is  now  serving  as  secretary  of  the  same. 
It  is  one  of  the  finest  libraries  in  the  country 
and  has  an  income  of  seven  thousand  dollars 


a  year.  Mrs.  Sanders  has  become  actively 
interested  in  the  Girls'  Industrial  home  of 
McLean  county,  for  the  care  of  dependent 
and  defenseless  girls.  When  she  became 
connected  with  it,  it  was  not  in  a  very  pros- 
perous condition,  being  twenty-five  hundred 
dollars  in  debt.  She  accepted  the  position  of 
president  under  protest,  but  knowing  the  in- 
stitution needed  heraid,  she  served  as  such  for 
three  years  and  only  resigned  to  accept  the 
office  of  secretary — a  position  hardest  to  fill. 
It  has  steadily  prospered  under  her  able 
management,  and  to-day  the  home  has 
three  acres  of  ground  belonging  to  it,  all  of 
which  is  valued  at  ten  thousand  dollars. 
At  present  it  has  twenty-five  inmates,  and 
many  unfortunate  girls  have  been  adopted 
into  good  families  through  its  influence. 
Being  possessed  of  good  business  and  execu- 
tive ability,  she  has  brought  the  home  its 
present  success.  In  April,  1898,  Mrs. 
Sanders  was  elected  a  member  of  the  city 
board  of  education,  to  the  duties  of  which 
she  is  now  giving  special  attention,  that  she 
may  be  able  to  meet  all  criticisms  and  suc- 
cessfully fill  the  duties  and  obligations  of  the 
position.  She  is  a  prom'inent  member  of 
the  McLean  County  Historical  Society  and 
has  lately  prepared  for  the  association  a 
complete  account  of  the  work  of  the  Sani- 
tary Aid  Society  of  this  county,  from  1861  to 
1866,  or  during  the  war  of  the  Rebellion. 
She  is  also  a  member  of  the  Daughters  of 
the  Revolution  and  of  the  Woman's  Club, 
of  which  she  is  first  vice-president  and  a 
member  of  the  executive  board.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Sanders  attend  and  help  support  the 
Unitarian  church,  of  which  she  is  a  member, 
and  in  which  she  has  served  as  superintend- 
ent of  the  Sunday-school  for  three  years. 
She  is  also  a  member  of  the  board  of  trus- 
tees of  the   Deaconess  Hospital.      She  has 


THE   BIOGR,A.PHICAL   RECORD. 


the  credit  of  being  the  originator  of  placing 
a  flag  in  every  school  house,  hers  the  first 
school  to  have  a  flag  wave  in  McLean  county. 
The  legislature  changed  the  plan  to  putting 
it  on  the  outside,  which  law  was  later  re- 
pealed. She  also  recommended  at  ^^'ash- 
ington,  in  her  annual  address  to  the  National 
Womans'  Relief  Corps,  that  it  be  on  every 
ballot  box  and  on  every  pulpit  in  the  land, 
believing  that  the  Bible,  ballot  box  and  flag 
should  always  go  together. 


WILLL\M  R.  B.\CH.  Not  by  gift  or 
purchase,  or  by  influence  can  one  rise 
at  the  bar,  but  solely  b}'  merit  must  he  gain 
his  reputation,  his  ability  winning  him  great- 
ness and  enabling  him  to  pass  on  the  highway 
of  life  man}'  who  perhaps  had  accomplished  a 
part  of  the  journey  ere  he  started  out.  Al- 
though still  a  j'oung  man,  Mr.  Bach  has  al- 
ready arisen  to  a  position  of  prominence  in 
the  legal  profession,  and  is  now  most  credit- 
ably and  satisfactorily  serving  as  city  attor- 
ney for  Bloomington. 

He  was  born  in  that  city,  December  lo, 
1 87 1,  and  is  a  representative  of  a  prominent 
German  family.  His  father,  William  Bach, 
was  born  near  Stuttgart,  province  of  Wur- 
temburg,  Germany,  February  26,  1S29,  a 
son  of  Rev.  Frederick  Bach,  a  Lutheran 
minister,  who  spent  his  entire  life  in  that 
country.  In  his  native  city,  the  father  of 
our  subject  grew  to  manhood  and  was  pro- 
vided with  excellent  educational  advantages, 
attended  the  gymnasium  and  the  University 
of  Stuttgart.  When  a  young  man  of  twenty 
j'ears,  he  came  alone  to  America,  on  ac- 
count of  his  political  beliefs,  being  one  of 
those  who  were  known  as  the  ' '  forty- 
miners  "    who    came   to    this    country  from 


Germany.  He  was  of  a  free  disposition 
and  could  not  tolerate  the  form  of  govern- 
ment there  existing.  He  located  first  in 
Philadelphia,  where  he  at  once  became 
connected  with  newspaper  work,  as  a  print- 
er in  the  lithographing  department,  and 
soon  learned  the  trade.  There  he  married 
Miss  Sophia  Ivoehler,  who  was  born  in 
Gelnhausen,  Germany,  October  9,  1836, 
and  when  three  years  old  came  with  her 
parents,  Conrad  and  Sophia  Koehler,  to 
America,  settling  in  Philadelphia.  Later 
her  father  came  to  Bloomington,  Illinois, 
being  one  of  the  first  Germans  to  locate 
here,  where  he  lived  until  his  death.  Leav- 
ing his  wife  and  three  children,  Mr.  Bach 
enlisted  in  the  Third  Pennsylvania  Heavy 
Artillery  during  the  civil  war  and  was  in 
the  service  for  three  years  and  a  half,  being 
most  of  the  time  at  the  navy  yard  at  For- 
tress Monroe.  After  the  close  of  the  war, 
he  started  westward,  finally  locating  at 
Bloomington  in  1869.  He  is  a  man  of  con- 
siderable breadth  of  knowledge,  having  com- 
menced the  study  of  law  after  leaving  col- 
lege, but  he  became  so  disgusted  with  the 
laws  of  his  native  land,  that  he  left  home, 
wealth  and  everj'thing  to  become  a  citizen 
of  a  free  country.  He  is  a  broad  minded 
and  intelligent  man  and  has  for  thirty  years 
been  connected  with  the  Bloomington  Pan- 
tagraph.  He  has  been  a  Republican  in 
politics  since  casting  his  first  vote  for  Abra- 
ham Lincoln  in  i860,  but  has  never  been  an 
aspirant  for  office.  He  was  reared  in  the 
Lutheran  faith,  but  attends  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  in  which  his  wife  and 
family  hold  membership.  There  are  four 
children:  Mrs.  Louisa  Kreiter,  of  Chicago; 
Emma,  who  is  connected  with  Wilcox 
Brothers  dry-goods  store,  Bloomington; 
Fred,  who  has  been  with  the   Pantagraph 


I82 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


for  twenty-five  years;  and  \\'illiam  R.,  our 
subject. 

During  his  boyhood  and  youth  William 
R.  Bach  attended  the  public  and  high 
schools  of  Bloomington,  graduating  from 
the  latter  in  the  class  of  1889  with  high 
honors.  While  in  school  he  supported  him- 
self, and  it  can  be  truthfully  said  of  him 
that  he  is  a  self-made  man.  After  his 
graduation  he  entered  the  postal  service  in 
the  Bloomington  post-office,  where  he  served 
for  four  years. 

After  giving  up  that  position  he  entered 
the  Wesleyan  Law  School,  where  he  was 
graduated  in  1894,  with  the  degree  of 
LL.  B.  During  the  two  years  he  spent  in 
that  institution  he  was  examined  si.\  times, 
and  in  all  but  one  of  these  he  stood  the 
highest  in  the  class,  being  beaten  at  that 
time  by  his  present  partner,  Mr.  Livingston. 
This  partnership  was  formed  in  1894,  and 
for  young  men  they  have  been  remarkably 
successful.  Besides  having  a  good  general 
practice,  they  are  attorneys  for  the  Third 
National  Bank,  and  for  the  county  treasurer 
and  county  sheriff.  They  have  tried  many 
important  cases,  in  most  of  which  they  have 
been  successful.  In  1897,  and  again  in 
1899,  Mr.  Bach  was  elected  city  attorney 
by  large  majorities  over  his  competitors, 
and  his  duties  in  that  position  have  been 
most  arduous  on  account  of  the  reorganiza- 
tion of  the  city  under  general  law  just  be- 
fore he  came  into  office.  He  has  defended 
many  cases  of  damages  against  the  city,  and 
has  succeeded  in  defending  the  corporation 
from  unjust  claims  and  reducing  others  to 
small  amounts.  He  is  the  youngest  man 
ever  elected  to  the  office  he  is  now  so  ably 
filling. 

On  the  17th  of  June,  1898,  Mr.  Bach 
was    united    in    marriage    with  Miss  Lelia 


Frances  Means,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  C. 
Means,  county  treasurer  of  McLean  county. 
On  both  sides  she  is  descended  from  hon- 
ored pioneer  families.  Among  her  ances- 
tors were  those  who  fought  for  the  freedom 
of  the  colonies,  and  she  is  now  a  member 
of  the  Daughters  of  the  American  Revolu- 
tion. Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bach  are  active 
members  of  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  Bloomington,  and  he  is  a  member 
of  the  official  board  and  treasurer  of  the  Sun- 
day-school, while  she  is  a  teacher  in  the  lat- 
ter. Politically  he  is  an  active  worker  in  the 
ranks  of  the  Republican  party,  and  socially 
is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias,  being  a  district  deputy  grand 
chancellor  with  supervision  over  a  number 
of  lodges,  and  is  also  a  member  of  the  Mod- 
ern \\'oodmen  of  America;  Bloomington 
Lodge  400,  I.  O.  O.  F. ;  Custer  Company, 
U.  R.  K.  of  K. ;  Bloomington  Lodge,  No. 
43,  F.  &  A.  M. ;  Bloomington  Chapter,  No. 
26,  R.  A.  M. ;  and  De  Molay  Commandery, 
No.  24,  K.  T.  Mr.  Bach  has  certainly  a 
brilliant  future  before  him. 


REV.  SYLVESTER  PEASLEY.  We 
are  now  permitted  to  touch  briefly 
upon  the  life  history  of  one  who  has  re- 
tained a  personal  association  with  the  affairs 
of  McLean  county  since  its  early  pioneer 
days,  and  one  whose  ancestral  line  traces  back 
the  colonial  epoch.  His  life  has  been  one 
of  honest  and  earnest  endeavor  and  due 
success  has  not  been  denied  him. 

This  honored  pioneer  and  prominent 
citizen  of  Randolph  township,  whose  home  is 
on  section  24,  was  born  in  Grayson  county, 
Virginia,  August  31,  1823,  but  has  made 
his  home  in  this  county  since  the  3d  of  No- 
vember,   1834.      His  father,  Isaac  Peasley, 


REV.   SYLVESTER   PEASLEY. 


LI3:i.M^Y 
OF   THE 
nVERSITY  Of  ILLINOIS 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


185 


was  a  native  of  Wilkes  county,  North  Caro- 
lina, and  was  a  son  of  John  Peasley,  a 
Revolutionary  hero,  who  was  born  in  Guil- 
ford county,  North  Carolina,  but  at  an  early 
day  removed  to  Wilkes  county.  On  reach- 
ing man's  estate,  Isaac  Peasley  left  the 
county  of  his  nativity  and  went  to  Vir- 
ginia, where  he  wedded  Miss  Rachel  Hal- 
sey,  who  was  born  on  the  farm  where  their 
marriage  was  celebrated.  Her  father,  Will- 
iam Haisey,  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey, 
and  was  also  one  of  the  soldiers  who 
fought  so  valiantly  for  American  independ- 
ence in  the  Revolutionary  war. 

For  several  years  after  his  marriage, 
Isaac  Peasley  continued  to  follow  farming 
in  Virginia,  where  three  of  his  children  were 
born,  and  in  1834,  with  a  four-horse  team 
and  wagon  started  for  Illinois,  accompanied 
by  his  family.  Finally  after  a  long  and 
tedious  journey  they  arrived  in  Randolph 
township  on  the  3d  of  November.  For  two 
years  Mr.  Peasley  rented  a  farm  of  Jesse 
Funk,  and  then  purchased  sixty  acres  lying 
partly  within  Downs  and  the  remainder  in 
Randolph  township.  This  was  composed  of 
forty  acres  of  prairie  land  and  twenty  acres 
of  timber.  In  November,  1836,  with  the 
assistance  of  his  neighbors  for  miles  around, 
he  built  a  log  cabin  on  the  prairie,  with  an 
open  fire  place,  stick  chimney,  clay  jams 
and  clapboard  roof.  The  family  moved  in 
before  the  chimney  was  constructed  higher 
than  the  jams,  and  the  following  night 
there  was  a  snow  and  sleet  storm,  after 
which  it  turned  cold  very  suddenly  and 
everything  froze  solid.  The  next  morning 
the  trees,  bushes,  grasses  and  everything 
was  loaded  down  with  glistening  ice,  making 
a  beautiful  sight,  and  Mr.  Peasley  remarked 
that  it  looked  like  the  scenery  in  polar 
regions.     As  time  passed  he  added  to  his 


original  purchase  until  he  had  over  four 
hundred  acres  of  fine  farming  land  which 
he  placed  under  excellent  cultivation,  and 
upon  that  farm  continued  to  make  his  home 
until  called  from  this  life  in  1851.  His 
worthy  wife  survived  him  a  number  of 
years. 

Sylvester  Peasley  was  a  lad  of  eleven 
years  when  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Illi- 
nois, and  he  contributed  his  share  to  the 
work  of  improving  and  cultivating  the  home 
farm,  his  educational  privileges  being  neces- 
sarily limited,  as  there  were  few  schools  in 
this  region  at  that  time.  He  remained  with 
his  father  until  the  latter's  death,  though  he 
had  previously  purchased  an  improved  and 
adjoining  farm.  On  the  4th  of  November, 
1843,  in  Randolph  township,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  Stillman,  who 
was  born  and  reared  in  Hunterdon  county. 
New  Jersey,  and  came  to  this  county  at  an 
early  day  with  her  father,  Joseph  Stillman. 
For  a  year  the  young  couple  made  their 
home  with  Mr.  Stillman  and  then  located 
on  our  subject's  land,  to  the  further  im- 
provement and  cultivation  of  which  he  de- 
voted his  energies  for  many  years.  He 
bought  more  land  and  still  owns  two  hun- 
dred acres  there,  upon  which  he  set  out  one 
of  the  first  orchards  in  the  county;  also 
planted  small  fruits  and  ornamental  trees 
and  erected  commodious  and  substantial 
buildings,  making  it  one  of  the  best  im- 
proved places  of  Downs  township.  There 
he  made  his  home  from  1843  until  1895,  a 
period  of  fifty-two  years.  He  has  given 
considerable  attention  to  the  breeding  of 
and  dealing  in  pure-blooded  short-horn 
cattle  and  Poland  China  hogs,  and  is  also 
interested  in  feeding  other  cattle  and  hogs 
for  the  market.  The  trees  that  he  set  out 
upon  his  first  farm  are   now  two  feet  and  a 


1 86 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


half  in  diameter.  He  is  the  owner  of 
another  valuable  and  well-improved  farm  of 
two  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  upon  which 
he  built  a  beautiful  modern  residence  in 
1895 — one  of  the  best  in  Randolph  town- 
ship— and  there  he  has  since  made  his  home, 
surrounded  by  all  the  comforts  and  many 
of  the  luxuries  of  life,  which  have  been  ob- 
tained through  his  own  well-directed  and 
energetic  efforts.  He  started  out  in  life  for 
himself  a  poor  boy,  and  for  seven  years 
worked  as  a  farm  hand  for  Jesse  Funk,  at 
first  only  receiving  six  dollars  per  month. 
By  strict  economy,  fair  dealing  and  unre- 
mitting labor,  however,  he  has  become  one 
of  the  most  substantial  and  prosperous 
citizens  of  his  community,  and  is  now  the 
owner  of  two  valuable  farms. 

Mr.  Peasley  lost  his  first  wife  in  1863. 
To  them  were  born  five  children,  namely: 
Granville,  who  is  now  engaged  in  farming 
upon  the  old  place  in  Downs  township; 
Susan,  deceased  wife  of  Eli  Barton;  Isaac, 
who  assists  in  the  operation  of  the  home 
farm;  John,  who  follows  farming  on  the  old 
homestead  in  Downs  township;  and  Mrs. 
Hester  C.  Johnson,  deceased.  In  Downs 
township  Mr.  Peasley  was  again  married,  in 
April,  1865,  his  second  wife  being  Mrs. 
Susan  Crosby,  mr  Barclay.  She  was  born 
in  Mason  county,  Kentucky,  where  she  first 
married  Andrew  Crosby,  who  died  there, 
leaving  four  children:  William,  a  farmer  of 
Downs  township;  Nancy,  wife  of  James 
Duckett,  of  Lyon  county,  Kansas;  Harriet, 
widow  of  Findley  Horner,  and  a  resident  of 
Fonda,  Iowa;  and  James  N.,  who  is  with 
his  mother.  By  the  second  marriage  there 
was  one  daughter,  Ella,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  three  years. 

Politically,  Mr.  Peasley  was  a  Jeffer- 
sonian  Democrat  and  cast  his  first  presiden- 


tial vote  for  James  K.  Polk,  in  1844,  hut  in 
1856  he  supported  John  C.  Fremont  and 
has  since  been  an  ardent  supporter  of  the 
Republican  party  and  its  principles,  having 
never  missed  a  presidential  election  since 
attaining  his  majority.  He  has  ever  taken 
quite  an  active  interest  in  local  politics  and 
has  served  in  a  number  of  positions  of  honor 
and  trust.  He  was  the  first  postmaster  of 
Downs,  which  office  he  filled  for  some  years; 
was  a  member  of  the  honorable  county 
board  of  supervisors  fifteen  years  and  presi- 
dent of  the  same  two  years,  and  also  served 
on  a  great  many  important  committees,  be- 
ing chairman  of  the  one  that  erected  the 
soldiers'  monument.  For  some  years  he 
was  township  trustee,  a  member  of  the 
school  board  and  president  of  the  district, 
and  has  been  a  delegate  to  numerous 
county,  state  and  congressional  conven- 
tions. His  public  as  well  as  his  private 
duties  have  always  been  most  faithfully  and 
conscientiously  discharged,  winning  the  com- 
mendation of  all  concerned.  He  was  one 
of  the  originators  and  organizers  of  the 
Bloomington  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Com- 
pany; has  held  the  position  of  president 
since  the  start,  and  has  signed  all  the  im- 
portant papers  and  policies  of  this  company 
for  twenty-two  years.  Under  his  able  man- 
agement it  has  become  one  of  the  most 
solid  and  successful  fire  insurance  com- 
panies of  the  county.  Always  a  consistent 
Christian  gentleman,  Mr.  Peasley  was  or- 
dained a  minister  of  the  Baptist  cuurch 
when  a  young  man  and  engaged  in  preach- 
ing a  number  of  years,  having  pastoral 
charge  of  five  churches  at  different  times, 
but  was  forced  to  give  it  up  on  account  of 
throat  trouble,  though  he  still  takes  an 
active  interest  in  church  work.  His  con- 
tact with  his  fellow  men  has  broadened  his 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


187 


nature  and  views,  if  such  were  possible;  and 
hale,  hearty  and  vigorous  at  over  three- 
score years  and  ten,  his  faculties  undimmed, 
his  physique  but  little  impaired,  many  years 
of  undiminished  usefulness  yet  seem  before 
him.  Such  men  are  rare  and  the  world  is 
not  slow  ta  appreciate  them.  It  is  safe  to 
say  that  no  man  in  his  community  has  more 
or  warmer  friends  than  this  honored  pioneer. 


HON.  GEORGE  W.  STUBBLEFIELD. 
The  history  of  mankind  is  replete 
with  illustrations  of  the  fact  that  it  is  only 
under  the  pressure  of  adversity  and  the 
stimulus  of  opposition  that  the  best  and 
strongest  in  men  are  brought  out  and  de- 
veloped. Perhaps  the  history  of  no  people 
so  forcibly  impresses  one  with  this  truth  as 
the  annals  of  our  own  Republic;  and  cer- 
tainlj-  Illinois  has  many  representatives  of 
this  class — men  who  have  started  out  in  life 
with  little  or,  at  best,  limited  capital  and 
have  worked  their  way  upward  until  they 
control  extensive  business  interests  and 
thereby  not  only  advance  individual  pros- 
perity, but  also  promote  the  general  wel- 
fare. This  Mr.  Stubblefield  has  done,  and 
his  determined  purpose,  laudable  ambition, 
honorable  methods  and  unflagging  enter- 
prise have  brought  to  him  brilliant  success, 
which  is  well  merited.  One  of  McLean 
county's  native  sons,  he  is  now  a  leading 
and  influential  citizen  of  Bloomington  and 
has  gained  distinction  not  only  in  commer- 
cial life,  but  also  as  a  representative  of  the 
political  interests  of  his  community. 

Mr.  Stubblefield  traces  his  ancestry  back 
to  New  England,  where  the  family  was 
founded  at  an  early  day  in  the  history  of 
America.  His  great-grandfather  com- 
manded a  Vermont  regiment  in  the  Revolu- 


tionary war,  and  with  his  brave  "Green 
Mountain  Boys  "  did  effective  service  for  the 
cause  of  liberty.  The  grandfather,  Robert 
Stubblefield,  was  born  in  Halifax  county, 
Virginia,  and  loyally  served  his  country  in 
the  war  of  18 12.  He  afterward  located  in 
Fayette  county,  Ohio,  where  he  wedded 
Miss  Mary  Funk,  and  after  the  birth  of 
their  four  children  she  died.  He  then  mar- 
ried her  sister,  Sarah  Funk,  and  they  emi- 
grated to  McLean  county,  Illinois,  in  1824. 
They  became  the  parents  of  eight  children. 
Numbered  among  the  pioneees  of  this 
region  they  were  forced  to  endure  all  the 
trials  and  hardships  which  go  to  make  up 
life  in  a  frontier  region.  The  grandfather, 
however,  became  one  of  the  extensive  land- 
owners of  the  county,  his  realty  possessions 
aggregating  two  thousand  acres.  He  held 
membership  in  the  First  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church,  at  Funk's  Grove,  and  pre- 
vious to  his  arrival  in  this  state  was  con- 
nected with  that  denomination. 

John  Stubblefield,  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Fayette  county,  Ohio,  in  1820, 
and  was  only  four  years  old  when  brought 
by  his  parents  to  this  county.  The  Stub- 
blefields  were  the  second  family  to  locate 
at  Funks  Grave,  where  amid  the  wild 
scenes  of  pioneer  life  John  Stubblefield  was 
reared.  He  aided  in  the  arduous-  task  of 
developing  new  land,  and  after  attaining  to 
man's  estate  began  farming  on  his  own 
account,  which  occupation  he  successfully 
followed  for  many  years.  He  married  Elli- 
sannah  Howser  and  remained  upon  the  farm 
until  the  death  of  his  wife,  which  occurred 
in  1896.  Since  that  time  he  has  lived  a  re- 
tired life,  having  acquired  a  competence 
that  supplies  all  his  wants.  He  has  been 
recognized  as  one  of  the  leading  and  influ- 
ential citizens  of  the  community  for  more 


1 88 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


than  half  a  century,  has  held  many  town- 
ship offices,  including  those  of  supervisor 
and  treasurer,  and  filled  the  latter  position 
for  thirty  years.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  has  served  as 
class  leader  for  many  years  and  has  been 
very  active  in  the  church  work  and  a  liberal 
contributor  to  its  support.  In  his  family 
were  eight  children. 

George  W.  Stubblefield,  whose  name 
introduces  this  review,  was  born  at  Funks 
Grove,  January  2,  1849,  and  there  acquired 
his  preliminary  education,  which  was  sup- 
plemented by  a  course  in  the  Illinois  Wes- 
leyan  University,  of  Bloomington.  Thus 
fitted  to  meet  the  duties  of  life,  he  entered 
upon  his  business  career  as  an  importer  of 
horses.  In  this  business  he  was  associated 
with  his  father.  He  was  the  second  man 
to  bring  imported  horses  into  McLean 
county,  and  he  made  eighteen  trips  to 
France  to  make  purchases.  Thus  in  con- 
nection with  his  father,  he  engaged  exten- 
sively in  the  breeding  and  sale  of  fine  Perche- 
ron  and  coach  horses,  and  developed  an 
extensive  stock  farm,  which  they  conducted 
until  1894.  They  became  known  to  stock 
dealers  throughout  this  section  of  the  coun- 
try, and  the  high  grade  of  their  horses  was 
shown  by  the  many  premiums  which  they 
won  on  them  at  the  county  and  state  fairs. 

Our  subject,  however,  is  a  man  of  re- 
sourceful business  ability,  and  his  energies 
have  been  devoted  to  many  enterprises 
which  have  been  crowned  with  a  high  de- 
gree of  success.  While  conducting  his  stock 
farm  he  maintained  his  residence  in  the  city 
and  conducted  a  jewelry  store  from  1880 
until  1892,  enjoying  a  large  trade.  He  also 
established  a  livery  stable,  and  erected  a 
large  brick  building  to  serve  as  a  feed  and 
sale  barn.     This  has  also  beei;  a  profitable 


investment,  and  he  now  has  a  very  large 
patronage.  In  1886  he  purchased  the  Waite 
House  and  has  since  engaged  in  the  hotel 
business.  This  house  has  been  one  of  the 
leading  features  of  the  city  for  forty  years, 
and  is  most  popular  not  only  with  the  trav- 
eling public,  but  is  also  headquarters  for 
farming  and  stockmen.  It  is  conducted 
after  the  most  approved  manner  of  modern 
hostelries,  every  modern  convenience  may 
there  be  found,  and  the  business  enjoyed  by 
the  hotel  is  very  large. 

Mr.  Stubblefield  has  also  been  connected 
with  many  interests  of  a  public  character, 
which  have  proven  of  benefit  to  the  city. 
He  was  one  of  the  first  trustees  of  the  Dea- 
coness Hospital,  and  has  since  served  in 
that  capacity.  He  was  chairman  of  the 
building  committee  when  the  structure 
was  erected  in  1S96,  at  a  cost  of  eight 
thousand  dollars,  and  has  ever  labored  for 
the  promotion  of  the  noble  and  humane 
work  carried  on  by  the  institution.  He 
was  also  a  member  of  the  building  com- 
mittee and  is  one  of  the  directors  of  the 
Colesium, — a  large  armory  drill  hall,  also 
used  for  public  meetings  and  having  a  seat- 
ing capacity  of  four  thousand.  It  was 
erected  at  a  cost  of  twenty-five  thousand 
dollars  by  a  private  corporation,  and  largely 
resulted  from  the  enterprising  and  public- 
spirited  efforts  of  Mr.  Stubblefield,  who  re- 
cognizing Bloomington's  need  of  a  large 
assembly  hall,  set  to  work  to  secure  it. 

In  his  political  affiliations  he  has  always 
been  a  stanch  Republican,  active  in  sup- 
port of  the  party,  and  has  been  chair- 
man of  the  party  organization  in  his  ward. 
He  keeps  well  informed  on  the  issues  of  the 
day,  and  is  therefore  able  to  meet  in  argu- 
ment those  politically  opposed  to  him.  In 
1896  he  was  elected   to  represent  McLean 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


189 


county  in  the  state  senate,  and  has  been  a 
very  prominent  member  of  the  assembly. 
He  served  as  chairman  of  the  committee 
on  penal  institutions,  in  connection  with 
which  he  did  much  work  for  the  state 
prisons  and  reform  school.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the.  railroad  committee,  and  intro- 
duced the  two-cent-fare  bill  with  the  result 
that  the  railroads  compromised  by  placing 
the  rebate  at  two  cents  a  mile  on  the  mar- 
ket. He  was  also  activelj-  interested  in 
other  bills,  and  ably  represented  his  constit- 
uents and  the  interests  of  the  common- 
wealth. 

On  the  6th  of  June,  18S8,  Mr.  Stubble- 
field  was  united  in  marriage  to  Mrs.  Bettie 
M.  Stewart,  daughter  of  John  S.  Savery,  of 
Bloomington.  She  is  a  most  estimable 
lad}'  and  holds  membership  in  the  Chris- 
tian church.  Mr.  Stubblefield  belongs  to 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  is  an 
exemplary  member  of  Remembrance  Lodge, 
No.  77,  I.  O.  O.  F.  He  has  filled  all  the 
chairs  in  that  order;  has  been  a  represent- 
ative to  the  grand  lodge;  deputy  in  the 
McLean  Encampment,  and  has  held  all 
the  offices  in  that  organization.  He  is  one 
of  the  trustees  of  the  Odd  Fellows'  building, 
which  was  erected  by  the  lodge,  which  is 
one  of  the  wealthiest  in  the  state.  He  is  a 
charter  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen 
Camp,  of  Bloomington,  was  one  of  its  first 
officers  and  has  at  different  times  filled  all 
of  its  official  positions.  He  is  also  a  charter 
member  of  Towanda  Tribe  of  Red  Men, 
and  belongs  to  George  Rogers  Clark  Chap- 
ter, No.  2,  Sons  of  the  American  Revolu- 
tion, of  which  he  was  the  first  treasurer. 
In  all  the  relations  of  life  he  has  been 
true  and  faithful  to  the  trust  reposed  in 
him,  having  a  broad  public  spirit  and  deep 
interest  in  humanity  that  prompts  his  active 


service  in  behalf  of  the  general  welfare 
and  of  his  fellow  men.  His  life  has  been 
one  of  honest  effort  and  earnest  endeavor 
and  due  success  has  not  been  denied  him. 
A  man  of  unswerving  integrity  and  honor, 
one  who  has  a  perfect  appreciation  of  the 
higher  ethics  of  life,  he  has  gained  and  re- 
tained the  confidence  and  respect  of  his  fel- 
low men;  and  is  distinctively  one  of  the 
leading  citizens  of  Bloomington,  with  whose 
interests  he  has  been  so  long  identified. 


M'L' 


ILTON  HARNESS,  who  is  now  liv- 
a  retired  life  in  the  beautiful  city 
of  Lexington,  is  a  native  of  McLean  county, 
and  was  born,  June  17,  1844,  on  the  old  fam- 
ily homestead,  just  south  of  Lexington.  His 
father,  Isaac  Harness,  who  was  the  son  of 
Jacob  and  Christiana  (Smith)  Harness,  was 
born  in  Bourbon  county,  Kentucky,  near 
Cane  Ridge,  March  17,  181 1.  Jacob  Har- 
ness was  born  near  the  Potomac  river, 
Virginia,  and  was  a  son  of  Peter  Harness, 
who,  with  his  family,  removed  from  Vir- 
ginia to  Kentucky.  During  the  second  war 
with  Great  Britain,  in  1S12,  he  served  his 
country  as  a  soldier  faithfully  and  well. 
He  remained  in  Kentucky  until  his  son 
Isaac  was  seventeen  years  old,  and  then 
with  his  family  removed  to  Fayette  county, 
Ohio,  locating  near  Washington  Court 
House.  His  father,  Peter  Harness,  had  pre- 
ceded him,  and  had  purchased  twelve  hun- 
dred acres  of  land,  which  he  proceeded  to 
divide  among  his  children,  giving  each  of 
his  sons  one  hundred  acres  of  timber  land. 
Jacob  at  once  commenced  to  clear  his  tract, 
and  in  due  time  had  established  a  com- 
fortable home,  and  where  his  children  were 
reared.  Later  he  removed  to  Indiana, 
and  located  on  the  Wolcott  prairie,  where 


190 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


he  resided  some  years,  subsequently  coming 
to  McLean  county,  and  he  and  his  wife 
died  near  Lexington. 

Isaac  Harness  came  to  McLean  county 
in  1832,  and  was  joined  four  years  later  by 
his  parents,  who  located,  however,  in  Liv- 
ingston county,  on  the  Vermillion  river, 
near  Pontiac.  After  remaining  there  a 
few  years  they  came  to  McLean  county 
and  settled  on  a  farm  one  mile  south  of 
Lexington.  Isaac  Harness  was  very  suc- 
cessful in  all  his  business  undertakings,  and 
before  his  death  was  the  owner  of  three 
thousand  acres  of  land  in  McLean  county, 
in  addition  to  which  he  had  some  eleven 
or  twelve  hundred  acres  of  land  in  Mis- 
souri and  Kansas.  At  one  time  he  was 
extensively  engaged  in  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness with  Joseph  Greenbaum,  a  Jew,  hav- 
ing stores  in  Lexington  and  Pontiac.  In 
1867  he  organized  the  Lexington  Bank  and 
became  its  president. 

Isaac  Harness  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Elizabeth  Wiley,  and  twelve  chil- 
dren were  born  unto  them,  of  whom  seven 
grew  to  maturity,  six  yet  surviving:  Will- 
iam, a  farmer  and  capitalist  of  Lexington; 
Sarah,  wife  of  George  Vandolah,  of  Lex- 
ington; Adaline,  wife  of  B.  J.  Claggett,  of 
Lexington;  Caroline,  widow  of  W.  H.  Ken- 
nedy, formerly  cashier  of  the  Bank  of  Lex- 
ington; Milton,  the  subject  of  this  sketch; 
Emma,  wife  of  Merritt  Dawson,  of  Lexing- 
ton, and  Arabella,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
twenty-three  years.  The  remainder  died  in 
childhood. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  grew  to  man- 
hood on  his  father's  farm  near  Lexington, 
and  in  the  public  schools  of  the  township 
received  his  primary  education,  finishing  his 
education  in  Lombard  University,  Gales- 
burg,  Illinois.      On  attaining  his  majority  he 


commenced  farming  on  his  own  account  on 
land  deeded  him  by  his  father,  who  divided 
a  large  tract  of  land  among  his  children. 
On  the  24th  of  November,  1865,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Melissa  P. 
Kemp,  a  native  of  Harrison  county,  Ohio, 
born  September  24,  1845,  and  daughter  of 
John  G.  and  Margaret  (Bricker)  Kemp,  who 
were  the  parents  of  eleven  children,  ten  of 
whom  lived  to  maturity,  five  yet  surviving: 
Julia,  wife  of  Isaac  Young,  of  Gridley;  John 
J.,  of  Lexington;  Enoch,  of  El  Paso,  Illi- 
nois; Martha,  wife  of  W.  C.  Mack,  of  Lex- 
ington; and  Melissa,  wife  of  our  subject. 
The  parents  never  came  to  this  county,  but 
both  died  in  Ohio.  Three  of  their  sons, 
Shadrach,  George  and  John  J.,  came  to 
McLean  county  in  1852,  the  remainder  of 
the  family  coming  a  little  later,  Mrs.  Har- 
ness coming  when  she  was  but  eleven  years 
old.  She  made  her  home  with  her  brothers 
and  sisters  until  her  marriage. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harness  began  their  do- 
mestic life  on  a  part  of  his  father's  estate, 
in  a  little  log  house  on  the  Bloomington 
road,  and  there  remained  .one  year  and  then 
moved  to  another  place.  They  continued 
to  reside  on  various  parts  of  the  home  farm 
until  taking  up  their  abode  in  their  present 
home.  In  his  farming  operations,  Mr.  Har- 
ness has  met  with  good  success,  giving  his 
attention  principally  to  stock  raising,  feed- 
ing and  shipping  about  ten  car-loads  of  cat- 
tle, and  several  hundred  head  of  hogs  per 
year. 

Two  daughters  came  to  bless  the  union 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harness.  The  eldest,  Lola 
May,  is  now  the  wife  of  Fremont  Hanson, 
and  they  have  two  children.  Pansy  May 
and  Cleon.  Mr.  Hanson  is  superintendent 
of  Swift's  Packing  Company,  of  St.  Louis, 
where    he    resides    with    his    family.      The 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


191 


youngest  daughter,  Georgia  D.,  yet  makes 
her  home  with  her  parents  in  Lexington. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Harness  is  a  Democrat, 
and  has  given  earnest  support  to  the  men 
and  measures  of  that  party  since  attaining 
his  majority.  He  has  never  been  an  office 
seeker,  however,  preferring  to  give  his  at- 
tention to  his  business  interests.  He  has 
lately  erected  an  elegant  home  in  the  south 
part  of  the  city,  one  of  the  finest  in  Lexing- 
ton, heated  by  a  furnace  and  lighted  by 
electricity, and  withal  handsomely  furnished, 
showing  the  taste  of  its  cultured  occu- 
pants. Into  that  home  they  moved  on  the 
28th  of  March,  1898,  and  they  are  pleased 
to  entertain  their  many  friends  and  bestow 
that  genuine  hospitality  which  is  inherent 
in  those  coming  from  the  south,  or  who  are 
descendants  of  southern  people.  Their 
friends  are  many  in  both  McLean  and  Liv- 
ingston counties,  and  wherever  known  they 
held  in  the  highest  esteem. 


JOHN  ROBERT  GRAY.— It  is  an  im- 
portant duty  to  honor  and  perpetuate 
as  far  as  is  possible  the  memory  of  an  emi- 
nent citizen  —  one  who,  by  his  blameless  and 
honorable  life  and  distinguished  career,  re- 
flected credit  upon  his  city  and  state.  His 
example,  in  whatever  field  his  work  may 
have  been  done,  thus  stands  an  object  lesson 
to  those  who  come  after  him,  and  though 
dead  he  still  speaks.  Long  after  all  recol- 
lection of  his  personality  shall  have  faded 
from  the  minds  of  men,  the  less  perishable 
record  may  tell  the  story  of  his  life  and 
commend  his  example  for  imitation. 

Mr.  Gray,  now  deceased,  who  was  for 
some  years  one  of  the  ablest  instructors  in 
music  in  Illinois  and  one  of  the  founders  of 
the   Wesleyan    College  of    Music,    Bloom- 


ington,  was  born  in  Belleplain,  Marshall 
county,  Illinois,  February  13,  1S60,  and 
died  March  19,  1893.  His  wonderful  abil- 
ity and  remarkable  qualities  were  just  be- 
ginning to  be  widely  known  and  respected 
when  his  career  was  terminated  by  death. 
His  early  youth  was  passed  upon  a  farm 
eight  miles  southeast  of  Lacon,  and  at  an 
early  age  he  manifested  a  taste  for  music, 
although  he  did  not  begin  the  serious  study 
of  the  art  until  he  came  to  Bloomington 
and  attended  the  Wesleyan  University, 
where  he  was  a  faithful  and  thorough  stu- 
dent during  the  college  years  of  1876  and 
1S77.  Here  he  took  lessons  on  the  piano 
of  Mrs.  Flora  Hunter. 

On  the  26th  of  March,  1879,  Mr.  Gray 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary 
Emeline  Ilifl,  who  was  his  constant  com- 
panion in  his  studies  and  was  associated 
with  him  in  his  success  as  a  musical  in- 
structor. In  1 88 1  they  went  to  Germany 
to  complete  their  musical  education,  and 
entered  the  Leipzig  Conservatory,  one  of 
the  finest  conservatories  in  the  world.  They 
remained  abroad  five  years  and  studied  un- 
der the  best  instructors.  In  piano  they 
were  under  the  instruction  of  Eibenschuetz, 
the  finest  pianist  the  conservatory  ever 
secured  as  a  member  of  its  faculty,  and 
also  studied  with  Weidenbeach,  whose  abil- 
ity to  impart  to  pupils  the  true  musical 
spirit  of  a  composition  has  never  been  sur- 
passed. Richter  and  Jadassohn,  teachers 
too  well  known  to  need  comment,  were 
their  instructors  in  harmony,  counterpoint, 
composition,  canon  and  fugue.  They  were 
graduated  in  the  spring  of  1886,  and  upon 
their  return  to  America  spent  some  time  in 
concert  work,  meeting  with  marked  appre- 
ciation and  success.  They  had  charge  of 
the  musical  department   of  Eureka  College 


192 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


for  a  year,  and  then  came  to  Bloominglon 
to  direct  the  work  of  the  Illinois  College  of 
Music,  of  the  Wesleyan  University,  of 
which  Mr.  Gray  was  dean  for  two  years. 
It  was  then  consolidated  with  the  Bloom- 
ington  Conservatory,  in  1889,  under  the 
name  of  the  Wesleyan  College  of  Music, 
and  he  was  a  joint  director  with  Oliver  R. 
Skinner  until  his  death.  Through  their 
combined  efforts  the  school  gained  recogni- 
tion and  prestige  as  one  of  the  best  and 
most  thorough  institutions  of  the  kind  in 
the  state.  By  unanimous  action  of  the  col- 
lege board  Mrs.  Gray  was  appointed  to  fill 
the  place  of  her  deceased  husband. 

As  a  musician  Mr.  Gra}-  was  enthusiastic 
and  devoted  his  life  and  energies  to  his  pro- 
fession, being  a  most  thorough  and  con- 
scientious instructor.  A  work  on  harmony, 
published  just  before  his  death,  is  an  ex- 
haustive treatise,  presenting  the  matter  in 
a  condensed  and  concise  manner,  and  may 
be  considered  one  of  the  best  text  books  on 
the  subject  ever  written  by  an  American 
musician.  He  was  one  of  nature's  noble- 
men, respected  and  loved  by  all  who  be- 
came intimately  acquainted  with  him.  His 
character  was  above  reproach,  his  ideals 
were  high  and  noble,  and  the  world  is  cer- 
tainly better  for  his  having  lived. 

Mrs.  Gray  has  shown  herself  possessed 
in  a  high  degree  of  good  executive  ability, 
thorough  musical  knowledge,  true  teacher's 
instinct,  and  the  power  to  interest  and  hold 
her  pupils,  all  absolutely  essential  qualifica- 
tions for  so  responsible  a  position  as  she 
now  holds.  As  a  pianist  she  unites  a  bril- 
liant technique  with  a  sympathetic  interpre- 
tation. Her  pupils  become  thoroughly  im- 
bued with  her  love  of  music,  and  are  fired 
with  ambition  and  courage  to  press  on  to 
higher  attainments.      Many  of  her  graduates 


occupy  prominent  musical  positions  and  are 
known  as  thorough  musicians  and  teachers. 
She  does  not  rest  on  past  laurels  wherever 
a  fresh  idea  can  be  found,  a  new  impetus 
gained,  a  new  help  obtained  that  will  bene- 
fit her  students;  she  spares  neither  time  nor 
money.  "Growth"  is  her  watchword,  and 
established  communication  with  the  leading 
musicians  and  critics  of  the  country  makes 
this  possible.  She  possesses  an  enviable 
reputation  and  holds  many  strong  testi- 
monials of  her  work  from  leading  musicians. 
In  addition  to  her  marked  ability  as  a  mu- 
sician and  teacher,  her  beautiful  Christian 
womanhood  has  a  lasting  influence  on  the 
lives  of  the  students  fortunate  to  come  with- 
in her  sphere  and  find  in  her  a  friend. 


ROBERT  LOUDON,  proprietor  of  the 
Eagle  Machine  Works  on  North 
Main  street,  Bloomington,  is  one  of  the 
prominent  and  successful  business  men  of 
the  city.  Although  he  has  not  accumulated 
a  great  fortune,  but  few  lives  furnish  so 
striking  an  example  of  the  wise  application 
of  sound  principles  and  safe  conservatism  as 
does  his.  The  story  of  his  success  is  short, 
and  simple,  containing  no  exciting  chapters, 
but  in  it  lies  one  of  the  most  valuable  secrets 
of  the  prosperity  which  it  records,  and  his 
business  and  private  life  are  pregnant  with 
interest  and  incentive,  no  matter  how  lack- 
ing in  dramatic  action, — the  record  of  a 
noble  life,  consistent  with  itself  and  its  pos- 
sibilities in  every  particular. 

Mr.  Loudon  was  born  in  Kilmarnock, 
Scotland,  March  18,  1833,  a  son  of  Allan 
and  Jeanette  (Kennedy)  Loudon,  and  is  a 
representative  of  an  old  and  highly  respect- 
ed family,  who  were  possessed  of  all  the 
admirable   traits  oi   that    nationality.      His 


ROBtRT  LOUDON. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


195 


paternal  grandparents  were  Hugh  and  Mar- 
garet (Houston)  Loudon,  in  whose  family 
were  nine  children,  five  sons  and  four 
daughters.  The  grandfather  lived  in  Kil- 
marnock, Ayrshire,  where  he  engaged  in 
business  as  a  shoemaker,  and  all  his  sons 
learned  that  trade  with  the  exception  of  the 
father  of  our  snbject,  who  was  apprenticed 
to  learn  the  machinist's  trade  with  Bailey 
Morton,  of  Kilmarnock,  a  noted  telescope 
manufacturer,  who  had  an  observatory  of 
his  own  mounted  with  a  fine  telescope 
which  drew  people  from  all  parts  of  Scot- 
land. While  working  there  Allan  Loudon 
became  very  proficient  in  the  manufacture 
of  telescopes,  one  of  which  was  made  for 
Sir  John  Ross  and  formed  part  of  his  outfit 
when  he  went  in  search  of  the  north  pole. 
Another  is  still  in  use  in  the  observatory  at 
Dumfries,  and  stands  beside  the  monument 
erected  to  the  memory  of  the  poet  Burns. 
In  1834  he  made  a  small  locomotive,  less 
than  six  inches  each  way,  which  was  a 
great  curiosity.  He  would  often  amuse 
his  visitors  by  getting  up  steam  and  letting 
it  run  about  on  the  floor.  Although  this 
was  before  the  days  of  railroads  the  little 
engine  is  still  in  good  running  order.  Later 
Mr.  Loudon  became  master  machinist  in 
the  celebrated  woolen  mills  of  Blackwood 
Brothers  at  Kilmarnock,  but  in  1839  he 
moved  to  Dairy,  Ayrshire,  where  he  took 
charge  of  the  Bridge  End  Mills.  He  held 
that  position  for  forty  years  and  was  noted 
for  his  reliability  and  fidelity  to  duty.  He 
invented  an  engine  governor  which  was  a 
great  improvement  over  the  old  ball  gov- 
ernor and  also  a  lap  machine  for  wool  card- 
ing, the  first  which  ever  worked  success- 
fully and  is  still  used.  The  doubling  and 
twisting  machine  for  giving  a  definite  num- 
ber of  twists  to  each  foot   of   yarn  was  per- 


fected by  him  and  our  subject  together, 
and  also  an  improved  carding  machine 
which  effected  a  saving  of  twenty  per  cent 
in  the  cost  of  carding. 

He  married  Jeanette  Kennedy,  a  native 
of  Old  Cumnock,  where  her  ancestors  had 
lived  for  many  generations.  Her  parents 
were  Robert  and  Margaret  (French)  Ken- 
nedy. Her  grandfather  French  was  a  fine 
violinist  and  musical  composer,  who  was 
known  all  over  the  western  part  of  Scotland. 
He  and  Neal  Dow  (not  of  Portland,  Maine) 
often  played  together  at  factory  balls  given 
by  lords  and  dukes  in  that  region,  and  one 
of  his  pieces  of  sacred  music,  which  bears 
the  name  of  French,  is  still  sung  by  congre- 
gations in  Scotland  and  is  mentioned  by 
Robbie  Burns  in  his  poems.  Our  subject 
remembers  hearing  his  grandmother  relate 
that  when  Mr.  French  died  Neal  Dow  ap- 
propriated all  the  music  and  published  it  as 
his  own  production,  reaping  all  the  honor 
and  profit  that  should  have  been  her  father's. 
Allan  Loudon  died  in  Dairy,  in  1888,  and 
his  wife  shortly  afterward,  in  1890.  They 
were  prominent  and  active  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  and  highly  respected  by 
all  who  knew  them.  In  the  family  of  this 
worthy  couple  were  three  sons  and  five 
daughters,  of  whom  our  subject  is  the  first 
in  order  of  birth.  Hugh  also  learned  the 
machinist's  trade  at  home,  and  later  joined 
the  English  navy  as  engineer.  He  became 
chief  engineer  and  was  in  the  service  four- 
teen years,  lacking  but  one  year  of  being 
placed  on  the  retired  list,  when  he  was  sud- 
denly taken  ill  and  died  in  the  service. 
Allan,  after  serving  an  apprenticeship  to  the 
machinist's  trade,  entered  the  passenger 
steamship  service  between  Liverpool  and 
New  York  as  engineer,  but  later  engaged  in 
the  hardware  business  in  Dairy,  Scotland. 


196 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


He  once  visited  our  subject  in  Bloomington, 
but  is  now  deceased.  Jean  is  now  the  wife 
of  George  McFee,  a  prominent  business 
man  of  London,  England.  Agnes  is  the 
wife  of  George  Cluckey,  of  Paisley,  Scot- 
land. Mary,  who  is  not  married,  lives  at 
the  old  home  in  Dairy.  Margaret  married 
George  Craig,  of  Paisley,  and  died  leaving 
two  sons.  Jeanette  died  at  the  old  home- 
stead in  1897. 

Robert  Loudon,  of  this  review,  attended 
school  between  the  ages  of  four  and  twelve 
years.  Being  then  considered  old  enough 
to  do  something  for  himself,  he  was  appren- 
ticed to  learn  silk  weaving  by  a  hand  loom, 
and  served  three  years.  As  this  business 
did  not  suit  him,  having  inherited  a  love  for 
machinery,  he  was  apprenticed  at  the  Bridge 
End  Mills,  Dairy,  of  which  his  father  had 
charge,  and  to  a  day  served  his  five  years, 
receiving  three  shillings  six  pence  a  week 
the  first  year;  four  shillings  the  second;  five 
shillings  three  pence  the  third;  eight  shil- 
lings, or  two  dollars,  the  fourth;  and  two 
dollars  and  a  half  the  fifth.  Out  of  this  he 
paid  his  board  and  bought  his  clothes.  As 
soon  as  free  he  made  a  contract  to  work  for 
twenty-three  shillings  a  week,  the  highest 
wages  then  paid,  and  during  the  ten  years 
he  was  thus  employed  he  saved  some 
money. 

On  the  8th  of  April,  1857,  Mr.  Loudon 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Jennette 
Johnston,  a  daughter  of  David  Johnston,  a 
representative  of  an  old  Sterlingshire  family. 
They  remained  in  their  native  land  until 
after  the  birth  of  their  oldest  son,  Allan 
Kennedy.  The  family  now  numbers  six 
children,  namely:  Allan  Kennedy  married 
Carrie  Gillespie,  daughter  of  William  Gilles- 
pie and  lives  in  Bloomington.  David  J.,  a 
resident    of    Bloomington,    married    May, 


daughter  of  the  late  Joseph  M.  Parke,  of 
Vera,  Illinois,  and  they  have  two  children, 
Grace  and  Jennette.  Robert  William,  of 
Chicago,  married  Minnie  Hodge  and  has  one 
son,  Hodge.  Emma  J.  and  Jennette  are 
both  graduates  of  the  Normal  School,  of 
Normal  and  spent  some  time  in  Germany, 
where  the  former  studied  German  and 
French,  and  the  latter  music.  After  stop- 
ping for  some  time  in  Paris,  they  returned 
to  their  home  in  Bloomington,  and  Emma 
is  now  teaching  French  and  German  in  the 
high  school  of  Beaver  Dam,  Wisconsin. 
Jennette,  who  is  considered  the  best  musi- 
cian in  this  part  of  the  country,  always  com- 
mands a  prominent  position.  She  studied 
with  the  best  masters  and  was  for  three 
years  a  pupil  of  Scharwenka.  She  has  been 
connected  as  a  musical  instructor,  with  the 
Universities  of  Michigan,  Iowa,  Missouri 
and  Alabama,  and  is  now  with  the  Wesleyan 
Female  College  of  Macon,  Georgia.  Agnes 
Grace  is  a  graduate  of  the  Wesleyan  Uni- 
versity of  Bloomington,  and  is  at  home  with 
her  parents. 

Mr.  Loudon  and  his  little  family  crossed 
the  Atlantic  on  the  steamer  Edinburg  from 
Glasgow  to  New  York,  and  proceeded  at 
once  to  Alton,  Illinois,  where  his  brother-in- 
law,  James  Johnston,  had  previously  located, 
finding  employment  in  the  shops  of  the 
Terre  Haute  &  Alton  Railroad,  now  the  Big 
Four,  where  he  worked  as  a  machinist  until 
the  shops  were  moved  to  Litchfield.  In 
the  fall  of  1859,  in  company  with  two  other 
gentlemen,  he  started  a  machine  shop  at 
Jacksonville,  Illinois,  but  as  times  were  hard 
he  sold  out  his  interest  two  years  later,  and 
again  entered  the  railroad  shops  at  Litch- 
field, where  he  worked  until  1863.  He 
then  went  to  Cairo,  where  in  the  employ  of 
the  government  he  had  charge  of  men  re- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


197 


pairing  the  dispatch  boats  running  between 
Cairo  and  Vicksburg  and  up  the  Yazoo 
river. 

In  December,    1863,    Mr.    Loudon   was 
solicited  to  come  to  Bloomington  and  take 
charge   of   the   Chicago    &    Alton    machine 
shqps,  where  he  remained  until  a  new  super- 
intendent was  elected   and   then  resigned. 
In  1865  he  took  charge  of  the  shops  of  J. 
M.  Ollis  and  did  a  large  and  successful  busi- 
ness   in    manufacturing    heavy    machinery, 
especially  coal-shaft   machinerj'.      He    also 
had  charge  of  putting  in  the  machinrey  in 
the   first  shaft  sunk   in    Bloomington.      In 
1876  he  became  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Deidrich  &  Loudon,  and  embarked  in  busi- 
ness for  himself  at  the  Big  Four  depot;  but 
a  year  later  the  partnership  was  dissolved 
and  Mr.  Loudon  began   business   alone   at 
No.  620  North  Main  street,  in  a  frame  shop, 
which  he   erected   at  that  place.     The  old 
creek  flowed  by  his  place  of  business  and  the 
street  was  still  lined  with  gardens  on  both 
sides.     Here  he  engaged  in  engine  building 
and  a  general  machine  work.    His  trade  grad- 
ually increasing  and  his  financial  resources, 
also,  he  at  length  erected  his  present  build- 
ing— a  large   brick   structure,  forty-four  by 
ninety-four  feet,  three  stories  in  height  with 
a  basement,   all    devoted    to    his  business. 
Here  he  conducts  a  general  machine  shop, 
and  when  the  water  works  was  established 
he    was    among    the    first    to    start   in   the 
plumbing    business    and    has    since    added 
steam-heating    and    gas-fitting.      In    these 
lines  he  carries  the  finest  as  well  as  by  far 
the  largest  stock   in'  the  city.     Purchasing 
property  on  Center  street,  he  there  erected, 
in  1897,  eight  flats,  the  most   modern  and 
up-to-date  flats  in  the  city.      His  own  home 
is  an   elegant   residence   at    the    corner    of 
Franklin  Square,    now  the    best   neighbor- 


hood in  the  city,  but  when  he  built  there 
thirty-three  years  ago  there  was  but  one 
house  beyond  his  place.  He  was  one  of 
the  original  stockholders  of  the  Corn  Belt 
Bank,  and  has  encouraged  many  of  the  new 
and  important  industries  of  the  city,  such  as 
the  Walton  Plow  factory,  the  chair  factory 
and  the  radiator  factory,  all  of  which  failed 
through  bad  management.  When  the  Illi- 
nois Master  Plumbers'  Association  was 
formed,  in  1S93,  Mr.  Loudon  was  elected 
its  first  president,  serving  during  1893-4, 
and  in  1895  he  served  as  state  vice-presi- 
dent of  the  National  "Plumbers'  Association. 
Although  Mr.  Loudon  is  to-day  one  of  the 
most  prominent  and  successful  business 
men  of  Bloomington,  his  career  has  not 
been  helped  by  accident  or  luck,  or  wealth 
or  powerful  friends.  He  is,  in  the  broadest 
sense,  a  self-made  man,  being  both  the 
architect  and  builder  of  his  own  fortune. 
He  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Bap- 
tist church,  and  he  also  belongs  to  Bloom- 
ington Lodge,  No.  43,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  In 
18S6,  he  returned  to  his  old  home  in  Scot- 
land, his  visit  being  a  joyful  surprise  to  his 
aged  parents.  Besides  going  over  the 
scenes  of  his  boyhood,  he  visited  the  region 
where  most  of  Burns'  poems  were  laid,  it 
being  only  fourteen  miles  from  his  old  home. 
He  also  spent  some  time  in  London  and 
traveled  quite  e.xtensively  through  Scotland. 


CHARLES  E.  BISHOP,  a  veteran  of 
the  war  for  the  union,  and  one  of  the 
enterprising  farmers  and  stock  raisers  of 
McLean  county,  resides  upon  his  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  on  section 
29,  Randolph  township.  He  is  a  native  of 
the  township,  and  was  born  January  23, 
1 84 1.      His  father,    Martin  L.  Bishop,  was 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


a  native  of  Ohio,  born  in  iSi8,  and  was  the 
son  of  James  Bishop.  In  his  native  state 
Martin  L.  Bishop  married  Miss  Matilda 
McRoberts,  also  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  they 
moved  to  McLean  county,  Illinois,  in  the 
fall  of  1S40.  Locating  in  Randolph  town- 
ship, near  the  present  village  of  Heyworth, 
he  purchased  a  farm  and  as  his  means  in- 
creased added  to  its  area  until  he  was  the 
owner  of  over  twelve  hundred  acres.  He 
was  very  successful  in  his  business  ventures 
and  was  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  abil- 
ity. Abraham  Lincoln  was  his  personal 
friend  and  was  his  attorney  in  a  case  against 
the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  which  he  won 
in  the  courts  at  Bloomington.  Mr.  Lincoln 
on  more  than  one  occasion  visited  him  at 
his  home.  He  died  in  Bloomington,  April 
17,  1897.  He  was  twice  married,  his  first 
wife  dying  in  1848.  He  later  married 
Margaret  E.  Glasscock. 

Charles  E.  Bishop  is  one  of  four  children 
by  the  first  union  who  grew  to  mature  years. 
Emeline  married,  but  is  now  deceased. 
Charles  E.  was  next  in  order  of  birth. 
William,  an  ex-sheriff  of  McLean  county, 
is  now  living  in  Bloomington.  Mary  was 
married,  but  is  now  deceased.  On  the  old 
home  place  our  subject  grew  to  manhood, 
and  in  the  common  schools,  which  he  usu- 
ally attended  in  the  winter  months,  he  ob- 
tained his  education.  He  remained  with 
his  father  on  the  farm  until  in  August,  1862, 
when  he  enlisted  in  Company  B,  Ninety- 
fourth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  with 
his  regiment  went  to  the  front.  The  first 
engagement  in  which  he  participated  was  at 
Prairie  Grove,  Arkansas.  He  was  in  the 
siege  of  Vicksburg,  from  which  place  the 
regiment  was  sent  down  the  river,  and  later 
to  Brownsville,  Texas.  During  the  time  he 
was  in  the  service  he  was  on  detached  duty, 


•acting  as  orderly  for  General  Orme  and 
others.  In  August,  1865,  he  was  honorably 
discharged,  after  serving  his  full  three  years. 
The  regiment  was  discharged  and  mustered 
out  at  Springfield,  Illinois. 

After  receiving  his  discharge,  Mr.  Bishop 
returned  to  his  home  in  Randolph  town- 
ship, and  resumed  his  place  on  the  farm. 
On  the  iith  of  January,  1866,  he  married 
Miss  Frances  M.  Lake,  a  native  of  Sanga- 
mon county,  born  and  reared  near  Spring- 
field. In  April  following  they  located  on 
the  place  where  they  now  reside,  renting 
the  place  for  the  first  three  or  four  years 
and  then  purchasing  it.  In  the  years  that 
have  passed  he  has  made  many  improve- 
ments on  it,  in  the  building  of  a  neat  and 
substantial  residence,  the  erection  of  out- 
buildings, the  planting  of  fruit  and  orna- 
mental trees,  together  with  such  other 
improvements  that  go  to  make  a  model 
farm  of  the  nineteenth  century.  It  is  cer- 
tainly one  of  the  best  improved  farms  in 
the  township. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bishop  are  the  parents  of 
eight  children.  Nettie  is  now  the  wife  of 
C.  C.  Bell,  and  they  reside  in  Marshall 
county,  Illinois.  Edward  is  married  and  is 
residing  in  Marshall  county,  Illinois.  Al- 
bert is  married  and  is  a  farmer  of  Ran- 
dolph township.  Frank  is  assisting  in  carry- 
ing on  the  home  farm.  Ella  is  the  wife  of 
John  R.  Ryburn,  of  Randolph  township. 
Jessie  is  the  wife  of  Frank  Munson,  of 
Randolph  township.  Ora  and  Ethel  are 
yet  at  home. 

Politically  Mr.  Bishop  is  a  staunch  and 
life-long  Republican.  He  was  in  the  army 
during  the  presidential  election  of  1864, 
and  therefore  lost  his  opportunity  to  vote  for 
the  re-election  of  "Honest  Old  Abe,"  but 
in  1868  he  had    the  pleasure   of  voting  fo 


THE   BIOGFL\PHICAL   RECORD. 


199 


General  Grant.  His  last  presidential  vote 
was  for  William  McKinlej-.  His  business 
interests  have  always  commanded  his  at- 
tention, and  he  has  therefore  neither  sought 
nor  accepted  office,  with  the  e.xception  of 
that  of  school  trustee,  an  office  which  he 
has  held  for  twent}'  years.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Hey- 
worth,  and  Mrs.  Bishop  is  also  a  member  of 
the  same  church.  Fraternally  he  is  a 
Master  Mason,  and  he  is  also  a  member  of 
the  post  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Re- 
public at  Heyworth.  He  is  also  a  member 
of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 
Socially  he  and  his  family  are  held  in  high 
esteem,  and  as  a  life  long  resident  of  the 
county  he  is  well  acquainted  and  has  many 
friends,  who  admire  him  for  his  personal 
worth  as  a  man  and  citizen. 


LL'M.\N  E.  BAKER,  an  enterprising 
farmer  and  stock  raiser,  residing  on 
section  21,  Downs  township,  owns  and  op- 
erates a  farm  of  two  hundred  acres  of  well 
improved  land.  He  was  born  in  Green 
count}'.  New  York,  under  the  shadow  of  the 
Catskill  mountains,  July  7,  1848.  His 
father,  Luman  Baker,  and  his  grandfather, 
David  Baker,  were  also  natives  of  the  same 
county  and  state.  The  famih-  are  of  Hol- 
land ancestry,  but  very  early  settlers  in  this 
country,  as  the  great  grandfather  of  our 
subject  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary 
war.  Luman  Baker  was  a  farmer  in  Green 
county.  New  York,  and  there  married  Miss 
Hannah  Palmer,  a  native  of  Albany  county. 
New  York,  and  daughter  of  Gideon  Palmer. 
They  never  came  west,  but  lived  and  died 
in  Green  county. 

Luman  E.  Baker  was  reared  in  his  native 
gtate,   where    he    received  fair  educational 


advantages,  but  his  general  knowledge  has 
been  acquired  since  arriving  at  maturity. 
He  remained  at  home  until  twenty  years  of 
age,  when  he  came  to  McLean  county,  Illi- 
nois, and  for  two  years  worked  on  various 
farms  by  the  month.  He  then  rented  a 
farm  in  Old  Town  township,  where  he 
remained  six  years,  after  which  he  moved 
into  Downs  township,  where  he  continued 
to  rent  and  engage  in  farming  for  a  number 
of  years.  He  then  purchased  the  place 
where  he  now  resides,  consisting  of  two 
hundred  acres,  and  has  here  since  continued 
to  reside,  engaged  in  general  farming  and 
stock  raising.  Since  moving  to  the  farm  he 
has  put  down  about  fifteen  hundred  rods  of 
tiling,  and  has  made  other  improvements  of 
a  substantial  character.  He  makes  a  spe- 
cialty of  feeding  and  preparing  forthe  market 
both  cattle  and  hogs,  and  annually  ships 
from  three  to  five  car  loads  of  cattle  and 
two  car  loads  of  hogs. 

Mr.  Baker  was  married  in  the  city  of 
Bloomington,  August  25,  1869,  to  Miss 
Margaret  M.  Price,  a  native  of  McLean 
county,  and  daughter  of  Burl  R.  Price,  who 
came  to  this  county  with  his  father,  James 
Price,  who  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  from 
which  state  he  removed  to  Kentucky  and 
later  to  lUinois,  locating  in  Bloomington, 
where  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness, having  for  a  time  two  stores.  Burl  R. 
Price  here  grew  to  manhood  and  married 
Miss  Elizabeth  Bishop,  a  native  of  Ohio, 
but  who  was  reared  in  this  county,  having 
come  here  with  her  parents  when  but  three 
years  of  age.  Mr.  Price  was  by  occupation 
a  farmer,  and  continued  to  engage  in  farm- 
ing until  his  death  in  1878.  His  wife  yet 
survives  him  and  makes  her  home  in  Bloom- 
ington. 

To    Mr.    and   Mrs.  Baker    five    children 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


have  been  born.  Burl  P.  married  and  has  one 
child.  He  is  well  educated,  and  was  formerly 
a  teacher  in  the  county,  but  is  now  engaged  as 
a  commercial  traveler  from  Chicago.  Carrie 
is  the  wife  of  W.  W.  Reser,  of  Downs  town- 
ship. Lou  is  a  well-educated  young  lady, 
and  for  two  years  taught  in  the  Blooming- 
ton  city  schools.  Walter  is  married,  and  is 
now  engaged  in  the  railroad  service  in  the 
employ  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad. 
Henry  C.  is  a  graduate  of  the  Leroy  high 
school  of  the  class  of  1 899.  He  yet  remains 
under  the  parental  roof. 

Politically,  Mr.  Baker  is  a  Republican, 
and  cast  his  first  presidential  vote  for  U.  S. 
Grant  in  1872.  For  every  presidential 
nominee  of  the  party  from  that  time  to  the 
present  he  has  cast  his  vote.  He  has  never 
sought  or  cared  for  office.  Mrs.  Baker  is  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  church  in  Blooming- 
ton.  For  thirty-one  years  Mr.  Baker  has 
been  a  resident  of  McLean  county  and 
identified  with  its  interests.  He  has  never 
regretted  making  this  county  his  home,  and 
here  he  has  made  many  friends,  and  is  well 
known  in  Bloomington  and  the  south  part 
of  the  county. 


THOMAS  F.  HARWOOD,  deceased, 
was  one  of  the  honored  and  highly-re- 
spected citizens  of  Bloomington,  and  for 
many  years  was  prominently  identified  with 
the  business  interests  of  the  place.  His 
devotion  to  the  public  welfare  made  him  a 
valued  factor  in  public  life,  and  by  his  death 
Bloomington  was  deprived  of  one  of  its  best 
citizens. 

Mr.  Harwood  was  born  in  Orleans  coun- 
ty, New  York,  in  1838,  a  son  of  Chauncey 
and  Lovisa  (Bogue)  Harwood,  natives  of 
Vermont.      In    early     manhood    the    father 


went  to  New  York  and  located  at  the  present 
site  of  the  city  of  Rochester,  traveling  the 
entire  distance  on  foot  from  Chittenden, 
Vermont,  through  the  dense  forests.  He 
bought  a  tract  of  one  hundred  acres  ol  land 
and  built  thereon  a  woolen  mill  just  below 
the  falls  of  the  Genesee  river.  While  op- 
erating that  mill,  his  health  failed  and  he 
removed  to  Orleans  county,  the  same  state, 
where  he  purchased  property  and  erected 
another  woolen  factory,  which  was  liberally 
patronized  by  the  early  settlers  for  miles 
around  in  all  directions.  He  was  one  of  the 
prominent  and  influential  men  of  his  com- 
munity, was  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  Whig 
party,  and  a  deacon  in  the  Presbyterian 
church. 

During  his  boyhood  and  youth,  Thomas 
F.  Harwood  received  a  good  practical  edu- 
cation and  a  thorough  business  training 
under  the  able  guidance  of  his  father.  In 
1858,  on  leaving  home  at  the  age  of  twenty 
years,  he  came  to  Bloomington,  Illinois, 
and  established  himself  in  the  hardware 
business  on  Centre  street,  carrying  on  oper- 
ations along  that  line  until  1870,  when  he 
sold  out  to  his  brothers  and  embarked  in 
the  lumber  trade  under  the  firm  style  of 
T.  F.  Harwood  &  Co.,  afterward  changed  to 
T.  F.  Harwood  &  Sons.  Being  a  man  of 
keen  forsight,  sound  judgment  and  good 
business  ability,  he  prospered  in  his  under- 
takings and  succeeded  in  establishing  the 
largest  lumber  business  in  McLean  county. 
He  was  connected  with  the  same  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  December,  1891. 
He  was  also  a  stockholder  and  vice-presi- 
dent of  the  Citizens'  Gas  Light  Company, 
and  was  interested  in  the  Third  National 
Bank,  of  Bloomington. 

In  1862,  Mr.  Harwood  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Marietta  Keys,  of  Bloom- 


THE   BIOGR.\PHICAL   RECORD. 


ington,  who  is  also  a  native  of  Orleans 
county,  New  York,  and  a  daughter  of  H.  N. 
Keys,  formerfy  of  Connecticut.  Three 
children  were  born  of  this  union:  Willis  S., 
Clara  and  Henry  B.  The  family  is  one  of 
prominence  socially,  and  they  have  a  pleas- 
ant home  at  No.  410  East  Douglas  street. 

In  his  political  affiliations,  Mr.  Harwood 
was  a  Republican,  and  for  one  term  he 
served  as  alderman  of  the  third  ward.  As 
a  public-spirited  and  enterprising  citizen,  he 
championed  every  movement  designed  to 
promote  the  general  welfare,  supported  ev- 
ery enterprise  for  the  public  good,  and  ma- 
terially aided  in  the  advancement  of  all 
social,  educational  and  moral  interests. 


BENJAMIN  F.  HARDER,  treasurer  of 
the  well-known  corporation  of  Har- 
ber  Brothers'  Company,  Bloomington,  is  a 
leading  representative  of  the  business  inter- 
ests of  the  city.  Tireless  energy,  keen  per- 
ception, honesty  of  purpose,  genius  for  de- 
vising and  executing  the  right  thing  at  the 
right  time,  joined  to  every-day  common 
sense,  guided  by  resistless  will  power,  are 
the  chief  characteristics  of  the  man.  Con- 
nected with  one  of  the  leading  wholesale 
houses  in  Bloomington,  the  place  that  he 
occupies  in  business  circles  is  in  the  front 
rank. 

Mr.  Harber  was  born  in  Waldo  town- 
ship, Livingston  county,  Illinois,  June  4, 
1858,  and  is  a  son  of  David  P.  and  Martha 
A.  (Nance)  Harber.  The  father  was  born 
in  Indiana,  November  20,  1821.  Early  in 
the  '50s  he  came  to  Illinois  and  first  located 
in  Woodford  county,  where  he  engaged  in 
farming.  Later  he  followed  the  same  occu- 
pation in  Livingston  county  until  1862,  be- 
coming  an    e.xtensive    farmer,    and    taking 


quite  a  prominent  part  in  township  affairs  as 
an  office  holder.  In  1862  he  removed  to 
El  Paso,  where  he  engaged  in  mercantile 
business  until  1872,  and  then  embarked  in 
the  agricultural  implement  business  at  Eu- 
reka, Woodford  county,  continuing  to  carry 
on  the  same  until  a  few  years  prior  to  his 
death.  He  was  one  of  the  first  to  engage 
exclusively  in  that  trade  in  his  section  of  the 
state,  and  as  a  retail  dealer  met  with  most 
excellent  success.  In  1853  he  married  Miss 
Martha  A.  Nance,  who  was  born  in  Floyd 
county,  Indiana,  September  22,  1829,  and 
is  a  daughter  of  Clement  Nance,  a  repre- 
sentative of  one  of  the  old  families  living 
near  New  Albany,  Indiana.  She  is  still 
living,  but  Mr.  Harber  died  in  Eureka  Jan- 
uary 29,  I S97,  honored  and  esteemed  by  all 
who  knew  him.  He  was  an  active  and  in- 
fluential member  of  the  Christian  church, 
with  which  he  was  officially  connected,  and 
to  which  his  widow  also  belongs.  To  them 
were  born  five  children,  namely:  Hattie, 
now  Mrs.  Van  Ness,  of  New  Jersey;  Edgar 
D.,  president  of  the  Harber  Brothers'  Com- 
pany, who  is  represented  elsewhere  in  this 
work;  Benjamin  F. ,  our  subject;  John  W. , 
vice-president  of  the  company;  and  Mina,  at 
home  with  her  mother. 

For  his  literary  education,  Benjamin  F. 
Harber  is  indebted  to  the  public  schools 
near  his  boyhood  home,  and  his  first  idea 
of  business  and  business  methods  were  ob- 
tained in  his  father's  implement  store  at 
Eureka,  and  with  which  he  was  connected 
as  an  employe  for  two  years.  At  the  age 
of  seventeen  he  was  admitted  to  partner- 
ship, the  firm  name  being  changed  to  D. 
P.  Harber  &  Sons.  They  did  a  successful 
retail  business  in  Eureka  until  1886,  when 
the  brothers  came  to  Bloomington  and  es- 
tablished business  under  the  style   of  Har- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


ber,  Ewins-&  Company,  but  two  years  later 
the  firm  was  changed  to  Harber  Brothers. 
In  1 89 1  the  business  was  incorporated  under 
the  name  of  the  Harber  Brothers'  Com- 
pany, and  the  same  year  they  erected  the 
building  which  they  now  occupy  on  South 
Main  street  and  the  Lake  Erie  &  Western 
Railroad,  having  a  switch  track  of  their 
own.  Their  trade  covers  Illinois,  Iowa  and 
Indiana,  and  employment  is  furnished  to  a 
large  corps  of  traveling  salemen,  as  well  as 
a  good  office  force.  The  company  are 
stockholders  in  several  manufactories  from 
which  they  buy  goods,  and  besides  this 
our  subject  is  a  director  in  the  Third  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Bloomington. 

On  the  8th  of  December,  1881,  Mr. 
Harber  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Jennie  Ewins,  a  daughter  of  John  A. 
Ewins,  (of  whom  see  sketch  elsewhere  in 
this  work),  of  Danvers,  and  two  chil- 
dren have  been  born  of  this  union:  Blanche 
and  Louise.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harber  both 
hold  membership  in  the  Christian  church, 
and  he  also  belongs  to  the  Bloomington 
Club.  By  strict  attention  to  business, 
and  by  the  conscientious  discharge  of  all  du- 
ties imposed  upon  him,  he  has  been  suc- 
cessful in  life,  and  has  won  the  respect 
and  esteem  of  all. 


JOHN  G.  GEIGER  was  for  many  years 
actively  identified  with  the  agricultural 
interests  of  McLean  county  and  is  still  one 
of  the  largest  land  owners  in  the  county, 
but  for  the  past  six  years  he  has  lived  retired 
from  active  labor.  As  a  young  man  of 
nineteen  years  he  came  to  America,  and 
with  no  capital,  started  out  in  a  strange 
land  to  overcome  the  difficulties  and  ob- 
stacles   in    the    path    to    prosperity.      His 


youthful  dreams  have  been  realized,  and  in 
*  their  happy  fulfillment  he  sees  the  fitting  re- 
ward of  his  earnest  toil. 

Mr.  Geiger  was  born  in  the  county  of 
Germershaem,  Bavaria,  Germany,  April  9, 
1833,  a  son  of  Frank  Peter  and  Eva  Bar- 
bara (Wolfe)  Geiger,  who  spent  their  entire 
lives  in  that  country,  where  the  father  fol- 
lowed the  trade  of  a  brick-molder.  Our 
subject  is  the  only  one  of  their  three  chil- 
dren now  living.  He  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  land,  and  later 
engaged  in  farming  and  lumbering  in  that 
country  until  1852,  when  he  crossed  the 
broad  Atlantic,  landing  in  New  York.  He 
proceeded  at  once  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio, 
where  he  arrived  without  a  penny.  He 
was  not  only  a  stranger  in  a  strange  land, 
without  capital,  but  he  knew  nothing  of  the 
English  language.  He  soon  found  employ- 
ment as  a  gardener  and  during  the  year  and 
a  half  he  worked  at  that  occupation  he 
managed  to  save  some  money.  Going  to 
Butler  county,  Ohio,  he  worked  there  for 
two  years  and  a  half,  and  then  came  to 
McLean  county,  Illinois,  in  1856.  Here  he 
was  employed  by  others  for  three  years. 

During  all  this  time,  Mr.  Geiger  saved 
some  of  his  wages,  and  in  September,  1859, 
made  his  first  purchase  of  land,  consisting 
of  eighty-five  acres  on  section  4,  Towanda 
township,  for  which  he  paid  sixteen  hundred 
dollars.  It  was  then  mostly  wild  prairie 
land,  which  he  broke  and  improved,  and 
later  successfully  operated.  On  the  14th  of 
September,  1859,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Anna  Neise,  who  was  born  in  the 
northern  part  of  Bavaria  and  came  to  this 
country  in  1858.  They  began  their  domes- 
tic life  upon  his  farm,  to  which  he  added  a 
tract  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  acres 
adjoining  it  on  the  north,  six  years   later. 


JOHN   G.   GEIGER. 


MkS.  JOHN    G.   GElGER. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


207 


A  few  years  afterward  he  bought  one  hun- 
dred and  sixt\'  acres  more,  and  successfully 
operated  both  farms,  being  engaged  in  gen- 
eral farming  and  stock-raising.  Success  at- 
tended his  efforts  and  he  later  bought  an- 
other tract  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
on  section  24,  Towanda  township,  and  also 
added  eighty-six  acres  to  the  old  homestead 
in  the  same  township.  In  1893  be  pur- 
chased three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  in 
Money  Creek  township  for  which  he  paid 
twenty-seven  thousand  dollars.  He  has 
other  land  equally  good  and  now  owns  nine 
hundred  and  forty  acres,  which  is  worth 
more  than  one  hundred  dollars  per  acre. 
With  the  exception  of  five  acres  of  timber 
land,  this  is  all  under  a  high  state  of  cultiva- 
tion and  well-improved.  This  valuable 
property  has  all  been  acquired  by  hard 
work,  good  management  and  sound  judg- 
ment on  the  part  of  our  subject  and  his 
estimable  wife,  who  has  indeed  proved  to 
him  a  true  helpmeet,  aiding  him  in  every 
possible  way. 

Mr.  Geiger  bought  a  pleasant  home  at 
No.  804  South  Main  street  on  the  ist  of 
March,  1893,  and  there  he  and  his  wife 
have  since  lived  retired,  leaving  the  opera- 
tion of  his  farms  to  their  children,  who  are 
as  follows:  George  H.  married  Carrie 
Stover,  of  Towanda,  and  has  four  children; 
Magdalena  is  the  wife  of  Philip  Sutter,  who 
lives  on  one  of  our  subject's  farms,  and  they 
have  two  children;  Albert  F. ,  who  lives  on 
the  old  homestead,  wedded  Mary  Swartzen, 
and  has  two  children;  John  N.  is  engaged  in 
farming;  Minnie  is  the  wife  of  Joseph  Sut- 
ter, and  has  four  children;  he  lives  in  To- 
wanda township;  and  Paul  H.  is  now  a  resi- 
dent of  Oklahoma. 

Mr.  Geiger  has  always  been  a  stanch 
supporter    of    the    Republican    party,    and 


while  living  in  the  country  he  served  for  six 
years  as  highway  commissioner  of  Towanda 
township.  Upright  and  honorable  in  all 
his  dealings,  the  success  that  has  attended 
his  well-directed  efforts  is  certainly  justly 
merited,  and  he  has  gained  the  confidence 
and  respect  of  all  who  know  him. 


JOSEPH  D.  KAUFMAN.— Similar  to  a 
foundation  stone  which  holds  its  place 
under  an  important  superstructure,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  occupies  an  immovable 
position  among  the  solid  men  of  Empire 
township.  His  occupation  at  present  is  that 
of  general  farming  and  stock  raising,  and  he 
owns  and  successfully  operates  a  most  de- 
sirable farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres 
on  section  4,  about  three  miles  north  of 
Le  Roy. 

Mr.  Kaufman  was  born  in  Fairfield 
county,  Ohio,  May  28,  1840,  and  is  a  son  of 
Joseph  Kaufman,  who  was  born  in  the  same 
state,  in  1810,  and  died  in  1S40.  The 
mother  of  our  subject,  who  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Mar}'  Ann  Berry,  was  a  native  of 
\irginia,  but  was  reared  in  Ohio,  where  her 
marriage  was  celebrated.  After  the  death 
of  her  husband  she  devoted  her  entire  atten- 
tion to  the  rearing  of  her  children,  and  in 
1857  brought  her  family  to  Illinois,  locating 
on  a  farm  in  Blue  Ridge  township,  Piatt 
county,  where  she  spent  the  remainder  of 
her  life,  dying  there  in  August,   1876. 

The  subject  of  this  review  remained  with 
his  mother  until  his  marriage,  and  by  his 
work  upon  the  home  farm  gained  a  good 
practical  knowledge  of  agriculture.  Later 
he  learned  the  carpenter's  and  joiner's  trade, 
which  he  followed  for  several  years.  In 
July,  1862,  however,  he  laid  aside  all  per- 
sonal interests  and  enlisted  for  three  months 


208 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


in  Company  A,  Seventy-first  Illinois  Volun- 
teer Infantry,  which  was  on  duty  guarding 
the  Ohio  &  Mobile  Railroad  in  Kentucky 
until  mustered  out  at  Chicago  at  the  close 
of  their  term  of  enlistment. 

After  his  return  from  the  war  Mr.  Kauf- 
man located  in  Tazewell  county,  where  he 
engaged  in  farming  for  twenty-one  years. 
There  he  was  married,  January  i6,  1868,  to 
Miss  Martha  Curtis,  a  native  of  Indiana, 
who  came  to  this  state  when  a  young  lady 
with  her  father,  Harry  Curtis.  Three  chil- 
dren blessed  this  union,  namely.  Henry  C. , 
a  farmer  of  Empire  township,  McLean 
county,  who  married  Almeda  Newman  and 
has  had  three  children,  Russell  and  Joseph 
D.,  still  living,  and  Ella,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  four  months;  Mary,  who  is  at  home 
with  her  parents;  and  William  A.,  who  is 
now  attending  the  high  school  at  Le  Roy. 

For  a  time  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Kauf- 
man worked  at  the  carpenter's  and  joiner's 
trades  in  Le  Roy,  and  then  returned  to 
Tazewell  county,  where  he  rented  a  farm 
for  a  few  years  and  then  purchased  a  place, 
making  that  county  his  home  twenty-one 
years  altogether.  Selling  his  place  there  in 
the  spring  of  1 890,  he  bought  his  present 
farm  in  Empire  township,  upon  which  he  has 
since  made  many  valuable  improvements,  in- 
cluding the  planting  of  fruit  and  ornamental 
trees.  He  is  a  wide-awake,  energetic  man, 
and  from  a  modest  beginning,  in  which  he 
was  dependent  upon  his  own  resources,  has 
become  one  of  the  most  prosperous  and  sub- 
stantial citizens  of  his  community.  In  poli- 
tics he  has  been  a  steadfast  Republican  since 
casting  his  first  presidential  ballot  for  Abra- 
ham Lincoln  in  1864,  and  as  a  man  and 
citizen  contributes  his  full  share  toward  en- 
hancing the  intellectual  and  moral  welfare 
of   his  township  and  county.      For  several 


years  he  has  most  capably  served  as  a  mem- 
"ber  of  the  school  board,  and  is  now  serving 
his  second  term  as  township  trustee.  He 
and  his  estimable  wife  hold  membership  in 
the  Le  Roy  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
with  which  he  is  ofBcially  connected  and  is 
now  one  of  the  trustees,  while  fraternally 
he  belongs  to  the  Grand  Army  Post  of  the 
same  place.  He  has  ever  been  found  prompt 
and  true  to  every  engagement,  and  no  trust 
reposed  in  him  has  ever  been  misplaced. 


MISS  SUSAN  LOEHR  is  a  representa- 
tive of  one  of  the  oldest  and  most 
highly  respected  families  of  Bloomington, 
being  a  daughter  of  Peter  J.  and  Anna  B. 
(Schneider)  Loehr,  who  located  here  in 
1846.  The  father  was  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, and  on  first  coming  to  this  country 
located  in  Somerset,  Somerset  county, 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Anna  B.  Schneider,  a 
native  of  that  place  and  a  daughter  of 
Jacob  Schneider,  also  a  resident  of  Somer- 
set, who  had  come  to  America  from  Ger- 
many when  a  young  man.  The  grandfather 
was  a  business  man  of  considerable  prom- 
inence and  served  as  justice  of  the  peace 
for  a  number  of  years.  His  advice  was 
often  sought  on  different  matters,  and  he 
was  a  man  looked  up  to  and  honored  by  all 
who  knew  him.  He  and  his  family  held 
membership  in  the  Lutheran  church.  His 
brother  laid  out  the  early  part  of  the  town 
of  Somerset,  and  the  family  was  always 
prominently  identified  with  public  affairs 
there. 

For  some  years  after  their  marriage, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Loehr  continued  their  resi- 
dence in  Somerset,  Pennsylvania,  where  he 
engaged  in  busmess  as    a   merchant    tailor, 


THE   BIOGR.\PHICAL   RECORD. 


209 


and  later  followed  farming  in  Somerset 
county.  There  eight  children  were  born  to 
them  and  seven  of  the  number  came  to 
Bloomington,  these  being  Clarissa,  who 
married  Dr.  H.  H.  Painter  and  came  to 
Bloomington  prior  to  her  parents,  her  death 
occurring  here;  Frederick,  a  painter  by 
trade,  who  died  in  Mobile,  Alabama;  Susan, 
our  subject;  Catherine,  who  married  Will- 
iam Weyand,  of  Somerset,  and  both  died 
in  Bloomington;  Francis,  who,  as  a  sur- 
veyor, went  to  Walla  Walla,  Washington, 
in  1852,  is  now  deceased;  William,  a  re- 
tired farmer,  who  is  now  living  in  Bloom- 
ington; John  H.,  who  for  some  years  served 
as  county  treasurer  of  McLean  county,  Illi- 
nois, and  died  in  Bloomington  in  1886; 
Anna,  deceased;  and  Charles,  who  was  em- 
ployed in  the  county  treasurer's  office  from 
the  time  he  was  a  youug  man  until  his 
death  in  1886.  He  served  in  the  civil  war 
in  an  Illinois  regiment. 

On  coming  to  McLean  county  in  1846, 
the  father  purchased  a  farm  west  of  the 
city,  and  made  his  home  thereon  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  1852.  The  mother 
long  survived  him,  passing  away  in  1881, 
at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety  years.  She 
continued  to  reside  upon  the  farm  for  some 
time  after  her  husband's  death,  but  finally 
removed  to  Bloomington  and  purchased  a 
comfortable  home  at  No.  512  West  Front 
street,  where  she  spent  her  remaining  days. 
Before  coming  to  Bloomington  the  parents 
both  joined  the  Christian  church,  and  united 
with  the  congregation  here  when  the 
church  was  quite  small.  They  were  num- 
bered among  its  most  active  and  prominent 
workers,  and  their  lives  were  ever  in  har- 
mony with  their  professions.  They  re- 
ceived and  merited  the  high  regard  of  the 
entire    community     and    those    who    knew 


them    best   were    numbered    among    their 
warmest  friends. 

Miss  Loehr,  of  this  review,  was  born 
June  7,  1 8 17,  and  now  occupies  a  pleasant 
home  at  the  corner  of  West  and  Front 
streets.  Like  the  other  members  of  the 
family  she  is  a  member  of  the  Christian 
church  and  has  the  respect  and  esteem  of 
all  who  know  her. 


FRANK  MORRISON,  a  leading  plumber 
and  steam-fitter,  and  a  prominent  busi- 
ness man  of  Bloomington,  was  born  in  Glas- 
gow, Scotland,  December  29,  1844,  a  son 
of  Frank  and  Jeanette  (Cumming)  Morrison, 
also  natives  of  Glasgow,  which  has  been 
the  home  of  the  family  for  many  genera- 
tions. There  the  parents  both  died  in  the 
faith  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  of  which 
they  were  faithful  and  consistent  members. 
The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject  was 
Alexander  Morrison. 

Mr.  Morrison,  of  this  review,  was  edu- 
cated in  the  grammar  schools  of  Glasgow 
and  at  the  age  of  thirteen  years  began 
learning  the  plumber's  trade,  at  which  he 
served  a  seven-years'  apprenticeship.  Aft- 
er thoroughly  mastering  the  business  in  all 
its  details,  he  worked  as  a  journeyman  for  a 
short  time  in  Glasgow,  and  was  then  em- 
ployed at  the  ship  building  yards  of  Caird  & 
Company,  on  the  river  Clyde,  working  on 
the  plumbing  of  the  Atlantic  line  of  steam- 
ers for  five  years. 

In  1868,  Mr.  Morrison  was  married,  in 
Glasgow,  to  Miss  Ellen  Cowan,  daughter 
of  Robert  Cowan,  of  Sterlingshire.  After 
his  marriage  he  worked  on  the  steamers 
of  the  cunard  line,  the  North  German 
Lloyds  line,  and  those  of  the  Penin- 
sula Steam  Packet    Company,  an  Oriental 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


line,  whose  steamers  sailed  from  South- 
ampton to  Bombay,  India,  and  other 
eastern  points.  His  work  on  these  vessels 
was  of  a  most  modern  character.  In  1872, 
Mr.  Morrison  came  to  the  United  States, 
landing  at  New  York  on  the  4th  of  July. 
After  spending  about  a  year  in  looking  for 
work  in  different  Pennsylvania  towns,  he 
came  to  Bloomington  in  1S73  and  accepted 
a  position  with  George  Mcintosh,  a  plum- 
ber and  steam-fitter  of  this  city,  for  whom 
he  worked  one  year.  He  was  next  with 
Robert  Louden,  when  he  first  started  into 
the  plumbing  business,  and  remained  with 
him  for  seven  years  as  foreman. 

In  1883,  Mr.  Morrison  embarked  in  the 
same  business  on  his  own  account  in  Hill's 
block  on  South  East  street,  and  when  the  quar- 
ters became  too  small  to  accommodate  his 
constantly  increasing  business,  he  removed 
to  the  Gerkin  block  on  East  street.  Subse- 
quently his  business  again  demanded  larger 
quarters  and  he  removed  to  the  Stevenson 
block  on  Front  street.  He  is  now  located 
at  No.  206  East  Front  street,  occupying  the 
whole  store,  twenty-four  by  one  hundred 
feet.  He  has  had  many  of  the  largest  con- 
tracts in  the  city  for  both  steam  heating  and 
plumbing,  and  during  the  busy  seasen  em- 
ploys about  fifteen  men.  He  was  one  of 
the  first  board  of  examiners  of  plumbers  for 
the  city  and  still  holds  that  position. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morrison  have  a  family  of 
nine  children,  two  of  whom  were  born  in 
Scotland,  and  the  others  after  the  emigra- 
tion of  the  family  to  America.  In  order  of 
birth  they  are  as  follows:  Frank,  Jr.,  who 
is  engaged  in  the  plumbing  business  in 
Pontiac,  Illinois;  Jennie;  Robert,  a  plumber 
of  Bloomington,  who  wedded  Mary  Emer- 
son, and  has  one  child,  Helen;  Charles  is 
married  and  is  with  our  subject  in  business; 


Ellen,  who  was  educated  in  the  high  school 
of  Bloomington,  as  was  also  her  sister  Jen- 
nie; and  John,  James,  Bell  and  Margaret, 
who  are  still  attending  school.  The  family 
have  a  pleasant  home  at  No.  802  East 
Front  street,  which  is  one  of  the  best  parts 
of  the  cit}'.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morrison 
are  earnest  members  of  the  Second  Presby- 
terian church,  and  he  is  also  a  member  of 
Evergreen  Lodge,  No.  265,  I.  O.  O.  F. 
Politically  he  is  identified  with  the  Repub- 
lican party,  but  has  never  been  an  aspirant 
for  office,  preferring  to  give  his  undivided  at- 
tention to  his  business  interests.  In  busi- 
ness affairs  he  is  honorable,  prompt  and 
reliable,  and  the  success  that  has  come  to 
him  is  due  entirely  to  his  own  industry, 
sound  judgment  and  good  executive  ability. 


MARKS  BANKS,  a  pioneer  of  McLean 
county,  and  for  the  past  thirteen  years 
president  of  the  Old  Settlers'  Society  of 
Dawson  township,  came  to  this  county  in 
1834,  and  for  sixty-five  years  has  been  one 
of  its  honored  citizens.  He  was  born  in 
Montgomery  county,  Virginia,  January  12, 
1823,  and  is  the  son  of  Cassell  and  Mary 
(Watkins)  Banks,  both  natives  of  Virginia. 
They  were  the  parents  of  eight  children, 
of  whom  Mrs.  Sarah  Martin,  John,  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  McDonald,  George,  and  Mrs. 
Ruth  Wall  are  deceased.  The  living  are 
Marks,  the  subject  of  our  sketch;  Thomas, 
who  resides  in  Saybrook,  McLean  county; 
and  Mrs.  Mary  Vanscoyoc,  living  in  Daw- 
son township.  The  paternal  grandfather, 
John  Banks,  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey, 
who  moved  in  an  early  day  to  Montgomery 
county,  Virginia,  and  there  married  Miss 
Short. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  came  to  Mc- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Lean  county  with  his  parents  when  eleven 
years  of  age,  at  which  time  the  country 
was  almost  entirely  in  its  primiiive  state, 
although  there  were  settlements  in  various 
parts  of  the  county.  Two  years  after  the 
arrival  of  the  family  his  mother  died,  after 
which  Marks  really  commenced  life  for  him- 
self. It  was  his  lot  to  work,  and  work  hard. 
The  virgin  soil  mnst  be  broken,  crops 
planted  and  harvested,  log  cabins  built,  and, 
in  fact,  everything  must  be  done  to  make 
"  the  wilderness  blossom  as  the  rose."  In 
doing  his  part  in  the  development  of  this 
country,  it  may  be  surmised  there  was  little 
time,  even  if  the  opportunity  was  offered, 
for  obtaining  an  education.  The  opportun- 
ities, however,  were  improved  whenever 
given,  and  Mark  obtained  a  good  common- 
school  education,  but  the  little  obtained  in 
the  primitive  school  house  is  not  to  be  com- 
pared to  what  he  has  since  learned  in  the 
school  of  experience. 

On  the  isth  of  April,  1847,  Mr.  Banks 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Rebecca 
Vanscoyoc,  daughter  of  James  and  Drusella 
(Lewis)  Vanscoyoc,  natives  of  Pennsylvania 
and  Virginia,  respectively,  but  who  were 
also  numbered  among  the  pioneers  of  this 
county.  Mrs.  Banks  was  one  of  a  family 
of  three  sons  and  three  daughters.  By  this 
union  there  were  four  children,  one  of  whom 
died  in  infancj'.  Mary  was  the  wife  of 
William  Van  Gundy.  She  died  leaving 
three  children:  Frank,  Harry  and  Clay. 
Rachel  E.  died  in  maidenhood.  Millard  C. 
grew  to  manhood  and  married  Ara  Hoover, 
daughter  of  George  L.  and  Susan  (Bane) 
Hoover,  who  are  natives  of  Virginia,  but 
who  now  reside  in  McLean  county.  Three 
boj's  have  come  to  bless  this  union,  Earl, 
Cassius  Cassel  and  George  James.  Mrs. 
Rebedca  Banks  departed  this  life  February 


19,  1890,  at  the  age  of  sixty-six  years,  and 
her  remains  were  interred  in  the  Dawson 
cemetery.  She  was  a  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church,  and  died  in  the 
hope  of  a  blessed  resurrection  and  a  life  be- 
yond the  grave,  where  there  shall  be  a  re- 
union of  loved  ones. 

Mr.  Banks  has  been  honored  by  the 
citizens  of  -the  township  with  various  offices 
of  honor  and  trust.  For  years  he  occupied 
the  responsible  position  of  school  director 
and  did  all  in  his  power  to  advance  the 
interests  of  the  public  schools.  He  also 
served  as  a  member  of  the  county  board  of 
supervisors,  making  an  efficient  member  of 
that  body.  As  postmaster  of  Senex  he 
served  for  one  year,  the  post  office  being 
in  his  house.  In  politics  he  has  been  a 
Republican  since  the  organization  of  the 
partj',  and  has  always  been  an  advocate  of 
its  principles.  Locally,  however,  he  votes 
for  the  best  man  nominated  for  office.  He 
is  non-sectarian  in  his  religious  views,  and 
endeavors  to  gauge  his  conduct  by  the 
golden  rule.  He  has  been  an  extensive 
reader  of  the  current  events  of  the  day, 
and  always  endeavors  to  be  posted  on  what 
is  going  on  in  his  state  and  nation. 

Although  he  has  reached  almost  his 
four  score  years,  he  is  yet  hale  and  hearty, 
sound  in  body  and  mind,  and  is  surrounded 
by  many  friends.  He  likes  to  meet  with 
his  associates  of  the  past,  and  recall  the 
events  of  the  days  gone  by,  the  time  when 
the  country  was  new,  when  wild  game  of 
all  kinds  abounded,  when  men  and  women 
went  to  church  in  common  everyday  gar- 
ments and  worshiped  God  with  all  the  zeal 
possible.  For  the  purpose  of  keeping  up 
the  memories  of  the  past  and  to  renew  old 
acquaintances,  he  assisted  in  organizing  the 
old  settlers'  society,  which  has  its  meetings, 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


annually.  While  the  ranks  of  the  pioneers 
are  thinning  very  fast  it  is  needful  that  the 
present  generation  should  know  of  the  toils 
they  endured  and  give  them  the  reverence 
their  due.  To  no  man  in  McLean  county 
is  greater  honor  due  in  this  respect  than 
to  Marks  Banks,  the  pioneer  of  1823. 


COLONEL  HENRY  G.  REEVES.  It 
is  a  well  attested  nia.xim  that  the 
greatness  of  a  state  lies  not  in  its  machin- 
ery for  government,  nor  even  in  its  institu- 
tions, but  in  the  sterling  qualities  of  its  in- 
dividual citizens,  in  their  capacity  for  high 
and  unselfish  effort  and  their  devotion  to 
the  public  good.  The  name  of  Colonel 
Reeves  is  one  which  has  been  long  and 
conspicuously  identified  with  the  history  of 
Illinois,  and  the  goal  toward  which  he  has 
hastened  during  his  many  years  of  toil  and 
endeavor  is  that  which  is  attained  only  by 
such  as  have  by  patriotism  and  wise  counsel 
given  the  world  an  impetus  toward  the 
good;  such  have  earned  the  right  and  title 
to  have  their  names  enduringly  inscribed  on 
the  pages  of  history. 

He  was  born  in  Pitttsburg,  Pennsylvania, 
June  12,  1844,  a  son  of  Barnes  C.  and 
Mary  M.  (Gray)  Reeves.  His  paternal 
great-grandfather,  Abner  Reeves,  was  an 
officer  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  a  member 
of  the  New  Jersey  troops,  and  his  commis- 
sion is  now  a  cherished  heirloom  in  posses- 
sion of  the  Colonel.  The  grandfather  was 
Manassah  Reeves,  of  Pennsylvania.  The 
father  was  born  near  Monongahela,  Penn- 
sylvania, was  there  reared  and  when  a 
young  man  went  to  Pittsburg,  where  he 
engaged  in  the  lumber  business.  In  the 
latter  city  he  married  Miss  Mary,  daughter 
of  James   Gray,   one  of   the  pioneers    and 


prominent  citizens  of  Pittsburg.  He  was  a 
native  of  Ireland,  was  of  Scotch  ancestry, 
and  in  his  religious  faith  was  a  Presbyterian. 
In  politics  James  Gray  was  a  Democrat  and 
was  a  personal  acquaintance  of  Jackson  and 
\'an  Buren.  In  1855  Barnes  C.  Reeves  re- 
moved with  his  family  to  a  farm  in  Old- 
town  township  and  there  made  his  home 
until  his  death.  He  died  in  1856,  leaving 
a  widow  and  three  children,  of  whom  the 
Colonel  is  the  eldest. 

The  childhood  of  our  subject  was  spent 
in  Pittsburg  and  on  the  old  farm  until  i860, 
when  he  entered  the  Illinois  Wesleyan  Uni- 
versity, pursuing  his  studies  there  until  after 
the  inauguration  of  the  civil  war,  when  with 
man}-  of  his  college  chums  he  enlisted  in 
Company  G,  Sixty-eighth  Illinois  Infantry, 
in  May,  1862,  when  not  3'et  eighteen  years 
of  age.  The  regiment  was  assigned  to  the 
army  of  the  Potomac  and  he  remained  with 
his  command  until  the  e.xpiration  of  his 
term  of  service. 

After  receiving  an  honorable  discharge 
at  the  close  of  his  service  Mr.  Reeves  en- 
gaged in  teaching  school  and  completed  his 
University  course  by  graduation  in  the  class 
of  1866.  He  had  the  honor  of  being  salu- 
tatorian,  and  was  graduated  with  the  degree 
of  Bachelor  of  Arts.  He  immediately  began 
the  study  of  law  with  Judge  O.  T.  Reeves, 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1867  and  with 
the  e.xception  of  the  periods  spent  away 
from  the  city  or  in  official  service  has  en- 
gaged in  the  practice  of  his  profession  con- 
tinuously since,  meeting  with  excellent 
success  in  his  endeavors.  In  course  of  time 
he  took  the  Master  of  Arts  degree  and 
served  as  attorney  for  his  alma  mater  for 
ten  or  twelve  years  or  until  he  went  to 
Springfield  on  official  duty. 

The  Colonel    is    a  stalwart    Republican 


THE    BIOGR.\PHICAL   RECORD. 


213 


aud  has  long  taken  a  personal  interest  in 
politics,  doing  all  in  his  power  to  promote 
the  growth  and  insure  the  success  of  his 
party.  He  has  served  as  alderman  of  the 
sixth  ward  of  Bloomington,  and  throughout 
Governor  Fifer's  administration  he  served 
as  his  private  secretary.  Immediately  on 
his  retirement  from  that  office  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  Governor  Altgeld  on  the  court 
of  claims  as  its  Republican  member  for  a 
term  of  four  years.  He  was  for  many  years 
a  member  and  judge  advocate  of  the  Second 
Brigade  of  the  Illinois  National  Guards, 
and  has  always  maintained  an  interest  in 
military  affairs. 

Colonel  Reeves  was  united  in  marriage 
in  Bloomington,  December  25,  1867,  to 
Miss  Harriet  Niccolls,  a  daughter  of  John 
Niccolls,  one  of  the  early  residents  of 
Bloomington,  to  which  city  he  removed 
from  Pennsylvania.  They  have  one  child, 
Violet  N.  The  parents  have  long  been 
faithful  and  consistent  members  of  Grace 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  The  Colonel 
is  a  member  of  the  College  Alumni  Associa- 
tion, and  for  some  years  was  its  president. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity and  a  member  of  the  State  Bar 
Association.  He  was  on  the  program  at  a 
meeting  in  which  they  had  addresses  from 
Vice-President  Stevenson,  Judge  Blodgett 
and  Mr.  Burrough.  He  delivered  an  ad- 
dress on  "  The  question  as  to  whether  this 
state  ought  to  have  a  new  constitution," 
taking  strong  grounds  in  favor  thereof  in  a 
most  able,  earnest  and  carefully  prepared 
speech.  He  also  delivered  the  same  ad- 
dress before  the  gathering  of  the  state  board 
of  supervisors,  it  being  a  matter  of  vital 
interest  to  the  commonwealth.  It  was  a 
most  clear  and  masterful  argument,  setting 
forth  the  condition  of  our  state  at  the  time 


of  the  adoption  of  its  various  constitutions, 
the  transformations  that  have  since  been 
wrought,  and  the  necessity  for  a  new  or- 
ganic law  brought  about  by  our  different 
methods  of  business  and  political  life  at  the 
present  time.  He  strongly  urged  the  curb- 
ing of  the  powers  of  trusts  and  corporations, 
the  just  assessment  of  all  property,  whether 
belonging  to  an  individual  or  a  company, 
and  the  adoption  of  a  provision  whereby 
representation  shall  not  depend  entirely 
upon  population  but  also  upon  the  extent 
of  territory  which  the  designated  population 
shall  occupy.  This  is  to  keep  the  control 
of  the  state  from  ever  entering  the  hands  of 
Chicago,  for  in  the  course  of  a  few  years 
the  metropolis  of  Illinois  would  find  it  pos- 
sible to  dominate  the  entire  commonwealth. 
The  whole  address  was  marked  by  prac- 
tical common  sense,  looking  to  the  inter- 
ests of  the  majority  and  not  of  the  minority 
of  millionaires  and  capitalists,  and  was  per- 
meated by  a  patriotic  spirit  which  has 
characterized  the  entire  career  of  Colonel 
Henry  G.  Reeves,  one  of  Bloomington's 
most  honored  and  respected  citizens. 


SAMUEL  BUSH  is  one  of  the  honored 
pioneer  residents  of  Chenoa,  whose  life 
is  a  verification  of  the  fact  that  the  inevita- 
ble law  of  destiny  accords  a  tireless  energy, 
industry  and  ability  a  successful  career.  A 
community  depends  upon  commercial  ac- 
tivity, its  welfare  is  due  to  this,  and  the 
promoter  of  extensive  and  legitimate  busi- 
ness enterprises  may  well  be  termed  its 
benefactor.  Prominent  in  his  adopted  city 
stands  Samuel  Bush,  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, who  was  born  in  Shippensburg, 
Cumberland  county,  on  the  5th  of  June, 
1S22.      His  parents  were  John  and  Rebecca 


214 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


(Boilue)  Bush,  both  of  Pennsylvania,  who 
came  to  McLean  county  in  1857,  locating 
and  building  the  first  house  in  Chenoa. 
The  former  opened  a  hotel  here,  the  Bush 
House,  which  he  conducted  for  a  number 
of  years.  He  was  a  cabinet-maker  bj'  trade, 
and  in  this  pursuit  was  engaged  for  fifty 
years.  In  politics  he  was  a  Republican,  to 
which  party  he  gave  his  support.  His 
death  occurred  in  1882,  at  the  advanced 
age  of  ninety  jears,  and  that  of  his  wife  ten 
years  previously,  when  in  her  eighty-first 
year. 

Of  the  eight  children  of  this  worthy 
couple  si.\  survive,  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
being  second  in  order  of  birth.  He  was 
reared  in  his  native  town  in  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  received  his  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools,  and  where  he  learned  the 
cabinet-maker's  trade,  in  which  he  was  en- 
gaged for  twenty-five  years.  Upon  reach- 
ing his  majority  he  started  in  business  for 
himself,  and  worked  at  various  points  in  the 
east,  until  his  thirty-si.\th  year,  when,  in 
1858,  he  removed  to  McLean  county,  set- 
tling in  Chenoa,  where  his  parents  had  pre- 
ceded him  by  one  year.  He  followed  his 
trade  here  and  in  the  surrounding  counties 
until  1 86 1,  when  at  the  opening  of  the  civil 
war  he  enlisted  as  a  member  of  Company 
D,  Eleventh  Illinois  Cavalry,  under  Captain 
Armstrong,  with  Colonel  R.  Ingersoll  in 
command.  He  entered  the  regiment  in 
1 86 1  as  a  sergeant,  and  received  promo- 
tions throughout  the  various  campaigns,  un- 
til at  the  close  of  the  war  he  was  holding 
the  commission  of  first  lieutenant.  He  par- 
ticipated in  a  number  of  prominent  battles, 
among  which  were  Shiloh,  Pittsburg  Land- 
ing, Corinth,  Memphis  and  various  minor 
conflicts.  In  1865  he  returned  to  McLean 
county    and    purchased   a    farm    of   eighty 


acres,  trading  it  after  a  time  for  the  Smith 
Hotel  in  Chenoa,  which  he  conducted  for  a 
time,  and  later  another  hotel,  the  Exchange, 
which  he  soon  abandoned.  In  1876  Mr. 
Bush  took  up  a  claim  in  Kansas,  which  he 
sold  after  three  years  and  returned  to  Che- 
noa. In  1883  he  went  to  Texas  and  spent 
two  years  on  a  ranch,  going  later  to  Fort 
Worth  for  a  short  time,  and  then  returning 
to  Chenoa,  where  he  now  lives  a  retired  life. 
On  the  loth  of  April,  1877,  Mr.  Bush  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  Ann  East. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic,  and  in  politics  gives  his  support 
to  the  Republican  platform.  In  manner  he 
is  pleasant  and  affable,  and  a  stranger  in  his 
presence  is  at  once  perfectly  at  ease. 


SAMUEL  R.  HILTS,  who  resides  in  a 
beautiful  home  on  section  i  5,  Towanda 
township,  where  he  and  wife  owns  eighty 
acres  of  fine  farming  land,  together  with  an 
additional  eighty  acres  on  section  14,  is 
numbered  among  the  most  progressive 
farmers  in  the  township.  He  was  born 
September  17,  1866,  near  the  village  of 
Towanda,  on  his  father's  farm,  and  is  the 
son  of  George  and  Mary  (Wilmuth)  Hilts. 
He  is  one  of  a  family  of  seven  children,  the 
others  being  Walter  C. ,  chief  clerk  in  the 
office  of  the  Port  Arthur  Land  and  Insur- 
ance company,  of  Kansas  City,  Missouri; 
Dr.  Mark  B.,  a  practicing  physician  of 
Sloan,  Iowa;  Anna,  wife  of  James  Jeffrey, 
of  Sloan,  Iowa;  Jessie,  wife  of  Frank  Ra}'- 
burn,  of  Jefferson,  Iowa;  Effie,  who  is  teach- 
ing in  the  public  schools  of  Oregon,  Illinois; 
Laura,  who  is  engaged  in  teaching  in  the 
public  schools  of  Sloan,  Iowa. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  grew  to  man- 
hood on  his  father's  farm  in  Towanda  town- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


215 


ship,  and  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools.  He  remained  at  home,  assisting 
in  the  cultivation  of  the  home  farm  until  he 
attained  his  majority.  He  was  married 
December  3,  1895,  to  Miss  Anna  Jones, 
daughter  of  Nelson  and  Eliza  (White)  Jones, 
by  whom  he  has  one  son,  Noel  Jones, 
named  in  honor  of  his  great-grandmother. 

As  a  life  calling,  Mr.  Hilts  selected 
farming,  an  occupation  to  which  he  had 
been  reared,  and  the  year  succeeding  his 
marriage  they  erected  their  present  fine  and 
substantial  residence,  in  which  they  have 
since  continued  to  reside.  He  is  a  good 
farmer,  and  thoroughly  understands  his 
business,  and  in  addition  to  a  general  line 
of  farming,  he  has  made  a  specialty  of  the 
breeding  of  Poland-China  hogs  of  pure 
blood.  He  has  been  very  careful  in  the 
selection  of  his  stock,  especially  for  breed- 
ing purposes,  and  his  herd  contains  some 
choice  animals  of  undoubted  pedigree. 

In  politics  Mr.  Hilts  is  a  Republican, 
with  which  party  he  has  been  identified 
since  attaining  his  majority.  He  has  served 
as  collector  of  his  township,  discharging  the 
duties  of  the  office  most  efiBciently  during 
the  years  1893-94.  Fraternally,  he  is  a 
member  of  Success  Lodge,  No.  480,  K.  P., 
of  Towanda,  and  has  passed  all  the  chairs. 
In  religious  belief  he  is  a  Presbyterian,  and 
he  and  his  wife  hold  membership  in  the 
church  of  that  denomination  in  Towanda. 
Both  are  highly  esteemed  for  their  many 
good  qualities  of  head  and  heart,  and  they 
have  many  friends  in  the  township  and 
county. 


CHARLES    E.    MOOTS,   a  progressive 
farmer    and    stock    raiser    of    Money 
Creek  township,  resides  on   the   old   home- 


stead of  his  father  on  section  18,  where  he 
is  engaged  in  general  farming  and  stock 
raising.  He  was  born  November  11,  1863, 
on  the  place  where  he  now  resides,  and  is 
the  son  of  Charles  M.  and  Adaline  (Busick) 
Moots,  the  former  a  native  of  Ohio  and  the 
latter  of  McLean  county,  Illinois.  Charles 
Moots,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was 
also  born  in  Ohio,  and  there  his  son,  Charles 
M.,  spent  the  first  eighteen  years  of  his  life, 
after  which  he  came  to  McLean  county, 
Illinois,  and  located  in  the  village  of 
McLean.  He  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade 
and  followed  that  occupation  for  some  years 
after  coming  to  the  county.  It  was  not  his 
intention,  however,  to  make  that  his  life 
work,  and  as  soon  as  his  means  would  per- 
mit he  invested  his  earnings,  purchasing 
eighty  acres  of  the  farm  on  which  our  sub- 
ject now  resides.  From  time  to  time  he 
added  to  its  area  until  he  now  owns  three 
hundred  and  fifty  acres.  He  began  in  a 
very  early  day  to  make  a  specialty  of  raising 
horses  for  the  markets,  and  was  one  of  the 
first  to  bring  imported  horses  into  the 
vicinity.  In  18S1  he  moved  to  Hudson, 
and  commenced  the  business  of  importing 
and  handling  draft  and  coach  horses.  He 
remained  at  Hudson  for  three  years  and 
then  moved  to  Normal,  where  he  still  con- 
tinues to  live,  and  where  until  quite  recently 
he  was  actively  engaged  in  the  horse  busi- 
ness. In  the  family  of  Charles  M.  and 
Adaline  Moots  were  nine  children,  seven  of 
whom  grew  to  maturity:  Mary,  wife  of  T.  C. 
Jenkins,  of  Money  Creek  township;  Frank, 
of  Helena,  Montana;  Ida,  wife  of  Wilbur 
Rogers,  of  Kansas;  Charles  E.,  our  subject; 
Lincoln,  who  died  at  the  age  of  nine  years; 
Bunn  C. ,  a  farmer  of  Money  Creek  town- 
ship; Warren,  deceased;  Bert  and  Gertie, 
at  home. 


2l6 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared 
on  the  old  homestead  in  Money  Creek 
township,  and  in  the  public  schools  of  the 
township  he  received  a  good  common-school 
education.  Since  attaining  his  majority  he 
has  been  carrying  on  the  home  farm  with 
good  success.  In  1889  he  purchased  in 
Ohio  the  imported  coach  horse,  Prince,  and 
since  that  time  has  dealt  quite  extensively 
in  thoroughbred  stock.  For  the  past  five 
years  he  has  made  a  specialty  of  handling 
and  training  saddle  horses.  He  has  now 
Noel  Fox,  a  fine  coach  horse,  which  has 
won  prizes  at  various  local  fairs,  and  also 
at  the  state  fair  at  Springfield,  Illinois. 

On  the  loth  of  September,  1885,  Mr. 
Moots  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Re- 
becca Michaels,  daughter  of  Aaron  and 
Martha  (Blough)  Michaels,  the  former  a  na- 
tive of  Germany  who  came  to  the  United 
States  a  boy  of  nine  years,  and  grew  to 
manhood  near  Johnstown,  Pennsylvania, 
and  the  latter  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
where  Mrs.  Moots  was  also  born.  The  lat- 
ter was  one  of  a  family  of  thirteen  children, 
as  follows:  Amanda,  who  died  in  childhood; 
Albert,  who  resides  in  Richland  county, 
Illinois;  Benjamin,  of  Johnston  county,  Mis- 
souri; Noah,  a  farmer  of  Money  Creek  town- 
ship; Peter  now  living  in  the  state  of  Oregon; 
Sarah,  wife  of  John  Hedrick,  of  Money 
Creek  township;  Mary  V.,  the  deceased 
wife  of  John  E.  Gladheart,  of  Olney,  Illinois; 
Rebecca,  wife  of  our  subject;  Daniel,  who 
died  in  childhood;  John,  who  resides  with 
his  sister,  Ira,  a  farmer  of  Hudson  township; 
William  and  Willard,  twins,  both  of  whom 
died  in  infancy. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moots  six  children 
have  been  born — Florence,  Herbert  Spen- 
cer, Hazel,  Edna,  Fern  and  Frank  Dow. 
In  politics,  Mr.  Moots  is  a  Republican,  but 


he  is  not  a  politician  in  the  sense  of  office- 
seeking.  The  only  official  position  held  by 
him  was  that  of  road  commissioner,  an  office 
which  he  filled  for  two  years.  Fraternally, 
he  is  a  member  of  Towanda  Lodge,  No.  437, 
and  religiously  he  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  United  Brethren  church,  and  in  the 
work  of  which  they  are  much  interested. 
He  is  one  of  the  members  of  the  official 
board.  They  are  both  well  known  and  are 
held  in  the  highest  esteem  by  all. 


ROBERT  K.  LEECH.  The  records  of 
the  lives  of  our  forefathers  are  of  inter- 
est to  the  modern  citizen,  not  alone  for 
their  historical  value  but  also  for  the  in- 
spiration and  example  they  afford  ;  yet  we 
need  not  look  to  the  past.  Although  sur- 
roundings may  differ  the  essential  condi- 
tions of  human  life  are  ever  the  same,  and 
a  man  can  learn  from  the  success  of  those 
around  him  if  he  will  heed  the  obvious  les- 
sons contained  in  their  history.  In  business 
affairs,  Mr.  Leech  is  energetic,  prompt  and 
notably  reliable,  and  the  success  that  he  has 
achieved  in  life  is  due  entirely  to  his  own 
well-directed  labors. 

He  was  born  in  McKeesport,  Allegheny 
county,  Pennsylvania,  September  2,  1831, 
a  son  of  James  and  Dorcas  (McKee)  Leech. 
The  father  was  a  native  of  Westmoreland 
county,  the  same  state,  and  being  reared  to 
agricultural  pursuits  he  became  a  successful 
and  prominent  farmer,  owning  a  large  farm 
which  extended  almost  from  the  Mononga- 
hela  to  the  Allegheny  river.  Upon  that  place 
he  continued  to  reside  until  called  to  his  final 
rest.  In  the  same  neighborhood  was  born  and 
reared  his  first  wife,  the  mother  of  our  sub- 
ject, whose  brothers  and  family  laid  out  the 
town  of  McKeesport  and   are  to-day  quite 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


217 


prominent  there  and  in  Pittsburg.  Our 
subject's  parents  both  held  membership  in 
the  United  Presbyterian  church,  in  which 
the  father  served  as  elder  and  was  an  active 
worker.  To  them  were  born  eight  children, 
namely:  Jane,  who  is  married  and  lives  in 
Pennsylvania;  David,  a  resident  of  Lincoln, 
Illinois;  James,  who  is  one  of  Pittsburg's 
distinguished  citizens;  Henry,  who  died  in 
Bloomington;  Robert  K.,  our  subject;  John, 
deceased;  William,  still  a  resident  of  Al- 
toona,  Pennsjivania;  and  Dorcas,  deceased. 
The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject  was 
one  of  three  brothers  who  came  to  this 
country  from  the  south  of  Scotland  and  set- 
tled in  Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania,  at 
an  early  day.  He  served  in  the  Revolution- 
ary army. 

As  the  nearest  school  house  to  his  child- 
hood home  was  six  miles  distant,  Robert 
K.  Leech  had  no  educational  advantages 
before  he  reached  the  age  of  ten  years. 
He  then  went  to  live  with  a  man  nearer  the 
school  andwasto  have  been  allowed  to  pursue 
his  studies  there  three  months  each  winter, 
but  only  received  five  months'  instruction 
in  all.  By  subsequent  study  and  observa- 
tion, however,  he  obtained  a  good  practical 
education,  and  before  the  presidential  elec- 
tion of  1852  began  to  read  in  order  that  he 
might  vote  intelligently.  At  that  time  he 
was  a  supporter  of  the  Whig  party  and 
since  its  dissolution  has  been  an  ardent 
Republican. 

During  his  youth,  Mr.  Leech  learned  the 
mason's  trade,  and  at  the  age  of  eighteen 
years  started  out  to  make  his  own  way  in  the 
world.  In  the  fall  of  1852  became  to  Rock 
Island,  Illinois,  where  he  worked  until  the 
following  spring,  and  then  went  to  Cedar 
county,  Iowa.  There  he  started  in  business 
for  himself  as  a   contractor  and  met  with 


excellent  success.  After  working  in  differ- 
ent places,  he  finally  located  in  Decatur 
county,  Iowa,  where  he  was  married  March 
20,  1859,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Michael.  For 
two  years  he  made  his  home  there  and  then 
came  to  Bloomington,  where  his  wife's  peo- 
ple were  living,  leaving  Decatur  county  on 
the  day  Fort  Sumter  was  fired  upon.  Soon 
afterward  he  enlisted  in  Company  F,  Ninety- 
fourth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  was 
sent  to  Benton  Barracks,  Springfield,  Mis- 
souri, where  he  was  taken  ill  and  left.  He 
was  finally  able  to  rejoin  his  regiment  in 
month  of  March,  1862,  at  Gladden  Val- 
ley, Missouri,  and  remained  with  it  until 
the  close  of  the  war.  He  participated  in 
the  sieges  of  Fort  Morgan,  Vicksburg  and 
Morganzie  Bend,  was  also  at  Brownsville, 
Texas,  and  when  hostilities  ceased  was 
honorably  discharged.  After  his  return  to 
Bloomington,  Mr.  Leech  engaged  in  the 
grocery  and  meat  business  on  Front  street 
for  a  number  of  years,  and  on  selling  out 
again  turned  his  attention  to  contracting 
in  masonry.  He  has  laid  a  large  num- 
ber of  foundations  in  the  city,  and  has 
also  laid  the  sewers  and  done  other  work 
for  the  city,  employing  a  large  force  of 
men.  He  has  erected  and  owns  a  good 
double  fiat  at  607  Jefferson  street. 

Five  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Leech,  namely:  William  died  at  the  age  of 
thirty-one  years,  leaving  a  widow  and  one 
child,  Bessie,  who  are  now  living  in  San 
Antonio,  Texas;  Katie  F.,  a  very  prominent 
young  lady,  highly  esteemed  by  all  who 
knew  her,  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-three 
years;  Lena  M.  is  the  wife  of  James  R. 
Clark,  of  Bloomington,  and  has  one  child, 
James  R.,  Jr.;  Norma  F.  is  the  wife  of 
William  Masters,  a  farmer  near  Petersburg, 
Illinois,  and  has  one  child,  Edith;  and  John 


2l8 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


has  been  superintendent  of  the  fifth  division 
of  the  government  printing  office  at  Wash- 
ington, D.  C,  for  the  past  nine  years.  Mr. 
Leech  attends  and  supports  the  Baptist 
church,  of  which  his  wife  is  a  faithful  mem- 
ber, and  socially  he  affiliates  with  W.  T. 
Sherman  Post,  G.  A.  R. 


FRANCIS  M.  JONES  was  for  many 
years  actively  identified  with  the  agri- 
cultural interests  of  McLean  county,  but  is 
now  living  retired  in  the  city  of  Blooming- 
ton,  though  he  still  owns  and  successfully 
manages  three  valuable  farms  in  this  re- 
gion and  one  in  Arizona.  He  is  a  native 
of  Ohio,  born  seven  miles  from  Springfield, 
March  8,  1833,  and  is  a  son  of  Abraham 
R.  and  Matilda  (Noel)  Jones.  The  birth  of 
the  father  occurred  in  Cayuga  county.  New 
York,  October  17,  1791,  and  in  that  state 
he  spent  his  boyhood  and  youth.  During 
pioneer  days,  in  1808,  he  accompanied  his 
parents.  Benjamin  and  Mariam  (Russ) 
Jones,  on  their  removal  to  Champaign 
county,  Ohio,  locating  near  Urbana.  The 
grandfather  was  of  Welsh  origin  and  was  a 
soldier  of  the  Revolutionary  war. 

After  residing  in  Champaign  county  for 
a  time,  Benjamin  Jones  removed  to  Clark 
county,  Ohio,  where  he  made  his  home, 
married  and  reared  his  family,  prior  to  his 
coming  to  Illinois  in  1856.  During  the 
war  of  1812,  the  father  of  our  subject  was 
engaged  in  hauling  provisions  for  the 
soldiers.  On  the  20th  of  May,  18 13,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Matilda 
Noel,  who  was  born  in  Kentucky,  July  29, 
1795,  but  soon  after  her  birth  her  parents 
removed  to  Maryland,  where  they  lived 
for  seven  years  before  going  to  Clark 
county,    Ohio.     They  were  of  German  de- 


scent. Purchasing  a  farm  near  Springfield, 
Ohio,  Abraham  R.  Jones  engaged  in  its 
operation  until  1856,  and  was  one  of  the 
extensive  farmers  of  that  locality.  In  that 
year  he  sold  his  interests  in  the  Buckeye 
state  and  came  to  McLean  county,  Illinois. 
In  Towanda  township  he  bought  a  farm, 
which  our  subject  carried  on,  while  he  lived 
retired  from  active  labor,  enjoying  a  well- 
earned  rest.  In  early  life  he  was  a  Whig, 
as  were  the  other  members  of  the  family, 
and  later  he  became  a  stanch  supporter  of 
the  Republican  party.  Both  he  and  his 
wife  were  earnest  and  faithful  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  with  which 
she  united  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years,  and 
were  held  in  high  esteem  by  all  who  knew 
them.  He  died  February  13,  1865,  and 
she  passed  away  March  7,  1880. 

In  the  family  of  this  worthy  couple  were 
ten  children,  all  of  whom  reached  years  of 
maturity  with  the  exception  of  one,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  one  and  a  half  years. 
The  others  were  as  follows:  John,  who  died 
in  Ohio,  December  22,  1845;  Levi,  who  is 
still  a  resident  of  Springfield,  that  state; 
William,  who  died  in  this  county,  February 
2,  1894;  Eliza  A.,  a  resident  of  Towanda, 
Illinois;  Cyrus,  who  is  living  retired  in  San 
Jose,  California;  Abraham,  who  died  in 
McLean  county,  April  4,  1878;  Nelson,  a 
prominent  farmer  of  this  county,  who  died 
February  26,  1896;  Phcebe,  wife  of  Martin 
Arthur,  of  Towanda;  and  Francis  M.,  of 
this  review. 

The  early  education  of  our  subject  was 
acquired  in  the  country  schools  near  Spring- 
field, Ohio,  and  he  later  attended  Witten- 
burg  College  in  that  city,  receiving  much 
better  advantages  than  the  average  boy  of 
his  time.  He  remained  under  the  parental 
roof  until  the  fall  of  1850,  when  he  came  to 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


219 


McLean  county,  Illinois,  on  a  visit,  riding 
horseback  the  entire  way  and  being  nine 
days  upon  the  road.  Returning  to  his 
father's  farm,  he  remained  there  until  the 
summer  of  1853,  when  he  again  came  on 
horseback  to  this  county,  bringing  with  him 
land  warrants  or  soldier's  scrip  to  nine  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres.  He  entered  his 
land  at  the  land  office  at  Danville,  which 
was  re-opened  in  1852  after  being  closed  on 
account  of  locating  the  Illinois  Central  Rail- 
road lands.  He  had  quite  an  experience  in 
getting  his  lands  located,  as  there  was  a 
terrible  crowd.  He  secured  all  his  land  in 
Towanda  township,  it  having  been  previ- 
ously examined  by  him,  and  a  part  of  it  he 
still  owns.  His  brothers  were  also  inter- 
ested in  the  land,  and  they  at  once  turned 
their  attention  to  their  improvement  and 
cultivation.  One  year  Mr.  Jones  herded 
cattle,  which,  after  fattening  for  market, 
he  drove  to  Chicago,  where  they  were  killed 
and  sold  at  dead  weight.  In  the  fall  of 
1855  he  went  to  Texas,  where  he  spent  the 
following  winter,  and  on  his  return  to  Illi- 
nois in  the  spring  of  1S56  began  breaking 
prairie.  That  year  his  father  arrived  in  Mc- 
Lean county,  and  our  subject  was  in  partner- 
ship with  him  in  their  farming  operations 
until  the  latter's  death.  He  had  previously 
purchased  an  adjoining  farm,  and  after  the 
mother's  death  bought  the  interests  of  the 
other  heirs  in  the  old  homestead,  which  he 
still  owns,  having  here  two  hundred  and 
twenty  acres.  Besides  his  place  he  owns 
two  other  large  farms  in  the  county  and  one 
in  Arizona.  Upon  his  home  farm  he  erected 
a  good  residence  in  1872,  and  made  many 
other  improvements  which  added  to  its 
value  and  attractive  appearance,  so  that  it 
is  now  one  of  the  most  desirable  farms  in 
the  township.      Always  a   progressive  and 


enterprising  man,  he  was  the  first  to  bring 
a  reaper  into  the  neighborhood,  it  being  an 
old  Atkinson,  which  he  purchased  in  1856 
or  1857,  and  hauled  from  Chicago  by  wag- 
ons. He  also  introduced  short-horn  Dur- 
ham cattle  and  Poland  China  hogs  into  this 
region,  and  although  he  did  not  make  a 
specialty  of  exhibiting  his  stock  at  fairs,  he 
took  many  premiums  when  they  were 
shown. 

On  the  28th  of  January,  1858,  Mr. 
Jones  married  Miss  Ann  Maria  Hampleman, 
of  Clinton,  Illinois,  who  was  born  in  Clark 
county,  Ohio,  October  18,  1839.  Her 
father,  Daniel  Hampleman,  was  also  born 
near  Springfield,  Ohio,  March  7,  1816,  and 
there  grew  to  manhood.  He  was  married 
January  3,  1839,  to  Miss  Sarah  Fletcher, 
who  was  born  in  Greene  county,  Ohio, 
April  14,  1821.  They  lived  for  some  time  in 
Clarke  county,  Ohio,  but  when  Mrs.  Jones 
was  a  child  of  three  years  removed  to  Perry 
county,  Illinois,  where  the  father  engaged 
in  farming  for  four  years,  returning  to  Clark 
county,  Ohio,  at  the  end  of  that  time.  In 
the  fall  of  185 1  he  again  came  west,  and 
this  time  located  near  Crawfordsville, 
Montgomery  county,  Indiana,  where  in  the 
midst  of  a  heavily  timbered  track,  he  and 
a  brother-in-law,  William  Lewis,  erected 
a  sawmill.  Here  much  of  the  material  for 
the  early  homes  of  that  region  was  cut. 
Mr.  Hampleman  sold  his  property  there  in 
1853  and  came  to  Illinois,  locating  on  a 
farm  near  Clinton,  where  he  still  resides. 
He  is  a  Republican  in  politics  and  a  highly 
respected  citizen  of  his  community.  His 
estimable  wife  died  November  13,  1867. 
Of  the  nine  children  born  to  them  three 
died  in  infancy.  The  others  areas  follows: 
Ann  Maria,  wife  of  our  subject;  Emily,  de- 
ceased wife   of  John  White,    of  Blooming- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


ton;  Percy  Laura,  deceased  wife  of  Charles 
Davis,  of  Leroy;  Marion,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  nineteen  years;  Albert,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  twenty-nine,  leaving  four  chil- 
dren, at  Clinton,  Illinois;  and  Elizabeth, 
wife  of  Joseph  Abbott,  of  Towanda. 

Mrs.  Jones'  paternal  grandfather  was 
George  Hempleman,  as  the  name  was  then 
spelled.  He  was  born  near  Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania,  about  1788,  and  was  a  son 
of  George  and  Margaret  (Duffy)  Hemple- 
man, both  natives  of  Germany,  the  former 
born  in  1732,  the  latter  in  1734.  They 
came  to  America  in  1752  and  were  married 
the  same  year.  They  located  within  three 
miles  of  Philadelphia,  where  were  born  to 
them  four  children:  Elizabeth,  George, 
Catherine  and  Nancy.  At  an  early  day  the 
family  removed  to  Clark  county,  Ohio,  set- 
tling on  the  south  fork  of  the  Little  Miami 
river,  where  the  father  died  in  1842  at  the 
extreme  old  age  of  one  hundred  and  ten 
years,  and  was  buried  at  South  Charleston, 
that  county.  He  was  a  hero  of  the  Revo- 
lutionary war.  His  wife  died  in  Virginia,  in 
1805.  George  Hempleman,  jr.,  became  a 
farmer  of  Clark  county,  Ohio,  where  he 
spent  the  greater  part  of  his  life,  dying 
there  in  1853.  He  was  twice  married,  his 
first  wife  being  Ruth  Howell,  who  died  in 
1825,  leaving  a  family  of  nine  children: 
Nancy,  Elizabeth,  Susan,  Delilah,  Margaret, 
Henry,  Daniel,  Mary  Ann  and  Cynthia. 
The  second  wife  was  Sarah  Bilderback,  who 
died  in  1847,  ^-^d  to  them  were  born  twins: 
George  F.  and  Sarah. 

Seven  children  have  been  born  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Jones  but  three  are  now  deceased, 
namely:  Stella,  who  died  June  22,  1893,  at 
the  age  of  twenty-one  years;  Lola,  who  died 
December  6,  1866,  at  the  age  of  four  years; 
and  Max,  who  died    October  22,  1876,    at 


the  age  of  sixteen  months.  Those  living 
are  'as  follows:  Price  N. ,  who  resides  on 
the  home  farm,  married  Emma  Raridon,  of 
Towanda,  and  has  three  children:  Vesta, 
Essyl  and  Lenn;  Edwin  E. ,  who  resides  in 
Bloomington,  but  also  owns  a  farm  in 
Towanda  township,  married  Josie  Shaw  and 
has  one  child.  Ebon;  Maurice  E.,  who  lives 
on  the  large  farm  of  his  uncle,  adjoining 
that  of  our  subject,  married  Alice  Rookie 
and  has  four  children:  Leora,  Erima, 
Francis  William  and  Elmo;  and  Cyrus 
Grant,  of  Arizona,  married  Hortense  Frank- 
enberg  and  has  one  child,  Leona. 

Mr.  Jones  continued  to  actively  engage 
in  agricultural  pursuits  in  Towanda  town- 
ship for  many  years,  and  in  his  undertak- 
ings met  with  far  more  than  ordinary  suc- 
cess. Though  he  still  continues  to  manage 
his  farms,  he  is  now  practically  living  re- 
tired at  No.  507  East  Locust  street.  He 
also  rents  the  large  farm  of  seven  hundred 
acres  belonging  to  his  brother  in  California 
and  also  the  one  belonging  to  his  sister  in 
Towanda.  In  business  affairs  he  is  ener- 
getic, prompt,  and  notably  reliable.  His 
strict  integrity  and  honorable  dealing  com- 
mend him  to  the  confidence  of  all;  his 
pleasant  manner  wins  him  friends,  and  he  is 
one  of  the  popular  and  honored  citizens  of 
Bloomington.  He  was  made  a  Mason  at 
Towanda  Lodge  in  1867;  was  a  charter 
member  of  the  same  and  master  for  three 
years,  and  also  represented  it  in  the  grand 
lodge. 


MORTON  V.  SHAVER,  a  well-known 
conductor  on  the  Chicago  &  Alton 
Railroad,  residing  in  Bloomington,  Illinois, 
is  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  trusted  em- 
ployes of  that  road,  having  been  in  its  ser- 


THE    BIOGR.\PHICAL   RECORD. 


vice  continuous!}'  since  1863.  He  was  born 
in  Ripley,  Chautauqua  county,  New  York, 
November  3,  1840,  and  belongs  to  a  family 
of  Holland  origin  on  the  father's  side  that 
was  founded  in  the  Mohawk  \'alley  at  an 
early  day.  On  the  mother's  side  the  family 
is  of  Scotch  and  English  origin.  His  father 
had  two  uncles  who  were  at  Fort  Schuyler. 
The  father,  Henry  J.  Shaver,  was  born  near 
Troy,  Washington  county,  New  York,  July 
20,  1 78 1,  and  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years 
removed  to  Oneida  county,  that  state,  loca- 
ting near  Rome,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  potash.  About  1S36  he  re- 
moved to  Chautauqua  county,  where  he  fol- 
lowed the  same  business  and  later  conducted 
a  hotel  at  Quincy,  now  Ripley.  He  was 
twice  married,  the  second  time,  in  Rome, 
New  York,  to  Miss  Lois  Hemstead,  the 
mother  of  our  subject.  She  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 27,  1795,  and  was  a  daughter  of  James 
Hemstead,  whose  birth  occurred  November 
26,  1768.  By  this  union  four  children  were 
born  and  three  are  still  living,  namely:  Mrs. 
Susan  Leadingham,  of  Shenandoah,  Iowa; 
Mrs.  Eliza  Hubbard,  of  Spring  Prairie, 
Walworth  county,  Wisconsin;  and  Morton 
v.,  our  subject.  The  father  died  in  Ripley, 
New  York,  November  3,  1846,  on  our  sub- 
ject's sixth  birthday,  and  the  mother  passed 
away  in  July,  1884,  at  the  advanced  age  of 
eightj^-nine  years. 

The  first  thirteen  years  of  his  life  Mor- 
ton V.  Shaver  passed  in  his  native  place 
and  there  he  acquired  his  education.  He 
then  accompanied  his  mother  on  her  removal 
to  Walworth  county,  Wisconsin,  where  she 
owned  a  farm,  and  he  assisted  in  its  opera- 
tion for  four  years.  At  the  end  of  that  time 
he  went  to  Leavenworth,  Kansas,  where  he 
spent  a  year,  and  then  returned  home.  On 
the    president's    first    call    for    seventy-five 


thousand  volunteers  to  assist  in  putting 
down  the  Rebellion,  he  enlisted  for  three 
months  in  Company  A,  Tenth  Wisconsin 
\'olunteer  Infantry,  but  the  time  was  after- 
ward extended  to  three  years.  With  the 
Army  of  the  Cumberland,  he  participated 
in  the  battles  of  Perryville  and  Murfrees- 
boro.  From  wounds  received  in  the  latter 
engagement  and  also  from  disease  contracted 
in  the  army,  he  was  incapacitated  for 
further  duty  and  was  honorably  discharged 
from  the  service. 

Returning  to  Wisconsin,  Mr.  Shaver  re- 
mained there  until  his  health  was  somewhat 
restored,  and  in  the  spring  of  1863  came  to 
Bloomington,  where  he  entered  the  service 
of  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad  as  brake- 
man  on  a  freight  train.  A  year  and  a  half 
later  he  was  promoted  to  freight  conductor, 
and  held  that  position  for  twenty  years, 
considering  it  preferable  to  that  of  passenger 
conductor.  He  ran  a  through  freight  to 
Chicago  for  nine  years,  or  until  the  Kansas 
City  division  was  opened,  when  he  was 
made  conductor  of  a  through  freight  running 
to  Louisiana.  While  thus  employed  he 
contracted  ague,  and  at  the  end  of  two 
years  was  compelled  to  return  to  Blooming- 
ton.  For  four  years  and  a  half  he  ran  a 
passenger  train  from  Dwight  to  Washing- 
ton, and  it  was  during  this  time  that  Mr. 
Keeley,  of  the  gold  cure  fame,  was  doing  a 
most  extensive  business  at  the  former  place, 
having  as  many  as  thirteen  hundred  patients 
at  a  time.  Since  then  Mr.  Shaver's  runs 
have  all  been  in  and  out  of  Bloomington. 
There  is  no  man  in  central  Illinois  that  has 
been  longer  with  one  road  than  he,  as  for 
over  a  third  of  a  century  he  has  been  in  the 
employ  of  the  Chicago  &  Alton,  which  tact 
plainly  indicates  his  careful  attention  to 
business  and  the  trust  and  confidence  re- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


posed  in  him  by  the  company  which  he  has 
so  faithfully  served. 

In  1866  Mr.  Shaver  married  Miss  Minnie 
Rinnan,  of  Lexington,  Illinois,  whose  girl- 
hood was  passed  in  Galesburg,  and  who  is 
a  daughter  of  Erastus  Rinnan,  of  Scotch 
descent  on  the  father's  side  and  on  the 
mother's  side  of  Scotch  and  French  origin. 
Of  the  four  children  born  to  them,  two  are 
still  living:  Charles  H.,  a  conductor  on  the 
Southern  California  Railroad  and  a  resident 
of  San  Bernardino;  and  Mabel,  a  most  ac- 
complished young  lady  and  an  artist  of  rare 
ability,  who  is  at  home  with  her  parents. 
The  family  have  a  pleasant  home  at  the 
corner  of  North  West  and  Locust  streets. 
Politically  Mr.  Shaver  is  a  stanch  Republic- 
an, and  fraternally  is  an  honored  member 
of  the  Order  of  Railway  Conductors,  No. 
87;  W.  T.  Sherman  Post,  No.  146,  G.  A. 
R. ;  and  Evergreen  Lodge,  No.  265,  I.  O. 
O.  F.,  with  which  organization  he  has  been 
connected  for  thirty-three  years,  and  from 
which  he  received  a  veteran  badge  two 
years  ago. 


ELIJAH  HORR.  It  is  an  important 
public  duty  to  honor  and  perpetuate, 
as  far  as  possible,  the  memory  of  an 
eminent  citizen — one  who  by  his  blameless 
and  honorable  life  and  useful  career  re- 
flected credit  not  only  upon  his  city,  but 
upon  the  county  and  state  as  well.  Through 
such  memorials  as  this  at  hand  the  individual 
and  the  character  of  his  services  are  kept 
in  remembrance,  and  the  importance  of 
those  services  thus  stand  as  an  object 
lesson  to  those  who  come  after  him,  and 
though  dead  he  still  speaks.  Long  after  all 
recollection  of  his  personality  shall  have 
faded    from    the    minds    of    men,    the    less 


perishable  record  may  tell  the  story  of  his 
life  and  commend  his  example  for  imitation. 

Mr.Horr,  who  was  for  years  prominently 
identified  with  the  interests  of  Bloomington 
and  McLean  county,  was  born  in  Denmark, 
New  York,  September  16,  1826,  a  son  of 
Peirsoll  and  Drusilla  Horr.  The  name  was 
originally  spelled  Hoar,  and  the  founder  of 
the  family  in  this  country  was  one  of  the 
early  Puritan  swho  located  in  Massachusetts. 
Senator  Hoar  comes  of  the  same  stock. 
The  first  nine  years  of  his  life  our  subject 
spent  in  his  native  place  and  then  accom- 
panied his  parents  on  their  removal  to  Old 
Town,  McLean  county,  Illinois,  where  the 
father  engaged  in  farming  until  his  death  in 
1 840.  The  son  then  went  to  work  for  seven 
dollars  per  month  and  with  the  money  thus 
earned  finished  paying  for  the  farm. 

Until  about  twenty-one  3'ears  of  age,  Mr. 
Horr  continued  to  engage  in  agricultural 
pursuits,  and  then  worked  at  cabinet  mak- 
ing in  Bloomington  and  Clinton,  Illinois, 
for  a  time.  Later  he  formed  a  partnership 
with  A.  C.  Washburn  and  engaged  in  the 
grocery  business  on  Main  street,  Blooming- 
ton, until  their  store  was  destroyed  by  fire. 
Mr.  Horr  then  bought  out  his  partner,  re- 
built the  brick  block  now  standing,  and  con- 
tinued in  successful  business  there  for  some 
years.  Finally  selling  his  store,  he  bought 
the  Hodge  farm  and  again  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  agriculture  for  a  number  of  years, 
returning  to  the  city  in  March,  1886.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Harber  Brothers 
Company,  and  while  the  other  members  of 
the  firm  gave  their  attention  to  the  business, 
he  acted  as  overseer  in  the  building  of  their 
fine  new  warehouse  on  South  Main  street 
and  the  Lake  Erie  Railroad.  He  was  a 
heavy  stockholder  in  the  new  company  at 
the  time  of  its  incorporation,  and  was  also  a 


ELIJAH    HORR. 


THE    BIOGR.\PHICAL    RECORD. 


225 


director  of  the  Third  National  Bank  for 
many  years.  Upon  the  death  of  Mr. 
Dooley  in  November,  1893,  he  was  made 
acting  president  of  the  bank  and  on  the  5th 
of  February,  1894,  was  elected  to  that 
position,  which  he  most  capably  filled  until 
he,  too,  was  called  to  his  final  rest  May  7, 
1895. 

On  the  1st  of  May,  1855,  Mr.  Horr 
married  Miss  Martha  Elizabeth  Packard,  of 
Bloomington,  a  daughter  of  Job  and  Martha 
(Clark)  Packard.  The  father,  who  was  an 
expert  gunsmith,  died  in  Massachusetts,  in 
1836.  The  Packard  family  was  originally 
from  England,  and  the  first  to  come  to  this 
country  located  in  Bridgewater,  Massachu- 
setts. Mrs.  Horr  was  born  in  Milbury,  that 
state;  she  went  to  school  at  Worcester, 
whither  her  mother  removed  on  the  death 
of  her  husband,  and  after  attending  the 
schools  at  that  place  and  Berlin  Academy, 
taught  one  term  in  Massachusetts  before 
coming  west.  In  the  fall  of  1849,  in  com- 
pany with  her  mother,  brother  Alvin,  and 
sister  Perces,  she  came  to  Bloomington  and 
taught  on  South  Centre  street  the  first 
school  that  ever  drew  public  money  in  the 
city.  She  not  only  conducted  that  school 
successfully,  but  also  taught  others  in  dwell- 
ings for  two  or  three  years,  and  had  charge 
of  the  Mount  Hope  and  Price  schools  and 
others  in  the  county,  being  one  of  the  popu- 
lar teachers  in  this  section  of  the  state  at 
that  time.  Although  she  has  no  children  of 
her  own,  Mrs.  Horr  has  reared  two,  Mrs. 
Fannie  P.  Harber  and  J.  Warren  Young, 
who  were  given  all  the  advantages  pos- 
sible. 

At  one  time  Mr.  Horr  was  a  member  of 
the  county  board  of  supervisors,  and  was 
one  of  the  advisory  committee  that  built 
the  new  court-house.      He  was  chairman  of 


the  board,  and  during  the  erection  of  that 
handsome  structure,  he  devoted  all  of  his 
time  during  the  day  and  many  of  his  even- 
ings to  the  business,  of  which  he  had  almost 
complete  charge.  He  bought  all  of  the 
material,  and  it  is  mainly  through  his  un- 
tiring labors  that  the  county  to-day  has  the 
finest  court-house  in  this  section  of  the  state. 
Of  the  four  hundred  thousand  dollars  ex- 
pended upon  it,  every  cent  was  accounted 
for,  and  so  ably  and  satisfactorily  was  every- 
thing done  that  there  was  not  a  single  law- 
suit. Mr.  Horr  built  the  residence  where 
Peleg  Soule  now  lives,  and  there  he  made 
his  home  a  short  time,  and  then  removed  to 
his  farm.  He  was  one  of  the  most  success- 
ful and  honored  business  men  of  the  town; 
had  the  confidence  and  respect  of  his  ten- 
ants and  business  associates,  and  was  held 
in  high  regard  by  all  who  knew  him.  From 
the  organization  of  the  Republican  party  he 
was  one  of  its  stanch  supporters.  In  his 
life  span  of  over  sixty-eight  years  he  accom- 
plished much,  and  left  behind  him  an  honor- 
able record  well  worthy  of  perpetuation. 
Those  who  were  most  intimately  associated 
with  him  speak  in  unqualified  terms  of  his 
sterling  integrity,  his  honor  in  business  and 
his  fidelity  to  all  the  duties  of  public  and 
private  life.  He  attended  the  Baptist 
church.  Although  Mrs.  Horr  attended  that 
church  with  her  husband,  she  is  a  charter 
member  of  the  Second  Presbyterian  church, 
and  is  one  of  the  very  few  original  members 
now  living.  She  is  a  most  estimable  lady 
of  many  sterling  qualities,  and  has  a  large 
circle  of  friends  in  the  community. 


SAMUEL  B.   WRIGHT,   M.  D.,  a  well- 
known  physician  and  druggist  of  Stan- 
ford, has  for  almost  a  quarter  of  a  century 


226 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


enjoyed  a  successful  and  lucrative  practice 
in  his  chosen  profession,  and  as  the  result 
of  his  untiring  labors,  his  ambition,  his  en- 
ergy and  well  directed  efforts,  he  is  to-day 
the  possessor  of  a  comfortable  competence 
and  a  beautiful  home,  where  he  spends  his 
leisure  hours  enjoying  the  society  of  his 
family  and  friends  in  the  midst  of  all  the 
comforts  that  go  to  make  life  worth  the 
living. 

A  native  of  Tennessee,  Dr.  Wright  was 
born  at  Gallatin,  Sumner  county,  June  i8, 
1850,  and  is  a  son  of  John  M.  and  Mary 
(Wright)  Wright,  who  were  born,  reared 
and  married  in  Gallatin.  The  father,  whose 
birth  occurred  in  1820,  was  a  farmer  by 
occupation  and  was  quite  extensively  en- 
gaged in  stock  raising,  his  specialty  being 
blooded  horses.  After  his  marriage  he  lo- 
cated upon  his  farm  at  Gallatin,  where  he 
continued  to  reside  until  called  from  this 
life  in  1865.  His  wife  died  ten  years  be- 
fore, leaving  three  children,  of  whom  the 
Doctor  is  the  youngest. 

Dr.  Wright  obtained  his  literary  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  near  his  boyhood 
home  and  later  entered  the  medical  depart- 
ment of  the  University  of  Nashville,  Tenn- 
essee, where  he  was  graduated  in  1875,  with 
all  the  honors  attached  to  such  a  profes- 
sion. He  also  attended  Vanderbilt  Univer- 
sity, of  Nashville,  Tennessee.  Immediately 
afterward  he  came  to  Stanford,  Illinois, 
and  opened  an  office.  A  few  years  later, 
having  met  with  success  financially  as  well 
as  professionally,  he  embarked  in  the  drug 
business  on  a  small  scale,  and  as  his  trade 
gradually  increased  he  sold  his  first  store 
and  erected  a  larger  and  better  building 
upon  property  which  he  purchased.  There 
he  has  since  engaged  in  business  with 
marked  success,  carrying  a  large  and  well 


assorted  stock  of  drugs,  patent  medicines, 
etc.,  and  he  also  devotes  considerable  time 
to  the  practice  of  medicine. 

On  the  23d  of  December,  1875,  Dr. 
Wright  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Rachel  Brooks,  a  daughter  of  P.  T.  and 
Eliza  Brooks,  who  were  old  settlers  of  Mc- 
Lean county.  Of  the  four  children  born  of 
this  union,  only  two  are  now  living,  namely: 
Katie,  who  is  attending  school  in  Eureka, 
Illinois;  and  Miles  E.  Wright,  of  Stanford. 
Mrs.  Wright  holds  membership  in  the 
Christian  church,  to  the  support  of  which 
the  Doctor  gives  liberally  although  not  a 
member.  Socially,  he  belongs  to  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Knights  of  the 
Maccabees,  Royal  Neighbors  and  Independ- 
ent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  in  all  of  which 
he  has  served  as  examining  physician  and 
is  still  filling  that  office.  He  has  been  a 
member  of  the  town  board,  and  has  had 
other  official  positions  offered  him,  but  his 
ambition  is  not  along  that  line  and  he  pre- 
fers to  give  his  time  and  attention  to  his 
business  and  professional  duties.  He  is  of 
a  very  social  and  genial  nature  and  has  an 
extensive  circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances 
who  esteem  him  highly  for  his  genuine 
worth. 


JOSEPH  STUCKEY,  of  Danvers,  Illi- 
nois, an  ordained  minister  and  Bishop  of 
the  Mennonite  church,  has  been  a  resident  of 
Danvers  township  since  the  spring  of  1850. 
He  is  a  native  of  Alsace-Lorraine,  and  was 
born  in  1825,  at  which  time  that  country 
was  a  part  of  France.  His  parents,  Peter 
and  Elizabeth  Stuckey,  were  natives  of 
Switzerland.  Peter  Stuckey  removed  from 
his  native  province  to  France,  when  a  small 
child  with  his  parents,    who   both   shortly 


THE    BIOGR.\PHICAL   RECORD. 


227 


afterwards  departed  this  life.  He  was  then 
adopted  by  his  grandmother,  and  remained 
with  her  until  twelve  years  old,  when  he 
was  compelled  to  go  among  strangers  and 
earn  his  own  living.  At  the  age  of  seven- 
teen years  he  become  a  member  of  the 
Mennonite  church,  with  which  he  remained 
connected  until  his  death,  February  22, 
i860.  In  1S24,  he  married  Miss  Elizabeth 
Summers,  who  was  a  native  of  Alsace-Lor- 
raine, where  her  parents  had  fled  from 
Switzerland  on  account  of  religious  perse- 
cution. She  was  born  in  1802,  and  accom- 
panied her  husband  to  America  in  1830. 
They  first  located  in  Butler  county,  Ohio, 
where  they  resided  for  twenty  years,  and  in 
October,  1850,  came  to  McLean  county, 
and  located  in  Danvers  township,  where 
the  mother  died  in  1885.  They  were  the 
parents  of  six  children,  of  whom  five  lived 
to  maturity. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  when  he 
came  to  this  countrj-,  landed  in  New  Or- 
leans, and  thence  went  with  his  parents  to 
Butler  county,  Ohio.  There  he  worked  on 
his  father's  farm,  and  received  a  limited  ed- 
ucation in  the  old  log  school  house,  He 
was  married  December  17,  1844,  to  Miss 
Barbara  Roth,  a  native  of  his  own  country, 
born  March  i,  1821,  and  who  came  to 
America  in  1842.  She  was  also  a  devoted 
member  of  the  Mennonite  church,  and  was 
a  brave  assistant  and  helpmeet  of  her  hus- 
band in  their  earlier  toils  and  struggles. 
She  departed  this  life  April  27,  1881. 
Their  two  children  were  Jacobina,  the  wife 
of  Joseph  S.  Augsrgur,  and  fourteen  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  them,  twelve  of 
whom  are  now  living;  one  of  the  children, 
Aaron,  is  a  minister  of  the  Mennonite 
church.  Christian  R.  married  Miss  Cath- 
erine Strupher,  and  they  are  the  parents  of 


three  children,  all  living.  Mr.  Stuckey  has 
fifteen  grand-children  and  seven  great- 
grand-children. 

For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Stuckey  chose 
Mrs.  Magdelina  (Roth)  Habecker,  to  whom 
he  was  married  December  11,  1881.  She 
is  also  connected  with  the  Mennonite 
church.  They  occupy  a  pleasant  and  com- 
fortable home  in  the  village  of  Danvers, 
and  besides  this  property,  our  subject  owns 
two  hundred  acres  of  land  in  the  township. 
He  has  devoted  more  than  a  third  of  a  cent- 
ury of  his  life  to  the  ministry,  and  in  pur- 
suance of  the  duties  of  his  calling  has 
traveled  over  the  states  of  Illinois,  Iowa, 
Missouri,  Indiana,  Michigan,  Ohio,  and 
Pennsylvania,  employed  in  the  establish- 
ment of  churches,  strengthening  the  weak, 
administering  the  sacrament,  and  attending 
to  all  the  duties  of  a  conscientious  min- 
ister. He  is  a  strong  temperance  man,  and 
in  politics  affiliated  with  the  Republican 
party. 

The  Mennonite  church  derived  its  name 
from  Menno  Simons,  who  was  born  in  Fries- 
land,  in  1496.  He  was  a  Roman  Catholic 
priest  and  a  man  of  studious  character  and 
great  learning.  Leaving  the  mother  church, 
he  devoted  himself  to  theological  study,  and 
published  his  book  of  doctrines  in  1539. 
After  the  taking  of  Muenster,  and  execution 
of  the  leaders  of  the  anti-Baptists,  Menno 
Simons  gave  himself  to  the  winning  of  the 
remnants  of  these  deluded  people  from  the 
lawless  fanaticism  into  which  they  had  fal- 
len, or  had  been  led,  and  with  older  and 
purer  elements  united  them  in  the  Neither- 
lands  and  North  Germany;  and  these  adher- 
ents to  his  view  were  known  henceforth 
as  Mennonites.  While  some  of  the  earlier 
views  of  the  anti-Baptists  were  retained  by 
this    society,    their   fanatical    violence    was 


228 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


completely  set  aside.  The  Mennonites  were 
carefully  organized  after  what  was  regarded 
as  the  primitive  Congregational  model. 
They  had  ministers  and  deacons,  and  their 
discipline  was  very  strict.  They  take  the 
New  Testament  as  their  only  rule  of  faith; 
that  the  term  Person  and  Trinity  ought  not 
to  be  applied  to  the  Son,  Father,  and  Holy 
Ghost;  that  there  is  no  original  sin;  that  in- 
fants ought  not  to  be  baptized.  They  main- 
tain that  Christians  should  not  bring  law- 
suits, demand  interest,  take  oaths,  or  serve 
as  soldiers.  Some  of  them  adopted  feet 
washing  in  preparation  of  the  Lord's  supper. 
They  dropped  all  the  views  conversive  of 
civil  rule,  which  has  been  held  by  the  anti- 
Baptists.  Their  ministry  is  unpaid,  and  for 
the  most  part  uneducated;  yet  of  late  there 
have  been  some  changes  in  this  respect. 

The  Galenas  established  a  seminary  in 
1735,  and  in  this  country  some  effort  has 
been  made  in  theological  education.  Their 
simple  lives,  thrifty  habits,  and  fidelity  to 
promises,  have  made  them  many  friends. 
They  obtained  toleration  in  the  Netherlands, 
then  in  Germany  and  in  England.  Diversity 
of  views  in  regard  to  strictness  in  excommu- 
nication, led  to  their  division  into  the  "free 
or  strict,"  and  "coarse  or  mild."  The 
milder  party  divided  on  the  question  be- 
tween Calvinism  (the  Aposistos)  and  Armin- 
ianism  (the  Galenists).  In  1801  the  par- 
ties united,  the  Galenists  forming  the  major 
part.  In  Holland  there  are  one  hundred 
and  twenty  congregations  and  in  Germania 
about  fourteen  thousand  members.  In 
Prussia  they  were  relieved  from  the  obliga- 
tion to  bear  arms,  and  from  the  necessity 
of  taking  oaths,  official  or  judicial.  In  1867 
the  North  German  federal  constitution  im- 
posed on  them  the  obligation  of  military 
service.      In    1783,  nearly  a  century  before 


this,  many  emigrated  from  Prussia  to  Russia. 
In  1870  they  reached  the  number  of  forty 
thousand.  Here  they  enjoyed  many  privi- 
leges, among  which  was  freedom  from  mili- 
tary service.  They  became  rich  and  were 
generally  reckoned  among  the  best  subjects 
of  the  crown.  In  1871  they  lost  their 
privilege  from  military  service,  and  the 
alternative  was  given  between  conscription 
and  emigration,  and  they  were  allowed  ten 
years  in  which  to  decide.  They  chose  the 
latter,  and  in  1873  the  first  body  arrived  in 
New  York,  and  from  there  proceeded  to 
Kansas,  where  they  made  a  settlement. 
The  exodus  became  so  great  that  the  czar 
was  compelled  to  withdraw  his  order  to  stop 
the  movement.  Before  this  time,  however, 
many  had  emigrated  to  the  United  States, 
and  thrifty  societies  had  been  established. 

Upon  the  invitation  of  William  Penn,  in 
1683,  many  came  over  and  founded  a  set- 
tlement at  Germantown,  near  Philadelphia, 
and  in  1735  there  were  about  five  hundred 
families  settled  in  Lancaster  county.  There 
are  now  about  two  hundred  thousand  of  this 
denomination,  of  whom  about  one  hundred 
and  fifty  thousand  are  in  the  United  States, 
and  twenty-five  thousand  in  Canada. 

The  ArmistorOmish  Mennonites  are  more 
rigid  in  discipline  and  dress,  proscribing 
even  buttons  as  carnal  vanities  and  luxuries. 
The  Reformed  Mennonites  arose  in  Lancas- 
ter, Pennsylvania,  in  181 1.  Their  aim  is 
to  restore  the  ancient  faith  and  practice  of 
their  church.  There  are  other  subdivisions 
of  later  origin.  There  are  about  three 
thousand  Mennonites  in  Illinois,  fifty-two 
ministers  and  nineteen  bishops.  The 
church  government  is  under  one  head,  com- 
posed of  the  bishops  of  all  the  churches. 
Bishops  and  ministers  are  taken  from  the 
ranks  of    the    church.     There    are    three 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


229 


grades  of  officers — bishops,  ministers  and 
elders.  Ministers  are  ordained  by  bishops, 
and  bishops  are  ordained  by  two  or  more 
bishops.  The  system  of  government  is  con- 
gregational, and  all  the  affairs  are  settled 
by  the  congregation.  They  have  no  cate- 
chism, and  take  the  New  Testament  as  a 
guide.  The  old  Testament  they  regard 
more  of  a  history. 

The  first  building  erected  by  the  Men- 
nonites  in  this  section  for  religious  purposes, 
was  across  the  line,  in  Woodford  county,  in 
1853.  In  1872  they  erected  anew  building  in 
Danvers  township,  where  the  old  and  the  new 
congregations  worship.  The  membership  of 
this  society  numbers  about  four  hundred, 
and  ispresidedover  by  Rev.  Joseph  Stuckey. 


THOMAS  B.  KILGORE  is  a  prominent 
representative  of  the  farming  and 
stock-raising  interests  of  McLean  county, 
having  carried  on  operations  along  those 
lines  in  Colfax  for  almost  a  third  of  a  cen- 
tury, though  he  now  makes  his  home  in 
Bloomington.  He  is  a  man  whose  sound 
common  sense  and  vigorous,  able  manage- 
ment of  his  affairs  have  been  important  fac- 
tors in  leading  him  to  wealth,  and  with  his 
undoubted  integrity  of  character  have  given 
him  an  honorable  position  among  his  fellow 
men. 

Mr.  Kilgore  was  born  in  West  Jefferson, 
Ohio,  March  23,  1840,  and  is  a  worthy  rep- 
resentative of  an  honored  pioneer  family  of 
that  state.  His  grandfather,  Thomas  Kil- 
gore, was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  in  1789, 
and  in  1794  was  taken  by  his  parents  to 
Circleville,  Ohio.  The  following  year,  how- 
ever, they  removed  to  Madison  county,  that 
state,  where  the  great-grandfather  took  up 
quite    a    large    tract    of    land.      There    the 


grandfather  continued  to  make  his  home 
throughout  life,  and  was  one  of  the  most 
prominent  and  influential  men  of  his  com- 
munity. He  possessed  a  certain  amount  of 
rough  eloquence,  his  opinions  always  carried 
weight,  and  as  justice  of  the  peace,  he  was 
conveyancer  and  advisor  to  the  early  settlers 
of  his  locality.  He  died  in  1872,  honored 
and  respected  by  all  who  knew  him.  He 
married  Miss  Jane  Patterson,  daughter  of 
Robert  Patterson,  of  Madison  county,  Ohio, 
but  formerly  of  Virginia.  Both  were  active 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
to  which  the  family  also  belonged. 

John  Kilgore,  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Plain  City,  Madison  county,  Ohio, 
October  30,  181 5,  and  on  reaching  man's 
estate  he  engaged  in  farming  and  stock  deal- 
ing there.  Prosperity  crowned  his  efforts  in 
life  and  he  became  the  owner  of  four  hun- 
dred acres  of  valuable  land  there  and  one 
thousand  acres  in  Illinois.  He  was  one  of 
the  leading  citizens  of  his  community  and 
was  called  upon  to  serve  in  a  number  of 
township  offices.  He  married  Miss  Malona 
Case  Beach,  a  daughter  of  Uriah  Beach, 
and  a  descendant  of  the  Noble  family  which 
was  founded  in  New  England  in  1632. 
They  made  their  home  in  Columbus,  Ohio, 
until  1893,  when  they  came  to  Blooming- 
ton  to  visit  their  children.  Here  the  fa- 
ther was  stricken  with  paralysis,  but  lin- 
gered for  over  a  year,  dying  January  19, 
1895.  The  mother,  who  has  been  a  life- 
long member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  and  a  true  and  earnest  Christian,  is 
still  living.  In  their  family  were  four  chil- 
dren, of  whom  two  also  survive,  Thomas 
B.,  our  subject,  and  J.  M.  Sarah  A.,  the 
wife  of  Samuel  Stauffer,  died  in  1893,  and 
Albert  died  in  i860,  at  the  age  of  eleven 
years. 


2  30 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


During  his  boyhood  and  youth  Thomas 
B.  Kilgore  pursued  his  studies  in  the  com- 
mon schools  and  the  Ohio  Wesleyan  Uni- 
versity, and  when  his  education  was  com- 
pleted, he  returned  home,  where  he  remained 
until  after  the  opening  of  the  Rebellion.  In 
August,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  Company  K, 
First  Ohio  Cavalry,  which  was  assigned  to 
the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  and  was  under 
the  command  of  Generals  Kilpatrick  and 
Sheridan.  He  participated  in  the  battles  of 
Louisville,  Nashville,  Chattanooga,  Corinth, 
Missionary  Ridge,  Chickamauga,  Kenesaw 
mountain  and  Atlanta.  Previous  to  its 
evacuation,  he  rode  around  Atlanta  and  was 
there  at  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  service. 
At  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  he  had  a  horse 
shot  from  under  him,  but  fortunately  he 
was  never  wounded. 

Returning  to  his  home  in  Ohio,  Mr.  Kil- 
gore  remained  with  his  father  until  March, 
1867,  when  he  came  to  McLean  county, 
Illinois,  and  located  at  what  is  now  Colfax, 
where  he  purchased  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  raw  land,  and  built  thereon 
a  small  house.  He  at  once  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  the  cultivation  and  improvement  of 
his  place  and  as  his  financial  resources  in- 
creased, he  extended  its  boundaries  until  he 
now  has  four  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of 
the  best  farming  land  to  be  found  in  the 
county,  it  being  richer  and  more  productive 
than  when  he  first  located  thereon.  He 
has  made  all  of  the  improvements  upon  the 
place,  including  the  erection  of  good  and 
substantial  buildings.  From  the  first  he 
has  been  interested  in  the  raising  and  feed- 
ing of  stock,  making  a  specialty  of  short  horn 
cattle.  He  is  also  largely  interested  in 
horses,  and  has  made  two  importations  of 
English  Shires.  Mr.  Kilgore  was  one  of  the 
incorporators  of  the    Corn   Belt    Bank,    of 


Bloomington,  and  has  been  a  director  since 
the  start.  He  continued  to  live  upon  his 
farm  until  the  fall  of  1888,  when  he  moved 
to  Bloomington  so  that  he  might  better  ed- 
ucate his  children. 

In  April,  1867,  Mr.  Kilgore  wedded  Miss 
Mary  E.  Batterton,  of  Lawndale  township, 
McLean  county.  Her  father,  Martin  Bat- 
terton, who  is  now  ninety-two  years  of  age, 
his  birth  having  occurred  in  1807,  was  one 
of  the  first  settlers  of  this  county.  He  came 
here  from  Kentucky  in  1831,  and  in  1833 
entered  the  farm  on  which  he  still  resides. 
This  honored  pioneer  has  throughout  these 
many  years  been  one  of  the  most  prominent 
and  highly  respected  men  of  Lawndale 
township.  He  married  Miss  America  Tay- 
lor, who  came  here  from  Covington,  Ken- 
tucky, and  died  March  3,  1883,  at  the  age 
of  sixty-five  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kilgore 
have  four  children,  namely:  John  M.,  a 
farmer  of  Lexington,  McLean  county,  mar- 
ried Lucy  Kennedy,  and  has  two  children, 
Margine  and  Gaylord  K. ;  Lizzie  is  now  the 
wife  of  W.  H.  Welch,  of  Lexington;  Maude 
B.  graduated  from  Wesleyan  College  with 
the  degree  of  A.  B.,  and  is  now  assistant 
principal  of  the  high  school  of  Lexington; 
T.  Beach  is  now  a  freshman  of  the  Wesleyan 
University.  The  wife  and  mother,  who  is  a 
most  estimable  lady,  holds  membership  with 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  Mr. 
Kilgore  attends  services  with  her  and  con- 
tributes to  its  support.  He  is  the  oldest 
member  now  living  of  Colfax  Lodge,  No. 
799,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  also  belongs  to  W.  T. 
Sherman  Post,  G.  A.  R. ,  of  Bloomington. 
He  is  a  pronounced  Republican  in  politics, 
and  has  filled  a  number  of  local  offices, 
serving  as  supervisor  eleven  years  and  school 
treasurer  sixteen  years.  In  all  the  relations 
of  life  he  has  been  found  true  to  every  trust 


THE    BI0GR.\PHICAL   RECORD. 


231 


reposed  in  him,  and  he  receives  and  merits 
the  high  regard  of  those  with  whom  he  has 
come  in  contact,  either  in  business  or  social 
affairs. 


ELLIS  DILLON,  deceased,  was  a  pio- 
neer of  pioneers,  having  come  to  the 
state  in  1825,  and  few  men  were  better 
known  in  McLean  and  adjoining  counties. 
In  fact  he  was  well  known  throughout  the 
entire  state,  as  well  as  in  some  of  the 
adjoining  states,  having  been  one  of  the 
largest  importers  of  horses  in  the  entire  coun- 
try. He  was  born  in  Clinton  county,  Ohio, 
March  25,  1S16,  and  was  the  son  of  Jesse 
and  Hannah  (Pugh)  Dillon,  both  of  whom 
were  also  natives  of  Ohio.  In  his  native 
state  Jesse  Dillon  followed  farming,  contin- 
uing in  the  same  line  after  his  removal  to 
this  state.  With  his  family  he  came  to 
IlHnois  in  1825  and  located  in  Tazewell 
county,  in  what  was  afterwards  Dillon 
township,  and  near  the  present  town  of 
Tremont.  His  family  consisted  of  eleven 
children — John,  Daniel,  William,  Aaron, 
Phoebe,  Polly,  Ellis,  Katie,  Jesse,  James 
and  Lydia.  The  father  died  of  consump- 
tion many  years  ago.  He  was  the  son  of 
Daniel  and  Anna  Dillon,  and  was  born  in 
North  Carolina  in  1797,  and  was  also  one 
of  eleven  children. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  nine 
years  old  when  he  accompanied  his  parents 
to  Tazewell  county,  Illinois,  and  in  that 
county  he  grew  to  manhood  and  received  a 
limited  education  in  the  pioneer  schools. 
The  country  was  in  its  primitive  state  when 
the  family  settled  there,  and  for  several 
years  Indians  were  numerous  in  the  vicinity 
and  were  frequent  callers  at  the  cabins  of 
the   settlers,    much  to   the   disgust    of    the 


women.  Wild  game  was  very  abundant 
and  easy  to  entrap  or  kill.  But  there  was 
much  to  do  besides  entertaining  Indians  and 
killing  wild  game.  The  pioneer  must  work, 
he  must  cultivate  the  soil,  and  there  must 
be  no  idlers  among  them.  A  lad  of  nine 
years,  there  was  something  that  even  Ellis 
could  do,  and  he  was  compelled  to  do  his 
share  of  the  farm  labor.  The  schooling, 
however,  was  a  good  one  to  him,  and  gave 
him  the  rugged  constitution  that  carried 
him  through  more  than  four  score  years  of 
life. 

Mr.  Dillon  was  married  three  times. 
He  was  first  married  in  September,  1836, 
to  Miss  Mary  J.  Fisher,  by  whom  he  had 
one  daughter,  Malinda,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  eleven  years.  His  wife  dying  on  the 
19th  of  February,  1840,  he  married  Miss 
Mary  Hudson,  and  they  became  the  par- 
ents of  two  children,  both  of  whom  died 
in  infancy.  The  second  wife  dying  on  the 
9th  of  February,  1845,  he  married  Miss 
Martha  Fisher,  a  sister  of  his  first  wife. 
She  was  born  in  Clinton  county,  Ohio,  July 
10,  1S27,  and  is  a  daughter  of  James  and 
Amy  (Bennett)  Fisher,  who  were  both  na- 
tives of  the  same  state.  His  life  calling 
was  that  of  a  farmer,  which  he  followed  in 
Ohio  as  well  as  in  this  state.  In  1828,  with 
his  wife  and  six  children,  he  left  Ohio  for 
the  prairie  state,  and  on  his  arrival  located 
in  Tazewell  county,  where  he  entered  a  tract 
of  land  and  commenced  its  cultivation.  He 
died  October  22,  1844,  while  his  wife  sur- 
vived him  many  years,  dying  on  the  i  ith  of 
September,  1861.  They  were  the  parents 
of  thirteen  children,  of  whom  Mrs.  Dillon 
was  sixth  in  order  of  birth.  The  others 
were  Mary  J.,  Susanna,  Elizabeth,  Jesse, 
Isaac,  Emily,  Louisa,  Stephen,  Lydia,  El- 
vira, James  L.  and  Amanda.     To  our  sub- 


!32 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


ject  and  wife  were  born  five  children,  the 
first  born  dying  in  infancy.  Adolphus  now 
resides  in  Normal,  where  for  a  number  of 
years  he  engaged  in  the  business  of  import- 
ing and  dealing  in  horses.  He  is  also  a 
large  landowner  in  McLean  county,  and  is 
now  farming  and  stock  raising.  He  mar- 
ried Paulina  Britt,  and  they  have  three  chil- 
dren: Harley  D.,  Mertie  M.  and  Bessie. 
Alpheus  died  at  the  age  of  two  years.  Sarah 
married  Reuben  Bright  and  they  became 
the  parents  of  three  children,  of  whom  two 
died  in-  infancy.  The  living  one  is  Bernice 
A.,  who  makes  her  home  with  Mrs.  Dil- 
lon, her  grandmother.  Mrs.  Bright  died 
April  28,  1 88 1.  Emma  F.  married  Lyon 
Karr,  and  they  have  one  child,  Helen. 
They  make  their  home  in  Eureka,  Illinois. 

Mr.  Dillon  commenced  to  take  a  lively 
interest  in  stock  raising  at  a  very  early  day, 
and  always  took  a  great  pride  in  the  busi- 
ness, especially  in  raising  fine  horses.  In 
1865  he  moved  with  his  family  to  the  city 
of  Bloomington,  where  they  lived  three 
years  and  where  he  was  employed  in  the 
stock  business.  In  1868  he  moved  to  Nor- 
mal and  continued  in  the  same  line  for  a 
number  of  years.  In  1870  he  made  his 
first  trip  to  Europe,  where  he  made  a  large 
purchase  of  French  draft  horses,  which  he 
brought  with  him  to  this  country.  In  the 
stock  business  he  was  quite  successful,  con- 
tinuing in  the  same  until  his  death.  He 
made  importations  of  horses  in  each  of  the 
following  years:  1870-2-4-5-6-7-9,  1880- 
1-2.  In  some  of  these  years  he  made  two 
importations.  His  importations  were  soon 
known  throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of 
the  land,  and  sales  were  made  by  him  to 
persons  in  various  states  of  the  Union.  In 
addition  to  his  stock  business,  he  engaged  to 
some  extent  in  farming.      He  was  the  owner 


of  two  hundred  acres  of  land,  part  of  which 
was  wit)iin  the  corporate  limits  of  the  city 
of  Normal  and  the  remainder  adjoining. 
This  land  is  now  occupied  by  his  widow,  a 
portion  of  it  being  rented  by  the  Phoenix 
Nursery  Company  and  the  remainder  kept 
in  pasture. 

The  early  life  of  Mr.  Dillon  was  filled 
with  the  thrilling  incidents  common  to  the 
pioneers  of  this  locality,  and  his  recollec- 
tions of  early  times  were  quite  clear  almost 
to  the  end  of  his  life.  His  stories  of  the 
Indians,  of  the  deep  snow,  and  the  great 
sudden  change  in  the  weather,  were  most 
interesting  to  the  younger  generation.  He 
was  also  a  great  friend  of  the  colored  man, 
and  many  interesting  accounts  are  told  of 
how  he  assisted  many  runaway  slaves  to 
their  freedom  during  slavery  days.  When 
but  a  boy  he  said  that  if  he  lived  to  see  the 
darkies  free  he  would  then  think  that  he  had 
lived  long  enough.  He  was  instrumental 
in  organizing  the  Colored  Christian  Church 
in  Normal,  and  ever  stood  ready  to  lend  a 
helping  hand  in  its  welfare.  In  his  death 
the  colored  people  of  Normal  lost  their  best 
friend. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Dillon,  as  might  be  in- 
ferred, was  a  strong  Republican,  and  espe- 
cially was  he  with  his  party  on  the  great 
issue  that  called  it  into  existence.  For  five 
terms  he  served  as  supervisor  of  his  town- 
ship and  made  an  efficient  member  of  the 
board.  As  school  director  he  served  three 
terms,  and  in  the  public  schools  he  was 
always  greatly  interested. 

Mr.  Dillon  was  called  to  his  reward  on 
the  13th  of  April,  1899,  when  a  little  more 
than  eighty-three  years  old.  In  1838  he 
united  with  the  Christian  church,  and  for 
sixty-one  years  was  an  earnest  and  constant 
worker  in  that  body.      He  had  an   abiding 


The  biographical  record. 


233 


faith  in  the  religion  of  Christ  and  was  an 
earnest  advocate  of  the  union  of  all  God's 
people.  Mrs.  Dillon,  who  survives  him,  is 
also  a  devoted  member  of  that  church. 


CHARLES  H.  LAKE,  a  well-known  and 
highly  respected  citizen  of  Blooming- 
ton,  is  the  possessor  of  a  handsome  prop- 
erty which  now  enables  him  to  spend  his 
declining  years  in  the  pleasureable  enjoy- 
ment of  his  accumulations.  The  record  of 
his  early  life  is  that  of  an  active,  enterpris- 
ing, methodical  and  sagacious  business  man, 
who  bent  his  energies  to  the  honorable  ac- 
quirement of  a  comfortable  competence  for 
himself  and  family. 

Mr.  Lake  was  born  in  Pleasant  Valley, 
Fulton  county.  New  York,  January  31, 
1830,  and  comes  of  good  old  Revolutionary 
stock,  his  great-grandfather,  John  Lake, 
having  aided  the  colonies  in  their  successful 
struggle  for  independence.  He  was  a  resi- 
dent of  the  Empire  state  and  lived  to  a 
ripe  old  age.  Crapo  Lake,  the  grandfather 
of  our  subject,  took  up  arms  against  the 
mother  country  in  the  war  of  18 12,  and  aided 
in  the  defense  of  the  country  which  his  father 
had  helped  to  free.  He  was  probably  born 
in  Dutchess  county.  New  York,  where  he 
followed  farming  throughout  his  active  busi- 
ness life  and  where  his  death  occurred. 

Joshua  Lake,  our  subject's  father,  was 
born  in  Pleasant  Valley,  Dutchess  county. 
New  York,  in  1807,  and  there  during  early 
life  he  became  thoroughly  familiar  with  the 
manufacture  of  woolen  goods.  Prior  to  his 
marriage  he  removed  to  Fulton  county. 
New  York,  and  in  partnership  with  Eleazer 
Wells,  he  built  and  operated  a  woolen  mill 
at  Johnstown,  then  the  county  seat.  It  was 
considered  a  large  mill  at  that  time  and  con- 


tained all  the  various  departments,  and  was 
one  of  the  two  factories  at  that  place. 
Closing  up  his  business  there  in  1843,  Mr. 
Lake  removed  to  the  town  of  Oakfield, 
Genesee  county,  which  was  then  considered 
quite  far  west  and  there  engaged  in  farming, 
making  a  speciality  of  raising  wheat.  His 
next  home  was  in  Lockport,  Niagara 
county,  the  same  state,  where  he  purchased 
land  and  followed  agricultural  pursuits  until 
death,  in  1875.  He  was  married  near 
Johnstown  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Soule,  who 
was  born  and  reared  in  Pleasant  Valley, 
and  was  a  daughter  of  Peleg  Soule,  a  native 
of  Providence,  Rhode  Island,  and  an  early 
settler  of  Fulton  county.  New  York.  To 
them  were  born  six  children,  who  reached 
years  of  maturity,  and  of  these  our  subject 
is  the  eldest  and  the  only  one  living  west  of 
Buffalo,  New  York.  The  mother  died  in 
1873.  Both  parents  were  members  of  the 
Universalist  church  and  were  held  in  high 
respect  by  all  who  knew  them. 

Charles  H.  Lake  accompanied  his  par- 
ents on  their  various  removals,  and  acquired 
his  education  in  the  schools  of  Johnstown, 
'  New  York,  and  of  Genesee  county  and 
Lockport.  Until  eighteen  years  of  age  he 
remained  upon  the  home  farm,  assisting  his 
father  in  the  arduous  task  of  clearing  away 
the  timber  and  breaking  the  land.  He  then 
served  a  three  years'  apprenticeship  to  the 
carpenters  and  joiner's  trade,  and  later  en- 
gaged in  contracting  and  building  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  Simmons  &  Lake,  erect- 
ing many  of  the  stores,  churches  and  pri- 
vate residences  in  Youngstown,  besides 
many  buildings  in  the  surrounding  country. 
He  did  an  extensive  business  there  until 
1857,  when  he  came  to  Bloomington.  He 
first  purchased  land  in  Old  Town  township, 
but  three  years  later  removed  to  Lexington 


234 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


township  and  from  there  to  Shirley,  where 
he  turned  his  attention  to  general  farming 
and  the  raising  of  horses.  In  1878,  he  went 
to  Funks  Grove,  where  he  bought  a  large 
farm  and  gave  more  attention  to  the  breed- 
ing of  English  draft,  Norman  and  other 
heavy  horses,  in  which  business  he  met  with 
most  excellent  success.  When  he  took 
possession  of  the  farm  at  Funks  Grove  it 
was  run  down,  but  he  erected  thereon  a 
comfortable  and  commodious  residence  and 
substantial  outbuildings,  making  it  one  of 
the  most  attractive  and  desirable  country 
homes  the  in  county.  He  still  owns  that 
farm,  but  in  December,  1888,  he  removed 
to  Bloomington,  where  he  owns  a  beautiful 
home  on  McLean  street,  near  Franklin 
Park — one  of  the  most  fashionable  quarters 
of  the  city.  After  coming  to  Bloomington 
he  became  interested  in  fast  horses,  and 
was  half  owner  of  Prince  Hal,  a  half  brother 
of  Hal  Pointer.  This  horse,  considered  one 
of  the  finest  in  his  day,  was  started  at  Terre 
Haute,  Indiana,  in  1891,  and  run  his  fourth 
race  in  2:16.  After  owning  him  for  two 
years,  Mr.  Lake  sold  the  horse  for  eight 
thousand  dollars,  the  most  ever  paid  for  a 
horse  in  Bloomington.  In  this  venture  our 
subject  met  with  success.  Owing  to  ill 
health  he  is  now  living  retired,  having  laid 
aside  all  business  cares. 

On  the  27th  of  August,  1857,  Mr.  Lake 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Ruby  Dye, 
of  Porter,  Niagara  county,  New  York,  a 
daughter  of  Kenyon  Dye.  She  departed 
this  life  in  1883,  leaving  three  children, 
namely:  Frank  L. ,  who  is  engaged  in  farm- 
ing west  of  McLean,  married  Anna  Boland, 
and  has  four  children,  Herbert,  Bernice, 
Ivan  and  Ruby;  Charles  H.,  Jr.,  married 
Addie  Crane  and  now  operates  the  old 
homestead;  and  Cora  is  the  wife  of  Charles 


Boland,  of  Wapella,  Illinois,  and  has  two 
children,.  La  Verne  and  Neoline.  Mr. 
Lake  was  again  married  December  26, 
1 883, to  Nina  Webb,  of  Twinn  Grove.  She 
is  an  earnest  member  of  the  Christian 
church,  and  presides  with  gracious  dignity 
over  their  beautiful  home.  In  political  senti- 
ment, Mr.  Lake  is  a  Republican,  and  he  has 
filled  many  township  offices  while  living 
on  his  farm,  including  that  of  supervisor. 
At  one  time  he  was  an  active  member  of 
the  Grange  and  now  holds  membership  in 
McLean  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.  The  success 
that  he  has  achieved  in  life  is  entirely  due  to 
his  own  well  directed  efforts  and  he  has 
made  for  himself  an  honorable  record. 


GEORGE  W.  BOWMAN,  alderman  of 
the  fourth  ward  of  Bloomington,  is  a 
well-known  contractor  and  builder,  of  whose 
skill  and  ability  many  notable  examples  are 
to  be  seen  throughout  the  city.  Thoroughly 
reliable  in  all  things,  the  quality  of  his 
work  is  a  convincing  test  of  his  own  per- 
sonal worth,  and  the  same  admirable  trait 
is  shown  in  his  conscientious  discharge  of 
the  duties  of  different  positions  of  trust  and 
responsibility  to  which  he  has  been  chosen 
in  business  and  political  life. 

Mr.  Bowman  was  born  in  Germantown, 
Stokes  county.  North  Carolina,  June  19, 
1847,  a  son  of  Henry  and  Elizabeth  (Fowler) 
Bowman.  The  father  was  born  in  Guilford 
county,  that  state,  in  1810.  The  grandfa- 
ther, Henry  Bowman,  was  of  Pennsylvania- 
Dutch  stock  and  was  one  of  a  colony  who 
settled  in  Germantown,  North  Carolina,  at 
an  early  day.  The  father  was  reared  and 
educated  in  his  native  state.  When  quite 
young  he  joined  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,    and   at  the  age   of  seventeen  was 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


235 


licensed  a  minister.  For  half  a  century  he 
was  connected  with  the  North  Carolina 
conference,  during  which  time  he  had  charge 
of  churches  in  Winston,  Salem  and  Surrey. 
He  was  a  strong  Union  man  during  the  civil 
war  and  on  account  of  his  belief  his  life 
was  often  threatened,  but  being  a  minister 
he  was  not  forced  from  the  community.  He 
is  still  living,  an  honored  and  respected  old 
gentleman,  and  finds  a  pleasant  home  with 
our  subject.  The  wife  and  mother  departed 
this  life  in  1886,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five 
years.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Elijah  and 
Frances  Fowler,  who  were  of  English  birth. 
They,  too,  were  residents  of  Stokes  county. 
North  Carolina,  until  1852,  when  they  came 
to  McLean  county,  Illinois,  where  Mr. 
Fowler  engaged  in  farming  in  Dry  Grove 
township  until  his  death.  Our  subject  is 
one  of  a  family  of  eleven  children,  four  sons 
and  seven  daughters,  who  in  order  of  birth 
are  as  follows:  Mrs.  Hester  Ann  Rumbley, 
of  St.  Augustine,  Florida;  Mrs.  Martha 
George,  of  Winston,  North  Carolina;  Mag- 
gie; Susan,  deceased;  Joseph;  David,  de- 
ceased; George  W. ;  Elizabeth,  deceased; 
Peter;  Mrs.  Rebecca  Wrigley;  and  Laura, 
deceased. 

George  W.  Bowman  attended  the  sub- 
scription schools  of  Germantown,  but  as  the 
schools  were  poor  his  education  was  limited. 
When  the  civil  war  broke  out  his  sympa- 
thies were  with  the  north,  but  soon  after  he 
attained  his  sixteenth  year  he  was  forced 
into  the  Confederate  army  under  an  act  of 
the  Confederate  congress,  conscripting  all 
able-bodied  men  from  the  age  of  si.xteen  to 
sixty.  He  enlisted  in  General  Breckenridge's 
First  Tennessee  Battery  of  Light  Artillery, 
and  joined  the  regiment  at  Lead  Mines  on 
New  river,  in  southwestern  Virginia,  in  July, 
1864.     He  joined  this  battery  so  that  he 


might  get  farther  north  and  west,  hoping  to 
make  his  way  through  the  lines,  as  prior  to 
his  conscription  he  had  wished  to  get  north 
and  join  the  Union  army.  He  was  in  active 
service  until  February,  1865,  participating 
in  the  engagements  around  Wythville,  Ma- 
rion and  Washington  Salt  Works,  Virginia, 
and  Bristol,  Greenville,  I\noxviIle  and  Jones- 
ville,  Tennessee.  During  all  this  time  he 
faithfully  obeyed  the  Confederate  orders, 
but  was  firm  in  his  purpose  to  join  the  Un- 
ion army.  The  first  opportunity  that  he 
deemed  safe  which  presented  itself  was  when 
he  was  detached  from  the  battery  and  de- 
tailed to  take  some  horses  back  to  North 
Carolina,  near  the  Tennessee  line.  After 
delivering  them  he  made  his  way  over  the 
mountains  into  East  Tennessee,  and  at 
Jonesboro  found  the  stars  and  stripes  of  the 
Federal  army.  He  went  into  camp  under  a 
white  flag  and  was  closely  scrutinized  and 
examined  to  see  that  he  was  not  a  spy,  but 
being  a  mere  boy  he  was  finally  released. 
Stopping  for  a  time  in  Greenville,  Knox- 
ville,  Chattanooga  and  Nashville,  he  worked 
at  anything  he  could  find  to  do  and  finally 
made  his  way  north,  arriving  in  Blooming- 
ton,  April,  1865,  clothed  in  his  rebel  uni- 
form. His  grandfather  had  died,  but  his 
mother's  people  gave  him  shelter.  It  was 
July  before  he  was  able  to  let  his  parents 
know  where  he  was,  and  in  the  meantime 
they  supposed  he  had  been  killed  by  the 
bushwhackers  in  the  mountains  of  Ten- 
nessee. 

During  the  first  summer  and  fall  spent 
in  McLean  county,  Mr.  Bowman  worked  on 
a  farm,  and  in  the  winter  attended  school. 
In  1866  he  commenced  learning  the  mason's 
trade,  at  which  he  served  a  three-years' 
apprenticeship,  and  then  worked  as  a 
journeymen,  his  employer  soon  making  him 


23^ 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


foreman.  On  the  third  of  July,  1869,  he 
married  Miss  Elizabeth  Davis,  of  Blooming 
Grove,  a  daughter  of  John  M.  Davis,  a  well- 
known  farmer  of  that  place.  They  made 
their  home  in  Bloomington  until  1872,  Mr. 
Bowman  being  engaged  in  business  as  a  con- 
tractor in  masonry.  Having  accumulated 
some  money,  he  decided  to  go  west,  and 
with  his  wife  and  two  children.  Grant  and 
Edward,  he  made  his  way  to  Nebraska, 
where  he  located.  During  his  residence 
there  his  older  son  died,  and  as  his  wife 
was  in  ill  health  their  physician  advised 
him  to  bring  her  back  to  her  native  state 
that  she  might  recover  her  usual  strength. 
After  disposing  of  his  effects  he  returned  to 
Bloomington,  where  he  arrived  in  February, 
1874,  with  only  twenty  dollars  with  which 
to  start  in  life  anew.  He  resumed  business 
in  the  city,  but  for  a  time  lived  just  south 
of  here  on  a  small  tract  of  land  which  he 
purchased.  He  has  since  done  a  success- 
ful business  as  a  contractor  and  builder, 
erecting  many  of  the  best  business  blocks  in 
the  city,  and  has  given  employment  to 
many  men.  He  has  also  done  considerable 
contracting  elsewhere  in  the  county.  He 
He  has  a  pleassnt  home  on  East  Clay  street, 
where  he  has  lived  for  the  past  twelve  years 
and  also  owns  other  property  in  Blooming- 
ton. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bowman  have  five  chil- 
dren living,  namely:  Edward,  who  mar- 
ried Lillie  George,  and  is  engaged  in  busi- 
ness in  Washington,  D.  C. ;  Claude,  a  resi- 
dent of  Bloomington,  who  married  Edna 
Rhoades  and  has  one  child,  Glenn;  Maude, 
wife  of  Warren  S.  Bryant,  an  employe  of 
the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad,  who  resides 
in  Bloomington,  and  by  whom  she  has  two 
children,  Grace  and  Irene;  and  Grace  and 
Lee,  both  at  home.     The  parents  both  hold 


membership  in  the  First  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church, 'and  socially  Mr.  Bowman  is  a 
member  of  the  Knights  of  the  Globe.  He 
was  an  active  member  and  president  for  two 
years  of  the  Builders'  &  Traders'  Exchange, 
and  has  always  been  prominently  identified 
with  the  Republican  party.  While  a  resi- 
dent of  Blooming  Grove  he  served  as  school 
director  for  nine  years,  in  which  position  he 
rendered  his  fellow  citizens  most  efficient 
service,  being  greatly  missed  as  a  school 
worker  when  he  left  the  district.  After 
coming  to  Bloomington,  he  took  no  active 
part  in  public  affairs  until  the  spring  of 
1898,  when  he  was  elected  alderman  of  the 
fourth  ward  by  a  large  majority,  over  Mr. 
Martin,  a  strong  opponent  and  an  ex-mem- 
ber of  the  council.  During  his  first  year  as 
a  member  of  the  board,  he  was  on  the  fire 
department,  public  buildings  and  grounds, 
and  sidewalk  committees.  His  public  and 
private  life  are  above  reproach,  for  his 
career  has  ever  been  one  characterized  by 
the  utmost  fidelity  to  duty. 


DR.  OWEN  T.  HANSON,  D.  D.  S.. 
of  Lexington,  Illinois,  has  the  repu- 
tation of  being  a  dentist  of  rare  skill  and 
ability,  one  who  is  an  honor  to  the  profes- 
sion. He  is  a  native  of  McLean  county, 
born  on  section  24,  Gridley  township,  the 
homestead  of  his  parents,  February  26, 
1 86 1,  is  a  son  of  William  and  Frances  E. 
(Walston)  Hanson,  both  of  whom  were 
natives  of  Pickaway  county,  Ohio,  the 
father  born  in  1825.  His  early  life  was 
spent  much  as  that  of  other  farmer  boys, 
attending  school  during  the  winter  months, 
and  assisting  in  farm  work  during  the  re- 
mainder of  the  year.  This  was  continued 
until   he  was   nineteen  years  old,  when  he 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


237 


decided  to  secure  a  better  education  than 
that  aSorded  in  the  common  schools,  and  to 
that  end  entered  Normal  University,  Nor- 
mal, Illinois,  where  he  spent  two  j-ears  in 
study.  For  the  next  four  years  he  was 
engaged  in  teaching  in  the  public  schools  of 
McLean,  Woodford  and  Livingston  coun- 
ties, his  last  term  being  with  the  Panola 
school. 

While  engaged  in  teaching,  Mr.  Hanson 
made  up  his  mind  that  he  would  engage  in 
dentistry  as  a  profession,  and  to  that  end 
spent  abuut  eighteen  months  with  Dr.  J.  A. 
Schofield,  of  El  Paso.  In  1885  he  entered 
the  Ohio  Dental  College,  of  Cincinnati,  and 
taking  the  regular  course,  in  1887  he  was 
graduated  with  the  degree  of  D.  D.  S.  He 
then  came  to  Lexington,  and  with  a  debt 
of  three  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  hanging 
over  him,  which  was  contracted  in  securing  his 
professional  education,  he  purchased  the 
office  and  good  will  of  Dr.  C.  T.  Gray,  and 
at  once  commenced  active  practice,  and  has 
since  given  it  his  entire  time  and  attention. 
He  has  always  tried  to  keep  up  with  all  the 
latest  improvements  in  his  profession,  and 
with  this  end  in  view  took  a  post  graduate 
course,  in  1S97,  in  the  Chicago  Dental  Col- 
lege, now  recognized  as  one  of  the  best  in- 
stitutions of  the  kind  in  the  country,  and 
which  is  well  supplied  with  every  appliance 
known  to  the  profession,  and  its  faculty  be- 
ing composed  of  the  most  skillful  and  well 
read  men. 

On  the  4th  of  June,  1891,  Dr.  Hanson 
was  united  in  marriage,  in  his  own  home  in 
Lexington,  to  Miss  Edith  Kneeland,  who 
was  born  in  New  York  city,  and  daughter 
of  E.  H.  Kneeland,  a  highly  educated  man, 
who  during  his  residence  in  the  east  gave 
his  life  to  the  cause  of  education,  teaching 
in  the  schools   of  New  York  city.     He  was 


widely  known  in  the  electrical  field  as  a  lec- 
turer on  electricity.  He  was  also  a  frequent 
and  valuable  contributor  to  such  well  known 
journals  as  the  Scientific  .American,  as  well 
as  other  periodicals  devoted  to  scientific 
subjects.  A  sister  of  his,  now  a  resident  of 
\\'ashington,  D.  C. ,  is  widely  known  in  the 
lecture  field,  especially  in  temperance  work. 
On  account  of  ill  health  Mr.  Kneeland  left 
the  city,  came  west,  and  located  in  Dwight, 
Illinois,  and  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits. At  that  time  Mrs.  Hanson  was  but 
seven  years  of  age.  She  is  a  highly  edu- 
cated woman,  having  graduated  from  the 
high  school  at  Dwight,  and  finishing  her 
education  in  Wesleyan  University,  at 
Bloomington.  For  three  years  prior  to  her 
marriage  she  was  assistant  principal  of  the 
Lexington  high  school.  Two  children  have 
come  to  bless  the  union  of  the  Doctor  and 
his  wife,  Frances  and  Cecil. 

In  politics,  Dr.  Hanson  is  a  stanch  Re- 
publican, but  he  is  not  a  politician  in  the 
ordinary  sense  of  the  term,  neither  is  he 
an  office  seeker.  He  takes  an  active  inter- 
est in  everything  beneficial  to  his  adopted 
city  and  county,  especially  is  he  interested 
in  the  cause  of  education.  For  three  suc- 
cessive terms  of  three  years  he  has  served 
on  the  school  board,  and  for  five  years  he 
acted  as  secretary  of  the  board.  He  was 
one  of  the  building  committee  during  the 
erection  of  the  new  school  house,  which  is 
a  credit  to  the  city  and  county,  and  for 
three  years  has  been  chairman  of  the 
grounds  and  building  committee.  He  has 
also  taken  an  active  part  in  the  organiza- 
tion and  maintenance  of  the  Lexington 
Public  Library,  and  is  one  of  the  directors 
of  the  association. 

Fraternally,  Dr.  Hanson  is  a  member  of 
Ideal    Lodge,  No.  338,  K.    P.,  and  of  Mc- 


238 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Lean  Lodge,  No.  206,  I.  O.  O.  F. ,  and  in 
the  latter  organization  is  now  past  grand. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Modern  Wood- 
men of  America,  holding  membership  with 
the  camp  at  Lexington.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  has 
been  quite  active  in  church  work.  He 
served  for  several  years  as  superintendent 
of  the  Sunday  school,  and  for  several  years 
has  been  leader  of  the  choir  and  chorister 
in  the  Sunday  school.  Mrs.  Hanson  is  also 
a  member  of  the  same  church  and  like  her 
husband  has  been  active  in  all  church  work. 
In  1893  the  Doctor  erected  his  present 
tasty  and  comfortable  residence,  and  his 
home  is  the  center  of  social  life  and  activity 
in  Lexington,  both  he  and  his  wife  being 
good  entertainers.  They  are  held  in  the 
highest  esteem  by  all,  and  exert  an  in- 
fluence for  good  in  the  community.  His 
professional  skill  is  acknowledged  by  all, 
and  he  has  been  fairly  successful  in  a  finan- 
cial way.  In  addition  to  his  home  in 
the  city,  he  has  a  farm  of  sixty  acres  in 
Gridley  township,   which  is  rented. 


ALFRED  J.  WELCH,  a  well-known 
farmer  and  stock  raiser  of  Downs  town- 
ship, owns  and  operates  a  fine  farm  of 
three  hundred  acres  on  section  18.  He  is 
a  native  of  McLean  county,  and  was  born 
in  Downs  township,  July  5,  1855,  and 
grew  to  manhood  on  the  home  farm.  His 
education,  began  in  the  district  schools  of 
Downs  township,  was  completed  in  Wes- 
leyan  University,  which  he  attended  for 
several  terms.  After  leaving  the  institu- 
tion, at  the  age  of  twenty-three  years,  he 
located  on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides, 
and  which  then  contained  two  hundred  and 
twenty-six  acres,  and   at  once   commenced 


life  for  himself.  Soon  after  locating  on 
the  place,  |ie  erected  a  large  and  substan- 
tial farm  residence,  and  made  various  im- 
provements on  the  farm  of  a  most  substan- 
tial character.  His  farm  is  well  tilled,  and  is 
always  kept  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation. 
His  farming  is  of  a  general  character,  in- 
cluding stock  raising,  giving  special  atten- 
tion to  the  latter  line  of  his  business.  He 
annually  feeds  and  prepares  for  the  market 
about  three  car  loads  of  stock,  for  which 
he  receives  the  highest  price. 

On  the  i8th  of  November,  1879,  Mr. 
Welch  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Belle  Fulton,  a  native  of  the  county,  and 
who  was  before  her  marriage  a  teacher  by 
profession.  She  is  a  sister  of  Albert  Ful- 
ton, whose  sketch  appears  on  another  page 
of  this  work.  By  this  union  there  are  five 
children — Nettie  B.,  Archie  Dean,  Lois, 
Freddie  and  Dorris — all  of  whom  are 
students  in  the  home  school,  save  the 
youngest. 

The  first  presidential  vote  cast  by  Mr. 
Welch  was  for  Rutherford  B.  Hayes  in  1876, 
since  which  time  he  has  voted  for  every 
presidential  nominee  of  the  party.  He  is 
a  strong  believer  in  the  principles  of  the 
Republican  party,  and  supports  its  ticket 
in  national,  state,  county  and  township 
elections.  For  sixteen  years  he  has  been 
a  member  of  the  school  board,  a  part  of 
which  times  he  has  served  as  its  president. 
He  believes  in  good  schools  and  in  the  best 
that  can  be  had,  always  regarding  it  as 
poor  economy  in  the  hiring  of  an  inefficient 
teacher  in  order  to  save  a  few  dollars  for 
the  time  being,  thus  requiring  the  student's 
longer  attendance  in  the  school  room.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren  church, 
while  his  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal.     They  both  take  an   active 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


!39 


interest  in  the  cause  of  the  Master,  and 
endeavor  to  do  their  duty  faithfully  for  the 
extension  of  the  kingdom  of  Christ  on 
earth.  Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  both 
of  the  subordinate  lodge  and  encampment, 
his  membership  being  with  the  order  in 
Bloomington.  A  well  known  citizen  of  the 
township,  he  is  regarded  as  one  of  its  best 
farmers,  and  socially  he  and  his  family  are 
greatly  esteemed.  In  the  twenty-one  years 
in  which  he  has  been  actively  engaged  in 
the  cultivation  of  the  farm  he  has  toiled 
hard,  and  success  has  in  a  measure  crowned 
all  his  efiorts. 


FREDERICK  T.  ASHTON,  one  of  the 
most  prominent  musicians  of  Blooming- 
ton,  was  born  in  that  city,  July  15,  1871, 
a  son  of  William  H.  and  Eliza  (Pottinger) 
Ashton.  The  father  was  born  in  London, 
in  1 8 19,  and  was  reared  and  educated  there 
as  a  musician  and  choir  master,  playing  in 
Covent  Garden  and  other  London  theatres. 
There  he  was  married,  and,  coming  to  the 
United  States  in  18 — ,  he  has  been  a  resi- 
dent of  Bloomington  for  a  third  of  a  cent- 
ur)-.  Here  he  has  engaged  in  the  shoe  busi- 
and  at  the  present  time  is  also  a  dealer  in 
men's  furnishing  goods.  For  a  number  of 
years  he  was  in  charge  of  choirs  of  different 
churches  here.  His  wife  holds  member- 
ship in  the  Congregational  church.  In 
their  family  are  eight  children,  four  sons 
and  four  daughters,  of  whom  our  subject  is 
the  j-oungest. 

Frederick  T.  Ashton  acquired  his  liter- 
ary education  in  the  public  schools  of 
Bloomington,  and  his  musical  edcuation 
was  begun  as  soon  as  he  was  able  to  hold 
an    instrument.      When    he    was  fourteen 


years  of  age  a  company  came  to  the  city 
wanting  an  orchestra,  and  he  with  three 
others  were  chosen.  He  traveled  with  the 
company  for  four  months  and  had  charge  of 
the  little  orchestra,  but  as  he  was  not  given 
his  salary  his  father  brought  him  home. 
He  next  played  first  violin  in  Schroder's 
Opera  House  here,  and  during  the  two 
years  he  was  thus  employed  he  gained  much 
practical  experience  and  also  kept  up  his 
studies  at  the  same  time.  At  the  age  of 
seventeen  he  went  to  Chicago,  and  in  the 
large  music  house  of  Lyon  &  Healy  was 
employed  in  the  stringing  room,  testing  and 
stringing  all  new  instruments.  While  there 
he  studied  with  Professor  Singer  and  also  a 
noted  Swedish  violinist. 

Mr.  Durkee,  superintendent  of  Lyon  & 
Healy's  factory,  having  become  interested 
in  our  subject,  arranged  for  a  course,  and 
he  made  great  progress  during  the  two 
years  spent  in  that  establishment.  Resign- 
ing his  position  there,  he  traveled  with  a 
theatrical  company  all  over  the  south,  and 
on  his  return  to  Bloomington  at  the  end  of 
that  time  he  took  charge  of  the  orchestra 
in  the  Durley  theatre,  and  also  engaged  in 
teaching  music.  Later  he  spent  one  season 
with  a  thoroughly  first  class  opera  company 
which  put  on  the  Mascot  and  other  popular 
operas  and  played  in  only  the  best  cities. 
At  the  age  of  twenty  he  was  leader  of  an 
orchestra  in  Cincinnati,  where  he  was 
obliged  to  correct  men  much  older  in  order 
to  keep  the  music  up  to  the  required  stand- 
ard. An  old  German  whom  he  thus  cor- 
rected would  not  speak  to  him  for  a  week, 
but  finally  came  to  him  and  offered  him 
three  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  for  his 
violin.  This  instrument  he  values  at  five 
hundred  dollars,  but  it  is  not  for  sale.  The 
opera  company  with  which  Mr.  Ashton  was 


J40 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


connected  was  in  Albany,  New  York,  at  the 
close  of  the  season,  and  from  there  he 
went  to  New  York  City,  where  for  seven 
weeks  he  was  ill  in  Bellevue  hospital  before 
he  was  able  to  look  for  an  engagement,  his 
mother  believing  him  studying  harmony 
during  this  time.  As  he  had  exhausted  his 
money,  he  was  obliged  to  leave  the  hospital, 
as  he  would  not  submit  to  the  treatment  he 
received  there  as  a  charity  patient,  and 
finally  found  an  old  friend  who  cared  for 
him  until  the  arrival  of  his  brother,  who 
remained  with  him  until  his  recover}'.  Re- 
turning to  Bloomington,  in  1891,  he  opened 
a  school  of  music,  giving  lessons  on  the 
violin,  mandolin,  guitar  and  banjo,  and  as 
he  was  then  the  only  teacher  of  the  kind  in 
the  city,  and  there  was  no  competition,  he 
met  with  success  from  the  start.  His 
school  was  located  at  No.  409  North  Main 
street.  During  the  '80s  he  had  also  en- 
gaged in  teaching  and  had  established  the 
old  mandolin  orchestra,  which  is  still  in 
existence,  and  of  which  he  again  has 
charge.  In  1892  he  became  the  leader  of 
the  orchestra  of  the  Grand  Opera  House, 
but  at  the  end  of  a  season  he  was  taken 
ill  and  the  doctor  advised  a  change. 
The  following  season  was  spent  on  the 
road  with  the  Spooner  Comedy  Company, 
and  on  his  return  to  Bloomington  in 
1893  he  reopened  his  school  and  again  took 
charge  of  the  mandolin  orchestra,  both  of 
which  he  has  since  conducted.  His  services 
are  in  great  demand  for  weddings,  recep- 
tions and  all  high  class  work  of  which  he 
makes  a  specialty,  and  since  February, 
1897,  he  has  had  charge  of  the  Grand 
opera  house  orchestra.  His  musical  ability 
and  success  as  a  leader  is  well  known  to  all 
theatre  goers,  and  the  orchestra  in  their 
dress  suits   presents  a  good  appearance   as 


well  as  furnishing  the  public  with  the  best 
of  music.  In  1898,  as  manager  and  di- 
rector, he  took  permanent  charge  of  De 
Molay's  Band,  which  gives  frequent  con- 
certs and  has  won  an  enviable  reputation 
throughout  this  section  of  the  country.  He 
practically  has  control  of  all  the  musical 
organizations  in  the  city,  a  rather  remark- 
able thing  for  a  man  as  young  as  he.  He 
has  as  many  as  twenty-five  musicians  who 
have  been  under  his  direction  for  a  number 
of  years,  and  by  treating  them  with  kind- 
ness and  as  gentlemen,  he  has  gained  their 
entire  confidence  and  respect.  In  token  of 
their  esteem,  the  orchestra  presented  him 
with  a  beautiful  gold  watch. 

On  the  6th  of  June,  1893,  Mr.  Ashton 
married  Miss  Elberta  M.  Richie,  of  Colfax, 
Illinois,  a  daughter  of  Christian  Richie,  and 
to  them  has  been  born  a  daughter,  Doris 
E.  They  are  members  of  the  Second  Pres- 
byterian church,  with  which  Mr.  Ashton 
united  about  six  years  ago,  and  he  has  had 
charge  of  a  number  of  church  orchestras. 

Mr.  Ashton  has  composed  many  popular 
airs — beginning  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years. 
Usually,  he  does  his  composing  after  re- 
turning from  parties.  Recently  he  has 
formed  a  stock  company  among  the  mem- 
bers of  his  own  orchestra  for  the  purpose  of 
publishing  his  compositions.  His  latest 
success  is  the  Gay  Tally-Ho,  a  popular  two- 
step  march. 


WILLIAM  HAYES  BEAVER.  Every- 
where in  our  land  are  found  men  who 
have  worked  their  own  way  from  humble 
beginning  to  leadership  in  commerce,  the 
great  productive  industries,  the  manage- 
ment of  financial  affairs,  and  in  controlling 
the  veins  and  arteries  of  traffic  and  exchang- 


WILLIAM   H.   BEAVER. 


UDRARy 

OF  THE 

nnVERSITY  OF  ILLI«OI£ 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


=43 


es  of  the  country.  It  is  one  of  the  glories 
of  our  nation  that  it  is  so.  It  should  be  the 
strongest  incentive  and  encouragement  to 
the  youth  of  the  countrj-  that  it  is  so. 
Prominent  among  the  self-made  men  of  Illi- 
nois is  the  subject  of  this  sketch — the  well 
known  lawyer  of  Bloomington. 

Mr.  Beaver  was  born  in  Lewisburg. 
Union  count)-.  Pennsylvania,  June  24,  1S56. 
a  son  of  Adam  and  Rebecca  (Royer^i  Bea- 
ver. On  the  paternal  side  he  traces  his  an- 
cestry back  to  Valentine  Beiber  (as  the  name 
was  then  spelled),  who  came  to  this  country 
from  Germany  about  1747  or  174S,  embark- 
ing at  Hamburg.  His  son,  Adam  Beaver, 
the  great-grandfather  of  our  subject,  helped 
to  lay  out  tlie  town  of  Lewisburg,  Pennsyl- 
vania, but  was  driven  away  bj-  the  Indians, 
and  going  to  Philadelphia  to  sell  town  lots 
he  there  enlisted  in  the  colonial  army  for 
the  Revolutionary  war,  and  was  in  the  ser\- 
ice  from  the  beginning  of  hostilities  until 
peace  was  once  more  restored.  He  was 
shot  at  the  battle  of  Brandywine,  but  not 
seriously  wounded.  After  the  war  he  lo- 
cated in  Lycoming  count)-,  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  married  and  made  his  home 
throughout  the  remainder  of  his  life.  The 
grandfather,  John  Beaver,  was  born  near 
Muncie,  Pennsylvania,  at  what  is  called  the 
Beaver  settlement,  and  in  earlj'  manhood 
moved  to  Union  county,  that  state,  where 
he  married  .\nna  Baker,  and  with  the  excep- 
tion of  one  year  continued  to  live  in  that 
county  until  called  from  this  life.  He  was 
a  good  farmer  and  a  Jacksonian  Democrat 
in  politics.  .\dam  Beaver,  our  subjects  fa- 
ther, was  born  in  Union  county,  July  10, 
1816,  and  was  reared  as  a  farmer  boy  upon 
the  old  Beaver  homestead.  In  early  life  he 
learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  but  later  con- 
ducted a  drug  business  for  twenty-five  years 


and  engaged  in  preaching  as  a  Dunkard 
minister,  both  he  and  his  wife  being  mem- 
bers of  that  religious  denomination.  They 
made  their  home  in  Lewisburg  until  1871, 
when  they  removed  to  Hartleton,  Union 
county,  where  the  father  died  January  5, 
1 898,  honored  and  respected  by  all  who 
knew  him.  He  always  took  an  active  in- 
terest in  political  affairs,  and  voted  with  the 
Republican  party  after  its  organization  in 
1S56.  He  left  five  children,  of  whom  our 
subject  is  next  to  the  youngest.  The  moth- 
er was  bom  in  Lancaster  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, but  when  a  child  of  ten  or  twelve 
years  she  accompanied  her  parents  on  their 
removal  to  Union  count)-.  Her  father,  Joel 
Royer,  was  a  farmer  by  occupation  and  be- 
came a  rich  land  owner  in  the  latter  county. 
Her  grandfather,  Christopher  Royer,  was 
one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Lancaster 
county.  The  Royers  in  this  countr)-  are  de- 
scended from  a  royal  French  family,  of 
Alsace,  which  was  founded  in  Maryland 
about  1750. 

William  H.  Beaver  began  his  education 
in  the  schools  of  Lewisburg,  Pennsylvania. 
It  was  his  fathers  intention  to  make  him  a 
farmer  and  with  that  in  view  he  was  bound 
out  to  his  uncle  at  the  age  of  twelve  years, 
and  until  he  was  seventeen  he  followed  ag- 
ricultural pursuits  through  the  summer 
months  and  attended  the  district  schools 
during  the  winter  season.  Going  to  Mil- 
ton, Pennsylvania,  in  1874,  he  apprenticed 
himself  as  a  blacksmith  to  Seidell  &  Tilden, 
carriage  builders,  and  during  his  term  of 
three  years,  he  received  his  board  and 
twenty-five  dollars  the  first  year,  fifty  the 
second  and  seventy-five  the  third.  He  then 
had  charge  of  the  shop  as  chief  blacksmith 
for  one  year,  but  on  account  of  the  hard 
times  he  returned  home  in  1877,  remaining 


244 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


there  six  months.  In  1878,  he  resumed 
work  at  his  trade  for  George  Hunt,  a  car- 
riage manufacturer  of  Danville,  Pennsylva- 
nia, remaining  with  him  until  November  i, 
of  that  year,  when  he  began  teaching  at  the 
Marsh  school,  a  mile  south  of  Milton.  The 
next  two  years  he  taught  at  Ephrata,  Penn- 
sylvania, where  the  first  paper  mill  in  the 
United  States  was  established,  and  where 
bullets  of  paper  were  manufactured  during 
the  Revolutionary  war.  Mr.  Beaver  was 
there  during  the  years  1879  and  1880,  pre- 
vious to  which  time  he  had  taken  up  the 
study  of  Latin  and  other  branches,  and  for 
one  term  was  a  student  in  the  Lewisburg 
University,  where  he  completed  the  fresh- 
man year. 

It  was  in  May,  1881,  that  Mr.  Beaver 
came  to  Illinois  and  first  settled  at  Lena, 
where  he  worked  at  his  trade  for  A.  Shan- 
non until  the  following  July.  He  then 
joined  his  brother  John  in  Chicago,  and  to- 
gether they  came  to  Bloomington,  it  being 
the  intention  of  the  latter,  who  was  a  drug- 
gist, to  buy  a  store  here,  but  being  taken  ill 
he  did  not  do  so.  Our  subject  then  accepted 
a  book  agency,  and  went  to  Burlington, 
Iowa,  to  sell  Bibles  and  albums,  in  which 
he  invested  all  his  money,  but  the  house 
absconded  and  he  was  compelled  to  sell  his 
books  as  best  he  could  to  pay  his  bills.  He 
returned  to  Bloomington  with  fifty-five 
cents  in  his  pocket  and  ninety  dollars' 
worth  of  books  sold  on  three  months'  time. 

Mr.  Beaver  then  entered  the  law  office 
of  Tipton  &  Ryan,  and  read  law  with  that 
firm  and  with  Judge  Tipton  until  admitted 
to  the  bar,  in  June,  1883,  after  which  he 
opened  an  ofBce  and  engaged  in  practice 
alone.  In  1884  he  was  a  candidate  for  the 
office  of  state's  attorney,  and  though  almost 
an   entire  stranger,  he  went  into  the  con- 


vention with  eleven  delegates.  The  oppos- 
ing candidates  crf^ered  him  the  position  of 
assistant  state's  attorney  if  he  would  with- 
draw, but  he  refused  this,  though  he  left 
his  delegates  at  liberty  to  vote  as  they 
saw  fit.  In  the  spring  of  1885  he  formed  a 
partnership  with  Judge  Tipton,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Tipton  &  Beaver,  which  con- 
nection was  dissolved  in  July,  1889,  and  he 
then  engaged  in  practice  with  R.  L.  Flem- 
ing until  September,  1890. 

In  the  meantime,  Mr.  Beaver  assisted 
in  organizing  the  Equitable  Loan  &  Invest- 
ment Association,  of  which  he  was  elected 
secretary,  and  served  in  that  capacity  and 
as  attorney  for  the  same  until  three  years 
ago,  when  he  gave  up  the  latter  position, 
as  his  duties  had  become  too  arduous,  and 
was  succeeded  by  Mr.  Barry,  of  the  firm  of 
Fifer  &  Barry.  As  secretary  and  manager, 
he  devoted  his  entire  time  and  attention 
to  the  business  of  the  association.  It  was 
mainly  to  our  subject  that  the  success  of 
the  enterprise  was  due,  for  he  served  as  its 
manager  from  the  start  and  displayed  re- 
markable business  and  executive  ability  in 
the  conduct  of  its  affairs. 

On  the  3d  of  September,  1885,  Mr. 
Beaver  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Ida 
Brand,  a  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George 
Brand,  and  to  them  have  been  born  five  chil- 
dren, namely:  George  Thomas;  John  Hayes; 
Margherita  E. ;  Robert,  deceased;  and  Will- 
iam. Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beaver  are  active 
and  prominent  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  in  which  he  is  serving  as 
steward,  and  he  is  also  connected  with  the 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association.  He 
was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Blooming- 
ton Club,  and  has  always  taken  an  active 
part  in  political  affairs,  as  a  duty  and  not  as 
an  office-seeker,    though  he  was  once  the 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


245 


candidate  of  the  Republican  party  for  alder- 
man of  his  ward.  He  has  a  lovely  home  on 
East  Grove  street,  where  the  many  friends 
of  the  family  are  always  sure  of  a  hearty 
welcome,  for  there  hospitality  reigns  su- 
preme. The  life  of  Mr.  Beaver  is  a  living 
illustration  of  what  ability,  energy  and  force 
of  character  can  accomplish,  and  the  city 
and  state  has  been  enriched  by  his  example. 
It  is  to  such  men  that  the  west  owes  its 
prosperity,  its  rapid  progress  and  its  ad- 
vancement. 


JOHN  MOONEY,  residing  on  section  9, 
Randolph  township,  is  numbered 
among  the  substantial  and  well-known 
farmers  of  the  south  part  of  McLean  county, 
who,  by  his  own  labor  and  enterprise,  has 
acquired  a  valuable  and  well-improved  farm 
of  nearly  two  hundred  acres,  and  which  lies 
within  two  miles  of  the  village  of  Heyworth. 
He  was  born  June  22,  1833,  in  County 
Wexford,  Ireland,  and  comes  from  a  long 
line  of  noted  ancestry,  and  the  family  is 
still  living  on  the  old  farm  they  have  occu- 
pied for  over  a  centurj'.  The  father,  grand- 
father and  great-grandfather  were  all  named 
John,  and  were  prominent  among  the  hon- 
est yeomanry  of  Wexford  county.  John 
Mooney,  the  father,  was  born  on  the  same 
farm  as  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and 
there  assisted  his  father  in  carrying  on  the 
old  farm.  He  married  Eliza  Ellison,  a 
Scotch  lady,  and  they  became  the  parents 
of  three  sons  and  five  daughters,  John,  our 
subject,  being  third  in  order  of  birth.  Of 
the  family  there  are  two  sons  and  three 
daughters  yet  living.  The  grandfather  of 
our  subject  died  at  the  age  of  one  hundred 
and  seven  years,  while  his  father  died  at 
the  age  of  ninety-five  years. 


John  Mooney  grew  to  manhood  in  his 
native  land,  and  there  received  a  fair  com- 
mon-school education.  He  came  to  the 
United  States  in  1859,  taking  passage  on 
an  old  sailing  vessel,  and  was  six  weeks  in 
crossing  the  Atlantic,  encountering  some 
severe  weather  while  on  the  way.  The 
ship  was  badly  damaged,  and  this  was  its 
last  voyage  before  being  condemned.  After 
landing  in  New  York  Mr.  Mooney  came 
direct  to  Illinois,  locating  first  in  DeWitt 
county,  where  he  went  to  work  as  a  farm 
hand  for  William  Quinlan,  working  by  the 
month,  for  which  he  received  twelve  dollars 
per  month.  He  remained  with  Mr.  Quin- 
lan for  seven  years,  at  the  end  of  which 
time  he  came  into  McLean  county  and  pur- 
chased the  place  where  he  now  resides,  a 
tract  of  one  hundred  acres.  On  the  place 
was  an  old  farm  house,  into  which  he 
moved,  and  in  which  he  lived  for  several 
years,  while  he  further  improved  the  place. 
He  put  out  an  orchard,  together  with  shade 
and  ornamental  trees,  fenced  and  tiled  the 
land,  and  later  bought  an  additional  eighty 
acres  adjoining.  More  recently  he  pur- 
chased thirty-one  acres  of  timber  land,  giv- 
ing him  two  hundred  and  eleven  acres. 
Within  a  few  years  he  has  erected  a  good 
and  substantial  dwelling  house,  built  good 
barns  and  other  outbuildings,  and  put  the 
farm  in  excellent  shape.  On  the  place  he 
has  a  well  of  never-failing  water,  and  all  the 
surroundings  of  the  farm  show  the  taste  and 
skill  of  the  owner,  and  show  him  to  be  one 
of  the  best  farmers  in  the  township.  He 
commenced  life  in  this  country  without  a 
dollar,  and  by  his  own  labor,  industry  and 
enterprise  succeeded  in  securing  a  large  and 
valuable  farm,  and  has  made  an  honored 
name  in  the  land  of  his  adoption. 

Mr.    Mooney   has   been  twice   married, 


246 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


first  in  1867,  to  Miss  Anna  Maria  Daneher, 
a  nati%'e  of  Ireland.  She  died  in  1885, 
after  which  he  made  a  trip  to  his  native 
land,  visiting  his  parents,  brothers,  sisters 
and  friends  in  the  old  home.  He  was  gone 
si.\  months,  during  which  time  he  visited 
some  of  the  most  important  cities  in  Great 
Britain.  Returning  home,  on  the  7th  of 
December,  1887,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Cornelia  Minton,  who  was  born 
and  reared  in  Claybourne  county,  Tennes- 
see, and  daughter  of  Philip  Minton,  who 
was  born  in  Washington  county,  Virginia, 
and  who  went  to  Tennessee  when  a  young 
man,  and  was  there  married  to  Mrs.  Rachel 
Hodges,  7ice  Huddleston,  a  widow  lady. 
They  became  the  parents  of  five  children, 
Mrs.  Mooney  being  the  only  daughter.  She 
came  to  Illinois  with  her  brother,  and  here 
gave  her  hand  in  marriage  to  Mr.  Mooney. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mooney  four  children  have 
been  born,  of  whom  only  the  youngest, 
Esther  Margaret,  is  now  living.  Two  sons 
died  in  infancy,  and  one  daughter,  Ellisee, 
at  the  age  of  seven  years. 

On  coming  to  this  country  Mr.  Mooney 
identified  himself  with  the  Republican  party, 
and  has  since  supported  its  men  and  meas- 
ures in  all  national  elections.  In  local  elec- 
tions, he  usually  votes  for  the  man  he  re- 
gards as  best  qualified  to  fill  the  office  for 
which  he  is  running.  He  never  wanted  or 
sought  office  for  himself,  but  was  elected 
and  served  as  road  commissioner  two  years, 
and  also  served  two  terms  as  a  member  of 
the  school  board.  Mrs.  Mooney  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at 
Heyworth,  and  while  Mr.  Mooney  is  not  a 
member  of  any  church  organization,  he  at- 
tends church  with  his  wife  and  assists  in  its 
support.  He  was,  however,  reared  in  the 
Episcopal  faith. 


Mr.  Mooney  has  been  a  resident  of  Illi- 
nois for  forty  years,  and  of  McLean  county 
for  thirty-one  years,  during  which  time  he 
has  made  a  most  valuable  citizen,  and  is 
well  known  in  Bloomington,  the  south  part 
of  McLean,  and  the  north  part  of  DeWitt 
counties.  He  is  a  man  of  most  e.xemplary 
habits,  very  domestic  in  his  tastes,  a  great 
lover  of  home  and  family.  His  estimable 
wife  is  a  true  helpmeet  to  him,  a  believer  in 
her  husband's  many  excellent  qualities,  and 
they  live  and  work  harmoniously  together. 
They  are  held  in  high  esteem,  and  their 
many  friends  will  be  pleased  to  read  this 
short  history  of  their  lives. 


ALBERT  K.  WHITE,  who  is  now  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  the  real  estate 
and  money  loaning  business  in  Blooming- 
ton,  was  born  in  Harrison  county,  Ohio, 
November  23,  1848.  His  father,  David 
White,  was  born  in  Harrison  county,  Ohio, 
March  10,  1826,  of  Pennsylvania  Dutch  an- 
cestry, and  in  early  life  began  farming  in 
Ohio,  where  he  was  married,  December  24, 
1847,  to  Miss  Nancy  Wright.  They  made 
their  home  upon  a  farm  in  the  Buckeye 
state  until  the  fall  of  1854,  when  they  came 
to  Bloomington  and  the  following  year  lo- 
cated upon  a  farm  in  Old  Town  township, 
McLean  county.  They  are  now  living  in 
Heyworth  and  are  leading  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  of  that  place, 
with  which  the  father  is  officially  connected. 
Throughout  his  active  business  life  he  has 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  with  the  ex- 
ception of  one  year,  and  has  met  with  most 
excellent  success,  winning  a  comfortable 
competence  as  well  as  the  high  regard  of 
the  entire  community  in  which  he  lives, 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


247 


Albert  K.  White  was  educated  in  the 
schools  near  his  boyhood  home,  pursuing 
his  studies  for  some  time  after  coming  to 
McLean  county,  in  the  log  building  known 
as  the  Campbell  school.  He  remained  upon 
the  home  farm  with  his  father  until  he  at- 
tained his  majority  and  then  started  out  in 
life  for  himself  as  a  farm  hand.  Later  he 
engaged  in  farming  on  his  own  account  in 
Empire  township.  During  this  time  he  was 
married,  March  4,  1879,  to  Miss  Sarah  E. 
Heffling,  a  daughter  of  Lindley  Heffling,  of 
that  township,  and  they  now  have  two  sons, 
Francis  M.  and  Luther  Earle. 

Prior  to  1865,  Mr.  White  carried  on 
operations  in  Old  Town  township,  and  then 
removed  to  Empire  township,  where  he 
continued  to  make  his  home  for  three  years 
after  his  marriage.  The  following  three 
years  were  passed  in  DeWitt  county,  after 
which  he  returned  to  McLean  county,  and 
engaged  in  farming  near  Heyworth  until 
coming  to  Bloomington  early  in  the  year 
1894.  He  operated  rented  land  and  was 
quite  extensively  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits  until  closing  out  his  farming  interests 
in  1893.  During  his  residence  in  the  city 
he  has  engaged  in  the  real  estate  business, 
handling  a  good  deal  of  property,  mostly 
for  other  parties,  and  has  made  a  specialty 
of  placing  farm  and  city  loans,  which  has 
grown  to  be  an  important  branch  of  his 
business.  He  is  also  agent  for  several  in- 
surance companies.  Although  he  came  to 
Bloomington  without  any  knowledge  of  the 
business  methods  in  vogue,  he  has  met  with 
most  excellent  success,  and  has  won  an 
enviable  reputation  for  fair  and  honorable 
dealing.  Mr.  White  lived  in  Bloomington 
for  two  years,  but  three  years  ago  bought 
and  repaired  the  comfortable  home  he  now 
occupies  in  Normal.      Both  he  and  his  wife 


are  members  of  Grace  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  and  are  held  in  high  regard  by  all 
who  know  them. 


FREDERICK  ECKHARDT,  whose  name 
at  once  suggests  the  music  trade,  has  a 
reputation  which  extends  throughout  the 
country,  and  he  to-day  ranks  among  the 
prominent  business  men  of  Bloomington. 
Germany  has  furnished  to  the  new  world 
not  only  needed  workmen,  skilled  and  un- 
skilled, but  enterprising  merchants,  manu- 
facturers, artists  and  apt  dealers  upon  our 
marts  of  trade.  Among  the  manufacturers 
no  one  occupies  a  more  conspicuous  posi- 
tion than  our  subject,  the  well-known 
manufacturer  of  the  F.  Eckhardt  pianos. 

Mr.  Eckhardt  was  born  in  Hesse-Darm- 
stadt, Germany,  October  i,  1843,  a  son  of 
William  Eckhardt,  who  was  a  highly  edu- 
cated man  and  a  teacher,  and  also  a  well- 
known  musician,  his  special  instruments 
being  the  violin  and  piano,  on  which  he 
gave  lessons.  He  died  in  Hesse-Darm- 
stadt at  the  age  of  fifty  years  when  our  sub- 
ject was  only  four  years  old.  In  the 
family  have  been  many  talented  musicians, 
including  Charles  Eckhardt,  our  subject's 
cousin,  who  was  a  professor  of  music,  first 
m  Brazil  and  later  in  Roanoke,  Virginia, 
and  Lincoln,  Illinois. 

Our  subject  was  educated  in  public  and 
private  schools  of  his  native  land,  and  early 
in  life  manifested  a  taste  for  music.  After 
leaving  school,  he  served  a  three  years' 
apprenticeship  in  furniture  manufacturing, 
having  to  pay  for  the  privilege.  Later  he 
spent  two  years  with  a  well-known  piano 
manufacturer  of  Hamburg,  and  in  the 
meantime  also  gained  a  theoretical  knowl- 
edge of  music.      He  worked  as  a  journey- 


248 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


man  in  the  old  country  until  1867,  when  he 
came  to  the  United  States  and  first  located 
in  New  York  city,  where  he  worked  at  his 
trade  for  a  time.  Subsequently  he  was 
similarly  employed  in  Milwaukee,  Wiscon- 
sin, until  1870,  when  he  went  to  Racine 
and  embarked  in  the  manufacture  of  pianos 
on  his  own  account,  making  first  the  square 
and  grand  pianos  which  bore  the  name  of 
F.  Eckhardt  and  which  soon  became 
widely  known,  being  sold  all  over  the 
United  States  from  San  Francisco  to  New 
York.  He  has  ever  manufactured  an  in- 
strument of  fine  tone  and  volume,  is  per- 
fectly finished  and  sells  at  a  medium  rate. 
In  1875  he  began  the  manufacture  of  up- 
right pianos,  which  he  has  made  almost 
exclusively  since  1880.  He  started  in  busi- 
ness in  a  small  way,  but  as  his  rapidly  in- 
creased, he  enlarged  his  facilities  and  erec- 
ted a  large  brick  building  in  Racine,  which 
he  still  owns.  In  1896  he  removed  his 
machinery  and  plant  to  Bloomington  and 
built  a  good  two-story  brick  factory  with 
separate  engine  house,  on  Empire  street 
and  the  Illinois  Central  tracks,  where  he 
has  good  railroad  facilities.  He  has  ever 
given  his  personal  attention  to  every  detail 
of  the  business,  and  is  now  at  the  head  of 
a  large  and  profitable  trade  and  furnishes 
employment  to  a  large  number  of  men. 
His  factory  has  a  capacity  of  two  or  three 
hundred  pianos  a  year,  but  he  is  not  yet 
working  the  full  force. 

On  the  14th  of  October,  1895,  Mr.  Eck- 
hardt married  Miss  Josephine  Zuercher,  of 
Chicago,  of  which  city  she  is  a  native.  Her 
father,  Joseph  Zuercher,  is  of  Swiss  birth, 
and  has  lived  retired  from  active  business 
since  1872,  his  home  being  now  in  Bloom- 
ington. Mrs.  Eckhardt  was  educated  in  the 
schools  of  Chicago,  and  was  given  special 


instruction  in  music.  In  1872  she  went  to 
Stuttgart,  German-y,  to  continue  her  mu- 
sical studies,  both  vocal  and  instrumental, 
and  remained  there  a  year  and  a  half.  On 
her  return  to  the  United  States  she  success- 
fully engaged  in  teaching  music  in  Milwau- 
kee, Zanesville  and  Kenosha,  Wisconsin, 
and  also  Bloomington,  Illinois,  until  1889, 
when  she  again  went  to  Stuttgart,  where 
she  studied  under  Schwab,  the  musical 
leader  of  the  Royal  Theatre.  She  then  re- 
turned to  her  parents'  home  in  Bloomington 
and  resumed  teaching.  She  is  a  most  tal- 
ented musician,  and  for  a  time  was  con- 
nected with  musical  companies  giving  con- 
certs. As  a  musician  Mr.  Eckhardt  first 
met  her  at  a  concert  in  Kenosha,  Wisconsin, 
twenty  years  before  their  marriage.  They 
have  a  beautiful  home  at  No.  1 104  North 
Garrison  street,  where  she  has  lived  for  sev- 
eral years,  and  which  is  now  brightened  by 
the  presence  of  a  little  son,  Frederick 
Joseph.  Socially,  Mr.  Eckhardt  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Turners.  His  life  is  a  worthy 
illustration  of  what  can  be  accomplished  by 
the  exercise  of  industry,  perseverance  and 
good  management,  for  he  started  out  in  life 
for  himself  empty-handed  and  is  now  one 
of  the  well-to-do  and  prosperous  citizens  of 
his  adopted  city,  as  well  as  one  of  its  most 
highly  respected  business  men. 


SAMUEL  F.  BARNUM,  a  well-known 
and  prominent  citizen  of  Empire  town- 
ship, whose  home  is  on  section  16,  is  a  na- 
tive of  New  York,  his  birth  occurring  in  St. 
Lawrence  county,  August  11,  1824.  His. 
ancestors  on  the  paternal  side  were  origi- 
nally from  Scotland  and  on  crossing  the 
Atlantic  at  an  early  day  in  the  history  of 
this  country  took  up  their  residence  in  New 


THE   BIOGR.\PHICAL   RECORD. 


249 


England.  Samuel  B.  Barnum,  the  father 
of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Vermont,  and 
when  a  young  man  went  to  St.  Lawrence 
county.  New  York,  where  he  married  Miss 
Rhoda  M.  Farwell,  who  was  of  Welsh  de- 
scent. He  was  a  carder  and  fuller  by  trade 
and  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  cloth  at 
Canton,  St.  Lawrence  county,  for  many 
years  and  was  one  of  the  most  prominent 
business  men  of  that  place.  Later  he  made 
his  home  in  Erie  county.  New  York,  for 
some  years,  and  from  there  removed  to 
Defiance,  Ohio,  about  1846.  He  engaged  in 
business  there  until  called  from  this  life  at 
the  age  of  sixty-seven  years.  His  wife,  who 
survived  him  several  years,  passed  away  at 
the  age  of  seventy-six. 

In  Erie  county,  New  York,  Samuel  F. 
Barnum,  of  this  sketch,  grew  to  manhood, 
but  his  early  educational  advantages  were 
limited  and  he  is  almost  wholly  self-edu- 
cated by  reading  and  observation  in  subse- 
quent years.  In  1844,  at  the  age  of  twenty 
years,  he  was  married  in  that  county  to 
Miss  Clarinda  Bunting,  who  was  born  there. 
They  began  their  domestic  life  upon  a  small 
farm  which  he  owned  in  Erie  county,  and  in 
connection  with  its  operation  he  also  en- 
gaged in  general  merchandising.  In  1855  he 
came  to  McLean  county,  Illinois,  and  set- 
tled upon  land  in  Empire  township  which 
his  father  had  previously  purchased  and 
which  he  at  once  commenced  to  break  and 
fence.  The  first  year  being  verj'  dry,  he 
raised  no  crop  and  in  the  fall  returned  to 
New  York,  where  he  continued  to  engage 
in  mercantile  business  until  1863.  when  he 
again  came  to  McLean  county.  This  time 
he  accepted  a  position  as  bookkeeper  with 
the  lumber  firm  of  Bruner  &  Whitmer,  of 
Bloomington,  but  was  promoted  at  the  end 
of  a  year  and  his  salary  to  eighteen  hundred 


dollars  annually.  He  remained  with  the 
firm  five  years,  and  in  1870  formed  a  busi- 
ness partnership  with  Mr.  Bruner  and  came 
to  Le  Roy,  where  he  opened  a  lumber  yard 
and  engaged  in  the  lumber,  grain  and  coal 
business.  In  1872  Mr.  Keenan  purchased 
an  interest  and  the  firm  was  known  as 
Bruner,  Barnum  &  Keenan.  Later  Mr. 
Bruner  sold  out  and  the  business  was  suc- 
cessfully carried  on  in  Le  Roy  under  the 
firm  name  of  Barnum  &  Keenan  until  1889, 
when  Mr.  Barnum  sold  out  and  purchased 
a  farm  adjoining  the  village,  on  which  he 
located  in  1893,  and  to  the  further  improve- 
ment and  cultivation  of  which  he  has  since 
devoted  his  energies  with  marked  success. 
To  the  original  purchase  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  he  has  added  until  he  now 
has  three  hundred  and  nineteen  acres,  which 
he  has  placed  under  excellent  cultivation, 
and  has  erected  thereon  two  good  resi- 
dences, barns  and  other  outbuildings,  mak- 
ing it  one  of  the  most  valuable  and  desir- 
able farms  of  Empire  township. 

Mr.  Barnum's  first  wife  died  in  Erie 
county.  New  York,  in  1861.  Three  chil- 
dren were  born  of  that  union,  namely: 
Matilda  M.  is  now  the  wife  of  C.  D.  Wat- 
ers, of  Le  Roy.  Henry  I.  married  and  set- 
tled in  Le  Roy,  where  he  engaged  in  busi- 
ness until  his  death  in  1889,  leaving  two 
children.  Henry  Clay  died  in  1856,  at  the 
age  of  four  years.  Mr.  Barnum  was  again 
married  at  Bloomington,  in  1865,  his  sec- 
ond union  being  with  Miss  Eliza  Patterson, 
a  native  of  McLean  county  and  a  daughter 
of  Hiram  Patterson,  who  came  to  McLean 
county  from  southern  Illinois  in  March, 
1837.  He  was  born  in  1805  in  North  Caro- 
lina. He  was  a  wheelwright  and  cabinet- 
maker by  trade.  He  died  in  1844.  Dur- 
ing his  residence  here  he  took  quite  an  in- 


556 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORO. 


terest  in  church  affairs.  By  this  marriage 
there  are  two  sons  :  Percy  D. ,  who  is  en- 
gaged in  farming  upon  the  home  place, 
married  Rettie  C.  Crosiiey,  and  has  one  son, 
Edwin;  and  George  P.  is  a  business  man  of 
Santa  Rosa,  California. 

Originally,  Mr.  Barnum  was  a  ^^'hig  in 
politics  and  cast  his  first  presidential  vote  for 
Zachary  Taylor  in  1848.  Since  then  he  has 
supported  each  presidential  candidate  of  the 
Whig  and  Republican  parties,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  those  of  i860,  when  he  voted  for 
Stephen  A.  Douglas,  the  little  giant.  He 
has  been  a  prominent  factor  in  local  poli- 
tics, and  as  one  of  the  most  popular  and  in- 
fluential citizens  of  his  community,  he  has 
been  called  upon  to  serve  his  fellow-citizens 
in  several  important  offices.  For  four 
years  he  was  mayor  of  Le  Roy,  and  has 
been  a  member  of  the  county  board  of  super- 
visors. While  in  the  latter  office  he  served 
as  chairman  of  the  judiciary  committee  one 
year,  and  as  a  member  of  several  other  im- 
portant ones.  He  has  been  a  delegate  to 
county,  congressional  and  state  conventions 
of  his  party,  and  in  whatever  position  he 
has  been  called  upon  to  fill  he  has  made  a 
most  faithful  and  efficient  officer.  He  was 
one  of  the  first  stockholders  and  first  mem- 
bers of  the  Building  and  Loan  Association 
of  Le  Roy,  and  served  as  its  president  for 
twenty-four  consecutive  years.  Industry, 
energy  and  economy  are  among  his  chief 
characteristics,  and  have  brought  a  merited 
success  to  his  efforts.  Fraternally,  he  is  a 
Master  Mason,  and  in  both  social  and  busi- 
ness circles  he  stands  deservedly  high. 


JONATHAN  SPENCER,  who  resides  on 
what  is  known  as  the  Evergreen  farm, 
in  Dawson  township,  is  one  of  the  early  set- 


tlers of  McLean  county,  and  one  who  has 
been  a  pioneer  in  two  states.  He  was  born 
in  Tioga  county,  Pennsylvania,  December 
27,  1 8 14,  and  is  the  son  of  Jonathan  Lee 
and  Levina  (Raxford)  Spencer,  both  of  whom 
were  natives  of  the  Keystone  state.  The 
grandfather  of  our  subject  had  one  daugh- 
ter and  twenty-one  sons,  and  at  the  time  of 
the  Revolutionary  war  sixteen  of  them  were 
able  to  carry  muskets. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  eleven 
years  old  when  he  left  his  Pennsylvania 
home,  going  to  Hawkins  county,  Ohio, 
where  he  grew  to  manhood,  and  at  McAr- 
thurstown  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Polly  Ann  Watkins,  a  native  of  Athens 
county,  Ohio,  and  daughter  of  William  and 
Hannah  Watkins,  both  of  whom  were  na- 
tives of  Virginia.  Soon  after  marriage,  at 
the  age  of  twenty-three  years,  he  came  to 
Illinois  and  located  first  in  Vermilion  county, 
where  he  remained  thirteen  years,  and  then 
came  to  McLean  county  and  settled  in  Old 
Town  township,  where  he  bought  a  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  thirty-five  acres,  for  which 
he  gave  the  sum  of  eight  hundred  dollars. 
Seven  years  later  he  sold  it  for  two  thousand 
and  sixty  dollars.  He  then  bought  his  pres- 
ent farm  of  eighty  acres  in  Dawson  town- 
ship, which  has  since  continued  to  be  his 
home. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Spencer  eleven  children 
were  born.  James  died  at  the  age  of  six 
months.  Catherine  married  Marcus  Wyman, 
of  Vermilion  county,  Illinois,  and  dying  left 
two  children,  Mary  and  William.  Louisa 
married  Elijah  Gayno,  and  they  reside  on  a 
farm  near  Sioux  City,  Iowa.  Leander  and 
William  are  living  near  Kingfisher,  Okla- 
homa. Newman  resides  in  Dawson  town- 
ship. Stephen  moved  to  Nebraska  and 
died  leaving  a  family  of  four  children.     John 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


251 


residing  with  his  father.  Mary  married  La- 
fayette Thomas  and  died  at  Fort  Scott, 
Kansas,  leaving  five  children.  Frank  is  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  Dawson  township.  The 
others  died  in  early  childhood.  The  mother 
died  in  August,  1881,  and  her  remains  were 
interred  in  the  cemetery  at  Le  Roy.  She 
was  a  true  Christian  woman,  a  member  of 
the  United  Brethren  church. 

On  Thanksgiving  day,  1884,  Mr.  Spen- 
cer was  again  married,  his  second  union 
being  with  Mrs.  Anna  Kilbourne,  widow  of 
Lemuel  Kilbourne,  by  whom  she  had  three 
children,  Orson,  Mary  and  Earl.  She  was 
born  and  reared  in  New  York,  but  her  mar- 
riage to  our  subject  took  place  in  Nebraska. 
In  her  younger  days  Mrs.  Spencer  was  a 
teacher  in  the  public  schools.  She  is  an 
intelligent  and  refined  woman  and  has  made 
many  friends  since  her  residence  in  McLean 
county. 

For  many  years  Mr.  Spencer  was  a 
member  of  the  United  Brethren  church, 
but  he  is  now  identified  with  the  Protestant 
Methodists,  with  which  body  his  wife  is  also 
a  member.  He  has  never  been  connected 
with  any  lodge  or  fraternal  society,  believ- 
ing that  the  church  of  Christ  is  sufficient 
for  all  purposes.  On  national  issues  he  has 
always  been  a  Democrat,  but  in  local  mat- 
ters he  is  independent,  voting  for  the  man 
best  fitted  for  the  office  to  which  he  aspires. 
He  has  been  called  on  to  fill  several  posi- 
tions of  honor  and  trust,  having  served  as 
'justice  of  the  peace,  supervisor,  school  di- 
rector and  road  commissioner,  discharging 
the  duties  of  each  office  to  the  best  of  his 
ability  and  to  the  satisfaction  of  his  constit- 
uents. For  sixty-two  years  he  has  been  a 
resident  of  Illinois,  and  the  greater  part  of 
that  time  as  a  citizen  of  McLean  county. 
When  he  came   the   country  was  new,  but 


with  others  of  the  heroic  pioneer  band  he 
went  to  work  and  to-day  the  results  are 
shown  in  the  well-cultivated  fields,  the  fine 
and  substantial  farm  houses,  excellent 
church  buildings  and  school  houses,  and  in 
the  neat  and  attractive  villages  and  cities. 
To  such  men  as  Johnathan  Spencer  this  is 
all  due  and  they  should  be  honored  for 
it  all. 


LOREF  H.  DEPEW,  a  wide-awake  and 
energetic  business  man  of  Blooming- 
ton,  was  born  in  that  city,  November  10, 
1856,  a  son  of  Joel  and  Sally  (Enlow)  Depew. 
The  father  was  born  and  reared  in  Virginia, 
and  in  early  life  removed  with  his  parents 
to  Indiana,  where  they  died.  Subsequently 
became  to  Bloomington,  about  1840,  and  em- 
barked in  business  as  a  cabinet  maker.  He 
erected  quite  a  large  factory  which  he  suc- 
cessfully conducted  until  it  was  destroyed  by 
fire.  As  one  of  the  prominent  and  influential 
citizens  of  Bloomington  and  a  recognized 
leader  in  the  Republican  party  here,  he  was 
honored  with  several  important  official  posi- 
tions, serving  as  mayor  of  the  city  the  last 
year  of  the  war,  and  as  alderman  for  some 
years.  His  last  years  were  spent  in  retire- 
ment and  he  passed  away  in  1872.  The 
Depew  family  is  of  French  origin,  and  so 
far  as  known,  all  of  the  name  in  the  United 
States  spring  from  two  brothers  who  came 
to  America  about  the  time  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary war.  Chauncey  Depew,  the  great 
New  York  statesman,  traces  his  ancestry 
back  to  the  same  two  brothers.  It  was  in 
Bloomington  that  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  married  to  Miss  Sally  Enlow,  a  native 
of  Kentucky  and  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Katherine  Enlow,  with  whom  she  came  to 
this  county.      She  died  February   12,  1899. 


252 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


She  was  the  mother  of  five  children,  Loren 
H.,  our  subject,  and  Ora,  now  deceased, 
and  three  who  died  in  infancy. 

Loren  H.  Depew  was  educated  in  private 
schools  of  Bloomington,  and  at  the  age  of 
thirteen  commenced  learning  the  baker's 
trade,  at  which  he  served  a  two  years'  ap- 
prenticeship, but  not  liking  the  business  he 
abandoned  it  and  learned  the  cleaner's  and 
dyer's  trade,  which  he  followed  until  attain- 
ing his  majority.  He  was  then  employed 
as  a  clerk  in  the  merchant  tailoring  estab- 
lishments of  E.  C.  Hyde  &  Son  and  H.  W. 
Leach  for  twenty  years,  proving  a  most  suc- 
cessful salesman  and  numbering  among  his 
customers  many  of  the  leading  citizens  of 
Bloomington.  The  following  three  years  he 
was  proprietor  of  a  restaurant  and  in  that 
venture  met  with  most  excellent  success. 
At  the  end  of  that  time  he  again  turned  his 
attention  to  the  cleaning  and  dying  business 
and  for  a  number  of  years  conducted  an  es- 
tablishment of  his  own  in  the  old  post  office 
block  until  it  was  remodeled.  For  the  past 
two  years  he  has  carried  on  business  at  Nos. 
104  and  106  South  Main  street,  where  he 
has  a  large  steam  plant  for  dying  and  is  able 
to  conduct  his  business  by  the  latest  and 
most  approved  methods.  He  is  the  best 
equipped  and  leading  business  man  in  his 
line  in  the  city.  He  has  also  built  up  a 
large  trade  as  a  costumer,  furnishing  every- 
thing necessary  for  ball  parties,  private 
theatricals,  etc.  Being  naturally  artistic  in 
his  tastes,  he  has  designed  many  beautiful 
costumes,  and  is  therefore  well  qualified  for 
this  branch  of  his  business. 

Mr.  Depew  married  Miss  Tillie  E.  Aus- 
ten, of  Bloomington,  who  was  born  in 
Denmark,  but  during  early  childhood  was 
brought  to  America  by  her  father,  Lewis 
Austen.     One  child  graces  this  union,  Cora 


M.  With  his  wife,  Mr.  Depew  attends  and 
supports  the  First  Presbyterian  church,  of 
which  she  is  a  member.  Socially,  he  be- 
longs to  Pythias  Lodge,  No.  161,  K.  P.,  of 
which  he  has  been  master  at  work  for 
eight  years,  and  is  also  sergeant-major  of 
the  First  Battalion  of  Fourth  Regiment 
of  Uniformed  Rank  of  Knights  of  Pythias, 
which  he  has  accompanied  to  several 
state  encampments  and  six  national  en- 
campments, including  one  at  Washing- 
ton, D.  C.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  In  the 
spring  of  1876  he  joined  Company  F,  Tenth 
Battallion,  Illinois  National  Guards,  and 
ten  years  later  enlisted  in  Company  G, 
Fourth  Regiment,  Illinois  National  Guards, 
with  which  regiment  he  was  twice  called 
into  active  service,  once  during  the  famous 
riot  at  Lemont,  where  he  remained  for 
a  number  of  weeks.  After  his  last  enlist- 
ment he  served  for  five  years.  He  is  an 
ardent  supporter  of  the  Republican  party, 
and  in  1884  organized  the  Blaine  and 
Logan  drill  team,  which  took  an  active 
part  in  the  campaign  in  central  Illinois. 
As  a  business  man  and  citizen,  he  justly 
merits  the  high  regard  in  which  he  is  held, 
and  his  genial,  pleasant  manner  has  made 
him   a  host  of  warm  personal  friends. 


JOHN  B.  LENNEY  has  demonstrated  the 
true  meaning  of  the  word  success  as 
the  full  accomplishment  of  an  honorable 
purpose.  Energy,  close  application,  perse- 
verance and  good  management — these  are 
the  elements  which  have  entered  into  his 
business  career  and  crowned  his  efforts  with 
prosperity.  His  birth  occurred  in  1819,  in 
Cumberland  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  he 
is  the  only  surviving  of  the  three  children 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


!53 


of  William  and  Sarah  B.  Lenney,  who  died 
in  their  native  state,  Pennsylvania.  John 
was  reared  and  educated  in  Cumberland 
county,  where  he  worked  on  a  farm,  and  as 
he  grew  older  he  learned  cabinet-making, 
which  he  pursued  until  1856,  when  he  came 
west,  locating  in  Chenoa,  and  built  the  first 
frame  dwelling  house.  Chenoa  at  that 
time  presented  a  vastly  different  appearance 
than  at  the  present  day.  The  only  houses 
in  sight,  two  in  number,  constituted  the 
town,  and  the  neighborhood  abounded  in 
game  of  all  kinds.  Mr.  Lenney  has  counted 
as  many  as  forty-two  deer  within  half  a  mile 
of  his  house.  His  first  enterprise  upon  reach- 
ing Chena  was  to  engage  in  the  grocery  busi- 
ness, which  he  conducted  for  two  years,  then 
taking  into  partnership  G.  B.  Beddinger, 
and  enlarging  the  stock  and  adding  dry- 
goods,  etc.  They  conducted  business  under 
the  firm  name  of  Beddinger  &  Lenney  for 
four  years,  when  Mr.  Lenney  received  the 
appointment  as  the  first  postmaster  of  Che- 
noa, serving  in  that  capacity  for  twelve 
years.  He  was  also  appointed  express  agent 
at  Chenoa  for  the  United  States  E.xpress 
Company,  which  position  he  held  for  the 
same  length  of  time.  In  1870  he  was  com- 
missioned justice  of  the  peace,  an  office 
which  he  holds  at  the  present  writing. 

In  January,  1848,  Mr.  Lenney  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Sarah  A.  Bush,  who  was  born 
in  Shippensburg,  Pennsylvania.  Nine  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  them,  six  of  whom 
are  living:  William  B.,  a  farmer;  John  W. , 
a  druggist;  Blair,  a  painter;  Lyslie  K. ,  a 
clerk;  Edward,  also  a  farmer;  and  Mary  E. 
Politically,  our  subject  is  a  Republican,  and 
fraternally  a  Mason,  who  has  been  raised  to 
the  sublime  degree  of  Master  Mason  in  Che- 
noa. He  is  now  living  a  retired  life,  free 
from  business  cares  and  responsibilities,  and 


takes  great  pleasure  in  the  society  of  his 
family  and  friends.  He  is  always  courteous, 
kindly  and  affable,  and  those  who  know  him 
personally  have  for  him  a  warm  regard.  A 
man  of  much  natural  ability,  his  success  in 
business  from  the  beginning  of  his  residence 
in  Chenoa,  was  uniform  and  rapid.  As  has 
been  truly  remarked,  after  all  that  may  be 
done  for  a  man  in  the  way  of  giving  him  op- 
portunities for  obtaining  the  requirements 
which  are  sought  in  the  schools  and  in  books, 
he  must  essentially  formulate,  determine 
and  give  shape  to  his  own  character;  and 
this  is  what  Mr.  Lenney  has  done.  He  has 
persevered  in  the  pursuit  of  persistent  pur- 
pose and  gained  the  most  satisfactory  re- 
ward. His  life  is  exemplary  in  all  respects, 
and  he  has  ever  supported  those  interests 
which  are  calculated  to  benefit  and  uplift 
humanity,  while  his  own  high  moral  worth 
is  deserving  the  highest  commendation. 


BYRON  GREGORY,  who  is  now  serv- 
ing as  supervisor  of  Money  Creek 
township,  is  an  extensive  farmer  and  stock 
raiser,  and  a  native  of  McLean  county.  He 
was  born  on  the  old  family  homestead  in 
Gridley  township,  December  14,  1868,  and 
is  the  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Henline) 
Gregory,  who  were  early  settlers  of  the 
county,  the  father  being  well  known  as  one 
of  the  largest  land  owners  here,  having  at 
the  time  he  retired  from  active  business 
over  three  thousand  acres  of  land.  (See 
sketch  of  John  Gregory  on  another  page  of 
this  work.) 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  one  of 
seven  children,  and  was  but  two  years  old 
when  his  parents  moved  to  Normal,  and  in 
the  schools  of  that  city  he  received  a  liberal 
education.     Arriving  at   man's  estate,  and 


254 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


choosing  as  his  calling  the  life  of  a  farmer, 
he  returned  to  Gridley  township  and  set  to 
work  with  a  will  as  a  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser.  He  continued  to  be  thus  engaged 
until  1895,  when  he  returned  to  Normal, 
and  in  partnership  with  his  brother-in-law, 
F.  W.  Liggitt,  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
business  under  the  firm  name  of  Liggitt  & 
Gregory.  Two  years  experience  as  a  mer- 
chant was  all  that  he  then  desired,  and  he 
then  withdrew,  exchanging  his  interest  in 
the  store  for  his  present  farm  in  Money 
Creek  township,  which  comprises  four  hun- 
dred and  thirty  acres  in  sections  17  and  18, 
the  farm  long  being  known  as  the  Trimmer 
farm.  He  is  giving  his  attention  to  general 
farming  and  stock-raising,  being  an  exten- 
sive feeder,  and  shipping  on  an  average  five 
car  loads  of  stock  per  year. 

Mr.  Gregory  was  married  December  24, 
1889,  to  Miss  Hattie  Britt,  who  was  born 
in  Tazewell  county,  and  daughter  of  Will- 
iam and  Sarah  (Burt)  Britt,  who  were 
early  settlers  of  Tazewell  county,  and  the 
parents  of  four  children:  Pauline,  wife  of 
Dr.  Doff  Dillon,  of  Normal;  Emma,  wife 
of  Joseph  Richmond,  of  Tazewell  county, 
Illinois;  John  C,  a  business  man  of  Farm- 
ington,  Illinois;  and  Hattie,  wife  of  our  sub- 
ject. To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gregory  three 
children  have  been  born — Omer  B.,  Marie 
and  Florence. 

In  politics  Mr.  Gregory  is  a  Democrat, 
with  which  party  he  has  been  identified 
since  attaining  his  majority.  In  the  spring 
of  1899  he  was  elected  on  that  ticket  to 
represent  his  township  as  a  member  of  the 
board  of  supervisors  of  McLean  county, 
and  this  in  a  township  that  usually  gives  a 
large  Republican  majority,  which  fact  attests 
his  popularity.  Fraternally  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  El  Paso  Lodge,  No.  246,  A.  F.  &  A. 


M.,  and  of  Bloomington  Chapter,  No.  26, 
R.  A.  M.  Religiously  he  is  identified  with 
the  Christians,  holding  membership  in  the 
Christian  church  at  Gridley.  While  yet  a 
young  man,  he  has  been  quite  successful  in 
his  chosen  calling,  and  is  a  thoroughly  en- 
terprising and  progressive  citizen,  alive  to 
all  the  best  interests  of  his  native  county 
and  state. 


ANDREW  M.  DUFF,  a  prominent  young 
real-estate  dealer  of  Bloomington,  was 
born  in  Lincoln,  Illinois,  May  i,  1873,  a  son 
of  Andrew  M.  and  Belle  F.  (Johnson)  Duff, 
both  natives  of  Kentucky.  The  father  was 
one  of  the  very  early  settlers  of  Logan  county, 
Illinois,  where  he  took  up  a  tract  of  new 
land  and  successfully  engaged  in  general 
farming  and  stock  raising.  He  was  an  ar- 
dent Republican  in  political  sentiment,  but 
never  an  aspirant  for  office.  He  died  De- 
cember 21,  1 88 1,  honored  and  respected  by 
all  who  knew  him.  The  wife  and  mother, 
who  is  now  living  in  the  city  of  Lincoln, 
came  to  this  state  with  her  parents  at  an 
early  day  and  located  west  of  Bloomington, 
where  they  both  died.  She  is  a  consistent 
member  of  the  Cumberland  Presbj'terian 
church  and  a  most  estimable  lady.  She  is 
the  mother  of  ten  children,  of  whom  nine 
reached  years  of  maturity,  and  of  these  our 
subject  is  the  seventh  in  order  of  birth. 

During  his  boyhood  and  youth,  Andrew 
M.  Duff,  our  subject,  pursued  his  studies  in 
the  public  schools,  and  later  in  Brown's 
Business  College.  Going  to  Lincoln,  Illi- 
nois, he  worked  in  the  abstract  office  of  H. 
W.  Dana,  and  during  the  few  years  spent 
there  obtained  an  excellent  knowledge  of 
titles  and  the  real-estate  business.  Later  he 
engaged  in  the  real-estate  and  loan  business 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


255 


on  his  own  account  at  Hastings,  Nebraska, 
but  gave  more  attention  to  the  latter.  He 
located  there  in  1894  and  did  quite  a  profit- 
able business,  but  concluded  to  return  to 
his  native  state  and  this  time  located  in 
Champaign,  where  he  was  employed  by  the 
Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad 
Company  as  their  emigration  agent,  travel- 
ing and  selling  their  western  lands.  At  the 
end  of  a  year,  he  came  to  Bloomington, 
and  on  the  ist  of  January,  1898,  opened  an 
office  in  the  Gresheim  building  and  has 
since  successfully  engaged  in  the  real-estate 
business.  He  sells  on  commission  for  oth- 
ers, and  also  buys  and  sells  property  for  his 
own  benefit.  He  has  often  dealt  two  or 
three  times  with  the  same  parties  and  his 
straightforward,  honorable  business  meth- 
ods gain  for  him  the  confidence  and  re- 
spect of  all  with  whom  he  comes  in  contact. 
Mr.  Duff  was  united  in  marriage,  on 
the  4th  of  June,  1894,  with  Miss  Jessie 
S.  Kent,  a  daughter  of  Arthur  W.  Kent, 
who  was  born  in  London,  England,  but 
during  childhood  emigrated  to  Canada,  and 
in  1883  removed  to  Logan  county,  Illinois. 


WILLIAM  MADDUX,  Sr.,  was  for  many 
years  actively  identified  with  the  busi- 
ness interests  of  Bloomington,  but  is  now 
practically  living  retired,  and  expects  to 
spend  his  remaining  years  in  ease  and  quiet, 
enjoying  the  rest  which  should  always  follow 
a  long  and  useful  career.  He  was  born  in 
Flemingsburg,  Fleming  county,  Kentucky, 
July  23,  1832,  a  son  of  Edward  Dorsey  and 
Elizabeth  (Deering)  Maddux,  and  grandson 
of  George  B.  and  Judith  (Neal)  Maddux. 
The  grandfather  was  a  native  of  Virginia  and 
when  a  young  man  moved  to  Fleming  coun- 
ty, Kentucky,  where  he  purchased  land  and 


continued  to  make  his  home  throughout  life. 
He  was  a  grand  old  man  who  was  quite  prom- 
inent in  his  community,  and  in  religious  be- 
lief was  a  strict  Methodist.  He  with  his 
team,  was  drafted  during  the  war  of  18 12, 
but  he  hired  a  substitute  to  take  the  team 
and  haul  provisions  for  the  army  throughout 
the  remainder  of  that  struggle.  He  was 
three  times  married  and  by  the  first  union 
had  ten  children,  the  second  nine,  and  the 
third  two.  The  father  of  our  subject  was 
by  the  first  marriage.  The  grandfather  died, 
and  was  laid  to  rest  in  the  burying  ground 
upon  his  farm.  He  was  an  earnest  Christain 
man  and  his  home  was  always  the  stopping 
place  for  ministers. 

Edward  Dorsey  Maddux,  the  father  of 
subject,  was  born  in  1805,  not  far  from  the 
birthplace  of  our  subject,  and  there  he  grew 
to  manhood.  He  was  a  teamster  by  occu- 
pation and  did  quite  and  extensive  business, 
traveling  with  a  six-horse  team  all  over  the 
country  as  far  as  Lexington,  Frankfort  and 
Maysville.  Later  he  purchased  a  farm 
about  five  miles  from  Flemingsburg,  upon 
which  our  subject  was  born.  He  married 
Miss  Elizabeth  Deering,  also  a  native  of 
Fleming  county,  Kentucky,  and  a  daughter 
of  William  and  Anna  (Rogers)  Deering,  na- 
tives of  Fauquier  county,  Virginia,  who  at 
an  early  day  located  in  Fleming  county, 
Kentuck,  where  Mr.  Deering  owned  and  op- 
erated a  farm  until  his  death.  His  widow 
subsequently  married  a  Mr.  Cunningham, 
by  whom  she  had  one  child,  and  she  passed 
away  at  the  age  of  eighty-five  years.  When 
our  subject  was  about  eleven  years  of  age, 
his  father  sold  his  farm  and  removed  to 
Flemingsburg,  where  he  engaged  in  teaming 
for  some  years.  The  mother  died  near  that 
place  October  9,  1853,  and  the  father  spent 
the  last  twenty  years  of  his  life  at  the  home 


iS6 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


of  our  subject,  where  he  departed  this  hfe 
June  1 8,  1 891.  Both  were  earnest  and  con- 
sistent members  of  the  Christain  church,  at- 
tending services  at  what  was  called  the  brick 
Union  church,  in  Fleming  county.  To  them 
were  born  five  children,  of  whom  three 
reached  the  years  of  maturity,  namely:  Will- 
iam, our  subject;  Ann,  wife  of  Dunbar 
White,  of  Bloomington;  and  George  R.  All 
now  live  on  Buchanan  street,  Bloomington. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  began  his 
education  in  the  country  schools  near  his 
childhood  home  and  later  attended  the  Lane 
Seminary  at  Flemingsburg  until  fifteen  years 
of  age,  when  he  commenced  earning  his 
own  livelihood  by  working  by  the  month, 
and  was  thus  employed  until  his  marriage. 
On  the  2 1st  of  July,  1853,  Mr.  Maddux  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  Ann 
Summers,  who  was  then  living  five  miles 
east  of  Flemingsburg,  but  was  born  near 
Mays  Lick,  Mason  county,  Kentucky,  Feb- 
ruary 27,  1 83 1.  Her  parents,  Elijah  and 
Elizabeth  (Batman)  Summers,  were  also 
natives  of  the  same  place,  and  were  repre- 
sentatives of  two  of  the  oldest  families  of 
that  section.  Soon  after  the  birth  of  Mrs. 
Maddux  they  moved  to  Fleming  county, 
where  the  father  engaged  in  farming  until 
April,  1858,  when  he  disposed  of  his  prop- 
erty there  and  came  to  Bloomington,  Illi- 
nois. He  did  not  long  enjoy  his  new  home, 
however,  as  he  died  on  the  9th  of  the  fol- 
lowing October,  at  the  age  of  sixty-two 
years.  The  mother  continued  her  residence 
here  until  after  the  civil  war,  when  she 
went  to  live  with  a  son  in  Kansas,  but  after- 
ward, at  the  age  of  eighty  years,  visited  her 
daughter  in  Bloomington.  She  died  in  Kan- 
sas January  21,  1894,  at  the  age  of  ninety- 
three  years.  Both  she  and  her  husband 
were    faithful    members   of    the   Methodist 


Episcopal  church.  Her  father,  Owen  Bat- 
man, was  a  native  of  Wales,  and  a  pioneer 
of  Mason  county,  Kentucky,  where  in  the 
midst  of  the  forest  he  hewed  out  a  home. 
Later  he  went  to  Ohio  and  located  near 
Xenia,  where  his  death  occurred.  William 
Summers,  Mrs.  Maddux's  paternal  grand- 
father, was  also  born  in  Virginia  and  was 
one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Mason  county,  ' 
Kentucky.  While  building  his  log  cabin  he 
had  to  leave  his  family  at  Fort  Washington 
for  protection  against  the  Indians,  and  there 
the  wife  sickened  and  died,  leaving  him  with 
the  care  of  five  little  boys.  He  took  them 
into  the  woods,  where  he  made  for  them  a 
home.  Later  he  married  Patience  Havens, 
who  was  the  grandmother  of  Mrs.  Maddux, 
and  after  her  death  he  was  again  married. 
He  was  the  progenitor  of  the  Summers 
family  in  Kentucky,  and  his  descendants 
are  now  quite  numerous  in  that  state.  He 
was  an  upright,  honorable  man,  who  met 
with  success  in  life,  and  his  sons  were  all 
quite  well-to-do.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Maddux 
were  born  nine  children,  but  only  three 
now  survive.  Walter,  the  youngest,  died 
at  the  age  of  eight  years.  The  living  are  as 
follows:  Ella  is  the  wife  of  Julius  H. 
Reichel,  who  lives  in  a  house  adjoining 
that  of  our  subject  in  Bloomington,  and 
they  have  one  son,  Arthur  Harvey;  Millard 
Lincoln,  a  member  of  the  police  force,  mar- 
ried Edith  Wolfe  and  has  one  child,  Etta 
B. ;  and  William  Edward,  who  was  for 
some  time  engaged  in  milling,  but  now  fol- 
lows the  printer's  trade,  married  Zua  White, 
and  has  two  children,  James  D.  and  Herman 
Lincoln. 

On  the  30th  of  November,  1854,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Maddux  took  up  their  residence 
in  Bloomington,  having  come  here  from 
their  old  home  in  Kentucky  by  way  of  the 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


257 


river  from  Maysville,  Kentucky,  to  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio,  and  from  there  by  rail  to  Indi- 
anapoHs,  Indiana,  and  by  the  railroad  to 
Michigan  City,  Chicago,  and  to  Blooming- 
ton  on  the  Chicago  &  Alton,  which  then 
ended  at  this  place.  Here  he  sought  em- 
ployment, and  the  first  work  he  found  was 
cutting  ice  at  one  dollar  and  twenty-five 
cents  per  day  and  it  proved  a  very  cold  job 
for  a  southerner.  He  had  just  six  and  one- 
fourth  cents  on  his  arrival  at  Bloomington. 
He  had  previously  made  arrangements  to 
take  a  farm  in  this  county,  but  on  their 
arrival  the  other  parties  backed  out  and 
they  were  left  without  a  place.  As  they 
had  been  used  to  plenty  it  was  at  first  hard 
to  get  along  on  the  small  salary  he  could 
earn  by  working  at  odd  jobs.  They  went 
to  the  Ritter  House,  now  the  Butler  House, 
where  he  paid  seven  dollars  a  week  for 
board,  at  the  same  time  only  earning  seven 
dollars  and  a  half.  For  ten  years  Mr. 
Maddux  was  employed  as  a  driver  of  a  flour 
wagon  and  in  that  way  became  somewhat 
familiar  with  the  milling  business,  which  he 
later  successfullj-  followed.  In  1878,  with 
William  Cox,  he  purchased  a  grocery  stock, 
and  engaged  in  business  in  the  Hill  building 
on  South  East  street.  Having  already  be- 
come extensively  acquainted  throughout  the 
city,  he  did  a  large  and  profitable  business 
during  the  following  two  years.  Selling  his 
interest  in  that  store,  he  bought  a  half  in- 
terest in  the  grocery  of  George  ^^'oy,  and 
under  the  firm  name  of  Woy  &  Maddux 
business  was  carried  on  for  a  time,  but  our 
subject  finally  sold  out  to  his  partner.  He 
then  started  in  business  on  Front,  near 
East  street,  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Maddux  &  Elledge,  and  when  his  partner 
sold  his  interest  to  ^^'alker  Bulwer  the  name 
was  changed  to  Maddux  &  Bulwer.      Later 


they  moved  to  the  corner  of  Front  and 
Prairie  streets  and  admitted  W.  I.  Merwin 
into  the  firm,  the  name  being  then  changed 
to  Maddux,  Merwin  &  Bulwer.  They  occu- 
pied a  new  building  and  did  a  large  and 
profitable  business.  Subsequently,  George 
B.  Miller  bought  the  half  interest  owned 
by  Merwin  and  Bulwer  and  the  firm  became 
Maddux  &  Miller.  They  bought  a  stock  of 
goods  at  807  Grove  street  and  carried  on 
both  stores  until  the  partnership  was  dis- 
solved, Mr.  Miller  taking  the  store  on  Grove 
street  and  our  subject  the  one  down  town 
on  Front  street,  at  the  corner  of  Prairie. 
This  he  carried  on  alone  until  he  closed  out 
the  business  and  built  a  gristmill  on  South 
Center  street,  which  was  first  run  by  steam 
and  later  by  electricity.  He  secured  a  large 
custom  trade  and  did  a  good  business  until 
January,  1898,  when  on  account  of  his 
health  he  sold  out  and  has  since  lived 
retired. 

On  first  coming  to  Bloomington,  Mr. 
Maddux  lived  in  rented  property,  but  later 
owned  a  home  oh  the  corner  of  Front  and 
Clinton  streets,  and  after  that  at  No.  607 
Jackson  street.  He  then  bought  five  lots 
on  Buchanan  street,  which  at  that  time 
was  all  wood  and  pasture  land  on  the  hill, 
and  erected  thereon  his  present  comfortable 
residence  at  No.  710,  where  he  has  made 
his  home  since  1871.  He  also  owns  other 
real  estate  in  different  parts  of  the  city.  He 
has  been  a  prominent  member  of  Remem- 
brance Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F. ,  for  over  twenty 
years  and  is  past  grand  of  the  same,  and 
for  many  years  he  and  his  wife  have  at- 
tended and  supported  the  Christian  church. 
Politically,  his  father  was  first  a  Whig  and 
later  a  Republican,  and  our  subject  has 
always  been  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  latter 
party.      In    1S76   he  was  elected  alderman 


258 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


for  the  fourth  ward  and  so  acceptably  did 
he  fill  the  office  that  he  was  called  upon  to 
serve  in  that  position  for  four  years,  during 
which  time  the  new  city  hall  was  located 
and  built  and  the  water  works  finished.  He 
is  a  public-spirited,  enterprising  citizen  who 
has  the  best  interest  of  the  city  and  county 
at  heart  and  has  done  all  in  his  power  to 
promote  the  public  welfare  along  various 
lines. 


ISAAC  DARST,  a  prominent  and  wealthy 
citizen  of  Bloomington,  now  retired 
from  active  business  cares,  is  one  of  the 
men  who  make  old  age  seem  the  better  por- 
tion of  life.  Youth  has  its  charms,  but  an 
honorable  and  honored  old  age,  to  which 
the  lengthening  years  had  added  dignity  and 
sweetness,  has  a  brighter  radiance,  as  if 
some  ray  from  the  life  beyond  already 
rested  upon  it. 

Mr.  Darst  was  born  in  Miami  county, 
Ohio,  April  25,  1822,  a  son  of  Isaac  and 
Jane  (Morgan)  Darst,  who  were  natives  of 
Virginia  and  Tennessee,  respectively,  and 
pioneers  of  Ohio,  where  their  marriage  was 
celebrated.  In  Miami  township,  Miami 
county,  the  father  cleared  and  improved 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  and 
continued  to  engage  in  its  cultivation  until 
called  from  this  life  at  the  age  of  forty-five 
years.  He  was  a  thoroughly  good  and 
great  man,  was  one  of  the  early  Dunkard 
preachers  in  his  section  and  helped  to  found 
the  church  there.  He  had  four  brothers, 
Jacob,  Isaac,  John  and  Abram,  who  also 
settled  in  Miami  county  and  Isaac  and  John 
were  prominent  members  of  the  same 
church,  while  Jacob  belonged  to  the  Chris- 
tian church  and  Abram  was  a  member 
of  the   Presbyterian    church.      Our  subject 


was  only  nine  years  old  when  his  father 
died,  leaving  the  mother  with  the  care  of 
nine  children,  whom"  she  carefully  reared. 
She  kept  them  together  and  spun  and  made 
their  clothes  until  all  were  grown.  She 
continued  to  reside  upon  the  old  home  farm 
in  Ohio  for  many  years,  but  finally  sold 
that  place  and  came  to  Bloomington,  Illi- 
nois, where  she  died  in  1873.  Her  father, 
Charles  Morgan,  made  his  home  in  Tennes- 
see in  early  life.  He  was  a  soldier  of  the 
Revolutionary  war,  and  his  wife  was  near 
enough  to  the  scene  of  action  to  hear  the 
cannon  during  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill. 

Mr.  Darst,  whose  name  introduces  this 
sketch,  was  reared  in  his  native  state  and 
during  his  boyhood  pursued  his  studies  in  a 
log  school-house  from  twelve  to  sixteen 
weeks  in  the  winter.  He  spent  some  time 
with  his  uncle.  Merle  Morgan,  who  taught 
him  the  blacksmith's  trade,  at  which  he 
worked  until  after  his  marriage.  On  the 
1st  of  April,  1845,  he  wedded  Miss  Matilda 
Decker,  a  daughter  of  Jabob  and  Mary 
(Meyer)  Decker.  The  father  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania,  but  when  a  small  child  re- 
moved to  Athens  county,  Ohio,  with  his 
father,  Brewer  Decker,  who  was  of  old 
Pennsylvania  stock.  He  bought  land  in 
Athens  county,  where  they  continued  to 
make  their  home  throughout  the  remainder 
of  their  lives.  There  Mrs.  Darst's  father 
grew  to  manhood  and  followed  farming  as  a 
life  work,  owning  and  operating  a  farm  of 
one  hundred  acres  in  Athens  county.  He 
died  there  and  his  wife,  who  was  a  native  of 
Columbus,  Ohio,  passed  away  in  1826,  when 
Mrs.  Darstwas  only  nine  years  old.  Both 
were  faithful  members  of  the  Baptist 
church. 

In  1847,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Darst  came  to 
Illinois  in  a  big  old    Pennsylvania   wagon 


Licr/ry 

OF   THE 
l!!IVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIf 


ISAAC  DARST. 


MRS.   ISAAC   DARST. 


OF  THE 
)i!lYERSlTY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


263 


drawn  by  three  horses,  and  would  camp  out 
at  night  along  the  way.  During  the  entire 
journey  the  wife  was  ill  and  would  lie  awake 
nights  and  cry.  Mr.  Darst  offered  to  turn 
back,  but  she  would  not  consent.  Finally 
they  reached  Pulaski,  Logan  county,  Illi- 
nois, where  he  opened  a  blacksmith  shop, 
beginning  business  there  on  a  capital  of  fifty 
dollars,  but  they  had  brought  enough  pro- 
visions with  them  to  last  for  some  time,  and 
he  traded  his  gun  for  a  cow.  In  the  fall  of 
1850  they  came  to  McLean  county  and  he 
bought  eighty  acres  of  school  land  in  Dale 
township,  which  after  paying  for  he  sold  at 
fifty  dollars  per  acre  during  the  war.  He 
then  bought  eighty  acres  in  Dry  Grove 
township,  which  he  improved  and  finally 
sold  to  Colonel  Gridley.  His  next  pur- 
chase was  the  Squire  Pease  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  nine  acres  in  Dale  township, 
on  which  he  erected  a  good  residence, 
put  in  many  rods  of  tiling,  and  made 
many  other  improvements  until  it  was  in 
first  class  condition.  Selling  that  place  for 
over  nine  thousand  dollars,  he  bought  what 
was  known  as  the  Valentine  farm,  formerly 
owned  by  Daniel  Kent.  It  comprises  sev- 
enty-four acres  on  the  railroad  at  Spring 
Grove  station,  which  he  improved  by  the 
erection  of  a  house,  and  finally  sold  at  a 
profit.  During  all  these  years  he  success- 
fully engaged  in  general  farming,  but  since 
1894  has  lived  retired  in  Bloomington,  hav- 
ing purchased  a  home  at  No.  1406  North 
East  street.  He  has  made  other  invest- 
ments in  the  city,  and  in  all  his  undertak- 
ings has  met    with  well  deserved  success. 

Politically  Mr.  Darst  was  originally  a 
Whig,  and  now  gives  his  support  to  the 
Republican  party.  While  living  in  the 
county  he  served  as  road  commissioner  and 
school  director,  but  has    never    cared  for 


official  honors.  He  and  his  estimable  wife 
are  sincere  and  faithful  members  of  the 
Christian  church  and  their  lives  have  ever 
been  in  harmony  with  their  professions. 
Mr.  Darst  was  the  first  to  encourage  the 
Deaconess  Hospital,  and  it  was  his  money 
that  bought  the  ground  on  which  the  build- 
ing now  stands,  and  which  will  eventually 
revert  to  the  hospital.  It  is  worth  five 
thousand  dollars.  His  life  has  been  manly, 
his  actions  sincere,  his  manner  unaffected 
and  his  example  is  well  worthy  of  emula- 
tion by  the  young.  He  has  ever  supported 
those  interests  which  are  calculated  to  up- 
lift and  benefit  humanity,  while  his  own 
high  moral  worth  is  deserving  of  the  highest 
commendation. 


M 


ILTON  HENLINE,  who  is  the  owner 
of  a  fine  farm  of  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres,  and  which  comprises  the  east 
half  of  section  i,  Towanda  township,  is  a 
native  of  McLean  county  and  comes  of  a 
well-known  pioneer  family,  whose  history  is 
prominently  identified  with  that  of  the 
county.  He  was  born  in  Lexington  town- 
ship, February  13,  1843,  and  is  the  son  of 
James  J.  and  Sarah  (Smith)  Henline,  the 
father  being  a  native  of  Boone  county,  Ken- 
tucky, where  he  was  born  in  18 15.  He 
came  to  McLean  county  in  1828,  a  lad  of 
thirteen  years,  in  company  with  his  parents, 
John  and  Polly  (Darnell)  Henline,  who 
located  in  Lawndale  township,  which  was 
their  home  during  the  remainder  of  their 
lives,  the  mother  dying  February  12,  1883. 
In  the  family  of  John  and  Polly  Henline 
were  the  following  named  children:  China, 
who  married  William  Burt,  and  removed 
with  him  to  Tazewell  county,  where  his 
death  occurred;  George,  who  lived  and  died 


264 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


in  McLean  county;  John,  who  removed  to 
Kansas,  where  he  died;  Martin,  who  also 
removed  to  Kansas;  William  B.,  who  re- 
mained in  McLean  county,  and  died  in  Sep- 
tember, 1898;  James  J.,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  who  is  still  living  in  Lawndale 
township;  and  David,  who  died  in  Lexing- 
ton township. 

Sarah  (Smith)  Henline,  who  is  a  sister 
of  Shelton  Smith,  of  Lexington,  came  to 
this  county  about  1834,  and  by  her  union 
with  James  J.  Henline  she  became  the 
mother  of  eleven  children,  nine  of  whom 
yet  survive:  Lucinda,  wife  of  C.  C.  White- 
lock,  of  Manhattan,  Kansas;  Milton,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch;  William  R.,  a  farmer 
of  Seward,  Kansas;  Shelton,  a  farmer  of 
Plumbwood,  Ohio;  Sarah,  who  died  in 
childhood;  Melissa,  wife  of  Joseph  A.  Wiley, 
of  Kearney,  Nebraska;  Addison,  of  Orleans, 
Nebraska;  Ira  F. ,  of  Kearney,  Nebraska; 
Robert,  who  resides  with  his  parents;  and 
Etta,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twelve  years. 

Upon  the  old  homestead  in  Lexington 
township  our  subject  grew  to  manhood,  his 
boyhood  and  youth  being  spent  much  as 
that  of  other  farmer  boys.  He  attended 
the  country  schools  and  later  entered  Wes- 
leyan  University,  where  he  completed  his 
school  life.  On  leaving  the  university  he 
assisted  his  father  in  carrying  on  the  home 
farm  until  1866.  At  Bloomington,  Illinois, 
March  22,  1866,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Irene  R.  Willhoite, 
daughter  of  Alexander  I.  and  Sarah  (Gos- 
sett)  Willhoite.  She  was  born  in  Owen 
county,  Kentucky,  October  30,  1845,  her 
parents  being  likewise  natives  of  the  same 
state.  The  family  came  to  McLean  county 
when  she  was  but  five  years  of  age,  and 
here  she  grew  to  womanhood.  She  was 
the  seventh  in  a  family  of  twelve  children, 


as  follows:  Dr.  William  H.,  who  died  in 
Kansas  in  February,  1898;  Mary  J.,  wife  of 
William  Hemstreet,  of  Cass  county,  Mis- 
souri; Felicia,  wife  of  W.  H.  Lane,  of  Cass 
county,  Missouri;  Samuel,  of  Paola,  Kan- 
sas; Irene,  wife  of  our  subject;  Caroline  E., 
who  died  in  infancy;  Lucy  B.,  widow  of 
Belden  Russell,  of  Paola,  Kansas;  Mar- 
garet, who  died  May  28,  1870,  at  the  age 
of  eighteen  years;  Lycurgus  G.,  of  Cass 
county,  Missouri;  Socrates,  of  Cass  county, 
Missouri;  Donna,  wife  of  Asa  McDaniel,  of 
Pendleton,  Oregon;  and  Eusebia,  wife  of 
James  T.  Glass,  of  Holden,  Missouri.  In 
1868  Mr.  Willhoite,  with  his  family,  started 
to  Vernon  county,  Missouri.  While  cn- 
routc  he  contracted  smallpox,  and  died  be- 
fore the  family  were  located  in  their  new 
home. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henline  twelve  chil- 
dren have  been  born:  Carrie,  born  Febru- 
ary 13,  1867;  James  I.,  September  20, 
1868;  Claude  D.,  May  i,  1870;  Alvin,  May 
27,  1872;  Buell,  February  15,  1874;  Ellis, 
January  4,  1876;  Ada  E.,  January  8,  1878; 
Garfield,  March  23,  1880;  Alma,  April  26, 
1882;  Mabel,  June  10,  1884;  Milton  Cecil, 
February  26,  1887;  Leslie  R. ,  January  5, 
1890.  Alvin,  who  is  engaged  in  farming  in 
Money  Creek  township,  was  married  De- 
cember 12,  1894.  to  Miss  Alpha  Zurkle,  a 
native  of  Virginia,  and  daughter  of  David 
P.  Zurkle,  and  they  have  three  children: 
Russell,  I.  C.  and  Wendell  Z. 

In  1866  Mr.  Henline  made  his  first  pur- 
chase of  land,  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
of  his  present  farm,  and  in  1882  purchased 
the  remainder  of  his  half-section,  which  is 
as  fine  a  body  of  land  as  there  is  in  the 
county.  He  has  followed  an  intelligent 
system  of  mixed  farming  and  stock-raising, 
feeding  continually  on  his  place  what  grain 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


265 


he  raises.  His  place  is  well  improved  with 
commodious  dwelling,  good  outbuildings, 
and  all  have  been  erected  by  himself.  He 
is  a  thorough  farmer  and  a  well-informed 
man  on  the  general  issues  of  the  day.  After 
leaving  school  and  before  settling  down  on 
his  farm,  it  may  here  be  remarked  that  he 
engaged  in  teaching  for  a  time,  in  which 
line  he  showed  an  aptitude  that  would  in 
time  have  placed  him  in  the  front  rank  of 
teachers,  if  he  had  chosen  to  follow  teach- 
ing as  a  profession. 

In  politics  Mr.  Henline  has  departed 
from  the  traditions  of  his  fathers  and  has 
always  supported  the  Republican  party, 
casting  his  first  presidential  vote  for  Abra- 
ham Lincoln  in  1864.  He  has  always 
taken  a  commendable  interest  in  local 
aSairs;  especially  in  educational  matters 
has  he  been  active,  having  served  for  some 
twelve  or  fifteen  years  as  school  director  or 
trustee.  He  has  also  filled  the  office  of 
road  commissioner,  but  has  never  cared  to 
give  his  time  to  the  cares  of  ofiice,  espe- 
cially as  he  knows  that  there  are  many  who 
do  desire  official  distinction.  He  is  an 
active  and  official  member  of  the  Christian 
church  of  Cooksville,  and  for  some  years 
has  been  an  elder.  His  wife  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  that  church.  Socially,  he  is  held  in 
the  highest  esteem,  being  one  of  those  lib- 
eral and  enterprising  citizens  who  have 
made  a  success  in  life,  and  by  his  genial 
disposition  has  made  a  host  of  friends. 


AUGUSTUS  G.  WOLFE.  The  story  of 
the  founders  of  this  nation  and  of  the 
Revolutionary  forefathers  is  interesting,  not 
only  from  a  historical  standpoint,  but  also 
as  a  source  of  inspiration  and  encourage- 
ment to  others.     Yet  we  need  not  look  to 


the  past;  the  present  furnishes  many  ex- 
amples worthy  of  emulation  in  the  men 
who  have  risen  through  their  own  efforts  to 
positions  of  prominence  and  importance  in 
professional,  political  and  business  circles. 
To  this  class  belongs  Augustus  G.  Wolfe,  a 
well-known  real  estate  dealer  of  Blooming- 
ton. 

He  was  born  in  Dayton,  Ohio,  October 
II,  1S35,  ^  son  of  Jacob  and  Theresa 
(Daugherty)  Wolfe.  The  father  was  also  a 
native  of  Ohio,  but  the  paternal  grand- 
father, John  Wolfe,  was  born  in  Germany, 
and  on  his  emigration  to  the  United  States 
located  in  Pennsylvania,  whence  he  later 
removed  to  Dayton,  Ohio,  and  there  spent 
his  last  days.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion and  a  soldier  of  the  war  of  1812. 
The  father  of  our  subject  moved  to  Carroll 
county,  Indiana,  in  November,  1836,  and 
settled  at  Delphi,  on  the  banks  of  the 
Wabash  river,  where  he  took  up  a  large 
tract  of  new  land  and  transformed  it  into  a 
well-improved  and  productive  farm.  He 
was  one  of  the  leading  and  influential  citi- 
zens of  that  localit}-  and  was  honored  with 
a  number  of  county  offices,  the  duties  of 
which  he  most  capably  discharged.  He 
died  in  1848,  leaving  his  young  wife  with 
the  care  of  seven  children.  She  continued 
to  reside  upon  the  home  farm  until  she, 
too,  was  called  to  her  final  rest  in  1879. 
She  was  a  faithful  member  of  the  Presby- 
terian church  and  a  most  estimable  lady. 
At  her  death  she  left  three  children  who 
are  still  living,  namely:  John  P.,  a  resident 
of  Flora,  Indiana;  Augustus  G.,  our  sub- 
ject; and  Mrs.  Sarah  E.  Dosch,  of  Frank- 
fort, Indiana. 

Augustus  G.  Wolfe  was  educated  in  the 
schools  of  Delphi,  and  his  business  training 
was  obtained  as  a  clerk   in   a  store  at  that 


266 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


place  when  he  was  a  mere  lad.  After  at- 
taining his  majority  he  spent  two  years  in 
travel,  and  then  returned  to  his  native 
place,  where  he  was  married.  May  lo, 
1859,  to  Miss  Martha  E.  Davidson,  a 
native  of  Xenia,  Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of 
William  and  Eliza  (Andrew)  Davidson,  the 
former  a  business  man  and  stockdealer  of 
that  place.  One  child  was  born  of  this 
union,  Edith  F. ,  now  the  wife  of  M.  L. 
Maddux,  who  is  on  the  police  force  of 
Bloomington,  and  by  whom  she  has  one 
child,  Etta  Brush. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Wolfe  em- 
barked in  business  on  his  own  account  at 
Delphi,  where  he  conducted  a  general  store 
and  received  a  liberal  patronage  for  many 
miles  throughout  the  surrounding  country. 
His  place  of  business  was  destroyed  by  fire 
in  1870,  but  he  promptly  rebuilt  and  suc- 
cessfully carried  on  operations  at  that  place 
until  1873.  He  served  as  postmaster  of 
Pittsburg,  Indiana,  for  seven  or  eight  years 
to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  all  concerned. 
On  disposing  of  his  business  in  Delphi  in 
1873,  he  came  to  Bloomington,  Illinois, 
and  commenced  buying  and  shipping  stock, 
which  proved  a  profitable  business,  and  he 
became  one  of  the  most  extensive  dealers  of 
the  kind  in  the  city.  It  was  not  long  ere 
he  had  a  large  circle  of  friends  and  acquaint- 
ances throughout  the  county  as  his  busi- 
ness made  him  widely  known.  In  1895  he 
discontinued  stock  dealing  and  has  since 
engaged  in  the  real  estate  business,  handling 
principally  Indiana  lands,  and  in  1898  sold 
over  four  thousand  acres  in  that  state.  He 
has  also  handled  a  large  amount  of  city  real 
estate,  and  in  this  as  in  his  other  business 
ventures,  he  has  met  with  remarkable  suc- 
cess. He  is  quite  prominent  in  business 
circles  as  a  man  of   the   utmost  reliability, 


and  the  success  that  he  has  achieved  in  life 
is  certain  justly  merited.  Since  the  organi- 
zation of  the  Republican  party  in  1856,  he 
has  never  failed  to  cast  his  ballot  for  its 
presidential  candidates,  and  has  always 
taken  a  deep  and  commendable  interest  in 
public  affairs.  He  attends  the  Presbyte- 
rian church,  of  which  his  wife  and  daughter 
are  members. 


ANDREW  JACKSON  KERBAUGH,  one 
of  the  most  highly-educated  and  enter- 
prising agriculturists  of  McLean  county,  is 
the  owner  of  a  valuable  farm  of  two  hun- 
dred and  ninety  acres  in  Allin  township,  and 
his  management  of  the  estate  is  marked  by 
the  scientific  knowledge  and  skill  which 
characterize  the  modern  farmer.  He  was 
born  November  17,  1852,  in  Greenville, 
Greene  county,  Tennessee,  a  son  of  Henry 
M.  and  Margaret  (Davis)  Kerbaugh,  also 
natives  of  Greenville  and  representatives  of 
prominent  old  southern  families.  The 
father,  who  was  born  in  1822,  engaged  in 
farming  and  stock  raising  in  his  native  state 
and  continued  to  follow  those  occupations 
after  coming  to  McLean  county,  Illinois,  in 
1 85 1.  At  first  he  rented  a  farm  in  Allin 
township,  but  meeting  with  success  in  his 
new  home,  he  was  soon  able  to  purchase  a 
place,  which  he  did  in  1859.  In  his  family 
were  seven  children,  of  whom  Andrew  J.  is 
the  fourth  in  order  of  birth,  and  five  of  the 
number  are  still  living. 

Our  subject  was  only  a  year  old  when 
brought  by  his  parents  to  McLean  county, 
and  in  Allin  township  he  has  since  made  his 
home.  His  preliminary  education  was  ob- 
tained in  the  public  schools,  which  he  at- 
tended until  1872,  and  then  entered  Licoln 
University,    taking  an    elective    course    for 


THE    BIOGBLAPHICAL   RECORD. 


267 


three  years.  On  leaving  that  institution  in 
1875  he  commenced  teaching  in  the  district 
schools,  and  after  being  thus  employed  for 
two  years,  he  was  principal  of  the  Stanford 
schools  for  one  year.  In  1878  he  purchased 
a  farm  of  eighty  acres,  the  operation  of 
which  he  superintended  while  teaching  in 
Stanford,  and  then  located  thereon,  having 
purchased  it  under  circumstances  which 
necessitated  personal  supervision  in  order 
that  he  might  cancel  the  note  give  by  him 
for  five  years  at  ten  per  cent  for  the  whole 
amount.  By  hard  work,  close  economy  and 
good  management,  he  had  his  farm  paid  for 
at  the  end  of  that  time,  had  stocked  it,  and 
had  eleven  hundred  dollars  left.  He  had 
also  laid  many  rods  of  tiling,  so  that  it  was 
in  much  better  shape  to  yield  good  returns 
for  his  labor.  He  has  continued  to  prosper 
and  as  his  financial  resources  have  in- 
creased, he  has  added  to  his  farm  from  time 
to  time  until  now  he  has  two  hundred  and 
ninety  acres,  it  being  one  of  the  most  val- 
uable pieces  of  property  near  Stanford. 
It  is  all  under  excellent  cultivation  and  well 
improved. 

On  the  24th  of  September,  1SS7,  in 
Chetopa,  Kansas,  Mr.  Kerbaugh  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Belle  Johnson,  a 
daughter  of  Pembrook  and  Elizabeth  M. 
Johnson,  now  deceased,  who  were  early 
settlers  of  Illinois.  Mr.  Kerbaugh  brought 
his  bride  to  the  home  he  had  prepared  for 
her  and  with  her  able  assistance  has  made 
it  a  most  comfortable  and  pleasant  place. 
To  them  has  been  bom  one  son,  Leland 
Park,  who  is  now  attending  school.  The 
parents  are  both  sincere  and  faithful  mem- 
bers of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
church  and  are  held  in  high  regard  by  all 
who  know  them.  For  twelve  years  Mr. 
Kerbaugh    has  most     efficiently    served    as 


trustee  of  his  township,  and  has  also  filled 
the  office  of  school  director  two  years.  He 
does  not  belong  to  any  lodge  or  secret  so- 
ciety, preferring  to  spend  his  evenings  with 
his  family.  As  a  farmer  and  stock  raiser 
he  has  met  with  well-merited  success,  and 
with  the  assistance  of  three  men  has 
planted  two  hundred  acres  of  corn  and 
seeded  to  oats  one  hundred  and  eighty- 
eight  acres  in  five  weeks'  time.  He  is  very 
progressive  and  public-spirited,  and  is  a 
man  of  refined  and  cultured  taste,  who 
gives  his  support  to  all  measures  calculated 
to  advance  the  moral,  educational  or  ma- 
terial welfare  of  his  township  or  county. 


BERT  MARLEY  KUHX.  Few  men  are 
more  prominent  or  more  widely  known 
in  the  enterprising  city  of  Bloomington 
than  Mr.  Kuhn.  He  has  been  an  impor- 
tant factor  in  the  upbuilding  of  the  city  for 
a  number  of  years,  and  his  popularity  is 
well  deserved,  as  in  him  are  embraced  the 
characteristics  of  an  unbending  integrity, 
unabating  energy  and  industry  that  never 
flags.  He  is  public-spirited  and  thoroughly 
interested  in  whatever  tends  to  promote 
the  moral,  intellectual  and  material  welfare 
of  the  city,  and  his  labors  along  those  lines 
have  been  most  eSective.  He  possesses  a 
depth  of  character  and  fidelity  to  principle 
which  everywhere  command  respect,  and 
Bloomington  accounts  him  one  of  her  most 
representative  citizens  and  honored  men. 

A  native  of  Red  Wing,  Minnesota,  he 
was  born  on  the  i6th  day  of  April,  1S5S, 
and  is  a  son  of  Jacob  A.  Kuhn,  who  has 
been  prominently  connected  with  the  edu- 
cational and  commercial  interests  of  Mc- 
Lean county,  but  is  now  living  retired. 
When  only  a   year  old  Bert  M.    Kuhn  was 


268 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


taken  by  his  parents  to  Hudson,  Illinois, 
where  he  attended  the  public  schools.  He 
further  continued  his  studies  in  Tonica  and 
the  public  schools  of  Normal,  Illinois, 
where  he  graduated  in  the  class  of  1879, 
and  then  engaged  in  teaching  in  Yuton, 
McLean  county,  for  a  year.  On  the  ex- 
piration of  that  period  he  went  upon  the 
road  to  introduce  a  system  of  dress  cutting, 
of  which  he  is  the  patentee.  For  three 
years  he  traveled  and  the  excellence  of  the 
system  secured  its  ready  adoption,  making 
it  very  popular.  It  is  called  the  Climax 
Tailor  System,  and  has  become  widely 
known  throughout  the  country,  being  now 
in  use  by  over  three  hundred  thousand 
dressmakers,  which  number  is  constantly 
increasing.  It  is  still  being  manufactured 
and  sold  by  Mr.  Ivuhn,  but  in  the  business 
he  is  now  represented  on  the  road  by  a 
number  of  traveling  salesmen,  who  find  this 
a  most  salable  article.  From  the  begin- 
ning the  enterprise  proved  a  profitable  one, 
and  gave  to  Mr.  Kuhn  his  first  real  start  in 
business  life. 

After  accumulating  some  capital  in  this 
way,  he  began  making  investments  in  real 
estate  and  since  that  time  has  handled  a 
large  amount  of  property.  When  he  saw 
a  house,  lot,  farm  or  other  realty  offered 
for  sale  at  favorable  terms  he  would  pur- 
chase it  and  hold  it  until  he  could  dispose 
of  it  to  good  advantage.  In  this  way  he  has 
handled  a  large  amount  of  farm  and  city 
property,  his  sales  equaling  if  not  exceeding 
those  of  any  regularly  established  real-estate 
dealer  of  Bloomington.  He  now  has  on 
hand  a  number  of  farms  and  office  build- 
ings, buying  lands  from  Indiana  to  Nebraska. 
He  is  considered  one  of  the  best  judges  of 
real  estate  values  in  this  part  of  the  state, 
and  his  correct  knowledge  of  property  has 


enabled  him  to  invest  most  judiciously  and 
acquire  therefrom  a  handsome  fortune.  Nor 
have  his  efforts  been  confined  a]one  to  the 
two  lines  of  business  mentioned.  He  is  a 
man  of  resourceful  ability  and  marked  exec- 
utive power,  and  has  handled  wisely  and 
well  many  investments.  He  has  been  a 
stockholder  in  a  number  of  important  cor- 
porations, at  one  time  had  a  half  interest  in 
the  Lincoln  street  railway,  and  later  was 
the  sole  owner,  but  afterward  disposed  of 
the  road.  He  was  one  of  the  promoters  of 
the  new  Coliseum  recently  erected  and  a 
member  of  its  directorate.  He  has  erected 
from  five  to  ten  residences  annually  in 
Bloomington  and  has  thus  materially  ad- 
vanced the  interests  of  the  city,  as  well  as 
furnished  employment  to  a  large  force  of 
workmen. 

But  while  actively  engaged  in  extensive 
business  enterprises  Mr.  Kuhn  has  also 
found  time  to  assist  his  fellow  men  and  has 
been  a  potent  factor  in  the  advancement  of 
many  benevolent  enterprises  of  the  city. 
He  is  thoroughly  in  sympathy  with  the  un- 
derlying beneficent  principles  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity  and  holds  membership  in  the 
lodge,  chapter  and  council  of  Bloomington. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  board  of  trustees  of 
the  Deaconess'  Hospital  and  has  been 
largely  instrumental  in  promoting  the  bene- 
ficent work  from  the  time  of  its  inaugura- 
tion to  the  present.  In  his  political  affilia- 
tions he  has  always-  been  a  stanch  Repub- 
lican and  has  taken  a  leading  part  in  cam- 
paign and  committee  work,  doing  all  in  his 
power  to  promote  the  cause  which  he  be- 
lieves will  best  advance  the  welfare  of  the 
nation.  He  was  appointed  by  Governor 
Tanner  to  the  responsible  position  of  treas- 
urer of  the  Soldiers'  Orphans'  Home  at 
Normal,   in   May,  1896,    and  now   has  the 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


269 


handling    of    about    seventy-five    thousand 
dollars  annually  for  that  institution. 

On  the  7th  of  June,  1883,  Mr.  Kuhn  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Alice  E.  Squier, 
of  Calhoun  county,  Illinois,  a  daughter  of 
Ashur  G.  Squier,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  that 
part  of  the  state.  He  was  a  leading,  in- 
fluential and  successful  farmer  and  a  prom- 
inent Republican.  Mrs.  Kuhn  was  educated 
in  the  Normal  University,  and  by  her  mar- 
riage has  three  children,  Louis  S. ,  Waldo 
A.  and  Nellie.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kuhn 
hold  membership  in  the  First  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  of  Bloomington,  in  which 
he  is  serving  as  steward  and  a  member  of 
the  official  board.  The  air  of  culture  and 
refinement  which  pervades  their  home  makes 
it  very  attractive  to  Bloomington's  best  citi- 
zens, many  of  whom  are  numbered  among 
their  warm  friends.  Mr.  Kuhn,  in  conse- 
quence of  his  more  active  life,  is  especially 
widely  known.  He  is  a  man  of  broad  capa- 
bilities, as  his  varied  and  extensive  busi- 
ness interests  indicate.  He  is  at  all  times 
approachable  and  patiently  listens  to  what- 
ever a  caller  may  have  to  say,  always  courte- 
ous and  at  all  times  a  gentleman  in  the 
truest  and  best  sense  of  the  term.  He  is 
devoted  to  the  welfare  and  happiness  of  his 
family  and  cares  not  for  notoriety,  nor  is 
there  about  him  the  least  shadow  of  mock 
modesty.  He  is  a  gentleman  of  fine  ad- 
dress and  thorough  culture,  occupying  a 
first  place  in  society  as  well  as  in  the  com- 
mercial circles  of  northern  Illinois. 


JONATHAN  B.  WARLOW,  a  pioneer 
and  resident  of  McLean  county  for 
more  than  fifty  years,  but  now  residing 
in  Fresno  county,  California,  was  born 
in  Northampton,    Massachusetts,   June  27, 


1 8 14,  and  is  the  son  of  Benjamin  and  Betsy 
(Bond)  Warlow,  the  former  a  native  of 
New  York,  and  the  latter  born  about  six 
miles  from  Boston,  Massachusetts,  Novem- 
ber 25,  1785.  She  was  the  daughter  of 
Jonathan  and  Sally  (Grossman)  Bond,  her 
father  being  born  April  30,  1750,  and  her 
mother,  July  20,  1773.  They  were  the 
parents  of  nine  children,  of  whom  Betsy 
was  seventh  in  order  of  birth.  Jonathan 
Bond  served  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution 
in  a  Massachusetts  regiment,  and  our  sub- 
ject has  the  powder  horn  which  he  carried 
through  the  entire  war.  It  has  his  initials 
on  it.  For  some  years  he  was  engaged  in 
teaming  between  Leicester  and  Boston. 
He  died  July  26,  1810,  of  lockjaw,  caused 
by  a  wagon  passing  over  his  foot.  His 
wife  died  September  28,  1822. 

Benjamin  Warlow  was  born  February 
21,  1 78  5,  and  in  his  youth  learned  the  trade 
of  bootmaker,  serving  an  apprenticeship 
of  seven  years  and  six  months.  After  com- 
pleting his  term  of  apprenticeship,  he  went 
to  sea,  and  for  two  years  was  in  the  service 
on  a  man-of-war,  during  the  war  of  1812, 
having  been  drafted.  He  was  stationed  at 
Quebec.  Having  enough  of  sea  life,  he 
returned  to  Boston,  and  commenced  working 
at  his  trade  again.  He  there  met  and  mar- 
ried Betsy  Bond,  and  soon  after  they  moved 
to  Northampton,  Massachsetts,  where  they 
resided  until  18 16.  From  Northampton, 
they  moved  to  Oneida  county.  New  York, 
and  for  the  succeeding  five  years  he  was  en- 
gaged at  his  trade.  He  then  tried  farming 
in  that  locality,  where  he  resided  until 
1832.  and  then  moved  to  Pickaway  county, 
Ohio.  He  remained  in  that  place,  how- 
ever, but  two  years,  and  on  the  loth  of 
October,  1834,  he  arrived  at  Dry  Grove, 
McLean    county,    Illinois.       For    the    sue- 


270 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ceeding  two  years,  he  rented  land  of  our 
subject's  uncle,  Joshua  Bond,  and  then  en- 
tered eighty  acres  and  at  once  commenced 
its  improvement.  On  that  farm  he  con- 
tinued the  rest  of  his  days,  in  the  meantime 
acquiring  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  ad- 
ditional, giving  him  a  fine  farm  of  two  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres.  To  Benjamin  and 
Betsy  Warlow  eight  children  were  born, 
two  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  Those  who 
lived  to  maturity  were  Jonathan  B.,  our 
subject;  William  C,  who  is  living  in  Bloom- 
ington,  at  the  age  of  eighty-two  years;  Se- 
repta  E.;  Richard  A.,  living  in  Allin  town- 
ship, at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years; 
Lafayette;  and  Bond  W. ,  who  is  living 
near  Wellington,  Kansas,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-two  years.  Benjamin  Warlow  died 
September  8,  1864,  and  his  wife,  February 
24,  1877,  at  the  age   of  eighty-eight  years. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  spent  his 
boyhood  and  youth  in  Oneida  county,  New 
York,  coming  with  his  parents  to  McLean 
county  in  1834.  In  his  youth  he  had  no 
opportunity  for  acquiring  an  education, 
and  after  his  marriage  he  began  to  learn 
to  read  by  himself.  He  soon  devel- 
oped a  taste  for  learning,  and  is  to-day  a 
well-informed  man,  although  self-educated. 
The  first  winter  after  his  arrival  in  McLean 
county,  with  the  help  of  his  brother,  he 
split  rails  for  fencing  the  eighty-acre  tract 
that  his  father  purchased.  With  his  fa- 
ther he  remained  until  twenty-four  years 
old,  assisting  him  in  his  farming  operations. 
He  then  commenced  for  himself,  working 
for  a  time  for  Joseph  Clark. 

On  the  15th  of  November,  1838,  Mr. 
Warlow  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Catherine  Hay,  a  native  of  Hopkinsville, 
Kentucky,  born  January  3,  181 2,  and  daugh- 
ter of  Peter  and  Elizabeth  (Finley)  Hay,  the 


former  born  May  17,  1770,  and  the  latter 
in  1774,  and  the  parents  of  eight  children, 
of  whom  Catherine  was  seventh  ip  order  of 
birth.  Mr.  Hay  was  a  large  slaveholder 
in  Kentucky,  where  his  death  occurred. 
After  his  death  the  slaves  were  liberated 
and  sent  to  Liberia,  and  the  family  came  to 
McLean  county. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Warlow  located 
on  "squatted  land,"  and  rented  a  farm 
which  he  cultivated,  and  in  three  years 
earned  and  saved  money  enough  to  buy  a 
tract  of  forty  acres,  which  was  the  nucleus 
of  his  present  valuable  farm  of  two  hundred 
and  forty  acres  in  Danvers  township.  He 
has  also  two  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Allin 
township,  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  in 
Reno  county,  Kansas,  and  a  tract  at  Fresno, 
California,  which  is  used  principally  as  a 
vineyard,  but  on  which  he  raises  peaches, 
pears  and  other  fruit. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Warlow  eight  children 
were  born.  Elizabeth  B.  married  William 
Skeen,  and  they  reside  in  Reno  county, 
Kansas.  John  W.  died  at  the  age  of  seven 
years.  Mary  M.  married  Jesse  Brinard, 
and  their  home  is  in  Reno  county,  Kansas. 
Susan  E.  died  at  the  age  of  six  months. 
Celia  J.  married  George  L.  Johnson,  and 
with  their  five  children — Clyde,  Ray,  Imo, 
Newton  and  Katie — they  reside  in  Fresno 
county,  California.  Their  son,  Ray,  is  now 
deputy  sheriff  of  Fresno  county.  George 
L.  is  a  lawyer  of  Fresno,  California.  He 
married  Ella  Knowles,  and  they  have  one 
child  living,  Chester,  and  three  deceased. 
Deipha  B.  married  George  B.  Rowell,  and 
they  also  reside  in  Fresno  county,  Califor- 
nia. They  have  one  daughter,  Bernice. 
Ida  K.  is  the  wife  of  Harvey  Abbott,  and 
they  reside  on  the  old  homestead  in  Dan- 
vers township.      Mrs.  Warlow  died  June  21, 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


271 


1885,  and  her  remains  were  laid  to  rest  in 
the  cemetery  at  Danvers.  She  was  a  good 
mother,  a  loving  and  affectionate  wife,  and 
her  death  was  sincerely  mourned,  not  alone 
by  the  bereaved  family,  but  by  many  friends 
who  knew  her  in  this  life. 

Mr.  Warlow  continued  farming  and 
stock-raising  in  Danvers  township  until 
March  15,  1887,  when  he  went  to  Califor- 
nia, and  located  in  Fresno  county.  The 
prime  object  of  his  going  was  for  the  bene- 
fit of  his  health,  which  has  become  impaired. 
Purchasing  twenty  acres  of  unimproved 
land,  at  fifty  dollars  per  acre,  he  commenced 
its  improvement  by  planting  a  vineyard,  and 
setting  out  about  one  thousand  fruit  trees, 
consisting  of  nectarines,  peaches,  pears  and 
apricots,  and  has  now  one  of  the  finest  fruit 
farms  in  that  section  of  the  country.  He 
makes  his  home  in  Easton,  California,  about 
one  mile  from  his  farm,  and  about  six  miles 
from  Fresno,  where  he  endeavors  to  take 
life  easy,  enjo\-ing  its  comforts  as  best  he 
may. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Warlow  has  always 
been  a  Democrat,  but  his  sympathies  are 
with  the  present  administration  on  the 
money  question.  Feeling  the  want  of  an 
education  himself,  he  has  always  taken  a 
deep  interest  in  the  public  schools,  and  for 
some  years  served  as  school  director,  and 
for  many  years  was  a  school  trustee.  On 
his  farm  in  Danvers  township,  and  also  on 
the  one  in  Allin  township,  a  school  house 
has  been  built. 

Mr.  Warlow  has  been  quite  successful 
in  life,  and  in  addition  to  his  landed  in- 
terests, he  is  a  stockholder  in  the  Peoples 
Bank,  of  Fresno,  California,  and  has  an 
interest  in  a  packing  house  in  Easton, 
California.  In  every  sense  of  the  word  he 
is    a  selfmade    man.      Without    education, 


only  as  acquired  in  the  school  of  experience, 
without  money  or  influential  friends,  he 
has  been  enabled  to  lay  by  in  store  a  com- 
fortable competency  to  serve  in  old  age. 
His  children  are  all  comfortably  situated, 
and  the  world  is  the  better  for  his  having 
lived. 


JACOB  A.  KUHN,  who  after  an  active 
and  honorable  business  career  is  now 
living  a  retired  life  in  Normal,  was  born  in 
Martick  township,  Lancaster  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, July  19,  1832,  a  son  of  Abraham 
and  Barbara  (Hart)  Kuhn.  His  father  was 
a  native  of  the  same  township,  born  Janu- 
ary 24,  1792,  and  there  the  grandfather, 
Frederick  Kuhn,  took  up  his  residence  at  an 
early  day.  Abraham  Kuhn  learned  the 
weaver's  trade  in  his  youth,  and  after  arriv- 
ing at  years  of  maturity  he  was  married, 
December  30,  18 19,  to  Barbara,  daughter 
of  Valentine  Hart,  also  a  resident  of  Lan- 
caster county.  Mrs.  Kuhn  was  born  in 
Martick  township,  January  31,  1798,  and  by 
her  marriage  became  the  mother  of  five  chil- 
dren. Her  husband  died  March  25,  1833, 
after  which  she  removed  with  her  little  ones 
to  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  where  she  made  a 
home  for  them,  residing  there  for  many 
years.  After  the  year  1855,  her  children 
having  become  old  enough  to  care  for  them- 
selves, she  went  to  live  with  them,  and  her 
death  occurred  in  Normal,  February  15, 
1879.  She  was  a  lifelong  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  was  of 
Pennsylvania  Dutch  descent,  her  father  hav- 
ing belonged  to  one  of  the  old  families  of 
that  nationality. 

In  the  common  schools  of  Ohio,  Jacob 
A.  Kuhn  acquired  his  education,  supple- 
mented by  study  in  the  Ohio  Wesleyan  Uni- 


272 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


versity,  at  Delaware,  that  state.  Through 
his  youth  he  assisted  his  mother  in  the  work 
of  the  home  farm,  but  later  entered  upon 
educational  work  and  taught  for  thirty  or 
forty  terms  in  Illinois,  Indiana  and  Minne- 
sota. He  came  to  McLean  county  in  1852 
and  was  successfully  engaged  in  teaching 
near  Danvers  and  other  places.  He  was 
married  in  1855,  and  the  following  year  re- 
moved to  Pine  Island,  Minnesota,  where  he 
conducted  a  private  school.  He  also  located 
a  claim  a  half  mile  south  of  the  town,  and 
for  three  years  followed  the  dual  occupation 
of  teaching  and  farming.  After  one  winter 
spent  in  Iowa,  he  spent  a  short  time  in  Hud- 
son, Illinois,  and  then  went  to  Tonica,  where 
he  carried  on  carpentering  in  connection 
with  his  educational  labors.  Later,  returning 
to  Hudson,  he  there  engaged  in  merchan- 
dising for  si.x  years  and  also  served  as  town- 
ship clerk.  He  next  removed  to  Jackson 
county,  Indiana,  where  he  carried  on  farm- 
ing for  three  years,  and  then  took  up  his 
abode  in  Normal,  where  he  has  resided 
almost  continuously  since  1875.  He  has, 
however,  conducted  business  enterprises  at 
various  places.  He  was  in  the  lumber  busi- 
ness in  southern  Indiana  and  in  1884  went 
to  Nebraska,  where  he  spent  three  years 
upon  a  claim  of  four  hundred  and  eighty 
acres  of  land.  He  lived  there  alone,  look- 
ing after  the  property  interests  of  himself 
and  son  Bert,  who  together  owned  more 
than  a  section  of  land.  He  made  good  im- 
provements on  the  place  and  finally  sold 
out  at  an  excellent  profit.  On  leaving  Ne- 
braska he  traveled  through  the  south,  intro- 
duing  the  Climax  dress-cutting  system  of 
which  his  son  Bert  is  patentee,  and  then 
returned  to  Normal,  where  he  has  since 
lived  retired,  enjoying  a  rest  which  he  has 
truly  earned  and  richly  deserves.      Here  he 


owns  good  property,  having  a  very  pleasant 
home. 

In  May,  1855,  was  celebrated  the  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  Kuhn  and  Miss  Mary  Denning, 
the  wedding  taking  place  near  what  was 
then  called  Concord,  but  is  now  Danvers, 
McLean  county.  The  lady  was  born  in 
Richland  county,  Ohio,  near  Belleville, 
December  5,  1833,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Samuel  B.  Denning,  who  was  born  in  Lan- 
caster county,  Pennsylvania,  March  i,  181 1, 
a  son  of  Solomon  and  Ann  (Hart)  Denning. 
Solomon  Denning  was  a  native  of  the  north 
of  Ireland,  and  when  a  youth  of  twelve 
years  crossed  the  Atlantic  with  his  father, 
Samuel  Denning,  and  settled  in  Virginia, 
whence  the  son  afterward  removed  to  Penn- 
sylvania, where  he  followed  the  shoemaker's 
trade.  He  there  married  Ann  Hart,  a 
daughter  of  Valentine  Hart.  He  spent  his 
entire  life  there  and  died  in  Columbia  when 
his  son  Samuel  was  only  three  years  old. 
His  wife  also  died  a  few  years  later.  Sam- 
uel Denning  then  went  to  live  with  an  aunt, 
and  after  two  years  went  to  the  home  of 
his  grandfather,  who  died  when  the  boy  was 
only  fourteen  years  of  age.  He  then 
started  out  in  life  for  himself,  learned  the 
weaver's  trade  and  followed  that  and  other 
occupations,  whereby  he  might  earn  an 
honest  living.  He  married  Elizabeth  Alex- 
ander and  her  death  occurred  February  7, 
1833.  He  then  started  westward,  locating 
in  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  and  after  two  years 
he  went  to  Richland  county,  Ohio,  where 
he  entered  a  small  tract  of  land  and  built  a 
house,  which  continued  to  be  his  home  for 
five  years.  In  1841  he  became  a  resident 
of  Hillsboro,  Montgomery  county,  Illinois, 
and  in  1849  came  to  McLean  county,  pur- 
chasing land  south  of  Danvers,  but  selling 
the  property  in  1855.     He  accompanied  his 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


273 


son-in-law  Mr.  Kuhn,  to  Minnesota,  but  re- 
turned in  1859  and  followed  farming  until 
his  retirement  to  private  life.  His  wife  died 
December  14,  1893,  leaving  seven  children. 
He  has  resided  at  the  same  place  in  Nor- 
mal for  twenty-si.x  years  and  is  one  of  the 
honored  and  venerable  citizens  of  the  com- 
munity. He  has  long  been  a  prominent 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
and  in  his  political  belief  is  a  Republican. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kuhn  have  also  been 
identified  with  the  Methodist  church 
throughout  their  residence  in  Normal  and 
have  largely  promoted  its  work  and  growth. 
At  one  time  Mr.  Kuhn  was  a  member  of 
Masonic  lodge  at  Tonica,  but  dimitted  and 
became  a  charter  member  of  the  lodge  in 
Hudson,  which,  however,  is  not  now  in  ex- 
istence. From  the  organization  of  the 
party  he  has  been  a  staunch  Republican  in 
politics,  and  at  all  times  is  true  to  his  duties 
of  citizenship  and  to  the  obligations  that 
rest  upon  him  in  public  and  private  life. 
His  life  labors  have  been  crowned  with  a 
degree  of  success.  Dependent  upon  his 
own  exertions  from  an  early  age  he  acquired 
a  liberal  education,  and  in  financial  circles 
made  steady  advancement  until  he  became 
possessed  of  a  comfortable  competence. 
His  name  is  synonymous  with  honorable 
dealing  and  his  life  record  is  unclouded  by 
shadow  of  wrong. 


WILLIAM  A.  PETERSON,  the  well- 
known  and  popular  manager  of  the 
new  Coliseum,  of  Bloomington,  was  born 
in  SpringBeld,  Illinois,  September  16,  1864, 
a  son  of  Alfred  Peterson,  who  was  born  in 
Stockholm,  Sweden,  and  when  a  boy 
started  for  America  with  his  mother,  sister 
and  two  brothers,  but  the    mother  died   on 


the   voyage   and   was  buried   at  sea.     The 
father  had  died  previous  to   this  time  and 
the  sister  soon  after  the  arrival  of  the  fam- 
ily in  the  new  world.     The  three  brothers, 
Jacob.  Charles  and  Alfred,  located  near  St. 
Louis,  Missouri,   the  father  of  our  subject 
being    at    the    time    only    five    years    old. 
Later  he   learned  the   machinist's  trade  in 
St.  Louis,  where  he  continued  to  make  his 
home   until  during  the  civil  war,  when  in 
1862,    he  removed  to    Springfield,  Illinois, 
where  he  and  one  of  his  brothers  conducted 
a  soda  water  factory  for  a  number  of  years. 
It  was  in  that   city   that    he   married   Miss 
Mary  E.  Carter,  a  daughter  of  William  E. 
Carter,  a  prominent  attorney  of  that  time 
and  an  associate  of  Abraham  Lincoln.     She 
was  born   in  Moravia,   Indiana,  where  her 
ancestors,  who  were  Quakers,  had  located 
at  a  very  early  day  when  the  Indians  were 
far  more  numerous  in  that  region  than  the 
white  settlers.     About  1867,  Alfred  Peter- 
son and  his  brother  came  to   Bloomington 
and   started   a  soda  water    factory    at  the 
corner    of  Mulberry  and    Madison    streets, 
where  they  did  a  large  and  successful  busi- 
ness until  their  property  was  destroyed  by 
fire.      In  this  way  and   through  other  ad- 
verse circumstances,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject lost  the  fortune   he  had   accumulated. 
He  was  a  large-hearted  man  and  his  gener- 
osity amounted  to  almost  a  fault.      He  died 
in  Springfield,  in  1892,  but  his  wife  is  still 
living  and  makes  her  home  in  Bloomington. 
To  them  were  born  four  children :    William 
A.,  our  subject;  Alfred,    who  is  connected 
with  the  Pantagraph;  Lillian,  wife  of  Ben- 
jamin Cohen,  of  Louisville,  Kentucky;  and 
one  who  died  in  infancy. 

During  his  boyhood,  William  A.  Peter- 
son attended  the  public  schools  of  Bloom- 
ington and   also  spent  two  years  and  a  half 


2;4 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


at  Baker's  Business  College,  from  which  h^ 
was  graduated.  In  Myer's  mill  on  South 
Cedar  street  he  learned  the  miller's  trade, 
and  there  remained  two  years,  after  which 
he  worked  in  the  big  Gibson  mills  at  Indian- 
apolis, Indiana,  for  three  months,  but  on  ac- 
count of  the  dust  was  obliged  to  give  up 
that  occupation.  Accepting  the  first  posi- 
tion that  presented  itself,  he  was  news 
agent  on  the  Lake  Erie  &  Western  Railroad 
for  a  time,  and  later  was  on  the  Big  Four 
Railroad  running  out  of  Indianapolis,  but  he 
did  not  like  that  occupation  and  soon  gave 
it  up.  Returning  to  Bloomington  he  went 
to  work  in  the  paint  shop  of  the  Chicago  & 
Alton  Railroad  Company,  where  he  remained 
three  years  and  then  gave  up  the  position, 
as  he  had  grown  tired  of  that  occupation. 
In  the  meantime  he  was  always  to  be  found 
around  the  opera  house  at  night,  passing 
bills,  ushering  or  doing  other  odd  jobs  which 
he  could  get,  and  he  also  worked  for  the  bill 
poster.  Finally,  on  quitting  the  Chicago  & 
Alton  Railroad  shops,  he  was  given  a  posi- 
tion by  George  Cummings,  who  now  has 
charge  of  the  advertising  of  one  of  the  lead- 
ing theatres  of  New  York  City,  and  under 
him  our  subject  became  thoroughly  familiar 
with  everything  pertaining  to  the  manage- 
ment of  a  theatre,  and  when  he  resigned  his 
position  as  foreman  bill  poster,  Mr.  Peter- 
son was  given  the  position  of  foreman  of  the 
bill  posters  in  Bloomington,  which  he  held 
for  about  four  years.  He  then  went  on  the 
road  as  advance  agent  for  Harry  Webber, 
of  the  Nip  &  Tuck  Company,  and  the  last 
year  he  was  with  them  he  was  one  of  the 
actors.  He  first  went  on  the  stage  as  a  sub- 
stitute for  one  of  the  actors  who  was  ill,  and 
so  well  did  he  succeed  in  playing  his  part 
that  he  was  retained  in  that  capacity. 
Leaving  the  company  at  New  Orleans,  he 


returned  to  Bloomington  and  was  again 
made  bill  poster  for  the  opera  house,  which 
position  he  held  in  all  eighteen  years^  four- 
teen years  at  one  time.  He  continued  to 
superintend  the  bill  posting  until  the  open- 
ing of  the  Coliseum,  when  he  was  offered 
the  position  of  manager  of  that  house,  which 
is  one  of  the  largest  opera  houses  in  central 
Illinois,  having  a  seating  capacity  of  thirty 
five  hundred.  He  has  made  the  theatre 
business  a  study  for  years,  so  that  he 
thoroughly  understands  it,  and  is  meeting 
with  most  excellent  success  in  the  manage- 
ment of  the  Coliseum,  being  careful  in  his 
selection  of  plays  so  as  to  have  only  first- 
class  performances.  He  is  now  able  to  give 
to  the  public  a  one  dollar  show  for  fifty 
cents,  and  thus  far  has  received  a  most  lib- 
eral support.  He  still  does  his  own  posting. 
Mr.  Peterson  has  not  only  proved  a  good 
business  manager,  but  is  also  quite  success- 
ful as  an  actor,  and  in  the  home  minstrels 
of  one  hundred  people,  given  by  the  Carni- 
val Association,  he  played  an  important 
part.  He  staged  the  piece  Carl  Johnson, 
the  Woodman,  in  which  his  children  took 
part. 

Mr.  Peterson  married  Miss  Josephine 
Krimmel,  of  Springfield,  Illinois,  and  to 
them  have  been  born  two  children:  Leota 
Litta  and  William  A.  They  have  a  modern 
and  attractive  home  on  South  Madison 
street,  which  was  erected  by  our  subject  at 
a  cost  of  three  thousand  dollars.  Socially 
he  is  quite  prominent,  and  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America, 
Blooming  Grove  Lodge,  No.  no,  for  six 
years;  Pythias  Lodge,  No.  i6i,  K.  P.,  for 
seven  years;  and  Custer  Company,  No.  22, 
Uniform  Rank  of  Knights  of  Pythias,  in 
which  he  has  served  as  record  for  two  years 
and  as  first  sergeant.      He  could  have  gone 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


275 


through  all  the  chairs,  but  his  evenings  are 
generally  occupied  by  his  business.  All 
local  entertainments  receive  his  endorse- 
ment and  support,  and  he  is  widely  and 
favorably  known  in  theatrical  circles. 


DR.  J.  E.  COVEY,  of  Lexington,  Illi- 
nois, is  a  well  known  physician  of 
acknowledged  skill  and  ability  of  McLean 
county.  He  was  born  in  Downs  township 
October  8,  1861,  and  is  the  son  of  Corne- 
lius and  Dicy  (Johnson)  Covey,  the  former 
a  native  of  Cayuga  county,  New  York,  born 
February  26,  181 5,  and  the  latter  a  native 
of  Kentucky,  born  July  29,  18 18.  Cornelius 
Covey  moved  with  his  father,  Edward 
Covey,  to  Ohio  when  he  was  but  two  years 
of  age,  and  there  the  family  remained  until 
1836  when  they  came  to  McLean  county, 
or  what  was  then  a  portion  of  McLean 
county,  locating  at  Farmer  City,  in  what 
is  now  DeWitt  county.  While  yet  residing 
in  Ohio,  he  received  his  education  in  the 
pioneer  schools  of  that  state.  His  father 
was  by  occupation  a  farmer,  and  he  was 
reared  to  that  calling.  Edward  Covey 
passed  to  his  reward  November  28,  1854, 
his  wife  surviving  him  some  years,  dying 
March  19,  1861.  Her  maiden  name  was 
Hannah  Northrup,  and  she  was  the  sister 
of  Stephen  J.  Northrup,  who  carried  the 
news  of  Arnold's  treachery  from  West 
Point  to  Hartford,  where  General  Wash- 
ington was  then  stationed. 

After  coming  to  Illinois,  Cornelius 
Covey  remained  with  his  parents  until  he 
attained  his  majority,  and  from  their  home 
he  walked  to  Pekin,  Tazewell  county, 
where  he  worked  during  the  winter  of  1838 
in  a  slaughterhouse,  making  enough  money 
t-o  purchase  ten  acres  of  land,   on  which  he 


built  a  small  log  house  with  one  room,  got 
married  and  commenced  life  in  earnest. 
The  young  couple  moved  into  the  house 
before  the  floor  was  laid,  and  the  wife 
would  hold  the  tallow  candle  while  the 
husband  hewed  logs  for  the  puncheon  floor. 
Nearly  all  the  furniture  used  in  that  cabin 
he  made  from  logs.  For  a  time  he  chopped 
wood  and  split  rails,  earning  thereby  fifty 
cents  per  day.  His  good  wife  was  not  idle 
in  the  meantime,  but  with  her  loom  and 
spinning  wheel  made  an  equal  amount.  In 
that  log  cabin  they  resided  a  few  years,  and 
then  moved  to  what  is  now  Empire  town- 
ship, McLean  county,  where  he  purchased 
thirty  acres  of  land  from  his  wife's  mother. 
On  that  farm  he  resided  with  his  family 
until  about  1850,  when  he  moved  to  Downs 
township,  where  he  took  up  one  hundred 
and  si.xty  acres  of  prairie  land,  about  one 
mile  from  any  timber.  He  was  told  by 
the  settlers  that  he  would  freeze  to  death 
being  so  Jar  from  the  timber,  but  he  only 
laughed  at  them.  Improving  the  place,  he 
lived  on  that  farm  until  1879,  when  he 
moved  into  the  village  of  Leroy,  where  he 
lived  in  retirement  during  the  remainder  of 
his  life,  dying  January  18,  1892. 

On  the  5th  of  September,  1837,  Corne- 
lius Covey  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Dicy  Johnson,  daughter  of  James  and  Cath- 
erine Johnson,  pioneers  of  McLean  county, 
coming  here  from  their  native  state  of  Ken- 
tucky about  1823,  being  among  the  very 
earliest  settlers  of  White  county,  Illinois. 
They  located  near  Bloomington,  which  had 
then  but  a  few  small  log  cabins.  They  died 
but  a  few  years  ago  and  were  buried  on  the 
home  farm  in  Empire  township.  To  Cor- 
nelius and  Dicy  Covy  eleven  children  were 
born — Katherine,  Edmund,  James  R.,  By- 
ron, Sarah  E.,  Nathan,  Lorenzo,   Stephen 


276 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


H.,  William  J.,  Henry  and  John  E.  Mrs. 
Dicj'  Covey  was  named  for  a  daughter  of 
Daniel  Boone,  who  was  a  dear  friend  of  the 
family.  In  politics,  Cornelius  Covey  was  a 
Republican,  and  religiously  he  was  a  Bap- 
tist, as  was  also  his  wife.  She  died  August 
4,  1895. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  his 
primary  education  in  the  district  schools  of 
Downs  township,  and  on  the  removal  of  the 
family  to  Leroy,  he  attended  the  high  school 
of  that  place,  from  which  he  graduated  in 
1880.  On  leaving  the  high  school,  he 
taught  school  one  year  in  Empire  township, 
and  in  1881  entered  the  Illinois  Wesleyan 
University  at  Bloomington,  taking  the  scien- 
tific course  of  two  years.  During  the  sum- 
mer of  these  two  years  he  studied  medicine 
with  Drs.  White  and  Guthrie,  of  Blooming- 
ton,  and  in  March,  1884,  entered  the  Rush 
Medical  College  Chicago,  where  he  re- 
mained three  years,  taking  what  was  known 
as  the  graded  course,  comprising  three  full 
winter  and  three  full  spring  terms,  and 
graduating  February  26,  1887. 

On  receiving  his  diploma.  Dr.  Covey  im- 
mediately located  in  Lexington,  where  he 
has  since  remained.  He  first  commenced 
practice  in  partnership  with  Dr.  J.  C.  Gra- 
ham, and  was  with  him  about  two  and  a 
half  years.  Purchasing  the  interest  and 
good  will  of  his  partner,  he  has  since  con- 
tinued alone  in  practice,  with  gratifying  suc- 
cess. He  takes  great  interest  in  his  profes- 
sion, and  always  endeavors  to  keep  posted 
in  the  latest  discoveries  in  the  medical 
world.  He  is  a  member  of  the  McLean 
County  Medical  Society,  of  the  Illinois 
State  Medical  Society,  and  of  the  American 
Medical  Association,  and  in  the  proceed- 
ings of  each  he  takes  an  active  and  lively 
interest. 


On  the  29th  of  May,  1890,  Dr.  Covey 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Emma  L. 
Scrogin,  who  was  born  in  Lexington  town- 
ship, September  8,  1869,  and  daughter  of 
Levin  P.  and  Sarah  E.  Scrogin,  of  whom 
mention  is  made  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 
By  this  union  two  children  have  been  born, 
Katherine  and  John  E.,  Jr.,  both  of  whom 
are  attending  the  schools  of  Lexington. 

In  politics  the  Doctor  is  a  stanch  Repub- 
lican, and  cast  his  first  presidential  vote  for 
Benjamin  Harrison  in  1888.  He  is  now 
serving  as  one  of  the  alderman  of  his  city, 
a  position  he  has  filled  for  two  years. 
Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  Lexington 
Lodge,  No.  482,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  in  which 
he  has  filled  all  the  chairs;  of  Chenoa 
Chapter,  No.  — ,  R.  A.  M. ;  of  Ideal  Lodge, 
No.  338,  K.  P.,  of  Lexington,  in  which  he 
has  also  filled  all  the  chairs;  and  of  Ingomar 
Camp,  No.  601,  M.  W.  A.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  church,  of  which 
body  his  wife  is  also  a  member.  He  is 
medical  examiner  for  some  twelve  or  fifteen 
insurance  societies,  most  of  them  being  old- 
line  companies. 

The  Doctor  has  been  quite  successful 
in  a  financial  way,  and  has  made  some 
very  good  investments.  He  has  lately  pur- 
chased three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of 
land  in  Money  Creek  township,  which  cost 
him  a  snug  sum  of  money.  In  addition  he 
owns  a  good  farm  in  Lexington  township. 
As  a  citizen  he  is  enterprising  and  progres- 
sive, ready  to  assist  in  any  enterprise  of 
public  benefit.  No  man  in  Lexington  has 
more  friends  or  is  held  in  higher  esteem. 


ADAM  WAYBRIGHT,    who  lives  on  a 
fine  farm  of  eighty-seven  acres  adjoin- 
ing the  village  of  Downs,  first  came  to  Mc- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


277 


Lean  county  in  1849.  He  is  a  native  of 
Virginia,  and  was  born  in  Highland  county. 
May  16,  1S26.  He  grew  to  manhood  in  his 
native  county,  and  was  reared  to  farm  life. 
It  was  with  him  work,  work,  almost  from 
early  childhood.  Prior  to  leaving  his  na- 
tive state,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Millie  Wicks,  who  was  born  in  Shen- 
andoah county,  Mrginia.  After  his  mar- 
riage he  engaged  in  farming,  but  as  his 
means  were  not  sufficient  to  own  and  use 
slave  labor,  he  felt  that  he  could  not  suc- 
ceed, and  with  others  determined  to  emi- 
grate to  Illinois,  where  land  was  yet  plenty 
and  where  the  opportunities  would  be  far 
greater  for  ultimate  success.  Accordingly, 
in  the  fall  of  1849,  about  six  families  started 
from  their  old  Virginia  home  destined  for 
McLean  county,  Illinois.  They  arrived 
here  just  before  Christmas,  and  Mr.  Way- 
bright  found  employment  on  the  farm  of 
John  Price,  adjoining  the  one  on  which  he 
now  lives.  He  later  rented  the  Price  farm 
and  run  that  for  seven  years,  and  during 
that  time  purchased  eighty  acres  of  unim- 
proved land  in  Downs  township,  on  which 
he  located  and  commenced  to  improve. 
After  remaining  there  two  years  he  sold  the 
same  and  purchased  sixty  acres,  which  he 
also  improved.  He  remained  on  that  place 
four  years,  and  then  sold  for  fifty  dollars  per 
acre,  which  was  a  nice  advance  on  the  pur- 
chase price.  He  then  purchased  a  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  thirty-nine  acres,  known 
as  the  James  \\'eaver  place,  on  which  he 
resided  eight  years,  selling  that  for  fifty 
dollars  per  acre,  which  was  an  advance  on 
the  purchase  price.  In  1882  he  purchased 
eighty-seven  acres  where  he  now  resides, 
and  on  which  he  has  continually  lived  since 
that  time. 

Since  removing  to  his  present  farm,  Mr. 


Waybright  has  made  some  good  improve- 
ments, including  the  erection  of  his  present 
neat  and  comfortable  dwelling  house.  In 
addition  to  his  farming  and  stock  raising, 
for  some  years  Mr.  Waybright  was  engaged 
in  buying  and  selling  stock,  in  which  line  he 
met  with  a  fair  degree  of  success.  In  con- 
nection with  Peter  Price,  Mr  Waybright 
laid  out  the  village  of  Downs,  and  paid  the 
greater  part  of  the  expense  in  the  erection 
of  the  station  buildings.  Commencing  life 
without  a  dollar,  Mr.  Waybright  has  gone 
along  the  even  tenor  of  his  way,  adding  lit- 
tle by  little  to  his  store,  as  the  years  passed 
by,  and  is  now  in  very  comfortable  circum- 
stances, with  no  fear  of  the  future. 

In  1880  Mrs.  Millie  Waybright  departed 
this  life,  and  for  his  second  wife  Mr.  Way- 
bright  married  in  Lincoln  county,  Missouri, 
March  5,  1885,  Miss  Alice  Colaw,  a  native 
of  that  county  and  state,  and  daughter  of 
Jesse  Colaw,  who  was  born  and  reared  in 
Highland  county,  Virginia,  but  who  was 
an  early  settler  of  Lincoln  county,  Missouri. 
By  this  second  marriage  there  are  three 
children  living — Walter  D.  Leslie,  and 
James  Adam.  One  daughter,  their  first 
born,  died  in  infancy. 

Politically,  Mr.  Waybright  is  a  Jack- 
sonian  Democrat,  and  with  that  party  he 
has  continued  to  act  all  his  life,  believing 
with  all  his  heart  in  its  principles.  His 
first  presidential  vote  was  cast  for  James  K. 
Polk.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  of  which  body  his  wife  is 
also  a  member.  For  fifty  years — a  half 
century — he  has  been  a  citizen  of  McLean 
county,  and  during  that  time  he  has  seen 
villages  and  cities  spring  up,  and  the  whole 
county  dotted  over  with  excellent  farms  and 
farm  houses,  while  school  houses  and 
churches  are   within  convenient    distances 


2/8 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


to  the  whole  body  of  people,  and  evidences 
of  prosperity  abound  on  every  hand,  and 
in  the  great  work  that  has  been  accom- 
plished he  has  been  no  unimportant  factor. 


WILLIAM  RICHARD  WHITE.  In 
the  great  trade  circles  of  the  west 
there  has  been  no  one  who  has  borne  a 
more  unsullied  reputation  than  this  honored 
resident  of  Bloomington.  He  is  of  the 
highest  type  of  the  self-made  man,  one  who 
has  by  untiring  effort,  close  application,  un- 
abating  energy,  and  laudable  ambition  risen 
from  obscurity  to  an  eminent  place  among 
the  representatives  of  the  industrial  interests 
of  the  country.  Through  all,  the  upright- 
ness of  his  nature  has  remained  unchange- 
able. Following  in  the  path  of  duty  he 
has  so  lived  as  to  win  the  confidence  and 
esteem  of  all.  Integrity,  activity  and  energy 
have  been  the  crowning  points  of  his  char- 
acter, and  his  life  history  represents  an 
eventful  and  interesting  career  in  which 
difficulties  and  obstacles  have  been  over- 
come, and  wealth  has  rewarded  honorable 
and  consecutive  labor. 

A  native  of  Illinois,  Mr.  White  was  born 
at  Goose  Nest  Prairie,  in  Coles  county,  a 
mile  east  of  the  home  of  Abraham  Lincoln, 
about  the  time  he  served  in  the  state  legis- 
lature. The  date  of  his  birth  was  Decem- 
ber 22,  1844,  and  his  parents  were  Bar- 
tholomew and  Elizabeth  (Easton)  White. 
He  traced  his  ancestry  back  to  one  of  the 
patriots  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  William 
White,  who  joined  a  South  Carolina  regi- 
ment and  gave  his  life  for  the  cause  of 
American  independence.  His  son,  William 
White,  grandfather  of  our  subject,  removed 
from  South  Carolina  to  Tennessee,  and  on 


March  3,  1828,  came  to  Coles  county,  Illi- 
nois, entered  land  from  the  government  and 
there  spent  his  remaining  days,  his  death 
occurring  about  1837. 

Bartholomew  W.  White  was  born  in 
Smith  county,  Tennessee,  January  6,  181 2, 
and  was  a  lad  of  fifteen  years  when  he  ac- 
companied his  parents  on  their  removal  to 
Coles  county.  He  began  his  education  in 
Tennessee  and  completed  it  in  this  state. 
After  his  marriage  he  engaged  in  farming, 
buying  a  tract  of  land  which  he  cultivated 
for  some  nine  years.  He  also  engaged  in 
hauling  lead  from  Galena  to  Milwaukee  for 
nine  years.  He  afterward  spent  thirty 
years  in  educational  work  and  in  the  minis- 
try of  the  Christian  church,  and  throughout 
the  state  his  influence  was  widely  felt.  He 
established  many  churches  in  the  new  set- 
tlements throughout  Illinois,  and  baptized 
nearly  four  thousand  people.  He  often 
went  from  thirty  to  one  hundred  miles  to 
preach  the  gospel,  traveling  on  horseback, 
receiving  for  his  services  whatever  the  peo- 
ple wished  to  pay  him.  His  life  was  one  of 
consecrated  devotion  to  the  cause.  His 
power  and  influence  in  his  holy  office  were 
e.xerted  in  a  spirit  of  the  deepest  human 
sympathy  and  tender  solicitude,  nor  was 
there  denied  him  the  full  harvest  nor  the 
aftermath  whose  garnering  shall  bring  the 
sure  reward  in  the  words  of  commendation, 
"Well  done,  good  and  faithful  servant." 
He  read  the  opening  chapter  at  the  funeral 
of  the  father  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  at  which 
time  the  Lincoln  family  resided  near  Janes- 
ville,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  White  family. 
Mr.  Lincoln,  Sr. ,  often  visited  at  the  home 
of  our  subject,  and  while  Rev.  White  was 
at  Galena  he  always  performed  the  service 
of  taking  honey  from  the  hives  for  the 
family, 


WM.   R.  WHITE. 


LICHARY 

OF  THE 

Vt'lVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


In  1859  Bartholomew  White,  with  his 
eldest  son,  joined  a  party  en  route  for 
Pike's  Peak,  but  returned  to  Illinois  in  the 
fall  and  resumed  his  ministerial  labors. 
There  was  much  suffering  in  the  mining  re- 
gions of  Colorado  at  that  time,  many  starv- 
ing to  death.  He  returned  with  many 
relics,  but  no  gold,  and  again  preached  the 
gospel  to  the  people  of  Illinois  for  many 
years.  At  length  he  retired  to  Neoga,  this 
state,  where  his  son,  William  R.,  pur- 
chased him  a  home  in  which  he  afterward 
resided.  The  son  also  paid  off  his  father's 
debts,  amounting  to  twenty-two  hundred 
dollars,  and  the  aged  preacher  has  gone  to 
his  long  home,  being  called  there  by  the 
angel  of  death,  February  11,  1899,  aged 
eighty-five  years,  one  month  and  five  days. 
His  wife  passed  away  on  the  20th  of  De- 
cember, 1884.  She  was  born  in  Palestine, 
Crawford  county,  Illinois,  September  4, 
1816,  a  daughter  of  William  Richard  Eaton, 
for  whom  our  subject  was  named.  He  was 
born  in  Kentucky,  and  married  Elizabeth 
Eaton  about  the  year  1782.  To  them  were 
born  eleven  children.  He  was  a  success- 
ful carpenter  and  cabinet  maker,  and 
served  his  country  as  a  soldier  in  the  Black- 
hawk  and  Mexican  wars.  He  was  one  of 
the  pioneers  of  Crawford  count}-.  Some  of 
his  children  were  born  in  a  fort  near  Vin- 
cennes,  Indiana,  and  at  an  early  day  he  re- 
moved to  Coles  county,  where  his  daugh- 
ter Elizabeth  was  reared,  her  marriage  to 
Mr.  White  being  celebrated  in  Charleston, 
Coles  county,  October  2,  1834.  In  her 
early  years  she  was  noted  for  her  skill  in 
spinning  and  weaving  flax,  and  in  doing 
little  jobs  of  carpenter  work  around  her 
own  home  she  was  also  proficient.  It  was 
probably  from  her  that  William  R.  White 
inherited  his  mechanical  genius.      She  was 


a  most  earnest  worker  in  church  and  Sun- 
day school,  and  was  so  well  versed  in  the 
scriptures  that  she  could  sustain  an  argu- 
ment with  any  minister  of  the  time,  ex- 
pressing her  views  with  a  clearness  and 
force  that  often  made  her  opponent  call  into 
question  the  soundness  of  his  own  opinions. 
Withal  she  was  so  kind,  gentle  and  loving 
that  she  died  without  an  enemy  in  the 
world.  "Her  children  rise  up  and  call  her 
blessed." 

Unto  Bartholomew  and  Elizabeth  White 
were  born  nine  children,  who  reached  years 
of  maturity.  Lewis  B.,  who  died  in  Cali- 
fornia in  1884,  was  for  twenty-five  years  a 
successful  school  teacher.  He  was  an  ex- 
pert penman,  could  display  thirty-two  varia- 
tions in  his  handwriting,  and  could  inscribe 
his  name  five  times  at  once,  using  both 
hands  and  his  mouth.  He  was  an  excellent 
grammarian  and  a  master  of  the  art  of 
rhetoric,  and  his  splendid  gifts  of  oratory 
made  his  services  in  great  demand  as  the 
speaker  on  various  public  occasions,  es- 
pecially at  Fourth  of  July  celebrations. 
Paroleane  became  the  wife  of  James  Con- 
rad and  died,  leaving  a  son,  John  Conrad, 
of  Crawford  count}-,  a  most  earnest  Chris- 
tian gentleman  over  whose  life  record  there 
falls  no  shadow  of  wrong.  Arminda  J., 
now  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  Jackson 
Brooks,  who  had  gone  before  marriage  to 
California.  To  them  were  born  five  chil- 
dren. She  was  a  most  thorough  Bible  stu- 
dent, able  to  discuss  with  theologians  any 
disputed  point,  and  was  a  correspondent  of 
Rev.  Mathews,  the  publisher  of  the  Chris- 
tian Record,  of  Cincinnati,  who  was  a  pio- 
neer minister  of  the  Christian  church.  In 
Sunday-school  work  she  was  most  zealous 
and  earnest,  and  at  all  times  she  closely 
followed  in  the  footsteps  of  the  lowly  Naza^ 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


rene.  Hannah  E.  became  the  wife  of  New- 
ton Smith,  an  elder  of  the  church  in  Hutton 
township,  Coles  county,  Illinois.  She,  too, 
was  an  earnest  worker  in  the  church,  will- 
ing to  make  any  sacrifice  for  the  advance- 
ment of  the  cause  of  Christianity.  In  man- 
ner she  was  most  charming,  affable  and 
kindly,  and  was  no  less  beautiful  in  person, 
having  a  fair  complexion.  Delilah  Emiline, 
who  married  J.  Prather,  is  a  tall  but  win- 
some blue-eyed  woman,  living  near  Neoga, 
Illinois.  Her  husband  was  fair,  with  black 
eyes,  and  their  first  two  children  were  blue- 
eyed,  the  second  two  black-eyed,  the  third 
two  blue-eyed,  and  the  last  two  had  eyes 
like  the  father's.  The  home  of  this  family 
was  near  Neoga,  and  most  of  the  children 
have  engaged  in  teaching  school.  William 
R.  White  is  the  ne.xt  member  of  his  father's 
family,  and  was  followed  by  Mary  C. ,  who 
is  the  wife  of  John  G.  Hunter,  of  Neoga. 
They  have  four  children,  all  of  whom  have 
been  teachers,  and  two  of  the  sons  after- 
ward became  preachers.  James  Napoleon 
White  was  a  Union  soldier  during  the  civil 
war  and  died  at  Chattanooga  while  in  the 
service.  Sarah  Malinda  is  the  wife  of  Will- 
iam P.  Lacy.  They  own  a  nice  farm  near 
Neoga,  and  they  have  one  son.  Like  the 
other  members  of  her  family,  Mrs.  Lacy  is 
devoted  to  church  and  Sunday-school  work, 
has  been  a  delegate  to  many  of  the  conven- 
tions of  her  denomination  in  the  state,  and 
by  her  excellent  vocal  powers  has  contrib- 
uted not  a  little  to  the  musical  features  of 
these  meetings.  Martha  E.  is  the  wife  of 
Nathan  B.  Haskett,  and  is  a  prominent 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
of  Neoga,  Illinois.  Melsena  is  the  wife  of 
J.  W.  Spencer,  a  miller  of  Neoga,  by  whom 
she  has  three  children.  She,  too,  possesses 
superior  musical  ability,   a  talent  which  is 


shared    by    most    of    the    members    of    the 
White  family. 

Fate  seemed  to  have  been  unkind  to 
William  R.  White  in  his  childhood,  for  the 
first  eight  years  of  his  life  were  spent  in 
almost  total  darkness.  Serious  trouble 
with  his  eyes  made  it  almost  impossible  for 
him  to  bear  the  light  and  he  was  forced  to 
remain  in  a  large  walnut  cupboard  or  under 
a  bed  from  which  heavy  quilts  were  hung, 
thus  excluding  the  light.  He  did  not  see 
the  sun  until  eight  years  of  age,  and 
through  his  affliction  was  deprived  of  most 
of  the  pleasures  which  children  enjoy.  He 
worked  for  his  brother  in  order  to  get  his 
old  books,  his  first  text  book  being  an  old 
third  reader.  He  first  attended  school 
when  eleven  years  of  age,  but  his  entire 
course,  continuing  at  intervals  until  his 
nineteenth  year,  did  not  cover  more  than 
eighteen  months.  He  was  ambitious  to 
learn,  however,  and  studied  in  his  leisure 
moments  and  at  night.  As  his  father  was 
poor  and  could  not  afford  kerosene  oil  or 
candles  William  would  carry  bark  from  the 
timber  where  he  made  rails  and  clapboards 
for  a  mile  on  his  shoulder,  and  use  it  for 
lighting  purposes,  when  he  was  poring  over 
his  books.  In  school  he  managed  to  master 
Ray's  Third  Part  Arithmetic  to  analysis, 
and  completed  it  at  home.  He  was  an  apt 
scholar  and  possessed  an  excellent  mem- 
ory. At  one  time  he  wished  to  contest  for 
a  Sunday-school  prize  by  memorizing  the 
six  chapters  of  the  book  of  the  Ephesians, 
which  he  did  in  one  week  while  following 
the  plow.  In  a  pocket  he  carried  a  testa- 
ment, and  while  the  horses  were  turning 
at  the  ends,  and  at  noons  and  mornings, 
he  memorized  it.  He  took  great  interest 
in  literary  and  debating  societies,  and  his 
oratorical  ability  was  so  far  in  advance  of 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


283 


the  others  of  the  neighborhood  that  finally 
at  one  place  he  was  ruled  out  of  the  soci- 
eties because  every  one  feared  to  debate 
against  him.  In  his  early  manhood,  when 
eighteen  years  of  age,  he  began  teaching,  a 
profession  which  he  followed  for  fourteen 
years.  He  taught  for  nine  years  in  seven 
adjoining  districts,  and  during  the  last  part 
of  his  labors  in  that  profession  he  held  a 
first  grade  certificate.  His  advance  seemed 
always  in  the  face  of  many  difficulties  and 
hardships,  but  a  resolute  spirit  and  honor- 
able purpose  enabled  him  to  triumph  over 
these,  and  ultimately  win  success. 

In  1 87 1  misfortune  overtook  him  and  he 
had  to  place  a  mortgage  upon  his  little  farm 
of  fifty  acres.  He  eventually  lost  the  place, 
and  then  turned  his  attention  to  invention, 
Possessed  of  much  mechanical  ability,  he 
had  studied  the  needs  of  the  farmers  and  at 
length  produced  a  fence,  without  wire,  bolt, 
pin  or  augur  hole.  He  perfected  his  inven- 
tion but  had  not  the  money  to  patent  it 
until  his  sister  Delilah  and  other  friends 
loaned  him  the  sum,  he  to  pay  one  hundred 
dollars'  worth  of  the  invention  for  each  dol- 
lar received.  The  patent  was  at  length  se- 
cured and  the  invention  proved  a  success 
so  that  his  financial  stress  was  soon  relieved, 
and  from  that  time  forward  his  capital  has 
constantly  increased  until  it  has  now  as- 
sumed extensive  proportions.  The  fence 
meeting  his  expectations,  Mr.  White  now 
wished  to  invent  a  gate  to  go  with  it,  and 
commenced  the  labors  that  have  resulted  in 
the  production  of  the  Bessemer  steel  gate, 
which  is  unequaled  by  anything  of  the  kind 
ever  placed  upon  the  market.  Before  this 
was  done,  however,  he  invented  many  wheel 
and  swinging  gates,  and  finally  the  oscillat- 
ing arm  steel  gate,  which  was  patented  in 
May  and  June,  1897.      He  now  has  a  large 


and  splendidly  equipped  gate  factory  in 
Bloomington,  in  which  city  he  has  made  his 
home  since  1893,  and  at  times  the  factory  has 
been  operated  day  and  night  in  order  to  meet 
the  demands  of  the  trade.  For  one  hundred 
and  four  days  his  sales  on  the  gate  amounted 
to  five  hundred  dollars  daily,  or  fifty-four 
thousand  dollars.  In  a  short  time  his  sales 
had  reached  ninety-seven  thousand  dollars, 
and  he  had  done  no  business  on  Sundays. 
Later  his  sales  amounted  to  between  three 
and  four  hundred  dollars  per  day  for  some 
months,  and  now  the  White  gate  is  known 
throughout  the  entire  country.  He  has  not 
only  sold  direct  to  purchasers,  but  has  dis- 
posed of  the  territory  at  reasonable  rates, 
so  that  others  have  profited  by  the  invention 
which  has  now  yielded  to  him  a  princely  for- 
tune. He  has  secured  altogether  sixty 
patents  and  four  hundred  and  eighty  of  his 
claims  on  gates  have  been  allowed.  His 
sales  on  his  own  inventions  have  amounted 
to  over  a  half  million  of  dollars,  but  he  does 
not  claim  to  be  worth  that  amount,  and 
as  yet  the  White  Bessemer  Steel  Gate  has 
hardly  been  two  years  on  the  market.  Its 
value  to  the  agricultural  public  can  hardly 
be  overestimated  and  it  is  but  another 
triumph  of  the  American  skill  and  genius 
which  has  placed  this  country  at  the  head  of 
all  nations  in  the  production  of  useful  inven- 
tions. He  received  the  Blue  Ribbon  and 
Diploma  from  the  World's  Columbian  Ex- 
position at  Chicago,  and  a  gold  medal  pre- 
mium, carried  offsimilar  prizes  at  the  Omaha 
exposition,  and  expects  to  exhibit  the  gate  at 
the  Paris  Exposition  in  1900.  He  got  first 
honors  on  his  farm  gates  at  New  Orleans 
in  1885,  and  at  Louisville  in  1886.  The 
United  States  Government  has  selected  his 
gates  as  worthy  of  being  placed  in  the  pat- 
ent office  exhibits   at    all  the  large  exposi- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


tions  in  the  United  States  for  thirteen  years. 

Mr.  White  was  quite  an  inventor  when 
he  taught  school,  but  did  not  know  it  at 
the  time.  He  carried  in  his  vest  pocket  a 
httle  book,  called  an  Idle-book.  If  a  pupil 
were  idle  during  school  hours,  he  would 
give  it  a  mark;  if  a  second  time  he  gave  it 
another  mark  secretly;  then  he  would  tell 
the  school  that  a  member  had  two  marks, 
and  if  he  had  to  give  him  three  idle-marks 
that  day  the  same  pupil  would  have  to  be 
whipped,  a  thing  he  would  be  pained  to  do, 
so  James  thought  it  was  he,  Mary  feared  it 
was  she.  Bob  almost  knew  it  was  he,  and 
the  result  was  they  all  studied  as  they  never 
did  before.  The  facts  are,  in  three  schools 
only  one  boy  "of  fourteen  years  "  had  to 
be  whipped.  Mr.  W'hite  told  him  how 
sorry  he  was  that  a  good,  bright  boy  should 
commit  such  a  crime;  that  it  was  bad  to 
swear,  to  lie  was  worse,  for  a  falsehood  in- 
jured others,  but  to  be  idle  injured  himself, 
his  teacher,  and  deceived  his  parents,  who 
furnish  all  pertaining  to  the  school,  and 
such  an  offence  was  grave  indeed, ^ — that 
those  who  did  not  work  should  not  eat.  So 
that  ended  the  whipping;  the  warning  was 
all  he  had  to  do. 

On  short,  cold  days  Mr.  White  would 
tell  the  school  interesting  things,  then  have 
a  recess  in  which  queries  would  be  pro- 
pounded, and  the  hard  questions  be  sent  to 
the  parents  of  the  scholars.  He  would 
open  his  school  by  singing  an  appropriate 
song.  Once  while  he  was  teaching  in  the 
western  part  of  Cumberland  county,  Illi- 
nois, the  adjoining  teacher  learned  that  part 
of  Mr.  White's  school  had  changed  from 
Webster's  speller  to  McGuffie's,  and  ban- 
tered Mr.  White  for  a  spelling  match. 
Mr.  White  accepted  the  challenge,  and 
went  to  his  schooj  with  about  twenty  pupils. 


The  other  teacher  got  a  pronouncer  from 
his  own  district,  who  selected  his  words 
promiscuously,  and  if  a  pupil  of  that  district 
missed  a  word,  he  would  say  "how.'"  and 
of  course  the  pupil  would  change.  On 
words  that  he  expected  Mr.  White's  pupils 
to  miss,  he  would  also  say  "How.'"  expect- 
ing them  to  change  and  miss.  Near  mid- 
night it  ended  up  even,  but  Mr.  White  in- 
formed the  school  of  the  unfairness  of  the 
man  giving  out  the  words,  and  challenged 
his  neighbor's  school,  to  meet  with  his  the 
next  week,  which  challenge  was  accepted. 
Mr.  White  learned  the  other  school  meant  to 
post  up,  and  got  his  pupils  to  agree  to  do  just 
what  he  planned.  He  told  them  that  where 
there  was  a  family  of  three  or  five,  to  pair 
off  in  twos,  and  as  near  in  scholarship  as 
possible,  then  they  must  go  to  each  other's 
house,  one  taking  a  book,  and  pronouncing 
every  word  from  page  eight  to  the  last  page, 
each  word  missed  must  be  marked,  and  then 
that  book  must  be  handed  to  the  one  spell- 
ing, and  in  turn  must  have  every  word  in 
the  book  put  to  him,  and  all  words  marked 
that  he  missed,  and  then  each  must  learn  to 
spell  every  word  so  marked,  and  get  its 
definition.  When  the  schools  met  a  pro- 
nouncer was  secured  from  a  third  district, 
and  there  were  eighteen  on  a  side,  as  the 
other  teacher  only  brought  his  best  spellers. 
With  the  two  teachers  it  made  nineteen  on 
a  side.  Possibly  there  never  before  was 
such  an  interest  displayed.  Each  teacher 
took  his  place  at  the  foot  of  his  class. 
Tally  was  kept  and  at  ten  minutes  after  mid- 
night, Mr.  White  cut  down  the  last  of  the 
opposite  side,  leaving  thirteen  of  his  own  to 
be  spelled  down.  The  man  who  kept  tally, 
told  him  that  his  opponents  missed  three 
words  to  one  by  the  pupils  of  his  school. 
This  was  enough  for  the  other  school;  they 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


285 


went  home  the  worst  defeated  school  ever 
heard  of  until  later  Mr.  White  was  hired  at 
the  Ailshire  school,  in  the  south  part  of  the 
county.  The  year  before,  a  teacher  teach- 
ing below  in  an  old  and  well-equiped  district, 
had  paid  a  visit  to  the  Ailshire  school  and 
advertised  them  in  the  papers  as  being  very 
poor  spellers.  This  teacher  was  full  of  self- 
esteem,  and  made  the  remark  that  he 
thought  the  best  scholar  in  the  Ailshire 
school  might  spell  the  word  Baker,  which 
by  the  way  was  his  name.  Mr.  White  cre- 
ated quite  an  interest  by  Christmas,  organ- 
izing a  literary  society,  teaching  a  singing 
school  of  nights,  and  having  spelling-matches 
and  debates.  Baker  got  interested,  and 
would  attend  occasionally,  soon  proposing  a 
spelling-match,  one  school  against  the  other, 
saying  that  he  expected  his  school,  of 
course,  would  be  beaten,  but  that  should 
make  no  difference,  so  long  as  they  could 
learn  something.  The  older  pupils  went  to 
Mr.  White  saying  that  it  would  never  do  to 
spell  against  that  school,  that  he  had  adver- 
tised them  the  year  before,  and  that  his 
school  was  greatly  advanced,  while  their 
chances  had  been  meagre, — using  a  log 
house  up  to  this  year.  Mr.  White  feared 
nothing,  knowing  his  own  tactics,  and  made 
a  talk  in  favor  of  the  spelling-match,  which 
was  carried  by  a  single  majority.  The 
next  day  Mr.  White  informed  his  pupils  of 
his  plan  to  beat  the  other  school,  and  all 
jumped  to  their  feet  with  one  accord,  cry- 
ing out  with  great  enthusiasm,  that  they 
would  do  anything  honorable  to  beat. 
When  the  spelling-match  came  off,  Mr. 
White  only  lost  one  pupil,  who  happened 
to  miss  a  word,  and  by  11:30  p.  m. ,  Baker 
himself,  and  his  whole  school,  forty-five  in 
number,  had  been  cut  down,  leaving  the  re- 
mainder of   Mr.  White's  school  yet  on  the 


floor.     That  was  Baker's  last  school  in  that 
vicinity,  and  he  pulled  out  and  went  west. 

Mr.  White  often  receives  letters  from  his 
many  pupils  scattered  in  various  states, 
eulogizing  him  for  the  good  advice  and 
knowledge  imparted  in  the  old  district 
school.  In  teaching,  Mr.  White  would  first 
appeal  to  his  school  to  learn  that  which 
they  knew  not,  to  pay  little  attention  to 
the  things  already  learned;  to  learn  to-day 
rather  than  to-morrow;  not  to  fear  mis- 
takes, for  by  mistakes  we  know  what  little 
we  do  know;  that  there  was  a  great  de- 
signer before  the  worlds  were  made,  and 
that  all  things  were  made  and  adapted  to 
meet  some  end.  The  hair  grew  upon  the 
head  instead  of  the  feet  as  a  protection; 
that  the  nails  were  on  the  hands  and  feet 
for  the  use  of  the  hands  and  feet,  but  all  for 
the  use  of  the  man.  The  earth  was  made 
for  man,  apparently,  as  he  was  given  do- 
minion over  all  other  animals;  that  man 
could  use  implements,  and  could  reason 
from  cause  to  effect;  that  he  could  and  did 
make  improvements,  and  that  his  life  was 
and  has  been  longer  than  that  of  other 
animals.  As  the  fingers  and  toes  were 
made  for  the  use  of  the  body,  the  same 
kind  of  reasoning  would  teach  that  coal, 
iron,  and  all  minerals  were  made  for  man, 
rather  than  other  animals,  as  they  could  not 
use  such.  The  same  reasoning  applied  to 
steam  and  gasses  of  all  kinds,  hence  the  in- 
ference, "  the  earth  was  made  for  man  by 
an  all-wise  Creator,"  and  that  all  things 
existed  from  a  cause. 

On  the  6th  of  October,  1866,  Mr.  White 
married  Miss  Harriet  E.  Kellar,  daughter  of 
Riley  and  Harriet  (Miller)  Kellar.  Her  fa- 
ther was  a  soldier  in  the  Blackhawk  war, 
and  with  his  family  removed  from  Jackson 
county,  Indiana,  to  Neoga  township.  Cum- 


286 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


berland  county,  Illinois,  at  an  early  day. 
When  a  young  man  Mr.  White  engaged  in 
teaching  vocal  music,  continuing  in  the  same 
for  seven  years.  Among  his  pupils  in  the 
singing  school  was  Miss  Kellar,  whose  ac- 
quaintance he  thus  formed.  Their  marriage 
has  been  blessed  with  seven  children.  Mary 
R.,  the  elder,  is  the  wife  of  G.  W'.  Monroe, 
principal  of  a  school  in  Sullivan,  Illinois, 
and  candidate  for  county  superintendent  of 
schools.  They  have  four  children,  Zelma, 
Alora,  Elizabeth  and  Arville.  Mrs.  Monroe 
was  organist  in  the  church  in  Neoga  for  a 
number  of  years,  and  is  an  accomplished 
musician.  John  P.,  the  son,  married  Lu- 
ella  E.  Pierce,  a  beautiful  and  cultured 
lady  of  Bloomington,  and  they  have  one 
daughter,  Beatrice.  He  now  has  the  man- 
agement of,  and  owns  most  of  his  father's 
gate  factory  and  is  a  capable  business  man, 
popular  in  both  commercial  and  social  cir- 
cles. Fair  Eleander  possesses  exceptional 
ability  as  an  artist  and  is  very  proficient  in 
both  instrumental  and  vocal  music.  Mar- 
tha E.  is  the  wife  of  J.  B.  Spaulding,  a 
prominent  surgeon  of  Clinton,  Illinois  and 
they  have  one  daughter,  Lucille.  Delilah 
is  the  wife  of  R.  M.  Hall,  the  well  known 
city  editor  of  the  Bloomington  Leader.  She, 
too,  possesses  considerable  musical  abil- 
ity, as  does  the  next  daughter  of  the  family, 
Bessie  Lee,  who  is  attending  school.  G. 
C. ,  a  bright  boy  of  thirteen  years,  com- 
pletes the  family  and  is  well  versed  in  liter- 
ary knowledge,  natural  history  and  lan- 
guages, and  very  oratorical  indeed  for  one 
of  his  age. 

For  many  years  Mr.  White  has  been  a 
most  active  and  influential  member  in  the 
Christian  church,  and  contributes  liberally 
to  those  interests  tending  to  advance  the 
moral  and  intellectual  welfare  of   the  com- 


munity. Temperance  and  educational  work 
find  in  him  a  friend  and  he  withholds  his 
co-operation  from  no  movement  for  the  gen- 
eral good.  He  possesses  an  excellent  mem- 
ory, is  a  fine  speaker,  holding  the  attention 
of  his  auditors  by  that  intangible  quality 
known  as  personal  magnetism,  as  well  as 
by  the  clearness  and  logic  of  his  thoughts, 
often  taking  for  subject — astronomy.  His 
home,  a  beautiful  residence,  erected  at  a 
cost  of  thirty-seven  thousand  dollars,  stands 
at  the  corner  of  East  and  Locust  streets, 
and  is  a  monument  to  the  enterprise  and 
ability  of  the  owner.  In  manner  he  is  most 
quiet  and  unassuming,  entirely  approach- 
able to  all,  and  refusing  no  one  the  courtesy 
of  an  interview.  He  is,  in  the  truest  sense 
of  the  term,  a  self-made  man  and  is  always 
glad  of  an  opportunity  to  aid  one  along  the 
stony  path  which  he  has  trod.  His  life  is  a 
splendid  illustration  of  what  may  be  ac- 
complished in  this  free  land  by  young  men 
of  industry,  resolution  and  ambition.  He 
has  enjoyed  triumphs  in  his  business  career, 
but  in  private  life  has  gained  that  warm  per- 
sonal regard  which  arises  from  true  nobility 
of  character,  deference  for  the  opinions  of 
others,  kindliness  and  geniality.  Such  is 
the  life  history  of  one  of  the  most  honored 
and  esteemed  citizens  of  Bloomington. 


PETER  GRATZ,  deceased,  was  for  a 
number  of  years  a  prominent  and  suc- 
cessful business  man  of  Bloomington,  con- 
ducting the  leading  custom  tailoring  estab- 
lishment in  the  city.  He  was  born  in 
Prussia,  Germany,  March  31,  1839,  a  son 
of  Peter  Gratz,  who  brought  his  family  to 
America  in  1854  and  located  at  North  Ver- 
non, Indiana,  where  he  purchased  land  and 
engaged    in    agricultural    pursuits  until   his 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


287 


death.  Our  subject  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  land,  and  as  his 
parents  wanted  him  either  to  enter  the 
priesthood  or  learn  a  trade,  he  chose  the 
latter  and  commenced  learning  tailoring 
before  the  emigration  of  the  family  to  the 
United  States.  He  completed  his  appren- 
ticeship in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  he  con- 
tinued to  work  as  a  journeyman  until  the 
breaking  out  of  the  civil  war. 

Prompted  by  love  of  his  adopted  country, 
Mr.  Gratz  enlisted  in  the  Ninth  Ohio  Vol- 
unteer Infantry  on  the  first  call  for  seventy- 
five  thousand  men  to  assist  in  putting  down 
the  rebellion,  but  being  taken  sick  he  was 
soon  afterward  discharged.  Later  he  joined 
the  home  guards  and  went  to  the  front  after 
his  marriage.  On  the  4th  of  November, 
1862,  he  wedded  Miss  Katherine  Metz,  who 
was  born  and  reared  in  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Her  parents,  Peter  and  Elizabeth  (Cook) 
Metz,  were  natives  of  Germany  and  earl}' 
settlers  of  Hamilton.  The  mother  lived  to 
the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty-seven  years. 
Having  no  children  of  their  own  our  subject 
and  his  wife  adopted  May,  a  niece  of  Mrs. 
Gratz. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gratz 
lived  in  both  Cincinnati  and  Hamilton, 
Ohio,  and  in  1866  came  to  Bloomington, 
where  for  seven  years  he  worked  as  a  cutter 
for  Mr.  Helman,  who  had  one  of  the  lead- 
ing tailoring  establishments  of  the  city  at 
that  time.  He  then  embarked  in  business 
on  his  own  account  as  a  merchant  tailor, 
and  from  the  start  met  with  most  excellent 
success,  building  up  a  large  and  profitable 
trade  which  gradually  increased.  Later  he 
moved  to  the  old  stand  occupied  by  Mr. 
Helman  and  successfully  carried  on  opera- 
tions there  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
November  27,  1893.    As  a  business  man  he 


was  always  upright,  prompt  and  reliable, 
and  he  became  one  of  the  directors  of  the 
Third  National  Bank  of  Bloomington.  In 
1882  he  purchased  a  lot  at  No.  903  North 
Main  street,  and  erected  thereon  a  beautiful 
home  where  his  widow  still  resides.  He 
was  quite  prominent  in  Masonic  circles, 
being  a  charter  member  of  Uhland  Lodge, 
F.  &  A.  M.,  and  also  belonged  to  Bloom- 
ington Chapter,  R.  A.  M. ;  Bloomington 
Consistory,  and  De  Molay  Commandery, 
K.  T.  As  a  Republican  he  took  a  deep  in- 
terest in  political  affairs,  but  was  never  an 
aspirant  for  office.  In  his  daily  life  and 
action  he  was  ever  genial  and  affable  and 
he  made  a  host  of  warm  friends  who  es- 
teemed him  highly  for  his  genuine  worth 
and  true  nobleness  of  character.  As  a  citi- 
zen, friend  and  business  man  he  was  true 
to  every  duty,  and  justly  merited  the  high 
regard  in  which  he  was  held  by  the  entire 
community. 


JOHN  GREGORY,  who  is  living  a  re- 
tired life  in  the  city  of  Normal,  has 
been  a  resident  of  McLean  county  since 
1844,  and  is  properly  classed  among  the 
early  settlers.  While  there  were  settle- 
ments here  a  number  of  years  before  his 
arrival,  the  greater  part  of  the  county  was 
yet  in  its  primitive  state,  and  all  had  to 
experience  the  trials  incident  to  pioneer 
life.  The  virgin  soil  must  be  turned,  farms 
must  be  created,  school-houses  must  be 
built,  churches  erected,  and  all  nature  must 
be  completely  changed.  To  such  men  as 
John  Gregory  is  due  the  great  changes  that 
have  been  made,  and  which  has  placed 
McLean  county  among  the  foremost  coun- 
ties in  this  grand  prairie  state. 

John    Gregory    was    born    in    Fayette 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


county,  Ohio,  October  8,  1821,  and  is  the 
son  of  Jehiel  and  Sarah  (Van  Dolah)  Greg- 
ory, the  former,  a  native  of  New  York, 
born  in  1782.  The  paternal  grandfather, 
Jehiel  Gregory,  Sr. ,  was  also  a  native  of 
New  York,  and  was  quite  a  prominent  man 
in  his  day.  He  for  many  years  was  engaged 
in  milling  and  merchandising  in  connection 
with  farming.  While  long  past  the  legal 
age  for  military  service,  he  yet  served  his 
country  in  the  war  of  1812,  as  did  his  son, 
the  father  of  our  subject.  He  died  at  a 
good  old  age,  but  his  wife  survived  him, 
dying  at  the  age  of  ninety-nine  years  and 
nine  months. 

Jehiel  Gregory,  Jr.,  moved  with  his 
parents,  when  but  a  child,  to  Ohio,  the 
family  first  locating  in  Athens  county,  and 
later  moving  to  Fayette  county.  In  the 
latter  county  he  grew  to  manhood,  and 
after  receiving  but  a  limited  education  in 
the  pioneer  schools,  he  learned  the  black- 
smith trade,  which  he  afterwards  followed 
in  connection  with  farming.  He  was  quite 
a  large  land  owner  and  an  extensive  farmer. 
In  1823  both  he  and  his  wife  departed  this 
life.  They  were  the  parents  of  four  chil- 
dren, of  whom  two  are  yet  living,  Mrs. 
Annis  Knotts,  of  Lexington,  Illinois,  and 
our  subject.  Mr.  Gregory  was  but  two 
years  of  age  when  his  parents  died,  and  he 
was  taken  by  an  uncle,  Adlai  Gregory, 
with  whom  he  remained  until  he  was  twelve 
years  old.  He  then  lived  for  a  time  with 
his  grandmother  Gregory,  and  after  the 
marriage  of  one  of  his  sisters  he  lived  with 
her  until  his  own  marriage.  His  education 
was  obtained  in  the  subscription  schools  of 
his  native  county,  and  after  leaving  school 
he  worked  by  the  month  for  various  per- 
sons until  coming  to  McLean  county  in 
1844. 


Mr.  Gregory  has  been  twice  married, 
his  first  union  being  with  Miss  Caroline 
Dawson,  the  wedding  ceremony  being  cele- 
brated January  9,  1842.  She  was  a  native 
of  Ohio.  By  this  marriage  there  was  one 
son,  Jehiel,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
two  years.  The  second  marriage  of  Mr. 
Gregory  was  on  the  9th  of  July,  1846,  when 
he  took  to  wife  Miss  Mary  A.  Henline, 
daughter  of  George  and  Margaret  Henline, 
who  came  to  McLean  county  from  Ken- 
tucky in  1828,  and  were  therefore  num- 
bered with  the  pioneers  of  the  county.  Mrs. 
Gregory  was  the  first  white  child  born  on 
the  Mackinaw  river,  and  she  was  one  of 
their  ten  children.  Her  father  was  by  oc- 
cupation a  farmer,  and  his  death  occurred 
many  years  ago,  as  did  that  of  his  wife. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gregory  ten  children 
were  born,  of  whom  seven  grew  to  matur- 
ity, as  follows:  Margaret,  widow  of  James 
Moon,  now  resides  in  the  city  of  Normal. 
She  is  the  mother  of  four  children:  Minnie, 
Simon,  Byron  and  Alonzo.  George  mar- 
ried Amanda  Moon  and  died  at  the  age  of 
thirty-eight  years,  leaving  two  children: 
Emma  and  Florence.  The  widow  now  re- 
sides in  Normal.  Sabra  is  the  wife  of 
Willis  Alspaugh,  and  they  have  four  chil- 
dren: Efhe,  Mamie,  Willa  and  John.  They 
reside  in  Gridley  township.  John  C.  has 
been  twice  married,  and  by  his  first  marriage 
there  were  three  children:  Pearl,  Ruby  and 
Rudolph.  His  second  marriage  was  with 
Ida  Sill,  and  they  reside  in  Normal.  Ira 
married  Minnie  Lanham,  and  they  have 
four  living  children:  Edna,  Harold,  Ivy  and 
Garold.  They  live  in  Gridley  township. 
Byron  married  Hattie  Britt,  and  they  have 
three  children:  Omer,  Marie  and  Florence. 
They  reside  in  Money  Creek  township. 
Grace  is  the  wife  of   Fred  W.  Liggitt,  and 


THE    BIOGR.\PHICAL   RECORD. 


to  them  have  been  born  three  children: 
Fred  G.,  Charles  Chester  and  Mildred. 
They  reside  in  Normal. 

On  coming  to  McLean  county  Mr.  Gre- 
gory located  in  Gridley  township,  and  for 
three  years  cultivated  a  rented  farm.  He 
then  purchased  two  hundred  and  seventy- 
five  acres  of  party  improved  land,  and  at 
once  commenced  its  further  improvement. 
From  this  time  on  success  seemed  to  follow 
in  his  footsteps.  Within  five  years  he 
added  to  his  original  purchase,  and  from 
time  to  time  made  still  further  purchases  of 
land,  until  he  had  about  three  thousand 
acres.  While  he  cultivated  vast  fields  of 
grain,  he  endeavored  always  to  feed  the 
greater  part  of  it,  believing  it  cheaper  to 
ship  in  the  form  of  stock  than  in  bulk,  and 
much  more  profitable.  Stock-raising  with 
him  was  a  specialty,  and  for  many  years  he 
fed  upon  his  place  fully  five  hundred  head 
of  cattle  per  year.  In  all  that  he  did  he 
endeavored  to  do  well,  and  gave  his  per- 
sonal attention  to  every  detail  of  his  busi- 
ness, and  to  this  fact  he  ascribes  his  great 
success  in  life.  He  has  not  alone  confined 
himself  to  farming  and  stock-raising,  but 
has  made  investments  in  other  directions. 
In  1S82  he  assisted  in  organizing  the  Third 
National  Bank  of  Bloomington,  taking  a 
large  amount  of  stock  in  the  enterprise.  In 
1883  he  was  elected  by  the  board  of  direc- 
tors vice-president  of  the  bank,  and  has 
continued  to  occupy  that  position  to  the 
present  time. 

In  1870  Mr.  Gregory  moved  to  the  city 
of  Normal,  where  he  has  a  fine  home. 
While  coming  to  the  city  primarily  for  the 
purpose  of  living  retired,  he  has  not,  how- 
ever, been  permitted  to  wholly  carry  out  his 
plans.  By  the  citizens  of  the  township  he 
was  three  times  elected  to  fill  the  office  of 


county  supervisor,  a  position  which  he  was 
well  qualified  to  fill  by  reason  of  his  good 
business  and  executive  ability.  He  has  also 
filled  nearly  every  local  position  either  in 
Normal  or  the  rownship  of  Gridley.  In 
early  life  he  was  a  ^^'hig  politically,  but  on 
the  dissolution  of  that  party  he  became  a 
Democrat,  and  with  that  party  has  since 
continued  to  act.  Religiously  he  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Christian  church, 
with  which  body  they  have  been  identified 
for  many  years.  He  has  served  his  local 
congregation  in  the  office  of  elder,  an  office 
the  duties  of  which  he  discharged  in  a  faith- 
ful manner.  His  interest  in  the  church  has 
never  wavered,  and  in  the  teachings  of  the 
Master  he  has  the  utmost  faith. 

A  residence  of  more  than  half  a  century 
in  McLean  county,  the  greater  part  of  which 
time  he  spent  in  active  business  life,  and 
doing  an  immense  business,  has  given  Mr. 
Gregory  an  extensive  acquaintance,  and  it 
is  but  just  to  say  the  confidence  bestowed  on 
him  by  the  people  has  never,  in  a  single  in- 
stance, been  betrayed.  He  has  always  been 
close  to  the  people,  and  with  them  has  ex- 
perienced hardships  that  have  cemented  the 
ties  that  bind  humanity  together.  He  has 
the  love  and  esteem  of  all  who  know  him, 
and  is  worthy  of  it. 


FR.\NCIS  M.  FRANKEBERGER.  The 
inevitable  law  of  destiny  accords  to 
tireless  energy  and  industry  a  successful 
carreer.  "  Earn  thy  reward;  the  gods  give 
naught  to  sloth,"  said  the  sage  Epicharmus, 
and  the  truth  of  the  admonition  has  been 
verified  in  human  affairs  in  all  the  ages 
which  have  rolled  their  course  since  his 
day.     The  subject  to  whose  life  history  we 


290 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


now  direct  attention  has,  by  ceaseless  toil 
and  endeavor,  attained  a  marked  success  in 
business  affairs,  has  gained  the  respect  and 
confidence  of  men,  and  is  recognized  as 
one  of  the  distinctly  representative  citizens 
of  Bloomington,  where  he  is  extensively 
engaged  in  the  real-estate,  loan  and  in- 
surance business. 

Mr.  Frankeberger  was  born  January  6, 
1849,  and  is  a  descendant  of  one  of  the 
pioneer  families  of  McLean  county,  where 
his  entire  life  has  been  passed.  His  par- 
ents were  Benjamin  and  Aravilla  (Hendryx) 
Frankeberger,  and  the  former,  born  in 
Urbana,  Ohio,  June  10,  1822,  was  a  son 
of  Jesse  and  Rosanna  (Rhinehart)  Franke- 
berger. The  paternal  gtandfather  was  a 
native  of  Virginia,  and  having  attained  to 
mature  years  removed  to  Ohio,  casting  in 
his  lot  with  the  early  settlers  of  the  Buck- 
eye state.  He  was  one  ol  the  pioneer 
Methodist  Episcopal  ministers  and  rode  the 
circuit,  undergoing  many  hardships  in  order 
to  spread  the  "glad  tidings  of  great  joy" 
among  the  people.  His  wife  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  well-known  Rhinehart  family  of 
Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania.  Some  time  be- 
tween the  years  1827  and  1829  the  Rev. 
Jesse  Frankeberger  came  with  his  family 
to  McLean  county,  locating  thirteen  miles 
east  of  Bloomington,  where  he  entered 
land  from  the  government.  A  few  years 
later  he  removed  to  the  city  where  he  made 
his  home  for  twenty-five  or  thirty  years. 
His  name  is  one  of  the  first  on  the  records 
of  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of 
this  city,  and  for  a  long  period  he  continued 
his  ministerial  labors  among  the  pioneers  of 
McLean  county.  He  died  in  1868,  and 
his  wife  survived  him  about  four  years. 
On  the  maternal  side  Francis  M.  Franke- 
berger is  of  German  descent.      His  great- 


grandfather, Abram  Hendryx,  was  a  soldier 
of  the  German  army  and  came  to  America 
during  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  Pleased 
with  the  country  he  determined  to  make 
it  his  home  and  thus  established  his  family 
on  American  soil. 

Benjamin  Frankeberger,  the  father  of 
our  subject,  was  reared  in  this  county,  ac- 
quired his  education  in  the  common  schools, 
and  in  early  life  engaged  in  farming,  but 
later  turned  his  attention  to  carpentering  in 
Padua  township,  doing  business  as  a  con- 
tractor. He  was  married  March  13,  1841, 
to  Aravilla  Hendryx,  daughter  of  Anthony 
and  Lois  (Mix)  Hendryx,  natives  of  New 
York.  Married  in  that  state,  they  removed 
thence  to  Ohio,  and  came  to  McLean  county 
about  1838,  but  soon  went  to  Jacksonville, 
Illinois,  where  the  father  died.  The  mother 
then  came  to  make  her  home  with  her 
uncle,  John  Hendryx.  Benjamin  Franke- 
berger removed  with  his  family  to  Keokuk, 
Iowa,  when  that  region  was  just  opening 
up  to  civilization,  and  there  carried  on 
agricultural  pursuits.  He  also  took  quite  a 
prominent  part  in  public  affairs,  held  the 
office  of  deputy  sheriff,  and  also  engaged  in 
teaching  school.  He  was  a  very  active 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
was  class-leader  and  steward,  and  the  hos- 
pitality of  his  home  was  always  extended  to 
the  visiting  preachers.  He  also  acted  as  a 
local  preacher,  filling  many  an  appointment 
as  an  exhorter,  when  otherwise  there  would 
have  been  no  service.  For  nine  years  Mr. 
Frankeberger  remained  in  Keokuk,  Iowa, 
engaged  in  farming,  teaching  and  church 
work,  and  then  removed  to  Bremmer  county, 
where  he  again  served  as  deputy  sheriff. 
He  was  also  largely  instrumental  in  pro- 
moting the  work  of  the  Methodist  church 
there,  and  died  in  the  faith  of  that  denom- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


291 


ination  in  1858.  In  Masonic  circles  he  was 
also  prominent,  and  served  as  lecturer  for 
that  fraternity  for  some  years.  At  his 
death  he  left  a  widow  and  four  children. 
The  mother  at  once  returned  to  Blooming- 
ton  with  her  family,  educated  them,  de- 
voted herself  entirely  to  their  welfare  and 
has  lived  to  see  her  sons  become  prosper- 
ous business  men,  her  daughter  happily 
married.  She  died  at  Leroy,  April  i,  1899. 
Her  children  are  Mary  J.,  wife  of  L.  C. 
Hendryx,  of  Leroy,  Illinois;  Ephraim  B., 
of  Urbana,  Illinois;  Francis  M.  and  Albert 
J.,  both  of  Bloomington. 

As  his  mother  was  in  very  limited  cir- 
cumstances, Francis  M.  Frankerbeger  had 
very  little  opportunitj-  to  attend  school,  be- 
ing obliged  to  work  and  aid  in  the  support 
of  the  family.  However,  he  acquired  a 
thorough  knowledge  of  the  branches  taught 
in  the  common  school,  and  experience,  ob- 
servation and  extended  reading  have  brought 
him  a  wide  fund  of  general  knowledge.  He 
followed  various  pursuits  that  would  yield 
him  an  honest  living  up  to  the  time  of  his 
marriage,  and  then  entered  railroad  work, 
which  he  followed  for  nine  years.  He  en- 
tered the  train  service  of  the  Big  Four  Rail- 
road Company  and  gradually  worked  his 
way  upward,  serving  as  conductor,  yard- 
master  and  in  other  important  positions. 
Strictly  temperate  and  always  faithful,  he 
had  no  trouble  in  retaining  his  place  and 
remained  with  the  company  until  1S83, 
when  he  resigned  in  order  to  engage  in  the 
real-estate  business.  From  the  beginning 
he  has  met  with  success  in  his  undertaking, 
and  has  not  only  handled  a  large  amount  of 
Bloomington  property,  but  has  also  sold 
Chicago  real  estate  to  the  value  of  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  thousand  dollars  in  less  than 
two  years,   and    dealt  quite    extensively  in 


western  lands.  His  sales  have  been  unsur- 
passed in  extent  and  importance  by  those  of 
any  real-estate  dealer  in  the  city,  and  he  has 
made  judicious  investments  for  himself  until 
now  he  owns  much  valuable  property.  In 
connection  with  such  prominent  citizens  as 
Rev.  Dr.  E.  Edwards,  Dr.  H.  C.  DeMoth, 
Professor  Potter,  C.  W.  Klemm  and  Ben- 
jamin Funk,  he  is  engaged  in  the  insurance 
business,  being  a  director  of  the  company 
and  superintendent  of  the  agencies.  He  is 
a  man  of  marked  executive  force  and  abil- 
ity, forms  his  plans  carefully  but  readily,  and 
is  determined  in  their  execution.  His  judg- 
ment in  business  matters  is  rarely,  if  ever, 
at  fault,  and  his  keen  discrimination  and 
unabating  energy  have  been  salient  features 
in  his  very  enviable  success. 

On  the  9th  of  April,  1871,  Mr.  Franke- 
berger  married  Miss  Hattie  E.  Hemming, 
of  Princeton,  Illinois,  daughter  of  William 
and  Helen  (Wells)  Hemming.  Her  pater- 
nal grandparents  were  Richard  and  Helen 
(Leggett)  Hemming,  of  Washington  coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania,  and  the  former  was  a  son 
of  \\'illiam  Hemming,  who  was  born  in 
England  in  175S,  and  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1774.  The  maternal  grandpar- 
ents of  Mrs.  Frankeberger  were  Buzaleel 
and  Maria  (Porter)  Wells,  the  former  a 
son  of  Richard  and  Helen  (Wells)  Wells. 
Richard  \^'ells  was  one  of  the  heroes  of 
the  Revolutionary  war,  and  his  father,  Al- 
exander Wells,  also  aided  in  the  struggle 
for  independence.  He  was  one  of  the 
earliest  settlers  of  Cross  Creek  township, 
Washington  county,  Pennsylvania,  and 
there  owned  a  mill  used  in  grinding  the 
flour  for  the  soldiers.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Frankeberger  have  been  born  six  children: 
Maude  M.,  wife  of  G.  N.  Kinney,  of  Bloom- 
ington; Clara  Belle,  wife  of  W.  F.  Brown, 


292 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


of  this  city;  Albert  Leslie;  Mary  Emma; 
Edith  Frances  and  Jeanne  Pearl.  The 
parents  and  four  of  their  children  are  mem- 
bers of  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  Mr.  Frankeberger  contributes 
very  liberally  to  its  support  and  is  very  act- 
ive in  philanthropic  and  charitable  works. 
A  man  of  broad  humanitarian  principles, 
he  does  much  to  help  others  less  fortunate 
than  himself, — yet  ever  in  the  most  unos- 
tentatious manner.  He  belongs  to  Remem- 
brance Lodge,  I.  0.  O.  F.,  of  which  he 
is  past  grand,  and  has  also  taken  the  de- 
grees of  the  grand  lodge.  He  holds  mem- 
bership in  Jesse  Fell  Lodge,  K.  P.  and  has 
membership  relations  with  other  fraternal 
organizations. 

In  politics  Mr.  Frankeberger  is  a  very 
active  Republican,  has  served  as  a  member 
of  the  county  central  committee,  and  was  on 
the  executive  committee  for  two  years,  dur- 
ing which  time  he  made  a  report  that  came 
within  six  of  the  exact  number  of  votes 
cast  at  the  election,  and  that  during  one  of 
the  most  hotly  contested  campaigns  in  the 
history  of  the  county.  In  1898  he  was 
prominently  mentioned  for  sheriff.  He  is 
known  as  one  of  the  most  successful  work- 
ers in  the  Republican  party  and  displays  ex- 
cellent managerial  ability.  He  was  one  of 
the  organizers  of  the  first  McKinley  club 
of  the  city,  and  his  labors  have  ever  been 
most  effctive  in  promoting  the  interests  of 
the  grand  old  party.  For  years  a  promi- 
nent business  man  of  Bloomington,  hon- 
ored and  respected  in  every  class  of  socie- 
ty, he  has  long  been  a  leader  in  thought 
and  action  in  the  public  life  of  the  city. 
He  inspires  personal  friendships  of  unusual 
strength,  and  all  who  know  him  have  the 
highest  admiration  for  his  good  qualities  of 
heart  and  mind. 


LAFAYETTE  STUBBLEFIELD,  one  of 
the  most  progressive,  energetic  and 
successful  agriculturists  of  McLean  county, 
makes  his  home  on  section  30,  Randolph 
township,  and  owns  and  successfully  operates 
two  well  improved  and  valuable  farms.  He 
is  a  native  son  of  this  county,  born  in  Funks 
Grove  township,  April  30,  i860,  and  is  a 
worthy  representative  of  one  of  its  most 
prominent  and  honored  pioneer  families. 

His  father,  Absalom  Stubblefield,  was 
born  in  Ohio,  in  18 15,  and  was  a  son  of 
Robert  Stubblefield,  a  native  of  Virginia, 
whose  family  were  among  the  early  settlers 
of  the  Buckeye  state.  About  1824  Robert 
Stubblefield,  with  his  wife  and  children,  came 
to  McLean  county,  Illinois  and  made  a 
permanent  location  in  Funks  Grove,  though 
the  county  at  that  time  had  not  been  laid 
out  and  all  the  country  round  about  was 
in  its  primitive  condition.  From  the  un- 
broken prairie  he  developed  a  farm,  upon 
which  he  moved  his  family.  His  son  Ab- 
salom also  took  a  claim  of  forty  acres  on 
reaching  man's  estate,  placed  the  land  un- 
der cultivation  and  erected  thereon  good 
farm  buildings.  As  time  passed  and  his 
financial  resources  increased  he  bought  more 
land,  owning  at  one  time  about  fifteen  hun- 
dred acres,  divided  into  four  different  farms. 
He  was  one  of  the  most  enterprising  and 
prosperous  farmers  of  the  county  and  was  a 
man  highly  respected  by  all  who  knew  him. 
After  a  long  and  useful  life,  this  honored 
pioneer  passed  away  February  24,  1895, 
when  nearly  eighty  years  of  age.  He  was 
thrice  married,  his  second  wife.  Miss  Alice 
Wilson,  being  the  mother  of  our  subject. 
She  was  a  native  of  DeWitt  county,  Illinois, 
and  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Wilson.  The 
other  children  born  of  this  union  are  Will- 
iam J.,    a    farmer    of    Dale  township;  and 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


293 


Charlotte,  wife  of  N.  L.  Bozarth,  a  farmer 
of  Allin  township. 

On  the  old  homestead  in  Funks  Grove 
township,  LaFayette  Stubblefield  spent  the 
days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth,  attending 
the  common  schools  of  the  neighborhood 
and  becoming  thoroughly  familiar  with  ev- 
ery department  of  farm  work.  He  remained 
with  his  father  until  the  latter's  death.  On 
the  1 8th  of  September,  1884,  in  Dale  town- 
ship, was  celebrated  his  marriage  with  Miss 
Matilda  Kent,  who  was  born,  reared  and 
educated  in  Livingston  county,  Illinois,  her 
father,  Nathaniel  Kent,  being  one  of  its 
early  settlers.  They  now  have  an  interest- 
ing family  of  three  children,  namely:  Absa- 
lom N.,  Orenand  Allie  L. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Stubblefield  lived 
upon  a  part  of  the  old  home  farm  for  sev- 
eral years,  but  in  February,  1896,  removed 
to  his  present  place,  where  he  has  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  fine  farming  land. 
He  still  owns  two  hundred  and  forty  acres 
of  the  old  homestead,  and  operates  both 
farms  with  most  gratifying  results.  His 
specialty  is  the  raising  and  feeding  of  stock, 
which  he  fattens  for  market,  and  annually 
ships  from  eight  to  ten  car-loads  of  cattle 
and  hogs. 

The  Republican  party  has  always  found 
in  Mr.  Stubblefield  a  stanch  supporter  of 
its  principles,  as  was  also  his  father,  who 
was  originally  an  old-line  Whig.  Our  sub- 
ject cast  his  first  presidential  vote  for  James 
G.  Blaine,  and  has  always  taken  a  deep 
and  commendable  interest  in  public  affairs, 
especially  in  educational  matters,  and  as  a 
member  of  the  school  board  and  president 
of  the  district  has  labored  effectively  for  the 
betterment  of  the  schools  in  his  locality. 
He  and  his  wife  hold  membership  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church   of  Heyworth, 


and  occupy  an  enviable  position  in  the  best 
social  circles  of  their  community.  He  is  a 
courteous,  genial  gentleman  who  makes 
many  friends  and  has  the  happy  faculty  of 
being  able  to  retain  them. 


ALEXANDER  MODEL,  a  leading  car- 
riage and  wagon-maker  of  Blooming- 
ton  and  one  of  its  honored  residents,  has 
been  prominently  connected  with  the  busi- 
ness interests  of  the  city  since  the  fall  of 
i860.  Looking  back  through  the  vista  of 
the  past,  we  see  a  friendless  young  man 
who  came  to  the  new  world  in  search  of  a 
home  and  fortune,  and  at  present  we  see 
his  ambitious  dreams  realized,  and  his  is  an 
honored  old  age,  crowned  with  the  re- 
spect and  veneration  which  is  accorded  a 
well-spent  life. 

Mr.  Model  was  born  near  Constance, 
Baden,  Germany,  September  13,  1828,  a 
son  of  J.  George  Model,  who  lived  at  the 
old  home  which  has  belonged  to  the  family 
for  many  generations.  There  our  subject 
was  reared  and  in  his  native  land  he  ac- 
quired his  literary  education  and  also 
learned  the  wagon-maker's  trade.  Learn- 
ing it  there  meant  learning  it  well.  After 
serving  his  three-years'  apprenticeship,  he 
worked  as  a  journeyman  for  small  wages, 
and  sought  employment  in  different  places 
that  he  might  thoroughly  master  the  differ- 
ent methods  then  in  use  by  different  estab- 
lishments. 

Mr.  Model  continued  to  work  at  his 
trade  in  his  native  land  until  1856,  when 
he  sailed  for  America,  landing  in  New  York. 
Shortly  after  his  arrival,  he  found  em- 
ployment in  Hamilton,  Ontario,  Canada, 
where  he  worked  for  two  years,  and  then 
came    to    Illinois,    locating   first    at    High- 


,44i 


294 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


land,  Madison  county,  but  at  the  end  of 
nine  months  he  came  to  Bloomington. 
Here  he  was  in  the  employ  of  Louis  Ma- 
tern,  and  later  of  Mr.  Hayes,  and  Mr. 
O'Neil  until  1876,  when  he  purchased  the 
ground  where  he  still  carries  on  business  at 
208  and  210  West  Grove  street.  Here  he 
first  had  fifty  by  one  hundred  and  fifteen  feet, 
on  which  was  a  one-story  shop.  He  has 
since  done  all  kinds  of  carriage  work,  and 
as  his  trade  has  grown  he  has  employed  a 
large  force  of  hands.  He  does  only  first- 
class  work  in  both  manufacturing  and  re- 
pairing and  has  never  handled  anything 
from  the  cheap  factories  which  are  now  so 
common.  More  than  twelve  years  ago  he 
added  a  two-story  brick  building  to  his 
plant,  and  now  owns  one  hundred  feet  on 
West  Grove  street,  where  he  also  has  his 
residence.  Besides  this  valuable  property 
he  owns  a  place  at  the  southwest  corner  of 
Clay  and  Evans  street,  all  of  which  has 
been  acquired  through  his  industry,  perse- 
verance and  good  business  ability. 

On  the  loth  of  August,  1856,  in  Hamil- 
ton, Canada,  Mr.  Model  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Mary  M.  Sauerizen,  also  a 
native  of  Germany.  Of  the  four  children 
born  to  them,  two  are  still  living,  namely: 
John  A.,  an  express  messenger  on  the  Ca- 
nadian Pacific  Railroad  and  a  resident  of 
Toronto,  Canada;  and  Louisa  Carolina,  wife 
of  Goodman  Ford,  superintendent  of  the 
Pacific  Express  Company  at  Winnipeg, 
Manitoba,  by  whom  she  has  three  children, 
Charles  Edwin,  Scott  Waldron  and  Louisa. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Model  have  been  members  of 
the  First  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of 
Bloomington  since  1866,  and  they  are  wide- 
ly and  favorably  known  throughout  the  city. 
In  August,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Company  E, 
Eighty-second   Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry, 


which  was  assigned  to  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  and  was  in  the  service  for  two 
years,  when  he  was  honorably  discharged 
on  account  of  illness.  He  has  always  voted 
the  Republican  ticket,  but  has  never  cared 
for  the  honors  or  emoluments  of  public  of- 
fice. His  integrity  stands  an  unquestioned 
fact  in  his  history — endowed  by  nature  with 
a  sound  judgment  and  an  accurate  discrim- 
inating mind,  he  has  not  feared  that  labo- 
rious attention  to  business  so  necessary  to 
achieve  success,  and  this  essential  quality 
has  ever  been  guided  by  a  sense  of  moral 
right  which  would  tolerate  the  employment 
only  of  the  means  that  would  bear  the  most 
rigid  examination,  by  a  fairness  of  intention 
that  has  neither  sought  nor  required  dis- 
guise. 


JOHN  DUNLAP,  deceased,  was  for  some 
years  one  of  the  most  honored  and 
highly-respected  citizens  of  Empire  town- 
ship, and  was  actively  identified  with  its 
agricultural  interests.  He  was  a  native  of 
Illinois,  born  in  White  county,  April  21, 
1827,  and  was  a  son  of  Moses  Dunlap,  a 
native  of  Tennessee,  and  a  pioneer  of  White 
county,  Illinois.  He  was  also  one  of  the 
first  to  locate  in  this  county,  taking  up  his 
residence  here  as  early  as  1830.  Here  he 
pre-empted  land  where  the  family  now  re- 
side and  became  the  owner  of  a  large  tract, 
upon  which  he  reared  his  children  and  spent 
his  remaining  years. 

John  Dunlap  was  only  three  years  old 
when  brought  by  his  parents  to  this  county, 
and  here  amidst  pioneer  scenes  he  passed 
his  boyhood  and  youth,  his  education  being 
obtained  in  the  schools  of  Bloomington. 
At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  began  teaching,  and 
for  several  years  followed    that  profession 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


295 


very  successfully  in  this  county.  In  1850 
he  led  to  the  marriage  altar  Miss  Elizabeth 
Rice,  who  was  born  in  Ohio,  but  when  a 
child  of  three  years  was  brought  to  McLean 
county,  Illinois,  by  her  parents,  Henry  and 
Jane  (Hall)  Rice,  also  natives  of  the  Buck- 
eye state  and  honored  pioneers  of  this 
county,  where  they  settled  in  1833.  Her 
father  opened  up  and  improved  a  farm  in 
Empire  township,  upon  which  he  made  his 
home  until  called  from  this  life. 

Soon  after  his  marriage,  Mr.  Dunlap, 
accompanied  by  his  wife,  removed  to 
Wayne  county,  Iowa,  where  he  took  up  a 
claim  and  resided  thereon  for  five  years,  but 
at  the  end  of  that  time  he  returned  to  this 
county  and  settled  on  the  old  Dunlap 
homestead.  Here  he  owned  one  hundred 
and  fifty-six  acres  of  valuable  land,  and  be- 
side this  property  had  another  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty,  which  was  fairly  well 
improved.  Upon  the  home  farm  he  built 
a  large  and  substantial  residence,  set  out 
an  orchard,  and  made  other  improvements 
which  added  to  the  value  and  attractive  ap- 
pearance of  the  place.  Being  a  thorough 
and  systematic  farmer  and  successful  busi- 
ness man,  he  left  his  family  in  comfortable 
circumstances  at  the  time  of  his  death, 
which  occurred  upon  his  farm  July  20,  1897. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dunlap  were  born  ten 
children,  who  are  still  living,  namely: 
Henry,  who  is  now  successfully  carrying  on 
the  home  farm  in  connection  with  his 
mother;  Josephine,  at  home;  Rosella,  wife 
of  Bud  Hoffman,  of  West  township;  Moses, 
a  resident  of  Le  Roy;  James,  at  home; 
Stephen  D.,  who  is  married  and  living  in 
Le  Roy;  William,  who  is  married  and  fol- 
lows farming  in  Empire  township;  Lucinda 
C.  and  Margaret  A.,  both  at  home;  and 
Daisy,   wife  of  James   Booth,   of   Empire 


township.       There    are    also    nine    grand- 
children. 

Politically,  Mr.  Dunlap  always  affiliated 
with  the  Republican  party,  as  do  his  sons, 
and  he  held  various  offices  of  honor  and 
trust  in  his  township.  He  was  one  of  the 
most  reliable  and  upright  citizens  of  his 
community  and  commanded  the  respect  and 
confidence  of  all  with  whom  he  came  in 
contact,  either  in  business  or  social  life. 
His  record  was  an  honorable  one,  and  his 
memory  will  long  be  cherished  by  the  many 
who  had  the  pleasure  of  his  friendship. 
His  family  is  one  of  prominence  socially, 
and  Mrs.  Dunlap,  like  her  husband,  is  held 
in  high  regard  by  all  who  know  her. 


SAMUEL  REES.  McLean  county  has 
many  well-to-do  and  successful  farm- 
ers who  have  accumulated  what  they  have 
of  this  world's  goods  through  individual 
effort.  Among  the  class  the  name  of  the 
subject  of  this  notice  is  entitled  to  a  place. 
He  is  residing  on  section  2,  Empire  town- 
ship, where  he  is  industriously  engaged  in 
the  prosecution  of  his  noble  calling,  and  is 
meeting  with  more  than  ordinary  success. 

Mr.  Rees  was  born  in  Lancaster  county, 
Pennsylvania,  October  6,  1835,  and  is  a 
son  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  (Hagens) 
Rees,  also  natives  of  that  state,  where  the 
father  followed  the  occupation  of  farming 
for  some  years.  In  1838  he  removed  to 
Licking  county,  Ohio,  where  from  a  wild 
tract  he  developed  a  good  farm,  and  there 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  dying  at  the 
age  of  fifty-two  years.  His  wife,  who  sur- 
vived him  for  a  number  of  years,  removed 
with  her  family  to  Franklin  county,  Ohio, 
after  the  death  of  her  husband,  and  later 


296 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


came  with  her  son  to  Illinois,  where  she  de- 
parted this  life  at  the  age  of  eighty  years. 

Samuel  Rees  is  one  of  a  family  of  ten 
children,  five  sons  and  five  daughters,  all  of 
whom  reached  years  of  maturity,  and  with 
the  exception  of  the  youngest,  all  married. 
The  boyhood  and  youth  of  our  subject  were 
principally  passed  in  Licking  and  Franklin 
counties,  Ohio,  where  he  acquired  a  limited 
education  in  the  common  schools.  He  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  that  state  after  reaching 
a  sufficient  age,  and  on  first  coming  to  Mc- 
Lean county,  Illinois,  in  1855,  he  operated 
rented  land  in  West  township  for  ten  years. 

On  the  .2ist  of  February,  1856,  in 
Bloomington,  Mr.  Rees  married  Miss  Emily 
J.  Adams,  a  native  of  Delaware  county, 
Ohio,  and  they  have  become  the  parents  of 
five  children,  namely:  James  Edwin,  who 
is  married  and  engaged  in  farming  in  Em- 
pire township;  Martha,  wife  of  John  Gilbert, 
of  Le  Roy;  Benjamin,  who  is  married  and 
follows  farming  in  Dawson  and  Empire 
townships;  Ella,  wife  of  Isaac  Murphy,  of 
West  township;  and  Homer,  at  home. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Rees  continued 
to  engage  in  farming  upon  rented  land  for 
several  years,  and  in  1872  made  his  first 
purchase,  consisting  of  fifteen  acres,  where 
he  now  resides.  This  had  been  cleared  and 
fenced  and  a  shanty  erected  thereon.  To 
this  he  has  added  from  time  to  time  as  his 
financial  resources  have  permitted  until  he 
now  has  an  excellent  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  thirty  acres,  which  he  has  placed  under 
a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  improved 
with  a  neat  and  substantial  set  of  farm 
buildings,  including  a  comfortable  residence. 
Besides  this  property  he  owns  a  good  resi- 
dence and  three  lots  in  Le  Roy.  In  connec- 
tion with  general  farming,  he  has  engaged 
in  stock  raising  and  feeding,  making  a  spe- 


cialty of  sheep  and  hogs,  which  he  has  found 
quite  profitable.  He  started  out  in  life  for 
himself  empty  handed,  and  it  is  entirely 
through  his  own  labor,  enterprise,  economy 
and  fair  dealings  that  he  is  now  the  possessor 
of  a  valuable  and  well-improved  farm. 

Mr.  Rees  has  always  given  his  political 
support  to  the  Democracy,  and  cast  his  first 
presidential  vote  for  James  Buchanan  in 
1856.  He  has  never  sought  nor  desired. po- 
litical preferment,  but  being  a  friend  of  edu- 
cation, he  has  most  efficiently  served  as 
school  director  for  eighteen  years  and  is  now 
president  of  the  district.  For  almost  half 
a  century  he  has  been  identified  with  the 
agricultural  interests  of  his  adopted  county, 
and  by  the  building  up  of  a  good  homestead 
he  has  materially  advanced  her  interests 
and  promoted  the  general  welfare. 


FRANCIS  M.  MOATS,  who  resides  on 
section  31,  Money  Creek  township,  is 
one  of  the  most  enterprising  farmers  and 
stock  raisers  in  McLean  county.  He  is  a 
native  of  the  township  and  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 20,  1840,  on  section  29,  on  a  farm  of 
which  he  is  now  the  owner,  but  which  was 
then  rented  by  his  father.  He  is  the  son  of 
Henry  and  Elsie  (Van  Buskirk)  Moats,  the 
father  being  a  native  of  Licking  county, 
Ohio,  born  in  1810.  In  his  native  county 
Henry  Moats  spent  his  boyhood  and  youth, 
and  in  1829  came  to  McLean  county,  and 
here  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits.  He  took 
quite  an  active  part  in  public  affairs,  and 
for  many  years  served  as  justice  of  the 
peace  and  also  as  road  commissioner,  and 
other  positions  of  honor  and  trust.  In  his 
family  were  four  children,  two  of  whom 
died  in  childhood.     Those  living  are  Francis 


FRANCIS   M.   MOATS. 


OF   THE 
IHIYERSiTY  Of  ILLINOIC 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


299 


M.,  our  subject,  and  Marj-  J.,  wife  of  John 
Rankin,  of  Money  Creek  township.  The 
paternal  grandfather,  Jacob  Moats,  was  also 
a  native  of  Ohio,  and  came  in  1829  to 
McLean  county,  and  here  acquired  consid- 
erable property,  having  at  the  time  of  his 
death  over  six  hundred  acres  of  land. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared 
upon  the  home  farm  in  Money  Creek  town- 
ship, and  received  such  an  education  as  the 
public  schools  afforded  in  the  early  days  of 
the  history  of  McLean  county.  He  was 
early  learned  what  it  was  to  do  hard  work, 
and  when  twenty  years  old  he  commenced 
life  for  himself  by  renting  a  tract  of  land 
from  his  father,  for  which  he  paid  a  rental 
of  one-third  of  the  products.  He  was 
married  about  this  time  to  Miss  Rebecca 
Arbuckle,  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  daughter 
of  David  and  Abigail  (Biggs)  Arbuckle,  who 
were  also  natives  of  the  same  state. 

Mr.  Moats  continued  renting  for  some 
five  years,  and  then  purchased  one  hundred 
and  forty  acres  on  section  30,  Money  Creek 
township,  which  was  his  home  until  1879, 
when  he  purchased  and  removed  to  his 
present  farm.  In  addition  to  his  farming 
operations,  for  about  twenty  years  he  was 
extensively  engaged  in  buying  and  shipping 
stock  in  company  with  Elijah  Crose,  of 
Towanda,  a  line  of  business  in  which  he 
was  engaged  until  about  1890  with  a  fair 
degree  of  success.  From  time  to  time,  as 
his  means  permitted,  he  added  to  his  landed 
possessions  until  he  has  now  about  seven 
hundred  acres  of  as  fine  land  as  there  is  in 
McLean  county.  Since  1897  he  has  been 
in  partnership  with  William  H.  Reedy,  of 
Towanda,  in  buying  and  shipping  grain,  and 
their  trade  is  quite  an  extensive  one. 

Fraternally,  Mr.  Moats  is  a  member  of 
the    Masonic    order,    holding    membership 


with  blue  lodge,  council  and  chapter.  In 
the  blue  lodge  he  has  served  as  worshipful 
master  for  several  years.  In  politics  he  is 
a  Democrat,  and  while  he  takes  an  active 
and  commendable  interest  in  political  af- 
fairs, it  cannot  be  said  of  him  that  his 
activity  is  inspired  by  selfish  motives,  as  he 
cares  nothing  for  the  honors  or  emoluments 
of  office.  His  deep  concern  in  educational 
affairs  has  caused  his  retention  on  the  school 
board  for  a  quarter  of  a  century,  and  the 
time  spent  in  that  way  he  regards  as  well 
spent.  It  is  as  a  business  man,  however, 
that  he  is  best  known.  An  active  business 
career  of  nearly  forty  years  has  brought 
him  in  contact  with  many  persons  in  all 
parts  of  the  county,  and  wherever  known 
he  is  most  highly  esteemed.  His  success 
has  been  well  deserved,  and  is  the  reward 
of  industry,  perseverance  and  strict  integ- 
rity. In  addition  to  his  farms,  he  is  the 
owner  of  property  in  Towanda  and  in  the 
city  of  Bloomington. 


ALBERT  A.  HOFMANN,  the  official  re- 
porter for  the  Ford  circuit  court,  was 
born  in  Bloomington,  Illinois,  November  8, 
1 866,  a  son  of  George  M.  Hofmann,  who 
was  born  in  Bernhardsweiler  Creilsheim, 
W'urtemburg,  Germany,  August  10,  1831, 
and  died  in  Bloomington,  May  26,  1884. 
Our  subject's  paternal  grandparents  spent 
their  entire  lives  in  Germany,  where  the 
grandfather  died  when  his  son,  George  M., 
was  only  eight  years  old,  and  the  grand- 
mother passed  away  at  the  advanced  age  of 
eighty-five  years.  Only  one  brother,  Will- 
iam Hofmann,  is  now  living,  and  he  still 
makes  his  home  at  his  birth-place  in  Ger- 
many, at  the  age  of  eighty  years.  Shortly 
after  George  M.  came  to  the  United  States, 


300 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


he  was  followed  by  his  brother,  Christian, 
who  spent  the  greater  part  of  his  life  in 
Oskaloosa,  Kansas,  where  he  carried  on  a 
lumber  and  hardware  business.  He  died 
there  May  12,  1898,  at  the  age  of  sixty-two 
years,  leaving  his  wife  and  family  in  com- 
fortable circumstances. 

George  M.  Hofmann,  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, came  to  America  in  1850,  landing  in 
New  York  City.  In  early  life  he  was  a 
sailor  on  the  high  seas  for  ten  years,  and 
visited  all  parts  of  the  globe.  At  the  break- 
ing out  of  the  civil  war  he  was  in  New 
Orleans,  and  left  that  city  on  the  last  ship 
that  sailed  from  there  before  the  port  was 
closed.  Going  to  Boston  he  enlisted  in  the 
United  States  navy,  and  participated  in  the 
battle  of  Fort  Jackson,  and  was  present  at 
the  surrender  of  New  Orleans.  He  did  good 
service  for  his  adopted  country  and  was  hon- 
orably discharged.  He  then  returned  to 
Boston,  and  at  New  Bedford,  Massachusetts, 
he  met  Miss  Paulina  E.  Hewert,  whom  he 
married  in  1862.  From  there  he  went  to 
Toledo,  Ohio,  where  he  was  employed  in  a 
shipyard  for  a  short  time.  In  1863  became 
to  Bloomington,  Illinois,  where  he  engaged 
in  several  different  lines  of  merchandising 
until  his  death.  He  left  a  wife  and  three 
children,  Albert  A.,  Wilhelmina  E.  and 
Julius  K. ,  all  of  whom  reside  with  their 
mother  at  the  place  of  their  birth  on  East 
Front  street,  Bloomington.  Mrs.  Hofmann 
wasbornin  Prausnits,  Province  of  Schlesien, 
Prussia.  She  lost  her  mother  when  but 
twelve  years  old,  and  her  father  two  years 
later.  Her  family  at  one  time  was  quite 
wealthy,  but  business  reverses  reduced  their 
circumstances,  and  after  the  death  of  her 
parents  she  refused  the  assistance  of  rela- 
tives, preferring  to  make  her  own  way  in  the 
world.     In  i860  she  came  to  New  Bedford, 


Massachusetts,  where  until  her  marriage  she 
lived  with  an  elder  sister,  Mrs.  Louisa  Neu- 
man,  who  had  preceded  her  to  this  country. 
She  still  has  one  sister  living,  who  is  now 
seventy-three  years  old.  Mrs.  Hofmann  was 
a  devoted  wife,  and  is  a  most  afiectionate 
and  loving  mother.  Her  daughter,  Wil- 
helmina E.,  who  graduated  from  Blooming- 
ton (Wesleyan)  College  of  Music  in  1890,  is 
now  a  competent  and  efficient  teacher  of 
that  art  and  has  a  large  number  of  scholars, 
by  whom  she  is  well  liked.  She  also  enjoys 
the  esteem  of  a  large  circle  of  acquaintances 
and  friends.  Julius  K.,  the  younger  son  of 
the  family,  is  now  engaged  in  furniture  re- 
pairing on  East  Front  street,  Bloomington, 
having  learned  the  cabinet-maker's  trade 
with  George  Brand  &  Co.  He  served  a  five- 
years'  apprenticeship,  and  in  addition  ac- 
quired the  art  of  making  looking-glasses. 
About  five  years  ago  he  opened  a  shop  of 
his  own  and  has  succeeded  in  building  up 
quite  a  large  and  profitable  business. 

Albert  A.  Hofmann  began  his  education 
under  private  instruction  on  account  of  ill 
health,  but  at  the  age  of  ten  entered  a  busi- 
ness college,  where  he  took  a  regular  course 
in  bookkeeping.  After  one  year  out  of 
school,  he  returned  and  took  a  course  in 
shorthand  and  penmanship.  Although  on 
account  of  his  age  he  was  in  the  junior 
class,  he  won  the  prize  in  mathematics. 
After  leaving  school  he  commenced  practic- 
ing in  the  court-room  through  the  courtesy 
of  an  attorney  friend,  and  in  February, 
1884,  entered  the  employ  of  Colonel  H, 
G.  Reeves.  Later  he  spent  five  months 
with  W.  E.  Hughes,  now  of  Chicago,  and 
then  went  to  work  on  his  own  account, 
having  his  office  with  J.  S.  Neville,  of 
the  firm  of  Rowell,  Neville  &  Lindley. 
He    remained   there    for    five    years.       In 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


301 


December,  1885,  he  began  reporting  in 
the  Ford  county  circuit  court,  and  also  in 
the  Bloomington  court,  and  in  1887,  when 
the  law  appointing  official  reporters  went 
into  effect,  he  was  given  the  position  which 
he  still  holds.  He  has  filled  that  office  un- 
interruptedly with  the  e.xception  of  one  year, 
when  ill-health  compelled  him  to  leave.  He 
now  has  in  his  possession  a  fine  set  of  reso- 
lutions adopted  by  the  Ford  county  bar  at 
the  time  of  his  resignation,  and  when  he 
was  able  to  fill  the  position  again  he  was  re- 
appointed. He  has  also  reported  in  Mc- 
Lean, De  Witt,  Tazewell  and  Livingston 
counties,  and  in  other  places.  He  reported 
the  murder  case,  People  vs.  Hartman,  who 
was  hung  in  Paxton,  Ford  county,  in  May, 
1897,  and  also  interpreted  for  German  wit- 
nesses in  that  and  other  cases.  He  has  his 
office  in  the  court  house  at  Bloomington. 
He  is  a  member  of  Remembrance  Lodge, 
No.  TJ,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  also  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  church  of  Bloomington.  He 
is  president  of  the  Christian  Endeavor  So- 
ciety of  that  church.  He  sincerely  believes 
that  whatever  of  good  has  come  to  him  in 
this  life  is  due  to  his  trust  and  belief  in  the 
kindness  of  his  Saviour. 


D.WID  KIMSEY  PLUMLEY,  an  hon- 
ored and  highly-esteemed  citizen  of 
Bloomington,  was  born  in  Bridgeton,  Cum- 
berland county.  New  Jersey,  October  9, 
1828,  on  the  day  General  Jackson  was  first 
elected  president  of  the  United  States,  and 
is  a  son  of  Nathan  and  Sarah  Fithian 
(Kimsey)  Plumley,  also  natives  of  Bridge- 
ton,  where  they  continued  to  reside  until 
our  subject  was  eighteen  months  old,  the 
father  being  engaged  in  blacksmithing  in 
what  is  known  as  Laurel  Hill.     They  then 


removed  to  Philadelphia,  where  his  father 
followed  the  same  occupation  for  several 
years.  His  mother  died  in  that  city,  but 
his  father's  death  occurred  at  an  advanced 
age  at  Dividing  Creek,  New  Jersey,  where 
he  had  two  daughters  living:  Mary,  wife  of 
George  Sloane,  now  of  Greenwich,  New 
Jersey,  and  Rebecca  M.,  now  Mrs.  New- 
comb,  whose  home  is  near  Millville,  New 
Jersey.  There  were  only  si.x  children  in  the 
family,  the  other  daughter  being  Mrs.  Sarah 
L.  Blackman,  of  Dividing  Creek,  New  Jer- 
sey. Our  subject  was  the  only  one  to  come 
west.  John,  the  eldest  son,  died  at  the 
age  of  eighteen  months.  Elizabeth  died  at 
the  age  of  six  years. 

David  K.  Plumley  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  Philadelphia,  and  on  lay- 
ing aside  his  text  books  served  a  three- 
years'  apprenticeship  to  the  carpenter's 
trade,  during  which  time  he  received  fifteen 
dollars  per  year  and  his  board,  but  had  to 
buy  his  own  clothes  and  pay  his  own  laun- 
dry bills.  He  continued  to  work  at  his 
trade  in  that  city  for  a  number  of  years, 
being  employed  on  the  Jaynes  building  on 
Chestnut  street,  the  Girard  hotel  and  other 
prominent  buildings.  There  he  was  mar- 
ried, November  2,  1852,  to  Miss  Margaret 
S.  Behring,  of  Philadelphia,  a  daughter  of 
Casper  H.  Behring,  who  was  for  many 
years  connected  with  the  circulating  depart- 
ment of  the  Philadelphia  Ledger.  Before 
leaving  that  city  one  child  was  born  of  this 
union:  Nathan  Charles,  a  druggist,  now  of 
Bloomington,  who  married  Elizabeth  Court- 
ney and  has  three  children:  Clifford  O., 
Earle  and  Ethel.  The  children  that  have 
since  been  added  to  the  family  are  as  fol- 
lows: Laura,  who  is  now  Mrs.  Chalfant,  of 
Columbus,  Ohio,  and  has  one  child,  Fred- 
erick; William  H.   married  Eleanor  Clark 


302 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


and  has  been  connected  with  his  father  in 
business  for  five  years  as  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  D.  K.  Plumley  &  Son;  and  two 
children  are  deceased. 

In  1856,  Mr.  Plumley  brought  his  wife 
and  child  to  Bloomington,  and  commenced 
business  here  as  a  carpenter,  contracting 
and  building  on  his  own  account  until  1862, 
doing  his  first  work  here  on  what  is  now 
known  as  the  Butler  house.  He  also 
worked  on  the  high  school  building,  Acad- 
emy of  Music,  and  in  fact  all  the  buildings 
erected  in  these  six  years  are  monuments  of 
his  skill  and  bear  traces  of  his  handiwork. 

Prompted  by  a  spirit  of  patriotism,  he 
then  enlisted  in  Company  A,  Ninety-fourth 
Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  for  three  years. 
They  were  with  Herron's  Division,  Army  of 
the  Frontier,  at  the  battle  of  Prairie  Grove, 
where  the  Union  side,  numbering  only 
twelve  thousand  five  hundred,  fought  against 
twenty-eight  thousand  Confederates,  under 
four  generals,  but  came  out  victorious  with 
the  aid  of  Blunt,  who  came  to  their  relief. 
From  the  4th  of  June,  1864,  until  the  sur- 
render of  the  city  on  the  4th  of  July,  they 
took  an  active  part  in  the  siege  of  Vicks- 
burg,  and  were  under  constant  fire.  Hav- 
ing received  a  sunstroke,  Mr.  Plumley  was 
honorably  discharged  the  following  year  on 
account  of  disability  and  returned  to  his 
home  in  Bloomington.  He  resumed  con- 
tracting, but  was  forced  to  give  it  up  two 
years  later  as  he  was  still  in  poor  health. 
For  some  time  he  was  variously  employed, 
but  finally  embarked  in  the  awning  and  tent 
business,  being  the  first  man  in  the  city  to 
engage  in  that  enterprise.  He  located  at 
the  corner  of  Main  and  Jefferson  streets, 
where  he  carried  on  operations  for  over  a 
quarter  of  a  century,  and  succeeded  in 
building  up  a  large  business.      He  adopted 


a  rule  of  doing  first-class  work,  and  has 
weathered  all  the  panics  successfully. 

Mr.  Plumley  owns  some  little  real  es- 
tate and  has  the  record  of  being  one  of  the 
stanch  Republicans  of  Illinois.  He  has 
never  solicited  nor  received  any  political 
rewards,  but  has  been  content  to  use  his  in- 
fluence to  placing  good  men  in  office.  He 
has  the  reputation  of  being  an  honest  and 
upright  man,  and  being  so  regarded  has 
always  been  sought  and  employed  by  the 
better  class  of  people  of  this  community 
in  whatever  branch  of  business  he  has  em- 
barked. Being  also  a  natural  mechanic, 
what  may  be  known  as  a  "handy  man," 
he  has  been  almost  indispensable  to  many, 
and  the  greater  part  of  his  life  has  been 
devoted  to  helping  other  people  out  of 
trouble,  the  little  things  that  prove  so  an- 
noying. 

His  home  is  at  the  corner  of  Evans  and 
Jackson  streets,  where  he  owns  eighty-three 
by  one  hundred  and  forty-three  feet,  and 
his  residence  was  completed  on  the  day  of 
the  Chicago  fire,  in  October,  1871.  So- 
cially he  is  a  member  of  Sherman  Post,  No. 
146,  G.  A.  R. ,  and  at  one  time  was  an 
active  member  of  Evergreen  City  Lodge,  I. 
O.  O.  F.  As  a  business  man  and  citizen, 
he  merits  and  receives  the  confidence  and 
respect  of  all  with  whom  he  comes  in  con- 
tact, and  his  friends  are  many  throughout 
the  city  where  he  has  so  long  made  his 
home. 


MT 


element  of  interest  attaching  to 
the  history  of  the  development  of  a  city, 
county  or  state  from  its  early  beginning  to 
its  present  advancement,  and  in  tracing 
the  part  that  the  pioneer  settlers  have  borne 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


30J 


in  its  continued  progress  and  improvement. 
Mr.  Connery  is  numbered  among  the  early 
settlers  of  McLean  county,  dating  his  resi- 
dence here  from  1858.  At  that  time  many 
of  its  thriving  towns  and  villages  had  not 
sprung  into  existence,  and  much  of  the 
land  was  still  wild,  awaiting  the  awakening 
touch  of  the  farmer  when  it  would  respond 
with  rich  fertility.  Mr.  Connery's  labors  in 
improving  the  country  have  been  more  es- 
pecially along  the  line  of  developing  its 
agricultural  interests,  and  in  this  way  he 
has  contributed  not  a  little  to  its  general 
prosperity.  He  was  born  in  Cork  county, 
Ireland,  on  the  13th  of  November,  1836, 
and  is  a  son  of  Owen  and  Rose  Connery, 
also  natives  of  Ireland,  whose  entire  lives 
were  spent  in  their  native  country. 

Seeing  in  America  greater  opportunities 
than  in  the  Emerald  Isle,  our  subject 
crossed  the  Atlantic  for  the  American  shore, 
which  at  that  time  required  many  tedious 
weeks.  Upon  his  arrival  he  proceeded  to 
Middletown,  Connecticut,  where  he  re- 
mained until  he  had  acquired  sufficient 
means  to  enable  him  to  continue  his  journey 
still  farther  westward.  In  1858  he  started 
for  Chicago,  where  he  remained  a  few  days 
and  then  proceeded  to  Carbondale,  Illinois, 
over  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad,  where  he 
resided  until  March,  1859,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Chenoa,  which  at  that  time  was 
represented  by  a  few  houses  scattered  here 
and  there  over  the  prairie.  Here  Mr.  Con- 
nery made  his  home,  and  here  he  engaged 
in  farming  until  failing  health  compelled 
him  to  abandon  his  occupation  and  move  to 
town,  where  he  purchased  the  comfortable 
and  substantial  residence  where  he  is  now 
living.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the  civil 
war  he  enlisted  in  Company  C,  Forty-fourth 
Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,   under  Captain 


Mills,  whose  regiment  was  under  the  com- 
mand of  Colonel  Russell.  He  took  a 
prominent  and  active  part  in  the  battles  of 
Franklin  and  Nashville,  the  two-days'  battle, 
and  also  in  other  battles  and  skirmishes  of 
lesser  importance.  He  served  with  great 
credit  and  distinction  throughout  the  entire 
war  and  in  1865  was  honorably  discharged 
at  Nashville,  Tennessee. 

On  the  8th  of  February,  1866,  Mr.  Con- 
nery was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mar- 
garet Callahan,  who  was  born  in  Ireland,  in 
1840,  and  who  is  a  daughter  of  Cornelius 
Callahan.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Connery  are  the 
parents  of  six  children,  namely:  Mary,  born 
November  6,  1866;  Nellie,  born  January  22, 
1868;  Willie,  whose  birth  occurred  October 
23,  1870;  Eugene,  born  March  3,  1873; 
James,  who  was  born  April  6,  1875; 
and  Maurice,  born  November  24,  1884. 
The  family  are  devoted  members  of  the 
Catholic  church,  where  they  are  very  highly 
esteemed.  Mr.  Connery  is  a  prominent 
member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Re- 
public, and  his  associates  and  fellow-citi- 
zens, in  and  about  Chenoa,  have  shown 
their  confidence  in  him  by  placing  him  in 
several  offices  of  the  township,  which  he  in 
his  turn  has  filled  with  much  benefit  and 
satisfaction  to  the  community. 


ROBERT  R.  JOHNSON.  Faithfulness 
to  duty  and  strict  adherence  to  a  fixed 
purpose  in  life  will  do  more  to  advance  a 
man's  interests  than  wealth  or  adventitious 
circumstances.  The  successful  men  of  the 
day  are  they  who  have  planned  their  own 
advancement,  and  have  accomplished  it  in 
spite  of  many  obstacles  and  with  a  cer- 
tainity  that  could  have  been  attained  only 
through   their  own   efforts.     This   class  of 


304 


THE   BIOGIUPHICAL   RECORD. 


men  has  a  worthy  representative  in  Mr. 
Johnson,  whose  business  career  is  an  ex- 
emplification of  the  opportunities  that  he 
before  the  ambitious,  energetic  and  enter- 
prising young  men  of  this  free  land.  He  is 
to-day  numbered  among  the  most  promi- 
nent and  successful  men  of  Bloomington, 
and  commands  the  respect  of  all  by  his 
close  adherence  to  the  ethics  of  commercial 
life,  his  strict  regard  for  all  that  is  upright 
and  honorable. 

A  native  of  McLean  county,  Robert  R. 
Johnson  was  born  at  Harley's  Grove,  west 
of  Shirley,  September  21,  1856,  a  son  of 
William  C.  and  Mary  A.  (Boyd)  Johnson. 
The  father  was  born  in  Coshocton  county, 
Ohio,  in  1831,  was  there  reared  to  man- 
hood, and  in  May,  1833,  married  Miss  Boyd, 
daughter  of  Robert  Boyd,  who  was  born  in 
the  north  of  Ireland  and  was  of  Scotch  de- 
scent. His  wife  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Elizabeth  Moffatt,  and  was  also  a  native  of 
the  north  of  Ireland.  The  year  following 
his  marriage  William  C.  Johnson  came  to 
McLean  county,  Illinois,  making  the  jour- 
ney with  teams.  No  coal  mines  had  been 
developed  in  this  section  of  the  country  and 
the  railroad  companies  paid  high  prices  for 
wood.  John  A.  Johnson,  the  grandfather 
of  our  subject,  had  a  contract  to  cut  the 
timber  at  Shirley,  known  as  Harley's  grove, 
and  deliver  the  same  to  the  railroad  com- 
pany, and  William  C.  Johnson  assisted  in 
that  work.  On  its  completion  he  removed 
with  his  family  to  the  city  of  Bloomington, 
where  he  engaged  in  teaming  and  in  city 
street  work,  cutting  and  grading  streets. 
In  1861  he  rented  a  farm  of  LaFayette 
Funk,  southeast  of  Shirley,  and  turned  his 
attention  to  agricultural  pursuits.  Even  at 
that  comparatively  late  date  the  region  was 
so   sparsely  settled  that  our  subject  often 


seen  wolves  running  over  the  prairies  in  the 
early  morning  and  heard  their  howling  at 
nights,  while  from  his  bedroom  window  he 
often  shot  prairie  chickens. 

On  his  return  to  the  city  William  C. 
Johnson  again  engaged  in  teaming  and  had 
constructed  for  use  in  this  way  the  first  four- 
wheeled  truck  ever  used  in  Bloomington. 
From  a  small  beginning  he  worked  up  an 
excellent  business,  which  gradually  increased 
until  in  1 867  he  was  employing  ten  or  twelve 
teamsters  and  controlling  nearly  the  entire 
patronage  in  his  line  in  the  city.  He  sold 
out  at  that  date  to  Shurtleff  Chapman  & 
Co.  and  removed  to  Chicago,  where  he  con- 
ducted a  similar  business,  having  an  entirely 
new  outfit.  His  first  patrons  were  Hum- 
phries, Gustin  &  Co.,  wholesale  grocers, 
who  removed  to  Chicago  about  the  same 
time  Mr.  Johnson  located  there.  His  trade, 
however,  constantly  grew,  and  the  business 
was  profitably  conducted  until  just  prior  to 
the  great  fire,  when  he  sold  out  and  returned 
to  Bloomington,  again  establishing  a  trans- 
fer business  here.  Success  likewise  attended 
his  efforts  in  this  place,  but  after  two  years 
he  returned  to  Chicago,  where  he  was  lo- 
cated during  the  time  of  the  epizootic. 
Our  subject  drove  through,  the  father  having 
reserved  one  fine  span  of  mules  and  heavy 
trucks,  with  which  Robert  Johnson  accom- 
plished the  journey  in  four  days,  being  one 
of  the  last  men  to  make  such  a  trip  before 
the  change  of  methods.  For  a  year  they 
conducted  a  good  business,  but  the  compe- 
tion  was  very  great  and  there  seemed  to  be 
an  excellent  business  opening  in  Blooming- 
ton. The  sons  were  also  growing  up  and 
they  began  a  transfer  business  on  a  small 
scale  in  Bloomington,  where  their  patron- 
age has  steadily  increased  until  they  are  at 
the   head   of    the   leading  industry   in   this 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


30s 


city.  They  began,  however,  with  only  one 
team,  which  the  father  drove,  but  gradually 
their  patronage  was  enlarged  and  the  sons 
became  active  factors  in  the  enterprise. 
William  Johnson  remained  in  control  of  the 
business  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
November  30,  1886.  He  was  a  very  ener- 
getic and  capable  man,  and  his  well-directed 
efforts  were  crowned  with  a  high  degree  of 
prosperity.  He  was  recognized  as  one  of 
the  ablest  business  men  of  Bloomington, 
which  position  he  gained  through  sagacity 
and  foresight,  indomitable  energy  and  un- 
daunted perseverance.  He  not  only  ad- 
vanced his  individual  interests,  but  promoted 
the  general  welfare  by  encouraging  trade 
and  commerce.  His  career,  both  public 
and  private,  was  marked  by  the  strictest 
integrity  and  faithfulness  to  every  trust 
reposed  in  him.  The  record  of  his  life  is 
unclouded  by  shadow  of  wrong  or  suspicion 
of  evil.  He  was  known  as  an  honorable 
man,  a  pleasant,  social  companion  and  a 
devoted  husband  and  father.  His  widow  is 
still  living  and  has  a  very  pleasant  home  in 
Bloomington  supplied  with  all  the  comforts 
of  life.  They  had  five  children :  Robert  R. ; 
John  A.,  of  Omaha;  Emma  J.,  also  of  that 
city;  James  Edward,  of  Bloomington;  and 
William  H.  All  were  reared  in  McLean 
county,  and  their  business  as  well  as  home 
interests  have  been  closely  related.  The 
mother  is  a  valued  member  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  church  and  a  most  estimable 
lady,  whose  friends  in  the  community  are 
many. 

During  his  very  early  childhood  Robert 
R.  Johnson  was  brought  by  his  parents  to 
Bloomington,  and  when  fifteen  years  of 
age  he  left  school  to  assist  his  father,  with 
whom  he  was  associated  in  business  most 
of  the  time  until  the  latter's   death.      For  a 


time  after  their  return  to  this  city,  however, 
he  was  engaged  in  other  pursuits.  For  a 
year  he  drove  a  team  for  Larison  Brothers 
and  for  a  few  months  packed  flour  at  nights 
in  the  Hungarian  mill.  The  following  sum- 
mer he  had  charge  of  R.  W.  and  T.  T. 
Stubblefield's  imported  French  draft  horses, 
and  also  assisted  in  the  work  of  harvesting, 
threshing  and  other  labors  of  the  farm. 
When  winter  came  he  entered  the  employ 
of  Monroe  Brothers,  cutting  and  packing  ice 
until  the  winter  of  1875,  when  his  father 
purchased  another  team,  which  our  subject 
began  to  drive.  Gradually  the  business 
grew;  the  ne.xt  year  they  added  a  one-horse 
rig,  which  was  driven  by  Edward  Johnson, 
and  after  a  short  time  they  purchased  a 
double  rig,  of  which  John,  another  brother, 
took  charge.  Prior  to  that  time,  and  on 
leaving  the  public  schools,  John  had  en- 
tered the  railroad  shops  and  learned  the 
carpenter's  trade.  He  was  afterward  made 
foreman  of  the  Chicago  &  Alton  freight 
house,  and  continued  in  that  position  until 
the  partnership  was  formed  between  Robert 
R. ,  John  A.  and  James  E.  Johnson.  They 
had  a  capital  of  seven  hundred  and  fifty  dol- 
lars. With  this  they  bought  a  truck,  an  ex- 
press wagon,  a  team  of  horses  and  one  large 
mule.  With  this  equipment  the  firm  of  John- 
son Brothers  began  the  transfer  business  in 
Omaha,  Nebraska,  John  A.  removing  to 
that  city  while  the  others  remained  in 
Bloomington.  This  was  in  February,  1886. 
In  November  of  the  same  year  the  father 
died.  On  attaining  his  majority,  Robert  R. 
Johnson  had  been  given  a  small  interest  in 
the  business,  but  before  his  father's  death 
had  become  an  equal  partner,  and  after  the 
demise  of  Mr.  Johnson  the  mother  owned 
the  other  half-interest,  our  subject,  how- 
ever, continuing  the  active  management  un- 


3o6 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


til  William  H.  attained  his  majority,  and  be- 
came an  active  factor  in  the  conduct  of  the 
business.  James  E.  also  disposed  of  his  in- 
terest in  Omaha  to  Emma  J.  and  Brazella 
Boyd,  and  returned  to  Bloomington,  pur- 
chasing a  fourth-interest  in  the  business 
here  from  his  elder  brother,  while  the  mother 
sold  a  fourth  interest  to  William  H.  In  1888 
the  business  was  incorporated  under  the 
name  of  The  Johnson  Transfer  and  Fuel 
Company,  with  a  capital  stock  of  twenty- 
five  thousand  dollars.  This,  however,  is 
merely  nominal,  as  they  have  a  very  large 
surplus.  The  ofiiicers  are  Robert  R. ,  presi- 
dent; James  E.,  vice-president,  and  William 
H.,  secretary  and  treasurer.  They  pur- 
chased the  property  where  they  are  now 
located,  and  at  first  had  but  a  small  office. 
They  decided,  however,  to  extend  their 
field  of  operations  by  dealing  in  coal,  hav- 
ing secured  the  agency  of  the  mines  of 
Adam  Sholl,  then  of  Pekin,  but  now  a 
member  of  the  well  known  firm  of  Sholl 
Brothers,  of  Peoria.  They  purchased  prop- 
erty and  erected  extensive  coal  sheds  and 
have  built  up  a  very  extensive  business,  em- 
ploying many  men  and  a  large  number  of 
teams  throughout  the  year.  Their  business 
has  increased  both  in  volume  and  impor- 
tance and  they  are  now  the  leaders  in  their 
line  in  the  city.  They  also  deal  in  hay  and 
conduct  a  cooperage  business.  In  order  to 
afford  ample  facilities  for  carrying  on  their 
varied  enterprises  they  built  the  west  section 
of  their  warehouse,  a  brick  structure,  thirty- 
one  by  eighty  feet,  three  stories  and  base- 
ment. It  was  completed  in  the  fall  of  1890, 
but  in  the  following  March  it  was  found 
that  the  quarters  were  again  too  small,  so 
they  purchased  more  ground  and  built  another 
addition,  forty-eight  by  one  hundred  and 
eighteen  feet,  and  five  stories  and  basement 


in  height.  This  is  also  of  brick,  and  with 
the  other  parts  of  the  buildings  constitutes 
one  of  the  largest  and  strongest  warehouses 
in  central  Illinois.  The  proprietors  carry 
on  a  regular  warehouse  and  general  forward- 
ing business  for  agricultural  implement 
firms,  who  store  their  goods  and  order  them 
out  as '•needed.  When  the  building  was 
completed  in  1892,  the  company  was  in 
debt,  but  notwithstanding  a  general  finan- 
cial panic  soon  came  on,  they  continued  to 
successfully  carry  on  operations,  met  fully 
every  obligation,  and  are  now  enjoying  a 
very  liberal  patronage,  from  which  they  de- 
rive an  excellent  income.  They  employ 
twenty-five  people  and  work  eighteen  teams, 
have  stable  room  for  thirty-five  head  of 
horses,  and  in  addition  to  their  mammoth 
buildings  own  five  city  lots.  They  have 
purchased  fifteen  lots  located  on  the  C.  &  A. 
R.  R.,  where  they  contemplate  erecting  other 
warehouses.  Robert  R.  Johnson  is  also 
connected  with  the  Omaha  transfer  busi- 
ness, which  has  assumed  mammoth  propor- 
tions, and  has  enjoyed  an  excellent  patron- 
age in  connection  with  exposition  affairs 
there. 

On  the  3rd  of  November,  1881,  Mr. 
Johnson  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Fannie  M.  Merriman,  daughter  of  Henry  and 
Mozelle  Merriman,  and  they  now  have  three 
children:  Frederick  B.,  Mary  L.  and  Jessie 
lola.  The  parents  are  leading  and  influ- 
ential members  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
church,  and  Mr.  Johnson  is  a  member  of 
the  session  and  has  also  served  as  trustee. 
In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat  and  has  been 
candidate  for  alderman.  His  home  is  at 
No.  702  West  Mulberry  street,  where  he 
owns  a  beautiful  residence,  and  the  charm 
of  his  hospitality  is  acknowledged  by  the 
many  friends   of  our  subject  and  his  esti- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


307 


mable  wife.  In  summarizing  the  events 
that  mark  his  career,  we  note  that  his  life 
record  has  been  closely  identified  with  the 
history  of  Bloomington,  where  he  has  made 
his  home  for  forty  years.  He  began  his  re- 
markable career  here  when  it  was  little 
more  than  a  village,  and  has  grown  with  its 
growth  until  his  name  and  reputation  are  as 
far  reaching  as  are  those  of  the  city.  His 
life  has  been  one  of  untiring  activity,  and 
has  been  crowned  with  a  degree  of  success 
attained  by  comparatively  few  men.  He  is 
of  the  highest  type  of  a  business  man,  and 
none  more  than  he  deserves  a  fitting  recog- 
nition among  those  men  whose  hardy  genius 
and  splendid  abilities  have  achieved  results 
that  are  the  wonder  and  admiration  of  their 
state. 


LATTIE  G.  JONES,  who  lives  on  section 
16,  Towanda  township,  where  he  owns 
a  fine  farm  of  two  hundred  and  seven  acres 
of  well-improved  land,  is  extensively  en- 
gaged in  stock  raising  as  well  as  general 
farming.  He  was  born  on  the  farm  where 
he  now  resides  April  5,  1863,  and  is  the 
son  of  Nelson  and  Eliza  (White)  Jones,  the 
former  a  native  of  Clarke  county,  Ohio,  born 
April  5,  1826,  and  a  son  of  Abraham  R. 
and  Matilda  (Noel)  Jones,  natives  of  New 
York  and  Kentucky,  respectively.  Abra- 
ham R.  Jones  came  to  McLean  county  in 
1856,  and  died  February  11,  1865.  His 
wife  survived  him  a  number  of  years,  and 
died  at  her  home  in  Towanda,  March  7, 
1880.  They  were  the  parents  of  ten  chil- 
dren, of  whom  Nelson,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  was  seventh  in  order  of  birth. 

Nelson  Jones  grew  to  manhood  in  his 
native  state,  and  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools.     He  came  to  McLean  county 

16 


in  the  spring  of  184S  and  settled  in  Smith's 
Grove.  In  1849,  in  partnership  with  his 
brother,  A.  R. ,  he  purchased  six  hundred 
acres  of  land  in  sections  10  and  15,  Towan- 
da township.  Later  another  brother,  Cy- 
rus, became  a  partner,  and  the  three  broth- 
ers engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising 
until  1854,  when  they  divided  the  land  and 
personal  stock  between  themselves,  and 
each  carried  on  business  for  himself.  Nel- 
son Jones  was  married  March  4,  1857,  to 
Miss  Eliza  A.  White,  who  was  born  in  La- 
fayette, Indiana,  November  20,  1830,  and 
a  daughter  of  George  and  Julia  (Noel) 
White,  the  former  a  native  of  New  York, 
and  the  latter  of  Ohio.  By  this  union 
were  born  five  children,  as  follows:  Ward 
B. ,  of  Towanda;  Lattie  G.,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch;  Julia,  wife  of  S.  R.  Hilts,  a 
farmer  of  Towanda  township,  of  whom  men- 
tion is  made  elsewhere  in  this  volume;  El- 
metta  M.,  living  in  Towanda  township,  and 
Dr.  Mark  C,  who  is  a  practicing  physician 
of  Table  Grove,  Illinois. 

Nelson  Jones  was  one  of  the  most  prom- 
inent and  successful  farmers  in  McLean 
county,  accumulating  a  large  and  valuable 
property,  both  in  personal  and  real  estate. 
In  i860  he  engaged  in  breeding  short  horn 
cattle,  founding  one  of  the  best  herds  in  the 
county.  He  continued  to  be  thus  engaged 
until  his  death,  February  26,  1896.  His 
wife  preceded  him  a  few  years,  dying  Au- 
gust 10,  1889.  They  had  many  friends  in 
the  county,  and  their  death  was  sincerely 
mourned,  not  alone  by  the  family,  but  by 
all  who  knew  them. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared 
on  his  father's  farm  and  received  his  pri- 
mary education  in  the  public  schools  of 
Towanda  township,  completing  his  literary 
studies  in  Wesleyan  University,  after  which 


3o8 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


he  took  a  business  course  at  Evergreen 
Business  College,  in  Bloomington,  from 
which  he  graduated  in  1885.  He  com- 
menced his  business  career  in  partnership 
with  his  brother,  Ward  B.,  the  two  pur- 
chasing the  herd  of  short  horn  cattle  owned 
by  their  father.  After  two  years  he  bought 
his  brother's  interest,  and  has  since  carried 
it  on  alone.  He  has  still  a  good  herd  on 
the  place  and  in  addition  he  has  also  been 
interested  in  breeding  Clydesdale  and  road- 
ster horses,  in  which  he  has  met  with  a 
good  degree  of  success.  On  his  place  he 
has  a  fine  flock  of  Shropshire  and  Rambo- 
willet  sheep,  which  he  raises  and  sells  for 
breeding  purposes.  He  has  also  a  large 
and  well  selected  herd  of  Poland  China 
hogs,  which  constitute  an  important  part  of 
his  business.  In  the  raising  of  fine  stock 
he  has  done  much  for  his  native  county  in 
giving  it  the  excellent  reputation  it  bears 
throughout  the  country  in  this  regard.  He 
has  spent  large  sums  of  money  in  the  im- 
provement of  domestic  animals,  having 
spared  no  pains  to  raise  the  standard  of  his 
herds,  buying  his  breeding  animals  from  the 
best  known  herds  in  the  country.  He  now 
owns  the  imported  horse,  Heirloom,  im- 
ported by  Ogilvie,  of  Janesville,  Wisconsin, 
and  has  also  in  his  flock  of  sheep  a  number 
of  imported  animals. 

Mr.  Jones'  farm  is  known  as  the  Home 
Park  Place,  and  is  one  of  the  finest  farms  in 
McLean  county.  The  house  and  barn  were 
erected  by  his  father  at  a  cost  of  about 
seventeen  thousand  dollars  and  are  models 
of  convenience  and  architecture.  In  poli- 
tics Mr.  Jones  gives  his  support  to  the  Re- 
publican party.  Fraternally,  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Success  Lodge,  No.  480,  K.  P.,  of 
Towanda,  in  which  lodge  he  has  held 
office. 


JOHN  N.  SCOGIN  is  the  well-known 
baggage  master  at  the  Union  station  in 
Bloomington,  and  has  been  a  trusted  em- 
ploye of  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad  since 
1 89 1.  He  is  a  native  of  McLean  county, 
born  three  miles  southwest  of  Bloomington, 
June  22,  1853,  and  is  a  son  of  Andrew  W. 
and  Eliza  (Low)  Scogin.  The  father  was 
born  in  Licking  county,  Ohio,  in  1823,  and 
after  the  death  of  the  grandfather,  Abel 
Scogin,  which  occurred  in  that  county,  he 
came  with  his  uncle,  Joseph  Wakefield,  to 
Blooming  Grove,  McLean  county,  Illinois, 
in  1837,  when  only  fourteen  years  of  age. 
Here  his  uncle  took  up  a  tract  of  new  land, 
and  in  connection  with  its  improvement 
and  cultivation,  he  worked  at  the  carpen- 
ter's trade.  Under  his  direction  Mr. 
Scogin  learned  the  rudiments  of  that  occu- 
pation, and  later  worked  on  the  first  Sher- 
man House  in  Chicago,  under  Mr.  Updyke, 
who  offered  him  a  half  block  in  the  heart 
of  the  city  for  his  summer's  work,  but  he 
would  not  accept  it.  Returning  to  Bloom- 
ington, he  remained  here  until  enlisting  for 
a  short  time  in  the  Mexican  war.  On  his 
arrival  at  Springfield,  however,  he  found  it 
was  long-term  men  that  were  wanted,  so 
resigned  his  commission  as  captain  of  a 
company  that  he  might  carry  out  a  large 
contract  at  Randolph's  Grove  which  he  had 
previously  made.  He  first  married  Miss 
Elizabeth  Carr,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Jef- 
ferson Carr,  of  Randolph's  Grove.  She 
died  at  the  end  of  a  year,  and  he  afterward 
married  Miss  Eliza  Low,  of  Blooming  Grove 
township,  McLean  county,  a  daughter  of 
Nathan  Low,  one  of  the  earliest  pioneers  of 
that  locality.  After  his  second  marriage 
Mr.  Scogin  located  in  Blooming  Grove 
township  and  became  the  owner  of  four 
hundred  acres  of    valuable  land,   on  which 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


309 


he  successfully  engaged  in  general  farming 
and  stock-raising  until  his  death.  The  wife 
and  mother,  who  was  a  consistent  member 
of  the  Christian  church,  passed  away  in 
1863.  They  left  six  children,  all  of  whom 
are  still  living,  namely:  Lee,  who  is  liv- 
ing southwest  of  Bloomington;  Jay,  a  car- 
penter of  St.  Louis,  Missouri;  John,  our 
subject;  Frank,  who  lives  on  the  old  home- 
stead with  his  sister;  Hettie,  wife  of  Oled 
Lash,  who  own  the  home  farm;  and  Joseph, 
who  resides  near  Colorado  Springs,  Colo- 
rado. 

John  Scogin  received  a  good  practical 
education  in  the  common  schools  near  his 
boyhood  home,  and  on  leaving  the  farm 
came  to  Bloomington,  where  he  embarked 
in  the  draying  and  transfer  business  for 
himself  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years.  He 
continued  in  that  line  for  a  number  of 
years,  during  which  time  he  built  up  a  good 
business  and  used  three  teams.  On  selling 
out  in  1 89 1,  he  entered  the  freight  depart- 
ment of  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad 
Company,  at  Bloomington;  a  year  later  was 
advanced  to  the  position  of  assistant  bag- 
gage master  at  the  Union  station,  and  in 
1898,  on  the  resignation  of  the  baggage 
master,  he  was  appointed  to  that  position, 
which  he  is  now  so  capably  and  satisfac- 
torily filling.  He  has  charge  of  the  all  bag- 
gage of  the  Chicago  &  Alton,  and  also  the 
junction  part  of  the  Lake  Erie  &  Western, 
and  the  Big  Four  Railroads,  and  handles 
more  than  all  the  other  roads  coming  into 
Bloomington  put  together,  as  the  Chicago 
&  Alton  at  this  place  does  the  largest 
amount  of  business  in  the  west  outside  of 
St.  Louis  and  Chicago. 

In  1873,  Mr.  Scogin  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Nannie  Kinzell,  of  Blooming- 
ton, who  died  in  1895,  leaving  one  daughter. 


Dell,  now  the  wife  of  James  M.  Hull,  of 
Osawatomie,  Kansas.  He  was  again 
married,  January  iS,  1899,  his  second 
union  being  with  Miss  Jennie  McEvoy,  of 
Bloomington.  They  have  a  pleasant  home 
at  No.  1200  West  Front  street,  and  attend 
and  support  the  First  Presbyterian  church. 
Socially,  Mr.  Scogin  is  a  member  of  Ever- 
green City  Lodge,  No.  265,  I.  O.  O.  F. , 
and  Shabona  Tribe,  No.  18,  I.  O.  R.  M., 
and  has  passed  through  all  the  chairs  of 
both  organizations.  He  is  very  popular  in 
business  and  social  circles  and  wherever 
known  is  held  in  high  regard. 


MRS.    EMILY   PRAY  is 
resident  of   Empire  tc 


is  a  well-known 
Empire  township,  where 
she  owns  and  successfully  manages  an  ex- 
cellent farm  of  five  hundred  and  forty  acres 
on  section  7,  and  in  the  conduct  of  her  af- 
fairs since  her  husband's  death  has  displayed 
remarkable  business  ability.  Her  course 
has  ever  been  such  as  to  command  the  re- 
spect and  admiration  of  the  entire  commu- 
nity, and  she  has  thoroughly  demonstrated 
the  fact  that  a  woman  is  well  qualified  to 
carry  on  a  farm  successfully. 

Mrs.  Pray  has  spent  her  entire  life  in 
McLean  county,  her  birth  occurring  in  Em- 
pire township,  and  she  is  a  representative  of 
one  of  the  most  honored  and  prominent  pio- 
neer families,  which  was  founded  here  in 
1835.  Her  father,  James  Bishop,  was  born 
in  Fauquier  county,  Virginia,  April  2,  1809, 
and  was  a  son  of  John  Bishop,  who  was 
born  in  the  same  state  of  English  ancestry, 
and  about  1809,  removed  with  his  family  to 
Ohio,  becoming  one  of  the  first  settlers  of 
Clarke  county,  where  he  spent  the  remain- 
der of  his  life. 

When  a  young  man  James  Bishop  came 


310 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


to  Illinois,  in  1835,  and  having  previously 
received  a  good  education  he  engaged 
in  school  teaching  for  a  time  during 
the  winters  in  McLean  county.  Here  he 
entered  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land 
in  Empire  township,  which  he  was  not  long 
in  transforming  into  a  good  farm.  He 
bought  more  land  from  time  to  time  until  he 
owned  several  hundred  acres,  and  was  one 
of  the  most  active,  successful  and  enterpris- 
ing farmers  of  the  county,  as  well  as  one  of 
its  highly  respected  and  popular  citizens. 
Here  he  married  Miss  Margaret  Cannaday, 
who  was  born  in  Hopkins  county,  Kentucky, 
June  15,  1808,  a  daughter  of  John  Canna- 
day, also  an  early  settler  of  McLean  county. 
Mr.  Bishop  died  upon  his  farm  May  24, 
1877,  and  his  wife  passed  away  February 
7,  1 88 1,  being  laid  to  rest  by  his  side  in 
Oak  Grove  cemetery,  where  a  neat  and  sub- 
stantial monument  has  been  erected  to  their 
memory.  Mrs.  Pray  is  the  third  in  order 
of  birth  in  their  family  of  five  children,  two 
sons  and  three  daughters.  The  sons,  John 
A.  and  James  Q.,  both  married  and  settled 
in  McLean  county,  where  the  former  died 
March  6,  1896,  and  the  latter  on  the  ist  of 
the  same  month.  Both  left  families.  Mrs. 
Pray's  sisters  are,  Mrs.  Caroline  Campbell 
and  Mrs.  Rachel  Beckham,  both  residents 
of  Le  Roy. 

In  the  neighborhood  where  she  still  re- 
sides, Mrs.  Pray  passed  her  girlhood.  She 
was  first  married,  February  6,  1862,  to 
William  Evans,  a  native  of  this  county,  and 
they  began  their  domestic  life  upon  a  part 
of  the  old  Bishop  homestead,  where  he  died 
January  4,  1865.  There  were  two  children 
born  of  this  union:  Mary,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy, and  Josephine  lived  to  be  about  six 
years  old,  dying  January  27,  1870.  On  the 
7th  of  August,    1877,  Mrs.  Evans  gave  her 


hand  in  marriage  to  LeRoy  W.  Pray,  who 
was  born  in  Franklin  county,  Ohio,  Febru- 
ary 21,  1840,  and  when  a  lad  of  twelve 
years  came  with  his  father,  Daniel  Pray,  to 
McLean  county,  in  the  fall  of  1852,  locating 
on  a  farm  in  Empire  township,  where  he 
grew  to  manhood.  In  the  spring  after  their 
marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pray  located  on  the 
farm  where  she  now  resides.  He  was  a 
soldier  of  the  civil  war,  having  enlisted 
June  16,  1861,  in  the  Eighth  Missouri  Vol- 
unteer Infantry,  for  three  years.  He  par- 
ticipated in  many  important  engagements, 
including  the  battles  of  Fort  Donelson  and 
Shiloh.  During  a  skirmish  at  the  Russell 
House  he  was  wounded.  May  17,  1862,  by 
a  gun  shot,  which  temporarily  disabled  him 
for  duty,  and  he  was  confined  in  the  hospi- 
tal at  St.  Louis.  Later  he  took  part  in  the 
battles  of  Arkansas  Post,  Jackson,  Missis- 
sippi, Champion  Hills,  the  siege  and  capture 
of  Vicksburg,  and  the  battles  of  Jackson, 
Chattanooga  and  Missionary  Ridge,  besides 
many  lesser  engagements  and  skirmishes. 
On  the  e.xpiration  of  his  term  of  enlistment 
he  was  honorably  discharged  July  7,  1864, 
and  returned  to  his  home  in  this  county. 
He  was  twice  married,  his  first  wife  being 
Mary  Gilbert.  There  were  three  children 
by  this  marriage,  all  of  whom  are  now  de- 
ceased. At  one  time  he  went  to  Nebraska, 
where  he  took  a  claim  and  engaged  in 
farming  for  two  years,  after  which  he  re- 
turned to  McLean  county.  He  was  a  most 
enterprising  and  progressive  farmer  and  a 
good  business  man,  and  was  justly  classed 
among  the  upright  and  honorable  citizens  of 
Empire  township,  for  he  has  the  confidence 
and  respect  of  all  with  whom  he  came  in 
contact  either  in  business  or  social  life.  He 
was  an  active  and  prominent  member  of 
the  Grand  Army  Post  of  Le  Roy  and  was  a 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


3" 


Democrat  in  politics.  He  died  July  7, 
1884.  Thej-had  one  son,  William  Le  Roy, 
who  now  assists  his  mother  in  carrying  on 
the  home  farm. 

Since  her  husband's  death  Mrs.  Pray 
has  superintended  the  operation  of  her 
farm  and  her  efforts  have  been  crowned 
with  a  high  degree  of  success.  She  has 
made  many  improvements  upon  the  place, 
including  the  erection  of  a  large  and  pleas- 
ant residence,  over  which  she  presides  with 
gracious  dignity.  She  is  a  faithful  member 
of  the  Christian  church  of  Le  Roy,  and  is  a 
lady  highly  respected  and  esteemed  by  all 
who  have  the  pleasure  of  her  acquaintance. 


ROBERT  FLEGEL.  This  gentleman 
worthily  illustrates  the  commonly  ac- 
cepted view  of  the  character  of  the  enter- 
prising German  citizen,  who  came  to  the 
west  at  a  time  when  strong  hands  and  stout 
hearts  were  most  needed,  and  putting  his 
shoulder  to  the  wheel  gave  decided  impetus 
to  the  car  of  progress  and  assisted  in  the 
development  of  one  of  the  richest  sections 
of  our  glorious  country.  Although  he  has 
only  made  his  home  in  McLean  county 
since  1883,  he  has  been  a  resident  of  cen- 
tral Illinois  almost  continuously  since  1855, 
and  has  borne  his  part  in  its  development 
and  progress. 

Mr.  Flegel  was  born  in  Prussia,  Ger- 
many, May  18,  1838,  a  son  of  Christian 
and  Augusta  (Hesse)  Flegel,  also  natives  of 
that  country.  About  1846  the  father  came 
alone  to  the  United  States  and  first  located 
in  Rome,  New  York,  where  his  family 
joined  him  a  year  later.  At  the  end  of 
another  year  he  moved  to  Cincinnati,  where 
he  was  engaged  in  the  butcher  business  two 
^ears,  during  which  time  he  lost  his  wife,  a 


son  and  daughter  by  cholera.  Subse- 
quently he  removed  to  a  farm  not  far  from 
that  city,  in  Butler  county,  Ohio,  and  there 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  for  three 
years.  In  1855  he  drove  across  the  coun- 
try to  Illinois  and  located  in  Tazewell 
county,  where  after  operating  rented  land 
for  about  four  years,  he  purchased  a  timber 
tract  of  fifty  acres,  which  he  at  once  com- 
menced to  clear  and  improve.  Soon  after- 
ward he  bought  fifty  acres  more  and  kept 
adding  to  his  farms  as  his  means  permitted 
until  he  had  four  hundred  acres  of  valuable 
land,  which  he  placed  under  a  high  state  of 
cultivation  and  improved  with  good  build- 
ings. Upon  that  place  he  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life,  dying  there  in  1892. 
Our  subject  is  the  only  survivor  of  his  first 
marriage,  but  by  a  second  union  there  are 
three  sons  and  one  daughter  living. 

Robert  Flegel  was  a  lad  of  about  nine 
years  when  he  came  to  New  York,  and  was 
fourteen  when  the  familj'  located  in  Taze- 
well county,  Illinois,  where  he  grew  to  man- 
hood. He  is  almost  wholly  self-educated. 
During  the  dark  days  of  the  Rebellion  he 
manifested  his  love  for  his  adopted  country 
by  enlisting  in  1862,  in  Company  A,  One 
Hundred  Eighth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry 
for  three  years;  but  was  soon  transferred  to 
Comdany  K.  He  remained  with  his  regi- 
ment one  year,  participating  in  the  battles 
of  Arkansas  Post,  Yazoo  River,  Haynes 
Bluff,  and  the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  and  then 
went  with  his  command  to  La  Grange, 
Tennessee,  where  he  was  placed  on  de- 
tached duty  with  the  First  Missouri  Artil- 
lery, with  which  he  served  until  the  expira- 
tion of  his  term  of  enlistment.  He  took 
part  in  the  battles  of  Resaca  and  Kennesaw 
mountain;  all  of  the  engagements  around 
Atlanta  and  the  siege  of  that  city;  and  was 


312 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


with  Sherman  on  his  march  to  the  sea  and 
through  the  Carolina  campaign,  which  in- 
cluded the  battles  of  Goldsboro,  Charlotte 
and  Columbus.  Later  he  was  ordered  to 
rejoin  his  regiment,  and  from  Newburn, 
North  Carolina,  proceeded  to  New  York 
City,  thence  to  Cincinnati,  down  the  river 
to  Memphis,  from  thence  to  Mobile,  finally 
reaching  his  regiment  at  Montgomery,  Ala- 
bama. He  was  discharged  soon  afterward 
and  returned  north.  After  being  mustered 
out  at  Chicago  he  returned  to  his  home 
in  Tazewell  county,  where  he  remained 
with  his  father  for  two  years. 

The  first  farm  Mr.  Flegel  ever  owned 
was  a  tract  of  eighty  acres  near  Tremont, 
of  which  only  a  few  acres  had  been  broken 
at  the  time  of  his  purchase,  and  a  small 
house  erected  thereon.  For  two  years  he 
devoted  his  attention  to  improving  and  cul- 
tivating his  place,  and  on  selling  it  in  1867 
went  to  Douglas  county,  Kansas,  where  he 
bought  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  on 
which  he  built  a  house,  erected  fences  and 
made  other  improvements,  but  finally  sold 
at  a  good  profit  and  returned  to  Illinois. 
With  his  father  he  purchased  the  old  J.  D. 
Vawter  farm  of  two  hundred  and  eighty 
acres  on  Mackinaw  river,  and  successfully 
engaged  in  farming  there  for  eight  years, 
during  which  time  he  made  some  permanent 
improvements  on  the  place.  After  a  resi- 
dence there  of  three  years  he  purchased  his 
father's  irrterest  in  the  farm,  but  in  1883 
sold  it  and  came  to  McLean  county,  buying 
a  run-down  farm  of  three  hundred  and 
eighty  acres  in  Empire  township.  There 
was  an  old  house  and  log  stable,  which  he 
has  since  replaced  by  a  commodious  and 
comfortable  residence  and  large  barn,  and 
he  has  also  built  other  outbuildings,  re- 
paired the    fences    and    made    many  other 


improvements  which  add  greatly  to  its  value 
and  attractive  appearance.  He  had  bought 
more  land  adjoining  and  now  has  in  his 
home  farm  four  hundred  and  thirty  acres, 
while  his  landed  possessions  now  aggregate 
seven  hundred  and  twenty  acres.  This  in- 
cludes a  well  improved  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  in  West  township, 
and  two  other  farms  in  Empire  township, 
of  ninety-five  and  eighty-five  acres,  respect- 
ively. 

In  Tazewell  county  Mr. , Flegel  was  mar- 
ried, iu  1873,  to  Miss  Mary  Freidinger,  who 
was  born  in  this  state  of  German  parentage, 
and  eight  children  bless  this  union,  namely: 
Henry,  Edward,  Walter,  Louis,  Clarence, 
Harry,  Ida  and  Clara,  all  at  home.  Since 
casting  his  first  presidential  vote  for  Abra- 
ham Lincoln  in  i860,  Mr.  Flegel  has  been 
an  ardent  Republican  in  politics,  but  has 
never  aspired  to  office.  Socially,  he  is  an 
honored  member  of  the  Grand  Army  Post 
of  Le  Roy.  He  has  now  been  a  resident  of 
Illinois  for  forty-four  years.  His  life  affords 
an  e.xcellent  example  to  the  young  in  that 
he  commenced  life  for  himself  without 
money,  but  having  a  determination  to  suc- 
ceed he  industriously  applied  himself  until 
he  has  acquired  a  handsome  property,  and 
has  also  won  an  enviable  reputation  for 
fair  dealing.  He  is  widely  and  favorably 
known  and  has  a  host  of  friends  throughout 
Tazewell  and  McLean  counties. 


JOHN  H.  BOSSINGHAM,  a  prominent 
representative  of  the  agricultural  inter- 
ests of  AUin  township,  is  a  native  of  Mc- 
Lean county,  born  near  Stanford,  February 
3,  1862,  and  is  a  son  of  John  Bossingham, 
who  was  born  in  England,  in  1819,  and  in 
that  country  engaged  in   farming  until  his 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


313 


emigration  to  America  in  1S50.  He  landed 
at  New  York,  where  he  remained  for  a  year, 
and  then  went  to  Wisconsin,  spending  four 
years  upon  a  rented  farm  near  Milwaukee, 
after  which  he  came  to  McLean  county, 
Illinois,  and  purchased  a  farm  of  one  hund- 
red and  sixty  acres  in  Allin  township.  Here 
he  successfully  engaged  in  general  farming 
and  stock  raising,  and  upon  his  place  made 
some  valuable  and  useful  improvements, 
including  the  erection  of  a  comfortable  resi- 
dence and  good  outbuildings.  He  also  tiled 
his  farm,  and  continued  to  reside  thereon 
until  called  from  this  life,  November  6, 
1880.  He  took  an  active  interest  in  all  in- 
terprises  calculated  to  advance  the  public 
welfare,  and  was  one  of  the  best  and  most 
highly-esteemed  citizens  of  his  community. 
For  several  years  he  efficiently  served  as 
road  commissioner  in  his  township.  In 
1846,  he  wedded  Miss  Mary  Weldon,  also 
a  native  of  England,  who  was  born  in  18 19, 
and  was  of  old  English  stock.  They  became 
the  parents  of  seven  children,  five  of  whom 
are  still  living. 

John  H.  Bossingham,  of  this  review,  is 
the  youngest  of  the  family.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools  near  his  child- 
hood home  and  assisted  in  the  labors  of  the 
farm,  remaining  with  his  parents  upon  the 
old  homestead.  After  his  father's  death  he 
managed  the  farm  for  his  mother,  who  still 
finds  a  pleasant  home  with  him.  He  in- 
herited from  his  father  one  hundred  acres 
of  excellent  farming  land,  which  he  has 
placed  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  and 
throughout  his  entire  business  career  has 
devoted  his  energies  to  farming  and  stock 
raising  and  has  met  with  most  gratifying 
success. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  18S6,  Mr.  Bossing- 
ham married  Miss  Efifie  Brown,  a  native  of 


Canada  and  a  daughter  of  John  and  Mary 
Brown,  now  of  Bloomington,  whose  ances- 
tors were  of  English  origin.  The  home  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bossingham  is  brightened  by 
an  interesting  family.  Of  the  seven  children 
born  to  them,  four  are  now  living,  namely: 
Pearl  and  Herman,  who  are  attending  the 
district  school  near  their  home;  and  Elmo 
and  Melvin,  at  home.  Being  of  a  reserved 
disposition,  Mr.  Bossingham  has  never 
mingled  in  politics,  but  gives  his  entire  time 
and  attention  to  his  family  and  his  business 
interests.  Success  has  crowned  his  well- 
directed  efforts,  and  though  comparatively  a 
young  man,  he  has  already  secured  a  com- 
fortable competence. 


EDMUND  J.  ROWLEY,  a  prominent 
contractor  and  builder  of  Blooming- 
ton,  Illinois,  was  born  May  5,  1849,  on  the 
Sciota  river,  seven  miles  from  Columbus, 
Ohio,  and  is  a  son  of  James  Madison  and 
Emily  (Bailey)  Rowley,  who  removed  to  Le 
Roy,  McLean  county,  Illinois,  when  our 
subject  was  a  child.  The  father,  who  was 
a  shoemaker  by  trade,  offered  his  services 
to  his  country  during  the  civil  war,  enlist- 
ing in  Company  I,  Thirty-ninth  Illinois 
Volunteer  Infantr}',  under  Capt.  H.  N. 
Phillips,  of  Le  Roy.  After  three  years  of 
arduous  and  faithful  service  on  southern 
battle-fields,  during  which  time  he  was  home 
but  once  on  a  furlough,  he  contracted  yellow 
fever  and  died  at  Newborn,  North  Carolina, 
the  day  his  time  expired.  The  mother  still 
continues  to  reside  in  Le  Roy.  Besides  our 
subject  she  has  two  children:  Mrs.  Eliza- 
beth Cotterman,  of  Bloomington;  and  Will- 
iam A.,  of  Le  Roy. 

Reared  in  Le  Roy,  Edmund  J.  Rowley 
acquired  his  education  in  its  public  schools. 


314 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  came  to  Blooming- 
ton  to  learn  the  carpenter's  trade  with  Mr. 
Sproul,  but  completed  his  apprenticeship 
with  Scott  &  Stillhamer,  at  the  age  of 
twenty-one.  He  then  worked  for  different 
contractors  as  a  journeyman  for  a  number 
of  years.  In  1885  he  was  appointed  street 
commissioner  by  the  city  council,  and  dur- 
ing his  service  in  that  office  West  Wash- 
ington and  North  Main  streets  were  paved, 
and  other  paving  and  improvements  made. 
In  1887  he  was  appointed  superintendent 
of  the  water  works,  succeeding  M.  X. 
Chuse.  As  that  was  a  dry  year  more  water 
was  needed  than  could  be  furnished  by  the 
old  well,  and  five  others,  six  inches  in 
diameter  and  from  sixty  to  seventy  feet 
deep,  were  drilled.  These  gave  an  ample 
supply  of  water  until  recently,  and  were 
directly  connected  with  the  pumps  at  the 
pumping  station.  This  greatly  improved 
the  water  system. 

On  retiring  from  that  office,  Mr.  Row- 
ley secured  the  position  of  superintendent 
of  building  construction  of  all  the  private 
work  of  Miflin  Bell,  government  architect 
of  Cook  county.  He  also  built  a  large  fac- 
tory for  R.  P.  Smith  &  Sons  in  Chicago, 
and  in  Springfield  built  the  Illinois  National 
Bank  building,  six  stories  in  height,  at  a 
cost  of  one  hundred  and  thirty-one  thousand 
dollars;  the  Franklin  Life  building,  five 
stories  in  height,  for  seventy-eight  thousand 
dollars;  and  a  residence  for  J.  Otis  Hum- 
phries, for  ten  thousand  dollars.  After 
thirty  months  spent  in  Springfield  he  again 
went  to  Chicago,  but  finding  business  dull 
there  he  returned  to  Bloomington,  where 
he  owned  property  and  where  he  has  since 
been  engaged  in  contracting  and  building. 
He  has  erected  many  fine  residences  in  the 
city,  and  gives  employment  to  a  number  of 


men.      He  has  built   two  good   houses   for 
himself  on  East  Monroe  street. 

May  25,  1 87 1,  Mr.  Rowley  married  Miss 
Sarah  Hullinger,  of  Bloomington,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Jeremiah  and  Sarah  (White)  Hullin- 
ger. She  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
church.  She  has  taken  a  prominent  part  in 
the  Woman's  Relief  Corps  of  Bloomington 
and  the  state,  having  held  many  of  the 
positions  of  that  society.  She  is  also  iden- 
tified with  the  local  W.  C.  T.  U.  and  has 
done  much  toward  furthering  the  interests  of 
temperance.  And  socially  Mr.  Rowley  be- 
longs to  Remembrance  Lodge,  No.  "]"], 
I.  O.  O.  F.,  in  which  he  is  past  grand,  and 
is  also  connected  with  Jesse  Fell  Lodge, 
No.  164,  K.  P.,  and  New  Home  Camp,  M. 
W.  A.  As  a  Republican  he  has  always  taken 
an  active  part  in  local  politics,  has  been  a 
member  of  different  committees  and  served 
as  judge  and  clerk  of  elections.  As  a  citi- 
zen he  ever  stands  ready  to  discharge  every 
duty  devolving  upon  him,  and  his  career  has 
been  such  as  to  win  for  him  the  confidence 
and  respect  of  all  with  whom  he  has  come 
in  contact,  either  in  public  or  private  lite. 


ADAM  ZOOK  is  one  of  the  leading  and 
influential  citizens  of  Carlock,  who 
through  his  own  unaided  efforts  in  life  has 
secured  a  comfortable  competence  and  is 
now  able  to  lay  aside  all  business  cares  and 
live  retired,  enjoying  the  fruits  of  former 
toil.  He  was  born  in  Juniata  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, October  5,  1829.  a  son  of  Yost 
and  Susanna  (Hostetter)  Zook,  also  natives 
of  Pennsylvania.  His  paternal  grandfather, 
Rev.  Jacob  Zook,  a  minister  of  the  Mennon- 
ite  church,  spent  his  entire  life  in  that  state 
as  did  also  his  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Catherine  Fisher.     In  their  family 


ADAM  ZOOK. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


317 


were  two  sons,  Yost,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, and  Benjamin,  who  remained  on  the 
old  homestead  in  Pennsylvania;  and  three 
daughters,  all  of  whom  remained  in  the 
east. 

Yost  Zook  was  born  August  7,  1803,  and 
died  November  lo,  1888,  while  his  wife  was 
born  in  December,  1805,  and  died  June  8, 
1892.  While  resident  in  his  native  state 
he  engaged  in  farming  and  also  in  the  manu- 
facture of  potteryware  Coming  to  Mc- 
Lean county,  Illinois,  in  1850,  he  located 
first  in  White  Oak  township,  but  a  year 
later  removed  to  Dry  Grove  township,  when 
he  entered  one-half  section  of  land  and  made 
his  home  until  1870.  Selling  that  place, 
he  went  to  Moultrie  county,  Illinois,  where 
the  following  five  years  were  passed,  and 
then  returned  to  this  county.  He  bought  a 
farm  in  Dry  Grove  township  and  there  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  life,  engaged  in  agricult- 
ural pursuits.  In  religious  faith  he  was  a 
Mennonite  and  in  politics  a  stanch  Repub- 
lican. He  voted  for  William  Henry  Harri- 
son, the  Whig  candidate  and  in  after  years 
for  his  grandson,  Benjamin  Harrison.  His 
family  consisted  of  four  children,  three  sons 
and  one  daughter,  namely:  Catherine,  wife 
of  Nicholas  King,  of  Dry  Grove  township; 
Adam,  our  subject;  John,  a  resident  of 
Cherokee  county,  Kansas;  and  Jacob,  of 
Dry  Grove  township. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  Adam 
Zook  started  out  to  make  his  own  way  in 
the  world  with  a  cash  capital  of  but  eighteen 
dollars.  This  he  invested  in  a  set  of  harness, 
and  he  bought  a  team  and  wagon  on  time. 
For  seven  years  he  rented  land  of  Alexander 
McCuIlough  in  Dry  Grove  township  and  en- 
gaged in  farming.  During  that  time  he  in- 
vested what  money  he  could  spare  in  cattle, 
buying  two  or  three  head  at  a  time,  as  there 


was  plenty  of  pasture  on  the  open  prairie. 
At  the  end  of  seven  years  he  moved  to  a 
half-section  of  land  owned  by  his  father, 
which  the  family  operated  together  for  some 
time,  and  during  the  first  season  he  broke 
forty  acres  of  wild  land.  On  their  removal 
to  Moultrie  county,  he  there  purchased  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land,  to  the  im- 
provement and  cultivation  of  which  he  de- 
voted his  energies  for  two  years.  Return- 
ing to  McLean  county  at  the  end  of  that 
time,  he  bought  one  hundred  and  forty  acres 
in  Dry  Grove  township,  where  he  continued 
to  carry  on  operations  as  a  general  farmer 
until  the  fall  of  1891,  when  he  built  his 
present  comfortable  home  in  Carlock  and 
has  since  lived  retired  at  that  place.  Be- 
sides his  own  residence  he  owns  other  town 
property  and  is  one  of  the  substantial  citi- 
zens of  the  place. 

In  September,  1875,  Mr.  Zook  married 
Mrs.  Miriam  (Yoder)  Koffman,  widow  of 
Jonas  Koffman.  She  was  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania, born  in  Juniata  county,  October 
30,  1829,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Joseph 
Yoder.  Our  subject  has  been  called  upon 
to  mourn  the  loss  of  his  estimable  wife,  who 
died  on  Thanksgiving  Day,  1898.  They  had 
no  children  of  their  own,  but  reared  Noel 
Burns,  son  of  Jonathan  Burns.  He  was 
left  motherless  at  the  age  of  two  years  and 
has  since  made  his  home  with  our  subject. 

Religiously  Mr.  Zook  is  a  consistent 
member  of  the  Mennonite  church,  and  polit- 
ically is  a  pronounced  Republican — one  that 
takes  a  deep  and  commendable  interest  in 
political  affairs  and  has  most  creditably  and 
satisfactorily  filled  several  township  offices  of 
honor  and  trust.  He  is  highly  respected 
and  esteemed  by  all  who  know  him  and  is 
certainly  deserving  of  prominent  mention  in 
the  history  of  his  adopted  county. 


3i8 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


GEORGE  J.  ALEXANDER  has  for  fif- 
teen years  successfully  engaged  in 
business  in  Bloomington  as  a  dealer  in 
windmills,  pumps,  well  drills,  etc.,  and  en- 
joys a  large  and  profitable  trade.  Through- 
out his  career  of  continued  and  far-reach- 
ing usefulness  his  duties  have  been  per- 
formed with  the  greatest  care,  and  business 
interests  have  been  so  managed  as  to  win 
the  confidence  of  the  public  and  the  prosper- 
ity which  should  always  attend  honorable 
effort. 

Mr.  Alexander  was  born  at  what  is  now 
Independence,  Richland  county,  Ohio,  Oc- 
tober 30,  1854,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and 
Mary  (Phipps)  Alexander,  the  former  a  na- 
tive of  Virginia,  the  latter  of  Westmore- 
land county,  Pennsylvania.  At  an  early 
day  the  father  removed  with  his  parents  to 
Ohio,  where  he  grew  to  manhood  and  later 
engaged  in  farming  and  also  conducted  a 
general  store  at  Independence.  Subse- 
quently he  came  to  McLean  county,  Illi- 
nois, bringing  with  him  his  wife  and  eight 
children,  and  purchased  a  tract  of  improved 
land  four  miles  south  of  Bloomington,  on 
which  he  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits 
until  called  from  this  life  on  the  19th  of 
May,  1865.  Prior  to  the  birth  of  our  sub- 
ject, he  lived  twelve  years  in  Missouri,  and 
while  in  that  state  and  in  Ohio  filled  the 
office  of  justice  of  the  peace  in  a  most  ac- 
ceptable manner.  His  wife  died  in  1888. 
Both  were  earnest  and  consistent  members 
of  the  Christian  church,  and  took  quite  an 
active  and  prominent  part  in  church  work. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  educated 
in  the  country  schools  and  grew  to  man- 
hood upon  the  home  farm,  which  he  rented 
and  successfully  operated  for  some  time 
prior  to  his  marriage.  On  the  26th  of  Feb- 
ruary,   1879,    he   wedded    Miss   Maggie   G. 


Owen,  who  lived  in  the  same  neighborhood 
in  this  county,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Martin 
J.  Owen,  and  to  them  have  been  born  two 
children,  Cora  and  Earl,  both  at  home. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Alexander  re- 
moved to  a  separate  farm  and  successfully 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  for  five 
years.  He  then  came  to  Bloomington  and 
embarked  in  his  present  business  at  214 
East  Front  street,  where  he  remained  two 
years,  since  which  time  he  has  carried  on 
operations  at  204  South  Centre  street.  His 
patronage  comes  from  a  territory  many 
miles  in  extent,  covering  McLean  and  ad- 
joining counties,  and  he  has  given  employ- 
ment to  a  large  number  of  men.  The  hon- 
orable business  policy  which  he  has  ever 
followed  has  brought  to  him  prosperity. 
He  is  methodical  and  systematic,  and  the 
plans  which  he  has  pursued  commend  them- 
selves to  the  judgment  and  respect  of  all. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  hold  membership  in 
the  Christian  church,  and  their  home  at  No. 
309  South  Centre  street  is  the  center  of  a 
cultured  society  circle. 


JOSEPH  M.  WEAKLY,  who  has  been 
actively  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law 
in  the  city  of  Lexington  for  almost  a  quarter 
of  a  century,  was  born  in  Licking  county, 
Ohio,  September  3,  1843,  and  is  a  son  of 
Thornton  and  Barbara  (Jenkins)  Weakly,  the 
former  a  native  of  Virginia,  born  May  16, 
1800,  and  the  latter  a  native  of  the  same 
state,  of  German  parents,  born  in  1801. 
The  father  of  Thornton  Weakly  was  of 
English  birth  and  an  early  settler  of  Vir- 
ginia. 

Thornton  Weakly  grew  to  manhood  in 
his  native  state,  where  he  received  a  limited 
common-school    education.       In    1838,    he 


THE   BIOGR.\PHICAL   RECORD. 


319 


moved  to  Licking  county,  Ohio,  where  he 
engaged  in  farming,  and  there  remained  un- 
til 1852,  when  he  came  to  ^fcLean  county, 
locating  in  Hudson  township.  After  a  resi- 
dence there  of  two  years  he  moved  into 
Gridley  township,  where  he  purchased  a 
farm  of  one  hundred  acres,  and  there  re- 
mained until  1859,  when  he  sold  out,  and 
moving  to  the  village  of  Lexington,  engaged 
in  the  grocery  business  in  which  he  contin- 
ued until  1865,  when  he  sold  out  and  lived 
retired  until  his  death,  which  occurred  June 
5,  1885.  He  was  twice  married,  and  by 
his  first  wife  there  were  born  six  children — 
Wyatt,  William,  Benjamin,  Jane,  Caroline 
and  Matilda.  On  the  death  of  his  first  wife 
he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Barbara  Jen- 
kins, and  by  this  union  there  were  born 
seven  children:  John,  living  in  Lexington; 
Pheboe  Ann,  who  married  James  O.  Bar- 
nard, and  died  in  Kansas;  Henrj',  residing 
in  Kansas;  Thomas  B.,  living  in  Iroquois 
county,  Illinois;  Mary,  wife  of  John  W. 
Simpson,  and  residing  in  Oklahoma  Terri- 
torj';  Joseph  M. ,  our  subject;  and  Martha, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  two  years.  Thorn- 
ton Weakly  in  politics  was  a  Democrat,  and 
religiously  was  a  member  of  the  Christian 
church,  while  his  last  wife  was  a  member 
of  the  Baptist  church.  She  died  January 
5,   1861. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  his 
primary  education  in  the  schools  of  his  na- 
tive county  and  those  of  McLean  county,  to 
which  he  came  with  his  father  in  1852.  In 
I S62  he  became  a  student  in  Eureka  College, 
where  he  continued  until  in  April,  1S64, 
when  he  enlisted  in  the  One  Hundred  and 
Forty-fifth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  and 
was  mustered  into  the  service  at  Springfield. 
With  his  regiment  he  went  to  Rolla,  Mis- 
souri,  and  for  about  five  months  was   en- 


gaged in  guard  duty.  He  was  discharged 
from  the  service,  October  5,  1864,  and  re- 
turning home  he  engaged  in  teaching  in  the 
public  schools  of  McLean  county. 

While  engaged  in  teaching  Mr.  \\'eakly 
borrowed  law  books  and  took  up  the  study 
of  law.  He  continued  his  readings  until 
1 87 1,  when  he  went  to  Mt.  Vernon,  and  be- 
fore the  supreme  court  passed  a  successful 
examination  and  was  admitted  to  practice 
in  the  courts  of  the  state.  He  continued 
teaching,  however,  for  five  years  after  pass- 
ing examination,  in  the  meantime  keeping 
up  his  studies  and  taking  such  cases  as  catne 
to  him  and  which  would  not  interfere  with 
his  school  duties.  In  1876  he  began  active 
practice  in  Lexington,  and  where  he  has 
since  continued  with  unqualified  success. 
While  studying  and  teaching,  he  would  often 
in  the  early  morning  go  to  the  log  stable, 
and  climbing  up  into  the  hay  mow  with  his 
Blackstone  and  Kent's  Commentaries,  as  he 
expressed  it,  would  literally  pound  out  of 
them  the  law. 

For  about  five  years  he  was  in  active 
practice  with  Shelton  Smith,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Weakly  &  Smith,  since  which  time 
he  has  been  alone.  In  1S68,  he  began  the 
insurance  business  in  connection  with  his 
other  duties,  and  still  continues  in  that  line, 
representing  at  present  the  Phoenix  of  Hart- 
ford, National  of  Hartford,  the  German  of 
Freeport,  the  Rockford,  the  North  British 
and  Mercantile  of  London  and  Edinburg. 
He  has  also  engaged  in  the  real  estate  and 
loan  business  for  some  years,  loaning  on 
town  and  farm  property. 

On  the  2ist  of  October,  1S71,  Mr. 
Weakly  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Louisa  J.  Waybright,  a  native  of  Virginia, 
born  February  23,  1845,  and  daughter  of 
Miles  Waybright,  also  a  native   of  the  Old 


320 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Dominion,  who  came  with  his  family  to  Mc- 
Lean county  in  1852,  and  who  located  in 
Old  Town  township.  To  our  subject  and 
wife  four  children  were  born.  Shelton  died 
December  17,  1897,  while  serving  as  deputy 
county  clerk.  He  was  formerly  engaged  as 
station  agent  for  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Rail- 
road at  Blackstone,  Illinois.  Hattie  N. 
married  Wilbur  Thomas,  and  they  reside  in 
Bloomington.  He  is  a  good  musician  and 
the  leader  of  the  choir  in  the  Unitarian 
church  at  Bloomington.  Minnie  is  attend- 
ing the  schools  of  Lexington.  Lawrence 
Weldon,  who  was  named  in  honor  of  Judge 
Weldon,  of  Bloomington,  who  was  asso- 
ciated for  a  time  with  our  subject,  is  also 
attending  the  schools  of  Le.xington. 

In  politics  Mr.  Weakly  is  a  Republican. 
For  many  years  he  has  represented  his  party 
in  county  and  state  conventions,  and  has 
always  exerted  a  good  influence  in  those 
bodies.  He  has  been  township  clerk,  city 
clerk,  and  for  twenty  years  has  been  city 
attorney.  Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of 
McLean  Lodge,  No.  206,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and 
also  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  In  religion 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  church,  as 
are  also  his  wife  and  children.  As  a  citi- 
zen, he  is  enterprising  and  progressive,  ever 
ready  to  lend  a  helping  hand  to  every  enter- 
prise calculated  to  be  of  assistance  to  his 
adopted  city  and  county.  He  has  the  con- 
fidence and  esteem  of  the  entire  community 
in  which  he  has  so  long  resided. 


JAMES  GOODHEART,  a  leading  con- 
tractor and  builder  of  Bloomington  and 
one  of  its  representative  and  highly-re- 
spected citizens,  is  a  native  of  McLean 
county,  born  in  Dawson  township,  March 
30,  1830,  and  is  a  son  of  William  R.  and 


Sarah  Ann  (Clouse)  Goodheart,  honored 
pioneers  of  the  county.  The  father  was 
born  near  Edinburg,  Scotland,  December  i, 
1780,  and  had  a  most  eventful  and  interest- 
ing career.  The  name  of  Goodheart  is 
probably  a  corruption  of  Goddard.  Rather 
than  remain  under  the  English  rule,  the 
father,  from  choice,  went  to  Holland,  which 
was  then  in  a  political  turmoil  over  gaining 
a  republic,  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years,  in 
which  country  the  grandfather  lived  and 
died.  The  former  received  a  very  limited 
education,  and  at  an  early  age  was  bound 
out  to  learn  the  stonemason's  trade.  '  He 
had  nearly  completed  his  apprenticeship, 
when  a  difficulty  arose  between  himself  and 
master,  and  he  left  and  went  to  sea  as  a 
sailor  on  a  merchantman,  which  was  cap- 
tured soon  afterward  by  French  privateers 
and  he  was  pressed  into  the  French  naval 
service.  He  was  in  the  military  service  of 
France  for  seven  years,  a  part  of  which  time 
was  spent  on  sea  and  a  part  on  land.  He 
was  with  Napoleon  in  Italy  and  in  the  Rus- 
sian campaign,  where  he  witnessed  the  de- 
struction of  Moscow.  While  in  the  French 
service  he  had  one  leg  broken  and  was 
nearly  disemboweled.  After  receiving  his 
discharge  he  found  himself  without  home, 
friends,  or  even  a  nation,  and  under  these 
circumstances  he  enlisted  in  the  English 
navy  and  was  sent  to  Lake  Erie,  as  this  was 
during  our  second  war  with  England — that 
of  1812.  He  was  in  charge  of  a  gun  during 
the  battle  with  Commodore  Perry,  and  had 
in  his  command  three  Indians,  one  of  whom 
he  met  many  years  later  at  Blooming  Grove, 
Illinois.  During  that  engagement  Mr.  Good- 
heart  was  captured,  and  not  wishing  to  be 
exchanged  into  the  English  service,  he,  with 
others,  made  his  escape  the  first  night,  and 
after  some  days  of   hard  travel,  arrived  at 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


321 


Lancaster,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  enlisted 
in  General  Harrison's  command.  While  on 
his  way  to  join  the  American  army,  the  war 
ended  before  he  was  mustered  in,  and  the 
company  disbanded  without  discharge  pa- 
pers. He  then  returned  to  Lancaster.  He 
was  a  fine  swordsman,  and  once  challenged 
a  man  who  claimed  to  be  an  expert  and  was 
giving  an  exhibition  of  his  skill  in  McLean 
county,  and  knocked  the  sword  out  of  the 
showman's  hand. 

At  Franklin.  Ohio,  August  2,  18 14,  Will- 
iam R.  Goodheart  married  Miss  Sarah  Ann 
Clouse,  whose  parents  were  both  natives  of 
Germany.  She  was  born  in  1791,  and  died 
July  3,  1S72.  At  the  time  of  her  death  ten 
of  the  eleven  children  born  to  them  were 
still  living.  The  father  died  in  Bloomington 
April  3,  1842.  During  his  residence  in 
Ohio,  he  came  to  McLean  county,  Illinois, 
and  took  up  a  claim,  and  in  order  to  pay 
for  it  he  had  to  go  to  New  Orleans  on  a  flat 
boat,  the  trip  requiring  six  months.  He 
again  had  his  leg  broken  in  18 19,  and  dur- 
ing his  illness  he  was  converted  under  the 
preaching  of  Elder  Wright  and  united  with 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  in  the  work 
of  which  he  ever  afterward  took  an  active 
and  prominent  part.  He  became  a  licensed 
exhorter  but  refused  full  papers  as  a  minis- 
ter, believing  that  as  an  exhorter  he  could 
do  more  good.  He  canvassed  this  county 
completely  as  an  evangelist  and  was  one  of 
the  most  potent  workers  of  all  the  pioneer 
preachers  in  this  region.  His  home  was  al- 
ways the  stopping  place  for  the  circuit 
riders.  With  John  Hendrix  and  Jesse 
Frankeberger,  he  took  a  most  active  part  in 
founding  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  of  Bloomington,  in  which  he  served 
as  class-leader  and  steward,  and  filled  other 
offices.     Mr.  Goodheart  continued  to  make 


his  home  in  Ohio  until  the  fall  of  1824, 
when  he  moved  to  Pleasant  Hill,  McLean 
county,  Illinois  and  built  a  cabin,  but  on  ac- 
count of  some  annoyance  from  the  Indians, 
he  left  that  locality  and  settled  on  the  south- 
west outskirts  of  Bloomington,  building  a 
cabin  where  Heafer's  tile  yard  now  stands. 
There  he  manufactured  the  first  brick  ever 
made  in  the  county,  his  son  tending  the 
mud  and  his  daughter  carrying  away  the 
brick  when  molded.  With  these  bricks  he 
afterward  built  the  chimneys  for  the  early 
settlers.  He  located  here  when  the  county 
was  known  as  Fayette  county,  and  the  first 
claim  he  made,  he  sold  to  a  Mr.  Kennedy 
who  had  entered  it  as  a  claim  jumper  and  who 
gave  Mr.  Goodheart  three  hundred  dollars  for 
for  his  right.  This  was  the  first  money  of  any 
amount  that  the  latter  ever  possessed.  He 
next  moved  to  Old  Town  and  took  up  a 
claim,  which  he  soon  sold.  Returning  to  the 
northern  part  of  Bloomington,  he  secured  a 
claim  of  eighty  acres,  and  near  the  present 
site  of  Captain  Burnham's  residence,  he 
erected  a  house  by  setting  slabs  into  the 
ground  and  roofing  it.  This  place  he  traded 
to  William  Gorham  for  land  north  and  west 
of  Bloomington,  where  Alexander  Bryant 
now  livs,  and  on  eventually  selling  that 
farm  he  came  to  Bloomington,  locating  in 
the  southern  part  of  the  city,  where  he  made 
his  home  until  his  death  on  the  3rd  of  April, 
1842.  He  took  an  active  part  in  the  elec- 
tion of  William  Henry  Harrison  as  president 
of  the  United  States.  He  was  quite  a  lin- 
guist, speaking  several  different  languages, 
and  was  a  man  honored,  respected  and  es- 
teemed by  all  who  knew  him. 

James  Goodheart,  of  this  review,  at- 
tended the  early  schools  of  Bloomington 
until  his  father's  death  when  he  was  twelve 
years  old,  but  after  that  he  did  not  resume 


322 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


his  studies  until  he  was  nineteen,  as  he  was 
obliged  to  assist  his  mother  in  carrying  on 
the  home  farm,  as  the  other  children  had 
all  married  and  left  the  parental  roof. 
When  seventeen  he  went  to  Meredosia, 
Morgan  county,  Illinois,  where  he  worked 
with  his  brother  at  the  blacksmith's  trade 
for  one  year.  On  his  return  to  Blooming- 
ton  he  learned  the  mason's  trade  with 
Adam  Guthrie,  and  soon  commenced  con- 
tracting and  building  on  his  own  account, 
doing  most  of  the  work  on  the  Phcenix 
block,  after  the  fire  of  1855.  Since  then 
there  has  scarcely  been  a  block  in  the  city 
upon  which  he  has  not  worked. 

On  the  8th  of  August,  1862,  during  the 
dark  days  of  the  civil  war,  Mr.  Goodheart 
enlisted  in  Company  A,  Ninety-fourth  Illi- 
nois Volunteer  Infantry,  and  from  the  camp 
at  Springfield,  Illinois,  went  to  Raleigh, 
Missouri,  and  to  Springfield,  that  state, 
and  on  through  the  Ozark  mountains  to  the 
Wilson  creek  battle  grounds.  With  his 
command  he  proceeded  to  Fayetteville,  Ar- 
kansas, passing  over  the  Pea  Ridge  battle 
ground  at  Elkhorn  Tavern,  and  was  in  his 
first  engagement  at  Prairie  Grove.  He  next 
went  to  Van  Buren  and  from  there  returned 
to  St.  Louis,  and  from  there  to  Vicksburg, 
and  during  the  siege  at  that  place  was  south 
of  the  city,  his  command  working  their  way 
toward  the  fort  inch  by  inch  and  being  un- 
der fire  night  and  day.  The  officers  de- 
termined to  capture  a  rifle  pit  which  kept 
picking  off  their  men,  and  our  subject  was 
selected  with  the  one  hundred  men  chosen 
to  perform  this  task.  They  moved  up  close 
to  the  place  in  the  night,  crawling  a  half 
mile,  and  succeeded  in  capturing  it.  With 
his  regiment  Mr.  Goodheart  next  went  to 
Port  Hudson,  where  they  remained  a  month 
and    then    went    into   camp   at   Carrollton, 


Louisiana,  in  the  midst  of  an  orange,  lemon 
and  pecan  grove.  From  there  they  went 
to  Morganza,  where  they  met  Dick  Taylor 
and  his  command  and  took  part  in  a  lively 
engagement  in  the  night,  during  which  our 
subject  had  his  blanket  shot  off  his  shoul- 
ders. After  this  the  regiment  retreated  for 
eleven  miles  but  he  was  too  ill  to  go  with 
them.  He  was  found  in  the  afternoon  by 
the  surgeon  and  ordered  to  the  boat.  After 
walking  four  or  five  miles  his  major,  A.  T. 
Briscoe,  gave  him  his  horse  and  he  rode 
the  remainder  of  the  way.  He  was  ill  for 
some  time  and  was  in  the  invalid  corps  at 
Carrollton  and  Factor's  Press,  New  Orleans, 
until  December,  1863,  during  which  time 
he  often  heard  Dr.  J.  P.  Newman  preach  at 
the  Carondolet  Street  Church,  of  that  city. 
He  next  went  to  Algiers,  a  detached  camp, 
and  was  promoted  to  orderly  sergeant  in 
command  of  the  detachment  of  eighty-seven 
men.  Going  aboard  the  transport  E.  L. 
Clark,  he  went  to  Indianola,  Texas,  but 
they  were  not  allowed  to  land,  and  returned 
to  New  Orleans  on  the  Crescent,  landing  at 
Port  Isabel.  Mr.  Goodheart  was  left  on  the 
transport  with  the  sutler's  supplies,  and 
next  went  to  Brownsville,  Texas,  arriving 
there  on  the  26th  of  December,  1863.  He 
remained  in  that  state  until  the  following 
July,  during  which  time  he  first  saw  a  man 
shot  for  desertion.  As  a  civil  engineer 
under  Major  Hamilton,  he  had  command 
of  a  gang  of  bricklayers  at  work  on  Fort 
Brown  from  the  ist  of  April  until  leaving 
that  place,  and  while  there  his  captain  was 
court-martialed  and  discharged.  Mr.  Good- 
hart  returned  to  New  Orleans  and  Fort 
Morgan  by  the  old  transport  Cape  Dale, 
and  swinging  under  their  guns  landed  at 
Fort  Gaines,  nearby,  the  day  after  Farragut 
won  his  great  victory.     With  his  command 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


323 


he  next  went  up  Mobile  bay  for  six  miles 
and  was  one  of  the  first  to  land  at  the 
mouth  of  Fish  river.  Then  commenced  a 
siege  lasting  fourteen  days,  during  which 
the  Union  troops  dug  their  way  in  a  zigzag 
ditch  right  under  Fort  Morgan.  Here  Mr. 
Goodheart  took  the  scurvy  and  saw  no 
more  actice  service  except  in  the  ambu- 
lance corps  at  Pascagoula  and  Spanish 
Fort.  He  was  at  the  latter  place  at  the 
time  of  President  Lincoln's  assassination. 
From  there  his  detachment  went  to  Mobile, 
and  he  was  ordered  to  Galveston,  Texas, 
with  one  man,  one  ambulance  and  two 
mules.  After  that  he  was  ordered  aboard 
the  transport  Lone  Star  and  landed  at 
Pier,  six  miles  south  of  Houston,  on  the 
Santa  Fe  road.  He  next  went  with  his 
detachment  and  the  Twenty-third  Iowa 
Volunteer  Infantry  to  Columbus,  Texas, 
where  he  remained  until  July,  1865,  when 
he  was  ordered  back  to  be  mustered  out  at 
New  Orleans,  and  from  there  proceeded  to 
Cairo,  Illinois.  The  regiment  was  highly 
honored  in  many  ways  after  their  return 
home,  to  which  it  was  justly  entitled. 

Mr.  Goodheart  commenced  working  by 
the  day  at  his  trade  for  A.  L.  Cox,  with  the 
understanding  that  as  soon  as  the  outstand- 
ing contracts  were  fullfilled  that  he  was 
to  be  admitted  to  a  partnership  in  the  busi- 
ness, which  was  done  at  the  end  of  six 
weeks,  and  for  a  number  of  years  business 
was  carried  on  under  the  firm  name  of  Cox 
&  Goodheart.  After  the  partnership  was 
dissolved,  Mr.  Goodheart  took  the  contract 
to  build  the  Soldiers'  Orphan  Home  at 
Normal,  and  in  this  he  met  with  excellent 
success.  He  continued  contracting  until 
1874,  when  he  was  elected  sheriff  of  Mc- 
Lean county  through  no  effort  on  his  part. 
At  the  time  he  found  that    his   father's  ex- 


tensive acquaintance  throughout  the  county 
was  of  great  benefit  to  him.  He  assumed 
the  duties  of  the  office  on  the  6th  of  De- 
cember, 1874,  and  proved  a  most  com- 
petent and  satisfactory  official.  Later  he 
served  for  two  years  as  United  States  dep- 
uty marshal,  and  also  met  with  most  ex- 
cellent success  in  detective  work.  Since 
then  he  has  devoted  his  entire  time  and 
attention  to  contracting  and  building,  and 
on  all  sides  may  be  seen  evidence  of  his 
skill  in  his  chosen  occupation.  He  is  now 
the  owner  of  considerable  real  estate,  al- 
though he  lost  his  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  in  this  county  while  in  the  army. 
On  the  26th  of  August,  1852,  Mr.  Good- 
heart  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Catherine  O.  Fordice,  who  was  born  and 
reared  in  Bloomington,  her  father  having 
come  here  from  Nova  Scotia  at  an  early 
day.  Of  the  twelve  children  born  to  them 
eight  are  still  living,  namely:  Irene,  wife  of 
James  Rundle;  Luke,  a  merchant  of  Den- 
ver, Colorado,  who  is  married  and  has  two 
children;  Palmer  Lincoln,  of  Chicago,  who 
is  married  and  has  one  child;  John,  a  phy- 
sician of  Lexington,  McLean  county,  who 
is  married  and  has  two  children;  Jesse,  an 
artist  of  Bloomington,  who  is  married  and 
has  one  son;  James,  of  Bloomington;  Jose- 
phine, wife  of  Charles  Marquis,  of  Denver, 
Colorado;  and  Benjamin,  who  is  now  at- 
tending law  school.  Of  those  deceased 
Wertie  died  at  the  age  of  ten  years.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Goodheart  have  for  many  years 
been  members  of  the  First  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church  of  Bloomington,  in  which 
he  has  held  every  office  except  that  of 
licensed  preacher.  He  had  charge  of  the 
chapel  for  three  years,  was  supermtend- 
ent  of  the  Sunday-school  at  Twin  Grove 
for    the    same    length    of    time,     and    of 


324 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


the  West  Chestnut  Street  Sunday-school 
for  a  year.  For  a  number  of  years  he 
was  a  member  oi  Bloomington  Lodge, 
No.  43,  F.  &  A.  M.,  but  is  not  active  in 
that  fraternity  now.  He  belongs  to  W.  T. 
Sherman  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  in  which  he  is 
serving  as  chaplain.  Mr.  Goodheart  stands 
to-day  in  his  mature  years  a  strong  man, 
strong  in  the  consciousness  of  well-spent 
years,  strong  to  plan  and  perform,  strong  in 
his  credit  and  good  name,  and  a  worthy 
example  for  young  men  to  pattern  after. 


JOHN  BAREMORE,  who  resides  on  a 
farm  adjoining  the  village  of  Downs,  in 
Downs  township,  and  which  was  originally 
the  old  home  place  of  John  Price,  which 
was  entered  from  the  government  in  1833, 
has  been  a  resident  of  the  county  since 
1854.  He  was  born  in  Green  county, 
Pennsylvania,  July  28,  1837,  and  there  re- 
mained until  he  was  seventeen  years  old,  in 
the  meantime  receiving  a  fair  common- 
school  education.  In  1854  he  was  em- 
ployed to  assist  in  driving  a  flock  of  sheep 
from  eastern  Ohio  to  McLean  county,  Illi- 
nois, and  arriving  here  he  formed  a  good 
impression  of  the  country  and  decided  to  re- 
main. He  first  found  employment  with 
the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  Company  in 
the  construction  of  fences  along  the  line  of 
the  road  south  of  Bloomington,  after  which 
he  was  employed  by  William  Orendorff  and 
sons  in  farm  labor,  and  remained  with  them 
seven  years. 

On  the  28th  of  October,  i860,  Mr. 
Baremore  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Caroline  Orendorff,  who  was  born  and 
reared  in  McLean  county,  and  daughter  of 
Thomas  Orendorff,  formerly  from  South 
Carolina,    and   who   was   numbered    among 


the  early  settlers  of  the  county.  By  this 
union  three  children  have  been  born:  Lue, 
now  the  wife  of  G.  G.  Dooley,  a  farmer  of 
Downs  township;  Lon,  who  is  single  and 
remaining  at  home;  and  Ray,  married,  and 
residing  on  the  home  farm. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Baremore  rented 
a  farm  in  Bloomington  tosvnship  and  there 
remained  for  eighteen  years.  He  then 
bought  the  place  where  he  now  resides, 
consisting  of  one  hundred  and  forty-nine 
acres.  The  place  was  one  of  the  oldest  in 
the  neighborhood,  and  was  a  well-known 
farm.  Since  coming  into  the  possession  of 
Mr.  Baremore  many  improvements  have 
been  made.  He  has  built  two  large  and 
neat  residences,  good  barns  and  outbuild- 
ings, and  otherwise  improved  the  farm, 
thus  adding  to  its  value. 

Originally,  Mr.  Baremore  was  a  Demo- 
crat, and  his  first  presidential  vote  was  cast 
for  the  "  Little  Giant,"  Stephen  A.  Doug- 
las, and  he  continued  to  vote  with  that 
party  until  1896,  when  he  voted  for  Will- 
iam McKinley.  He  has  fre<juent]y  served  as 
a  delegate  to  the  various  county  and  state 
conventions  of  his  party,  and  hasalway  en- 
deavored to  advance  the  best  interests  of  the 
the  party.  In  local  positions  he  has  served 
as  assessor  of  his  township,  and  was  road 
commissioner  for  nine  consecutive  years. 
He  has  also  served  as  school  director  for  a 
number  of  years,  and  has  been  chairman  of 
the  board.  His  interest  in  the  public 
schools  has  been  such  as  he  could  not  be- 
grudge the  time  spent  in  the  endeavor  to 
secure  good  schools  and  good  teachers. 
Mr.  Baremore  himself  is  connected  with  no 
church,  but  his  wife  is  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  church. 

Coming  to  this  county  in  his  youth, 
without    means    or  personal    influence,  Mr. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


325 


Baremore  has  quietly  gone  on  his  way,  at- 
tending to  his  business  interests,  the  result 
being  that  he  can  look  back  over  a  life  well 
spent,  and  with  the  satisfaction  of  knowing 
that  whatever  success  has  attended  him  has 
been  on  account  of  his  own  merits,  with  the 
assistance  of  a  faithful  wife  who  has  been  a 
true  helpmeet  to  him.  Forty-five  years  resi- 
dence among  a  people  will  show  what  is  in 
a  man,  and  the  many  friends  of  Mr.  Bare- 
more  will  testify  to  his  manly  qualities  and 
worth  as  a  citizen. 


JOHN  McCONNELL,  an  honored  and 
highly  respected  citizen  of  Le  Roy,  now 
living  a  retired  life,  was  for  almost  forty 
years  prominently  identified  with  the  agri- 
cultural interests  of  this  county  and  bore 
an  active  and  prominent  part  in  its  early  de- 
velopment and  upbuilding.  As  a  business 
man  he  was  ever  progresive,  energetic  and 
reliable,  and  his  well  directed  efforts  have 
been  crowned  with  success,  making  him  one 
of  the  most  substantial  citizens  of  his  com- 
munity. 

Mr.  McConnell  was  born  in  Hamilton 
county,  Ohio,  April  9,  1832,  and  is  of 
Scotch-Irish  extraction,  his  ancestors  hav- 
ing removed  from  Scotland  to  Ireland  at  an 
early  day  and  some  years  later  to  the  new 
world.  They  located  in  Pennsylvania  and 
were  among  the  early  settlers  of  that  state. 
There  the  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
William  McConnell.  Sr. ,  was  born.  The 
father,  William  McConnell,  was  born  April 
12,  1778,  and  reared  in  Westmoreland 
county,  Pennsylvania,  and  there  married 
Miss  Catherine  A.  Lafever,  also  a  native 
of  that  county  and  a  daughter  of  Miner 
Lafever,  who  in  later  years  became  a  res- 
ident of  Knox    county,   Ohio.      Soon   after 


his  marriage  Mr.  McConnell  removed  to 
Knox  county,  but  after  living  there  for  a 
time  he  returned  to  Pennsylvania,  and  on 
again  going  to  Ohio  settled  in  Hamilton 
county,  at  North  Bend,  where  he  cleared 
and  improved  a  farm.  He  owned  flat- 
boats  which  he  run  down  the  Ohio  and 
Mississippi  rivers,  carrying  not  only  his  own 
farm  produce,  but  also  that  which  he 
bought  of  others.  He  was  a  good  business 
man  and  quite  a  politician,  giving  his  in- 
fluence and  support  to  the  old  Whig  party, 
for  whose  interest  he  labored  untiringly. 
He  was  a  neighbor  and  great  personal 
friend  of  General  W.  H.  Harrison,  whom 
he  supported  for  the  presidency.  He  was 
a  soldier  of  the  war  of  1812  and  was  given 
a  land  warrant  in  recognition  of  his  ser- 
vices. He  bought  and  improved  several 
farms  in  Hamilton  county,  Ohio,  also  lived 
for  a  time  in  Butler  county,  that  state,  and 
spent  several  years  in  Dearborn  county,  In- 
diana. Subsequently  he  bought  a  partialty 
improved  tract  of  four  hundred  acres  of 
land  in  Wabash  county,  Indiana,  and  on 
selling  that  returned  to  Hamilton  county, 
Ohio,  where  he  lived  retired  at  the  home  of 
a  daughter  until  called  from  this  life  Octo- 
ber 2,  1876,  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  nearly 
eighty-eighty  years.  While  he  took  an 
active  part  in  politics  he  never  cared  for 
official  honors,  though  he  served  a  number 
of  years  as  justice  of  the  peace  in  a  most  com- 
mendable manner.  His  wife  died  near  Con- 
nersville,  Indiana,  and  he  was  laid  to  rest  by 
her  side.  Of  the  twelve  children  born  to 
them  one  died  in  infancy,  and  with  the  ex- 
ception of  three  all  are  now  deceased. 
Those  living  are  John,  our  subject;  Mrs.  T. 
L.  Buck,  of  Le  Roy,  Illinois;  and  Mrs. 
Catherine  Lafever,  a  widow,  of  Hiawatha, 
Brown  county,  Kansas. 


326 


THE    BIOGR.\PHICAL    RECORD. 


The  boyhood  and  youth  of  John  Mc- 
Connell  was  passed  in  Ohio  and  Indiana, 
and  he  assisted  his  father  in  opening  up 
and  improving  several  farms.  His  primary 
education  was  obtained  in  the  common 
schools  and  was  supplemented  by  several 
terms  attendance  at  Farmers  College,  Col- 
lege Hill,  Ohio — quite  a  noted  school  near 
Cincinnati.  In  1855,  he  first  came  to  Mc- 
Lean county,  Illinois,  on  a  prospecting  tour 
with  his  father  and  purchased  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  land  on  section  35, 
Downs  township,  where  his  uncle  bought  a 
half  section.  Our  subject  then  returned  to 
Ohio  and  completed  his  education.  In 
1857  he  located  upon  his  land,  his  first 
house  here  being  a  plank  shanty,  and  to  the 
cultivation  and  improvement  of  this  place 
he  at  once  turned  his  attention.  That 
winter  and  for  several  winters  following  he 
engaged  in  teaching  school,  and  he  acted 
as  clerk  of  the  first  meeting  called  for  the 
purpose  of  organizing  Downs  township. 

At  first  Mr.  McConnell  lived  alone  upon 
his  farm,  but  on  the  17th  of  June,  1862,  he 
was  married  in  this  county  to  Miss  Martha 
E.  Buck,  a  native  of  Le  Roy  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  Squire  Hiram  Buck,  one  of  the  first 
settlers  of  the  county,  having  come  here 
from  Ohio  in  1836.  To  our  subject  and 
his  wife  were  born  three  children,  but  Anna 
Belle,  the  eldest,  died  at  the  age  of  eight- 
een years.  The  sons,  Hiram  E.  and  Will- 
iam M.,  twins,  are  well  educated-young 
men,  who  attended  the  Wesleyan  Univer- 
sity and  the  Bloomington  Business  College, 
and  are  now  successfully  operating  the 
Rural  Ranch  farm  in  Downs  township. 
William  M.  married  Maud  Luella  Gilmore, 
May  II,  1899. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  McConnell  began  their 
domestic  life  upon  his  farm,   where  he  has 


erected  two  residences,  the  latter,  a  large 
and  substantial  one,  being  one  of  the  best 
in  the  township.  He  also  built  large  barns 
and  other  outbuildings,  which  are  among 
the  finest  in  the  locality.  He  has  pur- 
chased more  land  from  time  to  time,  and  now 
owns  and  controls  nearly  eight  hundred 
acres,  divided  into  four  well-improved  and 
valuable  farms,  which  are  known  as  the 
Rural  Ranch  farm  of  Downs  township;  Fern 
Bank  farm,  a  summer  resort  in  Empire 
township;  Hazle  Dell  farm,  a  timber  tract 
in  Empire  township;  and  Level  Dale  farm, 
mostly  in  Downs  township.  In  1894  he 
bought  a  place  in  Le  Roy,  known  as  Pine 
Wood,  has  rebuilt  and  remodeled  the  resi- 
dence, making  of  it  a  good  home,  and  there 
he  expects  to  spend  the  remainder  of  his 
life  in  ease  and  quiet,  surrounded  by  all 
the  comforts  which  make  life  worth  the 
living. 

Politically  Mr.  McConnell  has  been  a 
lifelong  Republican  and  took  an  active  part 
in  the  Lincoln  campaign.  He  was  per- 
sonally acquainted  with  the  Harrison  family 
in  Ohio,  including  ex-President  Benjamin 
Harrison.  He  takes  an  active  interest  in 
local  politics;  was  elected  highway  com- 
missioner at  the  second  election  after  the 
formation  of  Downs  township;  was  assessor 
two  years;  and  supervisor  for  five  consecu- 
tive years,  during  which  time  he  served  on 
a  number  of  important  committees.  He 
was  one  of  the  most  prominent  members  of 
the  honorable  county  board,  has  ever  made 
a  faithful  and  efficient  officer,  and  has  been 
an  influential  delegate  to  numerous  county 
conventions.  He  has  been  township  trustee 
of  schools,  and  since  coming  to  Le  Roy 
assisted  in  Fair  Association,  of  which  he 
was  president  for  two  years.  He  has  borne 
an  active  and  prominent    part  in   the  up- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


327 


building  and  development  of  his  adopted 
count}',  has  contributed  to  the  erection  and 
support  of  all  the  churches  of  Le  Roy,  and 
has  given  liberally  to  all  enterprises  cal- 
culated to  prove  of  public  benefit.  As  one 
of  the  most  valued  and  useful  citizens  of  the 
community  and  an  honored  pioneer,  he  is 
worthy  of  the  high  regard  in  which  he  is 
uniformly  held. 


JOHN  A.  TUTHILL,  M.  D.,  is  one  of 
the  successful  physicians  and  surgeons 
of  McLean  county,  and  a  prominent  resi- 
dent of  Le  Roy.  He  has  much  natural  abil- 
ity, but  is  withal  a  close  student  and  be- 
lieves thoroughly  in  the  maxim  "  there  is  no 
excellence  without  labor."  His  devotion  to 
the  duties  of  his  profession  therefore,  com- 
bined with  a  comprehensive  understanding  of 
the  principles  of  the  science  of  medicine, 
has  made  him  a  most  successful  and  able 
practitioner,  whose  prominence  is  well  de- 
served. 

The  Doctor  was  born  in  Miami  county, 
Ohio,  March  21,  1855,  and  traces  his  an- 
cestry back  to  John  Tuthill,  the  Pilgrim, 
who  came  to  the  new  world  from  Norfolk- 
shire,  England  in  1639,  land  at  New  Haven, 
Connecticut.  He,  with  thirteen  other  fam- 
ilies, founded  the  first  English  settlement  in 
New  York,  on  Long  Island.  From  his  sec- 
ond son  Joshua,  we  trace  the  line  in  direct 
descent  to  our  subject  through  Joshua,  Jr., 
Daniel  and  Samuel,  all  of  whom  were  born 
on  Long  Island;  Captain  John,  the  grand- 
father of  our  subject;  and  Dr.  John  \V. ,  the 
father. 

Captain  John  Tuthill  was  born  on  Long 
Island,  in  1795,  and  was  a  member  of  the 
Fourth  New  York  Artillery  in  the  war  of 
1812,  being  stationed  a  part  of   the  time  in 


New  York  harbor,  and  later  at  Fort  McHen- 
ry,  Baltimore,  Maryland,  when  the  British 
stormed  that  battery  and  Francis  S.  Keys 
wrote  his  celebrated  song — the  Star  Span- 
gled Banner.  In  1S30  Captain  Tuthill  re- 
moved from  New  York  to  Ohio  and  settled 
in  Cincinnati,  but  soon  afterward  located 
in  Darke  county,  where  he  pre-empted  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land.  He  had 
previously  learned  the  silversmith's  trade  in 
the  basement  of  the  old  Federal  building 
in  New  York  city,  where  \\'ashington  was 
first  inaugurated,  and  later  followed  the 
same  in  Cincinnati  and  Dayton,  Ohio.  He 
reared  his  family  on  a  farm  in  Darke  county 
and  became  one  of  the  prominent  citizens 
of  that  locality.  He  was  commissioned 
captain  of  a  company  in  'the  Ohio  militia, 
by  Governor  Shannon,  and  while  living 
in  New  York  he  purchased  a  sword  of  a 
German  officer,  who  was  also  a  captain 
and  had  used  the  weapon  in  the  battle  of 
Waterloo.  He  used  the  sword  while  acting 
as  captain  in  the  Ohio  state  militia.  This 
sword  is  now  in  the  possession  of  our  sub- 
ject. 

Dr.  John  \V.  Tuthill,  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  Hamilton  county,  Ohio, 
in  1832,  but  was  reared  in  Darke  county. 
He  was  well  educated,  having  attended 
Antioch  College,  then  under  the  direction 
of  Horace  Mann,  the  great  educator  of 
his  day.  He  also  learned  the  carpenter's 
trade,  at  which  he  worked  for  several  years 
in  early  life.  Subsequently  he  took  up  the 
study  of- medicine  at  the  Cincinnati  Eclectic 
Medical  College,  where  he  was  graduated, 
having  finished  the  prescribed  course  after 
service  in  the  civil  war.  In  1857  he  re- 
moved to  Farmer  City,  Illinois,  and  at  that 
place  he  enlisted  in  1861  in  Company  F, 
Second  Illinois  Cavalry.      From  private  he 


328 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


was  promoted  to  first  sergeant  and  was 
orderly  to  General  McClellan  during  the 
battle  of  Shiloh.  He  remained  in  the  ser- 
vice for  four  years,  and  with  the  western 
army  took  part  in  many  engagements  in 
Tennessee,  Kentucky  and  Mississippi,  includ- 
ing the  battle  of  Vicksburg.  At  the  close 
of  the  war  he  was  honorably  discharged  and 
returned  to  his  home  in  Farmer  City,  but 
in  1877  went  to  his  native  state  and  has 
since  been  engaged  in  the  active  practice 
of  his  profession  at  West  Milton,  Miami 
county.  In  that  county  he  married  Miss 
Elizabeth  Hutchins,  a  native  of  Ohio,  and 
a  daughter  of  Josiah  Hutchins,  who  was 
born  in  North  Carolina  of  English  parentage, 
and  was  an  early  settler  of  Ohio. 

Dr.  John  A.  Tuthill,  of  this  review, 
grew  to  manhood  in  Illinois  and  acquired 
his  literary  education  in  the  high  school  of 
Farmer  City  and  the  Dupaw  University. 
He  began  the  study  of  medicine  under  Dr. 
A.  L.  Norris,  of  Farmer  City,  and  subse- 
quently took  a  course  of  lectures  at  the 
medical  department  of  the  State  University 
of  Iowa,  where  he  was  graduated  in  1881. 
In  1 89 1  he  took  a  post  graduate  course  at 
the  Post  Graduate  College,  Chicago.  On 
the  lOth  of  March,  1881,  a  few  days  after 
his  graduation,  he  opened  an  office  in  Le 
Roy  and  began  practice  in  the  face  of 
strong  opposition,  as  there  were  already 
four  physicians  in  the  place.  His  skill  and 
ability  soon  became  widely  recognized,  how- 
ever, and  he  was  not  long  in  building  up 
the  large  and  lucrative  practice  which  he 
still  enjoys. 

On  the  26th  of  October,  1882,  Dr.  Tut- 
hill was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Lida 
Kline,  of  Le  Roy,  a  native  of  McLean 
county,  who  was  educated  in  the  Illinois 
Wesleyan  University  and  was  a  successful 


teacher  of  LeRoy  for  several  years.  Her 
father,  John  Kline,  a  successful  and  well-to- 
do  farmer  of  this  county,  came  here  when  a 
young  man  in  1855,  married  Miss  Ellen 
Buck,  the  mother  of  Mrs.  Tuthill.  The 
Doctor  and  his  wife  have  a  family  of  five 
children,  who  are  all  attending  school  in  Le 
Roy:  Helen  in  the  high  school,  Kline  and 
Carl  in  the  grammar  department;  and  Hugh 
and  Harry,  twins,  in  the  intermediate  de- 
partment. 

Since  casting  his  first  presidential  vote 
for  James  G.  Blaine,  Dr.  Tuthill  has  sup- 
ported every  Republican  candidate  for  the 
presidency,  but  he  has  never  been  an  office 
seeker,  preferring  to  give  his  undivided  at- 
tention to  his  professional  duties.  As  a 
friend  of  education,  he  has  used  his  influence 
to  secure  good  schools  and  teachers  and  has 
most  efficiently  served  as  a  member  of  the 
school  board  for  several  terms.  He  has 
also  been  a  member  of  the  town  board,  and 
is  now  serving  his  second  term  as  alderman 
of  his  ward.  Religiously  he  and  his  wife 
belong  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
and  socially  he  is  a  prominent  member  of 
the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  the  Im- 
proved Order  of  Red  Men,  and  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  having  served  as  master  of  the 
Blue  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.,  for  three  years  and 
as  representative  to  the  grand  lodge  of  the 
state  for  two  terms.  He  is  a  man  of  recog- 
nized prominence  in  social  and  professional 
circles  and  is  very  popular  with  all  classes 
of  people. 


EDGAR  D.  HARBER.  Success  is  de- 
termined by  one's  ability  to  recognize 
opportunity,  and  to  pursue  this  with  a  reso- 
lute and  unflagging  energy.  It  results  from 
continued  labor,  and  the  man  who  thus  ac- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


329 


complishes  his  purpose  usually  becomes  an 
important  factor  in  the  business  circles  of 
the  community  with  which  he  is  connected. 
Mr.  Harber,  through  such  means,  has  at- 
tained a  leading  place  among  the  repre- 
sentative men  of  Bloomington,  and  his  well- 
spent  and  honorable  life  commands  the 
respect  of  all  who  know  him. 

A  native  of  Illinois,  he  was  born  in 
Eureka,  Woodford  county,  January  2,  1857, 
and  is  a  son  of  David  P.  and  Martha  A. 
(Nance)  Harber,  who  are  mentioned  more 
fully  in  the  sketch  of  B.  F.  Harber  on  an- 
other page  of  this  volume.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools,  and  on  laying 
aside  his  test  books  entered  a  business 
house  in  Eureka,  where  he  acquired  a  good 
practical  knowledge  of  business  methods 
under  his  father,  who  was  proprietor  of  the 
store.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  was  given 
an  interest  in  the  business,  which  was  then 
carried  on  under  the  f5rm  name  of  David  P. 
Harber  &  Son,  retail  dealers  in  agricultural 
implements.  Later  his  brothers  became 
members  of  the  company,  and  the  father 
finally  retired.  Our  subject  was  one  of  the 
youngest  and  most  successful  salesman  in 
his  line  in  that  part  of  the  state  and  on  be- 
coming interested  in  the  business  at  the  age 
of  sixteen  years  served  as  salesman,  book- 
keeper and  buyer,  all  combined.  The  firm 
continued  to  successfully  engage  in  business 
in  Eureka  until  January,  1886,  when,  seek- 
ing a  broader  field  of  labor,  they  came  to 
Bloomington.  The  first  year  here  they 
were  in  a  one-story  iron-clad  building,  428 
and  430  North  Main  street,  but  after  six 
months  spent  there  they  found  their  accom- 
modations two  small  and  erected  a  three- 
story  brick  building  with  a  basement.  The 
following  year  they  built  a  two-story  brick 
block   on   Center  street,   and   a  year  later 


finding  it  was  necessary  to  have  still  larger 
quarters  and  side-track  advantages,  they 
erected,  in  1891,  the  building  that  they  now 
occupy.  This  is  fifty-seven  by  two  hundred 
feet,  entending  from  Center  to  Main  street, 
is  five  stories  in  height  with  a  basement, 
and  is  particularly  adapted  to  their  business. 
Besides  this  they  have  ware-rooms  else- 
where. Since  coming  to  Bloomington  their 
trade  has  steadily  increased,  and  they  now 
devote  their  attention  almost  exclusively  to 
the  wholesale  business,  as  dealers  in  vehi- 
cles, farming  machinery  and  binding  twine. 
Their  trade  extends  over  Illinois,  Iowa  and 
Indiana,  with  distributing  houses  at  Bur- 
lington, Iowa,  and  Freeport,  Illinois.  They 
give  employment  to  a  large  number  of 
men  and  do  more  business  than  any  other 
house  in  their  line  in  the  state.  The  mem- 
bers of  the  firm  are  also  stockholders  in 
many  of  the  factories  that  manufacture  the 
goods  which  they  sell. 

On  the  17th  of  January,  1884,  Edgar 
D.  Harber  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Fannie  Price  Young,  of  Bloomington,  and 
to  them  have  been  born  four  children:  Edith 
Clara,  Ina  Martha,  Rachel  and  Dorothy. 
The  family  have  a  beautiful  home  at  No. 
1308  North  Main  street,  which  has  become 
the  center  of  a  cultured  society  circle.  Both 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harber  are  members  of  the 
Christian  church,  and  he  also  belongs  to 
Wade  Barney  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  the 
Bloomington  Club.  While  a  resident  of 
Eureka  he  took  quite  an  active  and  promi- 
nent part  in  public  affairs,  serving  as  mayor 
of  the  city,  and  school  treasurer  for  a  number 
of  years.  It  is  in  business  circles,  however, 
that  he  is  best  known.  He  is  a  man  of  ex- 
cellent business  and  executive  ability,  whose 
sound  judgment,  unflagging  enterprise  and 
capable  management  have  brought  to  him  a 


330 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


well-merited  success.  In  mannerhe  is  pleas- 
ant and  cordial,  which,  combined  with  his 
sterling  worth,  makes  him  quite  popular  in 
his  adopted  city. 


THOMPSON  D.  FISHER,  M.  D.— More 
than  forty-six  years  have  passed  since 
this  gentleman  arrived  in  McLean  county, 
and  he  is  justly  numbered  among  her  hon- 
ored pioneers  and  leading  citizens.  He  has 
been  prominently  identified  with  her  profes- 
sional interests  as  an  able  and  successful 
physician  and  surgeon  of  Le  Roy,  but  is 
now  living  retired  in  the  enjoyment  of  a 
well-earned  rest.  His  is  an  honorable  rec- 
ord of  a  conscientious  man,  who  by  his 
upright  life  has  won  the  confidence  of  all 
with  whom  he  has  come  in  contact. 

Dr.  Fisher  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
born  in  Westmoreland  county,  October  i, 
1826,  and  belongs  to  a  family  of  German 
origin,  which  on  leaving  the  fatherland  went 
to  England  and  thence  to  America,  being 
among  the  first  to  settle  in  New  Jersey. 
The  Doctor's  grandfather,  Mathias  Fisher, 
was  a  native  of  that  state,  and  a  pioneer  of 
Westmoreland  county,  Pennsylvania,  where 
he  located  at  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary 
war,  in  which  he  had  taken  an  active  part 
as  a  soldier  of  the  Continental  army,  Abel 
Fisher,  the  Doctor's  father,  was  born  in 
Westmoreland  county,  1788,  and  there 
spent  his  entire  life  as  a  farmer,  dying  in 
1875  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-seven 
years.  He  had  married  Hannah  Stewart, 
also  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  Jacob  Stewart,  who  was  born  in  New 
Jersey  of  Scotch  ancestry,  and  was  a  rep- 
resentative of  one  of  its  old  families.  Mrs. 
Fisher  died  in  1840.  She  was  the  mother 
of  seven  children,  two  sons  and  five  daugh- 


ters, of  whom  four  are  still  living,  namely: 
John,  a  resident  of  New  Castle,  Pennsyl- 
vania; Mrs.  Rachel  Forbes,  a  widow  of  Le 
Roy,  Illinois;  Mrs.  Caroline  Good,  of 
Springfield,  Ohio;  and  Thompson  D.,  our 
subject. 

In  the  county  of  his  nativity  Dr.  Fisher 
grew  to  manhood  and  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  and  Ligonier  Academy. 
For  two  years  he  successfully  engaged 
in  teaching  school  in  that  county,  and 
also  taught  for  two  terms  in  De  Witt 
county  and  one  term  in  Fulton,  Illinois. 
He  prepared  himself  for  his  chosen  pro- 
fession by  reading  medicine  under  the 
direction  of  Dr.  Richardson,  of  Pleas- 
ant Unity,  Pennsylvania,  and  took  his  first 
course  of  lectures  at  the  Western  Reserve 
Medical  College,  Cleveland,  Ohio,  in  the 
winter  of  1849-50.  During  the  latter  year 
he  came  to  Illinois  and  located  in  De  Witt 
county,  where  he  remained  for  two  years 
teaching  and  also  spent  one  winter  teaching 
in  Fulton  county,  Illinois,  In  1853  he  set- 
tled in  Le  Roy  and  began  practice  here. 
Subsequently  he  went  to  Chicago  and  at- 
tended lectures  at  Rush  Medical  College, 
from  which  noted  institution  he  graduated  in 
the  spring  of  1857.  For  many  years  he  de- 
voted his  entire  time  and  attention  to  the 
duties  of  his  profession,  having  built  up  a 
large  practice  which  extended  for  many 
miles  in  every  direction  from  Le  Roy,  even 
into  adjoining  counties.  When  he  located 
here  Bloomington  was  but  a  village  of  per- 
haps two  thousand  inhabitants,  while  Le 
Roy,  with  its  very  inferior  and  primitive 
class  of  business  houses  and  small  dwellings, 
had  a  population  of  about  four  hundred. 
The  whole  country  was  almost  a  wilderness, 
the  few  settlements  being  widely  scattered. 
The  Doctor  was  often  called  to  see  patients 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


331 


in  Farmer  City  and  Saybrook,  and  as  there 
were  no  railroads  at  that  time,  he  had  to 
drive  the  entire  distance.  He  built  up  a 
large  and  remunerative  practice,  which  he 
continued  to  enjoy  until  1891,  when  he  re- 
tired from  labor.  By  the  perusal  of  medical 
works  and  journals  he  always  kept  abreast 
with  the  latest  discoveries  made  in  the 
science  of  medicine  and  surgery,  and  held 
membership  in  the  McLean  County  and  the 
State  Medical  Societies.  Upon  land  which 
he  purchased  in  Le  R03',  he  built  a  com- 
modious brick  residence,  which  is  one  of  the 
best  in  this  part  of  the  county,  and  there  he 
and  his  wife  expect  to  pass  their  remaining 
days  in  ease  and  quiet. 

In  De  Witt  county.  Dr.  Fisher  was  mar- 
ried April  20,  1853,  to  Miss  Henrietta  Lisen- 
bey,  w^ho  was  born,  reared  and  educated 
there.  Her  father,  Benjamin  Lisenbey,  a 
native  of  North  Carolina,  came  to  Illinois  in 
1829  and  first  located  in  Sangamon  county, 
but  in  the  fall  of  1830  removed  to  De  Witt 
county,  where  he  was  numbered  among  the 
pioneers.  When  a  young  man  he  went  to 
Kentucky  and  there  married  Miss  Margaret 
Simpson,  a  native  of  Tennessee.  To  them 
were  born  ten  children,  of  whom  seven  grew 
to  man  and  womanhood,  and  three  are  still 
living,  namely:  William  J.,  a  farmer  of  De 
Witt  county;  Mrs.  Nancy  A.  Suver,  a  widow, 
residing  in  Galesburg,  Illinois,  and  Henri- 
etta, wife  of  our  subject.  Though  the  Doc- 
tor and  his  wife  have  had  no  children  of 
their  own,  they  have  given  homes  to  four, 
whom  they  have  reared  and  educated  and 
who  are  now  grown  and  married. 

Originally,  Dr.  Fisher  was  a  Jacksonian 
Democrat  in  politics  and  cast  his  first  vote 
for  General  Cass  in  1848.  He  supported 
Franklin  Pierce  in  1852,  but  in  1856  voted 
for  the  Republican  candidate — John  C.  Fre- 


mont^and  continued  to  support  that  party 
until  1880,  when,  being  a  strong  temperance 
man,  he  joined  the  ranks  of  the  Prohibition 
party.  He  has  never  sought  nor  cared  for 
official  positions,  though  he  has  served  as 
school  trustee,  a  member  of  the  school  board 
of  Le  Roy,  and  as  alderman  from  his  ward. 
He  and  his  wife  attend  the  Universalist 
church  and  stand  high  in  the  community 
where  they  have  so  long  made  their  home. 
As  a  public-spirited  and  enterprising  citizen, 
he  has  given  his  support  to  every  movement 
for  the  good  of  the  community  or  his  fellow 
men,  and  he  justly  merits  the  high  regard  in 
which  he  is  held  by  all  who  know  him. 


MARK  GERBRICK,  a  member  of  the 
well-known  firm  of  'Rockhold  &  Ger- 
brick,  is  an  important  factor  in  business 
circles,  being  a  leading  merchant  of  the  vil- 
lage of  Stanford.  He  has  won  success  by 
his  well-directed,  energetic  efforts,  and  the 
prosperity  that  has  come  to  him  is  certainly 
well  deserved.  He  was  born  in  Lebanon, 
Pennsylvania,  August  24,  1849,  and  is  a  son 
of  David  and  Anna  (Bender)  Gerbrick,  who 
were  born,  reared  and  married  near  that 
place,  and  were  representatives  of  old  and 
highly  respected  families  of  that  locality. 
The  father,  whose  birth  occurred  in  1809, 
was  engaged  in  farming  and  stock-raising 
on  a  small  scale  in  the  east  until  1 8  5 1 ,  when 
he  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  near  Bloom- 
ington,  McLean  county,  where  he  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  land,  and  later  added  to  it 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  To  the  im- 
provement and  cultivation  of  his  farm  he 
devoted  his  time  and  attention  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  1893. 

Mark  Gerbrick  accompanied  his  parents 
on  their  removal  to  this  county,  and  is  in- 


33^ 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


debted  to  its  public  schools  for  his  educa- 
tional privileges.  When  his  own  education 
was  completed  he  turned  his  attention  to 
the  teacher's  profession,  which  he  success- 
fully followed  for  eight  years,  having  charge 
of  district  and  also  graded  schools.  In  the 
meantime  he  studied  pharmacy  at  intervals, 
and  in  1879  formed  a  partnership  with  John 
Rockhold  at  Stanford.  The  following  year 
they  purchased  a  stock  ot  drugs,  which  they 
opened  up  in  the  building  formerly  occupied 
by  Mr.  Rockhold,  and  have  since  enjoyed  a 
large  and  flourishing  trade.  They  carry  the 
largest  stock  of  drugs  in  the  town  and  also 
handle  groceries  and  sundries,  and  by  fair 
and  honorable  dealing  have  gained  a  liberal 
share  of  the  public  patronage.  After  the 
death  of  his  parents,  Mr.  Gerbrick  owned  an 
interest  in  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of 
land  in  the  old  homestead,  and  was  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits  until  four  years  ago, 
when  he  sold  the  place. 

Although  an  ardent  supporter  of  the 
Democratic  party,  he  has  never  cared  for 
the  honors  or  emoluments  of  public  office. 
He  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Knights 
of  Pythias  and  Masonic  fraternities,  having 
taken  the  thirty-second  degree  in  the  latter 
order.  Foryearshe  was  master  of  Stanford 
Lodge,  No.  7S5,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  has  held 
the  various  other  offices  in  the  blue  lodge. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  consistory  and  Mys- 
tic Shrine  of  Chicago,  and  each  year  attends 
the  annual  banquet  of  the  former  at  that 
place.  He  takes  an  active  interest  in  the 
affairs  of  the  order,  but  does  not  care  for 
office,  preferring  to  give  his  undivided  atten- 
tion to  his  business.  He  is  a  worthy  repre- 
sentative of  that  class  of  citizens  who  lead 
quiet,  industrious,  honest  and  useful  lives, 
and  constitute  the  best  portion  of  a  com- 
munity.    Wherever  known   he   is  held   in 


high  regard,  and  as  a  highly-respected  citi- 
zen is  certainly  deserving  of  honorable  men- 
tion in  the  history  of  his  adopted  county. 


GEORGE  M.  SELLERS.  There  are 
few  men  more  worthy  of  representa- 
tion in  a  work  of  this  kind  than  the  subject 
of  this  biography,  who  is  now  living  retired 
at  his  pleasant  home  in  Le  Roy.  For  a 
quarter  of  a  century  he  was  one  of  the 
leading  farmers  of  this  section  of  the  county, 
but  since  1893  has  been  spending  his  time 
in  ease  and  quiet,  free  from  the  cares  and 
responsibilities  of  business  life.  His  has 
been  a  busy  career,  rich  with  experience, 
and  in  which  he  has  established  himself  in 
the  esteem  and  confidence  of  all  who  know 
him. 

Mr.  Sellers  was  born  in  Knox  county, 
Ohio,  September  8,  1837,  and  is  a  son  of 
John  and  Nancy  (Mitchell)  Sellers,  natives 
of  Greene  county,  Pennsylvania,  where 
their  marriage  was  celebrated.  The  father 
was  born  in  1794  and  belonged  to  a  family 
of  German  origin  which  was  founded  in  the 
Keystone  state  at  a  very  early  day  in  the 
history  of  this  country.  Removing  to  Knox 
county,  Ohio,  he  became  one  of  the  pioneer 
settlers  of  that  locality  and  there  cleared 
and  developed  a  farm  in  the  midst  of  the 
wilderness,  upon  which  he  spent  his  remain- 
ing years,  dying  in  December,  1892,  at  the 
extreme  old  age  of  nearly  ninety-eight.  His 
first  wife  and  the  mother  of  our  subject 
died  in  1838.  He  was  a  prominent  man  of 
his  county  and  was  a  member  of  the  state 
constitutional  convention  of  Ohio,  which 
convened  about  1855,  but  never  aspired  to 
office. 

George  M.  Sellers  is  the  youngest  in  the 
family  of  six  children  born  of  the  first  mar- 


GEORGE  M.  SELLERS. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


335 


riage,  all  of  whom  reached  years  of  matur- 
ity and  five  are  still  living.  In  the  county 
of  his  nativity  he  grew  to  manhood,  and 
his  early  education,  acquired  in  its  public 
schools,  was  supplemented  by  one  year's 
attendance  at  Granville  College,  Licking 
county,  Ohio.  In  the  fall  of  1859  he  went 
to  Texas,  where  he  spent  the  winter,  and 
then  purchased  a  mule,  on  which  he  rode 
from  Austin,  that  state,  to  Missouri,  the 
journey  occupying  eighteen  days.  There 
he  disposed  of  his  mule  and  by  train  pro- 
ceeded to  his  home  in  Ohio.  In  partner- 
ship with  another  gentleman  he  bought  a 
flock  of  fifteen  hundred  sheep,  which  they 
started  to  drive  to  Texas.  They  wintered 
the  flock  in  Edgar  county,  Illinois,  and  on 
account  of  the  opening  of  the  civil  war  de- 
cided that  it  was  unsafe  to  go  further,  and 
in  1 86 1  came  to  McLean  county. 

In  McLean  county  Mr.  Sellers  was  mar- 
ried, in  October,  1863,  to  Miss  Sarah  C. 
Bonnette,  who  was  also  born,  reared  and 
educated  in  Knox  county,  Ohio,  and  in  185 1 
came  with  her  father,  John  Bonnette,  to  this 
county.  They  began  their  domestic  life 
upon  a  farm  adjoining  Le  Roy  on  the  east, 
where  Mr.  Sellers  had  purchased  a  partially 
improved  place  of  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
six  acres.  It  had  been  fenced  and  a  few 
acres  cleared,  and  to  its  further  develop- 
ment and  cultivation  he  devoted  his  ener- 
gies with  marked  success  for  several  years. 
As  his  financial  resources  increased  he  added 
to  the  original  purchase  from  time  to  time 
until  he  owned  a  fine  farm  of  two  hundred 
and  thirty  acres,  well  improved  with  good 
buildings.  He  continued  to  operate  his 
land  until  1888,  when  he  rented  the  place 
and  moved  to  Le  Roy,  where  he  built  a 
good  residence.  In  1893  he  erected  a  more 
modern  and   commodious   house,  and  now 


has  one  of  the  neatest  and  most  attractive 
homes  in  the  city. 

Mr.  Sellers  has  been  called  upon  to 
mourn  the  loss  of  his  estimable  wife,  who 
died  in  July,  1887,  and  was  laid  to  rest  in 
Oak  Grove  cemetery.  Their  only  living 
child,  Lizzie,  is  now  the  wife  of  William 
Keys,  of  Le  Roy;  Mary  died  in  1872,  at  the 
age  of  two  years.  Originally,  Mr.  Sellers 
was  a  Jeffersonian  Democrat,  and  cast  his 
first  presidential  vote  for  George  B.  Mc- 
Clellan,  but  being  a  strong  temperance  man 
he  has  for  some  years  been  a  supporter  of 
the  men  and  principles  of  the  Prohibition 
party.  He  served  three  years  as  highway 
commissioner  of  his  township,  but  has  never 
cared  for  public  office.  He  is  one  of  the 
most  prominent  and  active  members  of  the 
Christian  church  of  Le  Roy,  and  is  serving 
as  one  of  its  elders.  In  many  respects  his 
life  is  well  worthy  of  emulation,  and  is  a 
living  illustration  of  what  ability,  energy 
and  force  of  character  can  accomplish,  for 
he  began  his  business  career  in  limited  cir- 
cumstances, and  the  valuable  property  he 
has  accumulated  has  been  obtained  through 
his  own  well  directed  efforts.  He  is  well 
known  and  highly  respected  throughout  the 
community  for  his  sterling  character  and 
worth. 


JOHN  ROCKHOLD,  a  wide-awake  and 
energetic  business  man  of  Stanford,  and 
senior  member  of  the  mercantile  firm  of 
Rockhold  &  Gerbrick,  is  a  native  of  McLean 
county,  his  birth  having  occurred  five  miles 
west  of  Bloomington,  November  4,  1832. 
His  father,  Francis  Rockhold,  was  born 
near  Baltimore,  Maryland,  January  14,1796, 
and  in  early  life  learned  the  cooper's  trade 
with  his  father,  as  did  also  his  four  brothers, 


336 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


two  of  whom  followed  the  same  after  com- 
ing west.  At  Oxford,  Ohio,  Francis  Rock- 
hold  worked  at  his  trade  for  a  time,  and  it 
was  there  that  he  became  acquainted  with 
Miss  Isabella  Beeler,  to  whom  he  was  mar- 
ried in  1818.  For  five  years  after  their 
marriage,  they  continued  to  make  their 
home  in  Oxford  and  then  came  to  McLean 
county,  Illinois,  where,  in  1829,  the  father 
purchased  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  forty 
acres  near  Twin  Grove.  Here  he  gave  his 
attention  to  agricultural  pursuits  and  con- 
tinued the  operation  of  his  farm  until  his 
death,  January  6,  1883.  The  wife  and 
mother  died  in  1844. 

During  his  boyhood  and  youth,  John 
Rockhold  received  such  an  education  as  the 
schools  of  those  early  days  in  this  locality 
afforded,  and  the  knowledge  there  acquired 
has  been  greatly  supplemented  by  reading 
in  later  years.  He  obtained  a  good  practi- 
cal business  education.  Until  twenty-six 
years  of  age  he  lived  at  home  and  assisted 
his  father  in  the  management  of  the  farm. 
He  was  then  married,  December  19,  1840, 
to  Miss  Elizabeth  Gore,  a  daughter  of  Ele- 
zar  and  Harriet  Gore,  of  Fulton  county, 
Illinois.  After  his  marriage  he  operated  a 
rented  farm  in  Allin  township  for  seven 
years,  with  good  success,  and  at  the  end  of 
that  time  removed  to  the  present  site  of  the 
flourishing  village  of  Stanford,  where  he 
erected  the  first  house,  it  being  the  one  he 
still  occupies.  A  part  of  this  building, 
which  was  fourteen  by  thirty  feet,  he  par- 
titioned off  into  a  store  room,  twelve  by 
fourteen  feet,  and  put  in  a  stock  of  general 
merchandise,  boots,  shoes,  etc.,  using  the 
depot  as  a  warehouse  when  his  stock  was 
heavy.  On  opening  his  store  there  was  no 
access  to  the  house  from  the  road  to  the 
store  room  except  by  climbing  a  high  fence, 


or  passing  through  a  gate.  This  obstacle 
he  sought  to  overcome,  and  one  evening 
when  several  young  men  were  in  the  store, 
he  suggested  that  they  go  out  and  open  up 
the  road,  which  was  done  by  tearing  down 
the  fences  and  taking  up  the  posts.  This 
was  in  1867,  and  from  that  time  business 
increased  very  rapidly,  so  that  he  has  been 
obliged  to  enlarge  his  building  and  stock 
from  time  to  time  to  meet  the  growing  de- 
mands of  his  trade.  In  1876  Mark  Ger- 
brick  became  inrerested  in  the  business,  and 
through  their  combined  efforts  and  able 
management  they  have  succeeded  in  build- 
ing up  the  largest  trade  in  their  line  in  this 
section  of  the  county.  They  carry  a  well- 
selected  stock  of  drugs,  groceries  and  sun- 
dries, and  by  their  honorable  and  straight- 
forward course,  have  made  for  themselves 
a  reputation  in  business  circles. 

Politically,  Mr.  Rockhold  is  identified 
with  the  Democratic  party  but  has  never 
aspired  to  office,  though  he  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  city  council  a  number  of  years. 
Socially  he  affiliates  with  the  Improved  Or- 
der of  Red  Men,  in  which  he  has  held  all 
the  offices,  and  also  belongs  to  Stanford 
Lodge,  No.  1S5,  F.  &  A.  M.  He  contrib- 
utes to  the  support  of  the  Christian  church, 
in  which  his  wife  holds  membership,  and 
both  are  highly  respected  by  all  who  know 
them. 


JAMES  H.  L.  CRUMBAUGH.  For  al- 
most the  allotted  span  of  life  of  three- 
score years  and  ten  this  gentleman  has  been 
a  resident  of  McLean  county,  and  is  there- 
fore numbered  among  its  honored  pioneers. 
This  secition  of  the  country  was  then  con- 
sidered the  far  west.  The  work  of  progress 
and  advancement  was  just  beginning  in  Mc- 


THE    BIOGR.\PHICAL   RECORD. 


337 


Lean  county,  the  greater  part  of  the  land 
was  still  in  its  primitive  condition  and  the 
now  flourishing  and  beautiful  city  of  Bioom- 
ington  was  a  small  and  unimportant  town. 
As  the  years  have  passed  and  progress  and 
improvement  have  wrought  a  great  trans- 
formation, Mr.  Crumbaugh  has  borne  his 
part  in  the  work  of  advancement  and  up- 
building, and  being  especially  prominent  in 
connection  with  the  agricultural  interests  of 
this  rich  farming  region.  His  residence  in 
Illinois  dates  from  1828,  and  in  McLean 
county  from  1830. 

He  was  born  in  Henderson  county,  Ken- 
tucky, near  the  town  of  Hendersonville, 
May  I,  1826,  and  is  a  son  of  Henry  Crum- 
baugh, whose  birth  occurred  in  Maryland, 
April  25,  1789.  His  grandfather,  Conrad 
Crumbaugh,  was  of  German  birth  and  be- 
came one  of  the  pioneers  of  Maryland, 
locating  in  that  colony  prior  to  the  war  of 
the  Revolution.  There  he  spent  his  re- 
maining days.  When  a  young  man  Henry 
Crumbaugh  removed  to  Kentucky  after  the 
war  of  1812,  and  was  married  in  that  state 
to  Sarah  Baldock,  who  was  born  near  Lex- 
ington, Scott  county,  in  1802.  The  father 
of  our  subject  carried  on  farming  in  Ken- 
tucky until  1828,  when  he  removed  to  Illi- 
nois, locating  at  Elkhart  Grove,  near 
Springfield.  Two  years  later  he  came  to 
what  is  now  McLean  county,  settling  near 
the  present  village  of  Le  Roy.  He  pre- 
empted one  hundred  and  sLxty  acres  of 
land,  built  a  log  cabin  and  at  once  began 
developing  a  farm.  When  the  land  came 
into  the  market  he  entered  his  claim  and 
eventually  extended  the  boundaries  of  his 
homestead  until  it  comprised  three  hundred 
and  sixty  acres.  He  also  purchased  land 
elsewhere,  his  possessions  aggregating  more 
than   seven    hundred  acres.      His   diligence 


and  excellent  business  methods  made  him 
one  of  the  successful  agriculturists  of  the 
community,  and  he  held  high  rank  among 
the  leading  farmers  of  McLean  county.  He 
died  October  12,  1877,  when  about  eighty- 
nine  years  of  age,  and  his  wife,  surviving 
him  eight  years,  passed  away  February  2, 
1885,  at  the  age  of  eighty-three  years. 
They  were  the  parents  of  twelve  children, 
six  of  whom  reached  mature  years,  while 
four  brothers  are  yet  living,  namely:  James 
H.  L. ,  who  was  the  fourth  in  order  of 
birth;  John  E. ,  who  is  now  living  a  retired 
life  in  Bloomington;  and  Andrew  J.  and 
Lewis  C. ,  who  are  living  retired  in  Le  Roy. 
Two  sisters  also  grew  to  mature  years: 
Lucy,  who  died  in  early  womanhood,  and 
Narcissa,  wife  of  S.  E.  Thompson,  of  Mc- 
Lean county.  Her  death  occurred  in  the 
spring  of  1898. 

James  H.  L.  Crumbaugh  was  reared  to 
manhood  on  the  home  farm.  He  received 
but  limited  school  privileges,  but  through 
experience  and  observation  has  become  a 
well-informed  man.  He  remained  with  his 
father  and  with  him  engaged  in  the  raising 
and  feeding  of  cattle  until  twenty-five  years 
of  age.  He  was  then  married  and  located 
on  a  farm  east  of  Le  Roy,  where  he  made 
his  home  for  four  years,  devoting  his  ener- 
gies to  the  cultivation  of  grains  and  the 
raising  of  stock.  He  then  removed  to  a 
farm  southwest  of  Le  Roy,  where  he  car- 
ried on  business  for  thirty-four  years,  own- 
ing there  a  fine  tract  of  land  of  more  than 
eight  hundred  acres.  He  owns  another 
farm  of  two  hundred  acres,  also  owns  an- 
other tract,  making  a  total  of  over  fourteen 
hundred  acres,  so  that  he  is  now  numbered 
among  the  extensive  land  holders  of  the 
county.  In  the  fall  of  1891,  however,  he 
rented  his  property    and  came    to  Le  Roy 


338 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


and  purchased  a  pleasant  home,  wherein  he 
has  since  resided.  He  owns  within  the  cor- 
porate hmits  of  the  town  eighteen  acres  of 
valuable  land,  and  his  property  interests  all 
stand  as  a  monument  to  his  thrift  and  en- 
terprise. 

On  the  28th  of  September,  185 1,  Mr. 
Crumbaugh  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Amanda  M.  Buck,  a  daughter  of  Hiram 
Buck,  one  of  the  early  settlers  and  promi- 
nent citizens  of  McLean  county.  She  was 
born  in  Indiana,  but  was  reared  in  this 
county,  and  by  her  marriage  has  become 
the  mother  of  three  children:  Laura  E., 
wife  of  William  S.  Lafferty,  of  Downs 
township;  Edith  M.,  wife  of  C.  S.  Lafferty, 
a  merchant  of  Clinton;  and  Hiram  H.,  a 
farmer  of  Empire  township.  The  second 
daughter  was  a  successful  teacher  prior  to 
her  marriage,  and  is  a  lady  of  superior 
mental  culture. 

Mr.  Crumbaugh  cast  his  first  presiden- 
tial ballot  for  Lewis  Cass,  in  1848,  and  has 
since  been  a  stanch  supporter  of  Democratic 
principles.  He  was  elected  and  served  as 
supervisor  and  a  member  of  the  county 
board  of  commissioners,  being  on  several 
important  committees.  He  was  also  com- 
missioner of  highways  and  township  col- 
lector, has  served  as  a  school  officer,  and  at 
all  times  has  been  most  true  and  faithful  to 
the  trust  reposed  in  him,  discharging  his 
duties  with  marked  ability  and  fidelity. 
Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Crumbaugh  and  'all  of 
their  children  are  members  of  the  Univer- 
salist  church,  and  he  is  a  Master  Mason,  be- 
longing to  Le  Roy  Lodge.  In  his  business 
he  has  met  with  excellent  success,  and  his 
energy,  untiring  labor  and  honest  dealing 
have  been  the  stepping  stones  on  which  he 
has  climbed  upward.  He  is  now  numbered 
among  the  substantial  citizens  of  the  county, 


and  his  success  is  well  merited.  He  has 
ever  manifested  a  deep  interest  in  the  prog- 
ress and  upbuilding  of  the  county  since  its 
pioneer  days,  when  deer  and  wolves  were 
frequently  seen,  when  the  land  was  un- 
cultivated and  the  railroad  had  not  con- 
nected this  region  with  the  centers  of  trade. 
He  has  witnessed  the  wonderful  develop- 
ment of  the  county,  and  is  justly  numbered 
among  its  honored  pioneers. 


PLEASANT  M.  HANSON,  postmaster 
of  Fifer,  Illinois,  and  who  is  also  en- 
gaged in  farming  and  merchandising,  is  a 
native  of  Marshall  county,  Illinois,  born 
April  9,  1855.  He  is  the  son  of  William 
and  Frances  E.  (Walston)  Hanson,  both  of 
whom  were  natives  of  Pickaway  county, 
Ohio,  the  former  born  in  1825.  He  was 
reared  to  the  life  of  a  farmer,  following  that 
occupation  before  and  after  coming  to  Illi- 
nois. In  1856  he  moved  to  this  state  and 
located  in  Marshall  county,  where  he  re- 
mained but  a  short  time  and  then  came  to 
McLean  county,  and  purchasing  a  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  there  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  gave  his  at- 
tention to  general  farming  and  stock-rais- 
ing, and  while  he  never  accumulated  as 
much  property  as  some  others,  he  was  a 
thoroughly  honest  and  upright  man,  always 
having  the  respect  of  his  fellow  citizens.  In 
politics  he  was  a  stanch  Republican,  and 
was  a  member  of  the  Christian  church. 
When  a  boy  he  was  left  an  orphan,  and 
with  his  brother,  Uriah,  was  reared  by 
friends,  having  no  near  relatives.  He  died 
at  his  home  in  Gridley  township  in  August, 
1887.  His  wife  is  yet  living,  and  makes 
her  home  in  the  village  of  Gridley.  They 
were  the  parents  of  six  children:     Pleasant 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


339 


M.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Sciota,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years;  Dr.  Owen 
J.,  the  well-known  dentist  of  Lexington, 
Illinois;  Louisa,  who  married  William  Reid, 
of  El  Paso,  Illinois,  and  died  leaving  two 
sons  and  two  daughters;  John,  who  now 
owns  the  old  homestead  in  Gridley  town- 
ship; and  Leonard,  a  farmer  and  land  owner 
of  the  same  township. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  on 
the  home  farm,  and  received  his  education 
in  the  common  schools.  Being  the  eldest 
of  the  family  a  large  share  of  the  farm  work 
devolved  on  him  from  the  time  he  was  old 
enough  to  follow  the  plow.  On  the  14th  of 
January,  1S74,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Amanda  Coon,  a  native  of  Mis- 
souri, and  daughter  of  Michael  and  Naomi 
(Watson)  Coon,  who  removed  from  Ohio  to 
Illinois  and  later  to  Missouri.  After  their 
marriage  the  3'oung  couple  began  their  do- 
mestic life  on  the  home  farm  of  the  Han- 
sons, where  they  remained  one  year.  He 
then  rented  a  farm  for  several  years,  and 
later  purchased  twenty  acres  on  section  6, 
Money  Creek  township,  and  removing  to 
that  place,  they  there  resided  until  1895, 
when  he  purchased  his  present  farm  of  sixty 
acres,  and  also  engaged  in  the  general  mer- 
chandise business  at  Fifer.  He  was  the 
same  year  appointed  postmaster  of  Fifer, 
which  position  he  still  retains. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hanson  seven  children 
have  been  born:  Francis  O. ,  who  was  edu- 
cated in  the  State  Normal  School  at  Nor- 
mal, and  in  the  State  University  at  Cham- 
paign, now  engaged  in  teaching  in  the  pub- 
lic schools;  Charles  P.,  also  a  well  educated 
young  man,  engaged  in  teaching;  Herbert 
H.  and  Cassel,  at  home;  Clara,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  three  years;  Archie  and  Rachel, 
at  home. 


Mr.  Hanson  has  always  taken  an  inter- 
est in  the  cause  of  education,  and  has 
served  as  school  director  in  his  district  a 
period  of  twelve  years.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Republican,  and  in  religion  is  a  Christian, 
holding  membership  in  the  Gregory  church, 
of  which  body  his  wife  is  also  a  member. 
Fraternally,  he  is  a  member  of  El  Paso 
Lodge,  No.  926,  I.O.  O.  F.,  in  which  he 
has  filled  all  the  chairs,  being  now  past 
grand  of  the  lodge.  He  is  a  well  informed 
man  on  all  the  general  issues  and  topics  of 
the  day,  and  a  worthy  citizen  of  the  com- 
munity in  which  he  lives.  His  store  is  well 
filled  with  a  choice  stock  of  goods  suitable 
to  the  wants  of  the  general  trade,  and  his 
business  is  in  a  prosperous  condition. 


WILLIAM  D.  HUNTER,  deceased, 
was  for  many  years  a  leading  busi- 
ness man  and  highly  esteemed  citizen  of 
Bloomington,  Illinois.  A  native  of  Ohio, 
he  was  born  in  Carrolton,  July  3,  1832,  and 
there  grew  to  manhood.  Before  coming 
west,  he  engaged  in  the  cultivation  of  to- 
bacco and  also  manufactured  his  own 
product  into  marketable  goods,  meeting 
with  good  success  in  the  undertaking. 

On  coming  to  Bloomington,  in  i860, 
Mr.  Hunter  embarked  in  the  cigar  business 
here,  working  at  first  for  General  McNulta, 
who  had  charge  of  General  Dix's  store  dur- 
ing the  early  part  of  the  civil  war.  Our 
subject  enlisted  in  April,  1861,  on  the  presi- 
dent's first  call  for  volunteers,  becoming  a 
member  of  Company  K,  Eighth  Illinois 
Volunteer  Infantry,  and  he  remained  in  the 
service  until  the  expiration  of  his  three 
months'  term.  After  his  return  home,  he 
took  charge  of  the  cigar  store  when  Gen- 
eral McNulta  entered  the  army  and  shortly 


34° 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


afterward  bought  the  establishment  which 
was  then  located  on  Centre  street.  He 
successfuly  conducted  the  business  alone 
until  the  close  of  the  war,  when  he  formed 
a  partnership  with  General  Dix  and  en- 
gaged in  the  the  manufacture,  as  well  as 
the  sale  of  cigars,  employing  eight  hands 
most  of  the  time.  Their  store,  which  was 
the  leading  one  of  its  kind  in  the  city  at 
that  time,  was  located  in  the  Ashley  House, 
now  the  Windsor  Hotel.  When  the  part- 
nership was  dissolved,  Mr.  Hunter  was 
alone  for  a  time,  but  later  became  a  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  Hunter  &  Wright,  Gen- 
eral Dix  being  a  silent  partner.  As  whole- 
sale dealers  in  liquors  and  cigars  they  did  a 
good  business  for  some  time  at  the  corner 
of  Front  and  Centre  streets,  renting  the 
whole  building  from  basement  up,  and  they 
enjoyed  the  largest  trade  of  any  firm  of  the 
kind  in  central  Illinois.  Finally  Mr.  Hun- 
ter retired  from  the  company,  and  for  two 
years  prior  to  his  death  conducted  only  a 
small  cigar  store. 

Mr.  Hunter  married  Miss  Emma  Stane- 
firth,  who  was  born  in  Leeds,  England,  in 
1844,  and  in  1853  emigrated  to  America 
with  her  parents,  John  and  Hannah  (Hart- 
ley) Stanefirth,  who  located  in  Bloomington. 
Her  father  twice  enlisted  in  the  Union  army 
during  the  civil  war  and  saw  some  very  hard 
service.  After  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
Bloomington,  Mrs.  Stanefirth  lived  with 
Mrs.  Hunter  for  thirty-one  years,  or  until  she, 
too  was  called  to  her  final  rest,  December 
20,  1898,  at  the  age  of  eighty-one  years. 
Mrs.  Hunter  completed  her  education  in  the 
schools  of  Bloomington  and  remained  at 
home  until  her  marriage,  which  was  cele- 
brated April  21,  1863.  She  is  the  mother 
of  five  children  who  are  still  living,  namely: 
Charles,  who  is  now  living  in  Chicago;  Ed- 


win, at  home  with  his  mother;  Walter,  a 
resident  of  Normal,  who  married  Flora  Alli- 
son and  has  two  children,  Ruby  and  Pearl; 
Cora,  at  home;  and  Belle,  now  the  wife  of 
Harry  Kirkwood,  of  Pittsburg,  Pennsylva- 
nia, by  whom  she  has  two  children:  Earl 
and  May. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hunter  began  their  do- 
mestic life  on  West  Front  street,  where 
they  continued  to  make  their  home  for 
twenty-nine  years,  and  the  property  is  still 
owned  by  the  widow.  From  there  they  re- 
moved to  the  Robinson  property  on  East 
Grove  street,  where  occurred  her  husband's 
death.  After  his  death,  Mrs.  Hunter 
built  a  pleasant  home  on  State  street.  She 
was  reared  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  of  which  her  mother  was  a  member, 
and  has  a  large  circle  of  friends  in  the  com- 
munity. Socially  Mr.  Hunter  was  a  prom- 
inent member  of  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows  for  some  years,  and  for  three 
years  he  most  efficiently  served  as  health 
commissioner  of  the  city.  He  died  Novem- 
ber 26,  1895,  respected  by  all  who  knew 
him.  He  was  a  most  generous,  kind-hearted 
man,  and  was  always  willing  to  sacrifice  his 
own  pleasure  for  the  good  of  his  family  and 
friends. 


WILLET  L.  MARTIN,  a  well-known 
liveryman  and  highly-esteemed  citizen 
of  LeRoy,  is  one  of  McLean  county's  native 
sons  and  a  representative  of  one  of  her  most 
prominent  and  honored  families,  whose 
identification  with  her  history  dates  from  an 
early  period  in  the  development  of  the 
county. 

Archer  Martin,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Kentucky,  in  1789,  and  when 
a  young  man    went  to  Ohio,  becoming  one 


THE   BIOGIL\PHICAL   RECORD. 


34t 


of  the  early  settlers  of  Champaign  county. 
There  be  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Jane  Llewellyn,  a  native  of  New  Jersey  and 
a  daughter  of  Squire  Llewellyn,  who  was 
also  born  in  New  Jersey  and  was  a  pioneer 
of  Ohio.  In  1S33,  Mr.  Martin  removed 
from  that  state  to  Illinois  and  was  one  of  the 
first  to  locate  in  what  is  now  McLean  coun- 
ty. Taking  up  a  claim  of  one  hundred  and 
si.xty  acres  of  land  near  the  present  town  of 
Le  Ro}-,  he  at  once  began  to  improve  his 
place,  breaking  the  land,  fencing  it  and 
erecting  good  buildings  thereon.  As  time 
passed  he  bought  more  land  until  he  became 
the  owner  of  si.x  hundred  acres,  being  one 
of  the  prosperous  and  well-to-do  farmers  as 
well  as  one  of  the  highly-respected  citizens 
of  the  county.  He  died  upon  his  farm  in 
1868,  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  seventy-nine 
years,  and  his  wife  passed  away  in  1S71 
at  theage  of  sixty-nine  years. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  on 
the  home  farm  in  Empire  township,  Decem- 
ber 28,  1S43,  and  at  an  early  age  acquired 
a  thorough  knowledge  of  all  the  duties 
which  fall  to  the  lot  of  the  agriculturist,  at 
the  same  time  attending  the  common  schools 
of  the  neighborhood.  He  remained  with 
his  father,  assisting  in  the  labors  of  the 
home  farm  for  several  years  after  attain- 
ing his  majority,  and  then  settled  on  an  ad- 
joining farm  of  ^eighty  acres.  To  the  fur- 
ther improvement  and  cultivation  of  that 
place  he  devoted  his  energies  for  some 
years,  in  the  meantime  extending  its  bound- 
aries until  they  embraced  two  hundred  and 
seventy-seven  acres.  He  erected  a  com- 
fortable residence,  good  barns  and  other 
outbuildings,  planted  fruit,  forest  and  orna- 
mental trees,  and  made  it  one  of  the  best  of 
its  size  in  the  locality.  For  over  a  quarter 
of  a  century  he  continued   to  give  his  time 


and  attention  to  general  farming  and  stock 
raising  in  Empire  township,  and  met  with 
well-deserved  success.  Renting  his  farm 
in  1S94  he  removed  to  Le  Roy,  where  he 
purchased  residence  property  and  has  since 
made  his  home.  For  three  years  he  lived 
retired,  but  not  being  satisfied  with  that  sort 
of  life,  he  bought  out  a  livery  stable  which 
he  has  successfully  conducted,  having 
built  up  an  excellent  trade  by  fair  and  hon- 
orable dealing  and  courteous  treatment  of 
his  customers. 

In  1869,  Mr.  Martin  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Demaris  Dooley,  who  was 
born,  reared  and  educated  in  Kentucky,  and 
died  in  1873,  leaving  two  daughters,  name- 
ly: Mrs.  Mary  J.  Wirt,  of  Le  Roy;  and 
Florence  M.,  at  home.  Mr.  Martin  was 
again  married  in  1876,  his  second  union 
being  with  Miss  Cj'nthia  Baum,  a  native  of 
Ohio,  where  her  girlhood  was  passed,  and 
to  them  were  born  four  children:  Laura 
and  Elverda  both  at  home;  and  Charles  A. 
and  Homer  J.,  who  are  attending  the  Le 
Roy  schools. 

Politically,  Mr.  Martin  has  been  a  life- 
long Republican  and  has  never  failed  to  cast 
his  ballot  for  each  presidential  nominee  of 
the  party  since  voting  for  General  U.  S. 
Grant  in  1868.  Political  honors  have  no 
attraction  for  him  as  he  has  preferred  to 
give  his  entire  time  and  attention  to  his 
business  interests.  Religiously  he  and  his 
wife  are  consistent  members  of  the  Le  Roy 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  socially  he 
belongs  to  Le  Roy  Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F.  He 
has  ever  watched  with  interest  the  wonder- 
ful transformation  that  has  taken  place  in 
the  county  since  his  infancy,  and  in  the 
work  of  development  and  progress  he  has 
ever  borne  his  part  by  the  improvement  of 
an    excellent  farm   and   by  his  support  of 


342 


The  biographical  record. 


those  enterprises  designed  to  promote  the 
general  welfare.  As  a  business  man  and 
citizen  he  stands  high  in  the  county  and  is 
widely  and  favorably  known. 


CHARLES  ALLEN.  The  life  of  this 
gentleman  is  a  striking  example  of 
what  can  be  accomplished  by  perseverance, 
industry  and  good  management,  for  he 
started  out  to  make  his  own  way  in  the 
world  empty-handed,  and  by  his  own  well- 
directed  efforts  has  become  the  possessor 
of  a  comfortable  home  and  competence. 
Throughout  his  active  business  career  he 
has  followed  agricultural  pursuits,  and  is 
now  the  owner  of  a  most  desirable  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  fifty-six  acres  on  section 
32,  Randolph  township,  conveniently  lo- 
cated within  a  mile  of  Heyworth. 

Mr.  Allen  was  born  in  Union  county, 
Ohio,  May  19,  1845,  but  the  following  July 
was  brought  to  McLean  county  by  his  par- 
ents, David  S.  and  Betsy  (Love)  Allen,  who 
were  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio,  re- 
spectively. John  Love,  the  maternal  grand- 
father, was  of  Irish  parentage.  The  father 
of  our  subject  was  born  in  1792,  and  when 
a  young  man  went  to  Ohio,  where  his  mar- 
riage was  celebrated.  He  was  a  natural 
mechanic,  very  handy  with  all  kinds  of 
tools,  and  in  early  life  followed  the  carpen- 
ter's and  cabinet-maker's  trades.  On  com- 
ing to  this  county  he  located  on  eighty 
acres  of  raw  land  near  the  present  town  of 
Ellsworth,  and  transformed  the  same  into 
a  good  farm,  remaining  there  for  some 
years,  but  his  last  days  were  spent  in  Downs 
township,  where  he  died  in  the  spring  of 
1865.  He  was  three  times  married,  his 
second  wife  being  our  subject's  mother,  who 
died  about  1855. 


Charles  Allen  grew  to  manhood  in  this 
county,  but  had  little  school  privileges  and 
is  almost  wholly  self-educated.  In  the 
spring  of  1865  he  enlisted  in  Company  B, 
One  Hundred  and  Fiftieth  Illinois  Volunteer 
Infantry,  and  with  his  command  first  went 
to  Bridgeport,  Alabama,  and  later  to  Cleve- 
land, Tennessee,  where  he  did  guard  duty 
until  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  enlist- 
ment, being  honorably  discharged  in  the 
spring  of  1866.  After  his  return  home  he 
engaged  in  farming  upon  rented  land  in 
Downs  township  for  two  or  three  years. 

On  the  30th  of  December,  1869,  Mr. 
Allen  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Charity  E.  Cusey,  a  daughter  of  John  Cusey, 
an  honored  early  settler  of  the  county,  and 
to  them  have  been  born  three  sons,  namely: 
John  C,  a  prominent  farmer  and  collector 
of  Downs  township,  who  is  married  and  has 
two  children,  Elsie  and  Erma;  Charles  A., 
who  is  single  and  is  engaged  in  farming  in 
Downs  township;  and  Lawrence  B.,  who  is 
at  home. 

For  one  year  after  his  marriage  Mr. 
Allen  continued  to  operate  rented  land,  and 
then  purchased  one  hundred  acres  in  Downs 
township,  four  miles  east  of  Heyworth,  to 
the  further  improvement  and  cultivation  of 
which  he  devoted  his  energies  with  marked 
success  for  some  years.  He  tiled  and 
ditched  the  farm,  erected  good  and  sub- 
stantial buildings  thereon,  but  in  1893 
traded  it  in  part  payment  for  his  present 
fine  farm  in  Randolph  township.  Here  he 
has  also  built  a  good  barn,  corncribs,  etc., 
and  made  many  other  excellent  improve- 
ments and  is  now  successfully  engaged  in 
general  farming  and  stock  raising,  fattening 
each  year  for  the  city  markets  a  large  num- 
ber of  hogs  and  some  steers. 

In  his  political  affiliations  Mr.  Allen  is  a 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


343 


stanch  Republican,  although  he  was  reared 
a  Democrat,  and  he  cast  his  first  presiden- 
tial vote  for  General  U.  S.  Grant,  in  1868. 
As  one  of  the  leading  and  representative 
citizens  of  his  community  he  has  been 
honored  with  several  local  positions  of 
honor  and  trust,  and  most  creditably  filled 
the  office  of  constable  in  Downs  township 
about  twelve  years,  township  collector  two 
terms,  and  highway  commissioner,  resigning 
the  last  named  office  on  his  removal  to 
Randolph  township.  Every  trust  reposed 
in  him,  whether  public  or  private,  has  al- 
ways been  most  conscientiously  discharged, 
and  he  and  his  wife  are  both  earnest  mem- 
bers of  the  Heyworth  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  in  which  faith  they  were  reared. 
He  is  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  church,  and 
has  passed  through  all  the  chairs  of  the 
Odd  Fellows  Lodge  of  Heyworth,  being  at 
present  past  grand.  He  is  also  a  prominent 
member  of  the  Grand  Army  Post  at  that 
place  and  served  as  commander  during  1899. 


JOHN  NAGEL.  It  is  astonishing  to  wit- 
ness the  success  of  young  men  who  have 
emigrated  to  America  without  capital  and 
from  a  position  of  comparative  obscurity 
worked  their  way  upward  to  a  position  of 
prominence.  The  readiness  with  which  they 
adapt  themselves  to  circumstances  and  take 
advantage  of  opportunities  offered,  brings  to 
them  success  and  wins  them  a  place  among 
the  leading  men  of  the  communities  in  which 
they  reside.  Prominent  in  this  class  is  the 
gentleman  whose  name  introduces  this 
sketch.  He  was  born  in  Mecklinburg,  Ger- 
many, March  19,  1823,  and  is  a  son  of 
Christian  and  Mary  Nagel,  who  emigrated 
to  America  in  October,  1865,  locating  in  La 
Salle  county,  Illinois,  where  they  remained 


until  Mrs.  Nagel's  death,  which  occurred 
after  si.K  years,  on  the  3d  of  July,  1870. 
Soon  afterward  Christian  Nagel  removed  to 
Nebraska,  where  he  survived  his  wife  by 
four  years,  dying  in  1874.  Eleven  children 
have  been  born  to  them,  three  of  whom  are 
living.  Our  subject,  who  is  the  first  child 
of  this  marriage,  was  reared  and  educated 
in  Germany.  He  was  thirty-seven  years  of 
age  when  his  parents  emigrated  to  America, 
he  having  come  to  America  previous  to  his 
father,  and  with  his  father  he  located  in  La 
Salle  county,  Illinois,  where  he  worked  by 
the  month  for  a  period  of  four  years,  remov- 
ieg  at  the  expiration  of  this  time  to  Yates 
township,  McLean  county,  where  he  pur- 
chased eighty  acres,  and  in  a  few  years 
eighty  acres  more,  later  added  one  hundred 
acres.  In  1885  he  purchased  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres,  making  a  total  of  four  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres,  the  greater  portion 
of  which  is  devoted  to  the  cultivation  of 
grains. 

On  the  26th  of  August,  1862,  Mr.  Nagel 
married  Miss  Catherine  Oldhouse,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Peter  and  Anna  Oldhouse,  natives  of 
Germany.  Mrs.  Nagel  was  born  February 
15,  1842,  in  Germany,  and  came  to  America 
with  her  sister  when  a  girl  of  sixteen  years. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nagel  have  had  nine  children, 
three  of  whom  are  deceased.  The  six  still 
living  are  here  named  in  order  of  birth: 
Louis  P.,  Emma  E.,  John  H.,  Edward  T., 
Tena  A.  and  Minnie  C.  Our  subject  and 
his  wife  are  both  members  of  the  Lutheran 
church,  in  which,  during  his  younger  days, 
the  former  held  responsible  positions.  Po- 
litically he  is  a  Republican  and  is  much 
interested  in  all  affairs  of  state.  He  has 
served  as  road  commissioner,  and  the  pres- 
ent excellent  condition  of  the  roads  about 
Chenoa  is  largely  due  to  his  unrelaxed  ef- 


344 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


forts.  Mr.  Nagel  has  been  a  hard-working, 
far-seeing  man  of  business,  whose  upright 
and  honorable  deahngs.  good  management 
and  judgment  have  given  him  a  much  de- 
served success.  He  now  lives  in  Chenoa, 
where  he  moved  March  7,  1898,  and  is  liv- 
ing a  life  of  quiet  enjoyment  after  the  toils 
and  turmoils  of  a  busy  life. 


FRANK  EDWARDS,  a  well-known  livery 
and  prominent  Democratic  politician  of 
Bloomington,  Illinois,  was  born  in  that 
city,  April  7,  1855,  and  is  a  son  of  George 
and  Mary  (Moon) Edwards,  who  for  the  past 
twenty  years  have  here  lived,  retired  enjoy- 
ing the  fruits  of  former  toil.  The  father 
was  born  in  1818,  in  Tennessee,  in  which 
state  he  grew  to  manhood  and  learned  the 
trade  of  a  cabinet  maker,  his  father  being 
an  old  resident  there.  At  an  early  day  the 
former  came  to  McLean  county,  Illinois,  and 
first  located  at  Pleasant  Hill,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  business,  but  for  a  half  century  he 
has  now  made  his  home  in  Bloomington, 
and  for  thirty  years  was  one  of  the  leading 
painters  and  decorators  of  the  city.  He 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  and  are  widely  known 
and  highly  respected.  They  were  married 
in  Paris,  Illinois,  though  she  is  a  native  of 
Ohio.  Of  the  ten  children  born  to  them, 
only  three  are  now  living,  namely;  William 
a  resident  of  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah;  Frank, 
our  subject;  and  Fred,  a  resident  of  Bloom- 
ington. 

Frank  Edwards  is  indebted  to  the  public 
and  high  schools  of  Bloomington  for  his 
educational  privileges,  and  his  early  business 
training  was  obtained  in  his  father's  paint 
shop,  where  he  worked  for  a  time,  but  from 
early  youth,  his  love  of  horses  has  led  him 


to  deal  in  those  animals,  and  he  has  prob- 
ably bought  and  shipped  as  many  as  any 
man  in  this  vicinity,  selling  principally  to 
the  Chicago  and  St.  Louis  markets.  For 
the  past  twenty  years  he  has  also  success- 
fully conducted  a  livery  stable,  and  now 
owns  the  large  barns  at  405  West  Front 
street,  which  are  well  equiped  with  all 
kinds  of  carriages  and  vehicles  and  a  good 
grade  of  horses.  He  has  been  longer  en- 
gaged in  this  business  than  any  other  man 
in  the  city,  and  receives  a  liberal  share  of 
public  patronage.  He  married  Miss  Anna 
Long,  and  to  them  have  been  born  three 
children:  Frank,  Florence,  and  one  who 
died  in  infancy. 

Socially  Mr.  Edwards  is  quite  promi- 
nent and  is  a  member  of  the  Improved 
Order  of  Red  Men,  and  the  Columbian 
Knights.  He  has  always  been  active  and 
prominent  in  Democratic  circles,  and  for 
years  has  been  a  member  of  the  executive 
committee,  doing  all  in  his  power  to  pro- 
mote the  interests  of  his  party.  He  has 
twice  run  for  alderman,  but  as  the  city  is 
strongly  Republican,  he  was  defeated  by 
seventeen  votes,  and  as  candidate  for  su- 
pervisor was  defeated  by  thirty-three  votes, 
but  as  the  normal  Republican  majority  the 
latter  year  was  si.x  hundred  and  eighty- 
seven,  the  large  vote  that  he  received 
plainly  indicates  his  popularity.  During 
the  spring  election  of  1899,  he  was  the 
Democratic  candidate  for  street  commis- 
sioner, and  this  time  only  lacked  thirty- 
three  votes  of  being  elected,  while  the  other 
candidates  of  his  party  were  defeated  from 
four  hundred  and  fifty  to  seven  hundred 
votes.  There  is  probably  no  man  in  the 
city  that  has  more  friends  or  that  is  held  in 
higher  esteem  by  his  acquaintances  than 
Frank  Edwards. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


345 


HARRISON  H.  CLARK.  The  subject 
of  this  personal  history  is  a  well-known 
resident  of  Randolph  township,  living  on 
section  8,  within  two  and  a  half  miles  of 
Heyworth,  and  is  highly  esteemed  as  a  man 
of  enterprise,  besides  being  a  worthy  citi- 
zen and  having  to  his  credit  an  unblemished 
war  record.  He  has  made  his  home  in  this 
county  since  the  spring  of  1857,  and  has 
since  been  prominentlj-  identified  with  its 
farming  and  stock-raising  industries.  He 
was  also  one  of  the  originators  and  has  since 
been  a  stockholder  of  the  Heyworth  Bank. 

Mr.  Clark  was  born  in  Knox  county, 
Ohio,  July  6,  1836,  and  is  a  son  of  Henson 
Clark,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  who,  when 
a  young  man,  went  from  the  Keystone 
state  to  Ohio  and  took  up  his  residence  in 
Licking  county.  Here  he  wedded  Mary 
Jaggers,  who  was  born  in  New  Jersey,  but 
was  reared  on  Long  Island,  whence  her 
father  removed  to  Ohio.  For  some  years 
Henson  Clark  engaged  in  farming  in  Lick- 
ing county,  but  in  1857  brought  his  family 
to  McLean  county,  Illinois,  and  purchased 
a  farm  of  four  hundred  acres  in  Randolph 
township,  on  which  he  lived  for  four  years. 
He  spent  his  last  days  with  his  sons,  George 
and  Harrison,  and  died  here  about  1871,  at 
the  ripe  old  age  of  seventy-three  years. 
His  wife  survived  him  four  years,  dying  at 
the  age  of  seventy-eight  years.  Harrison 
is  the  youngest  of  their  six  children,  three 
sons  and  three  daughters,  all  of  whom 
reached  years  of  maturity,  and  with  the  ex- 
ception of  one  daughter,  all  are  still  living. 

Harrison  Clark  was  reared  and  educated 
in  Licking  county,  Ohio,  and  when  a  young 
man  came  with  his  parents  to  this  county, 
in  1857,  remaining  with  his  father  until  the 
latter's  death.  His  patriotism  being  awak- 
ened by  the  imminent  danger  of  our  coun- 


try from  the  hands  of  the  rebels,  he  enlisted 
in  August,  1S62,  in  Company  I,  Ninety- 
fourth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  and 
served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  partici- 
pating in  many  important  engagements,  in- 
cluding the  battles  of  Prairie  Grove,  Arkan- 
sas, Wilson  Creek,  Port  Gibson,  Vicksburg, 
Black  River,  the  Texas  campaign,  and  the 
sieges  of  Mobile  and  Spanish  Fort,  after 
which  he  went  with  his  command  to  Gal- 
veston, Texas.  Although  he  was  on  many 
hard  marches  and  took  part  in  many  hotly 
contested  engagements,  he  was  never  wound- 
ed or  ill,  and  was  in  active  service  until 
honorably  discharged  at  Springfield,  Illi- 
nois, in  the  summer  of  1865.  From  pri- 
vate he  %vas  promoted'  to  the  rank  of  cor- 
poral, and  later  to  second  sergeant. 

In  McLean  county,  Mr.  Clark  was  mar- 
ried, in  1S66,  to  Miss  Sarah  Blandin,  a  na- 
tive of  Licking  county,  Ohio,  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  Rev.  Thomas  Blandin,  who  came  to 
this  county  when  Mrs.  Clark  was  a  child  of 
ten  years,  but  later  removed  to  De  Witt 
county,  Illinois.  Mhe  children  born  of  this 
union  are:  Pauline,  now  the  wife  of  Char- 
ley Greenley,  of  Heyworth;  Charles,  who  is 
married  and  follows  farming  in  Funks 
Grove  township;  Lewis  B.,  who  is  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits  upon  the  home  farm; 
and  Justina,  at  home. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Clark  located  on 
a  farm  near  Randolph  Station,  where  he 
owned  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  which 
he  placed  under  excellent  cultivation  and 
improved  with  good  buildings.  He  con- 
tinued the  operation  of  that  farm  until  1881, 
when  he  sold  it  and  removed  to  his  present 
farm,  on  which  he  has  since  made  many 
useful  and  valuable  improvements  in  the 
way  of  buildings,  including  the  erection  of 
a  commodious  and  pleasant  residence.     Be- 


346 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


sides  his  property  he  owns  eighty  acres  in 
Funks  Grove  township,  all  of  which  has 
been  acquired  through  his  indomitable  per- 
severance, good  management  and  strict  at- 
tention to  business.  Endowed  by  nature 
with  a  sound  judgment  and  an  accurate, 
discriminating  mind,  he  has  feared  not  that 
laborious  attention  to  the  details  of  busi- 
ness so  necessary  to  achieve  success,  and 
the  prosperity  that  has  crowned  his  efforts 
is  certainly  justly  merited.  Politically  he 
has  been  identified  with  the  Republican 
party  since  casting  his  first  presidential 
ballot  for  Abraham  Lincoln  in  i860,  and 
has  ever  taken  a  deep  and  commendable  in- 
terest in  public  affairs.  Although  he  has 
never  aspired  to  office  he  has  been  called 
upon  to  serve  his  fellow-citizens  as  highway 
commissioner  three  terms,  and  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  school  board  and  president  of  the 
district  for  several  years.  Religiously  his 
wife  holds  membership  in  the  Presbyterian 
church,  while  he  belongs  to  the  Christian 
church  of  Heyworth. 


HON.  BERNARD  J.  CLAGGETT,  an 
ex-mayor  of  Lexington  and  well- 
known  citizen  of  McLean  county,  is  a  na- 
tive of  the  same  county,  born  February  12, 
1 86 1,  and  is  the  son  of  Sanford  R.  and 
Nancy  (Terry)  Claggett,  both  of  whom 
were  early  settlers  of  McLean  county,  and 
well  known  throughout  its  length  and 
breadth.  Sanford  R.  Claggett  was  twice 
married,  and  by  his  first  wife  he  was  the 
father  of  one  daughter,  Ella  A.,  who  mar- 
ried S.  J.  VanDyke,  and  they  now  reside 
in  Lexington.  His  second  marriage  was 
with  Miss  Nancy  Terry,  a  native  of  Ross 
county,  Ohio,  born  April  i,  1830,  and  a 
daughter  of  Barton  and  Mary  Terry,  natives 


of  Virginia.  By  the  second  marriage  there 
were  six  children  born:  Jessie,  who  died 
in  infancy;  William  H.,  who  is  in  partner- 
ship with  OHr  subject  in  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness in  Lexington;  Bernard  J.,  our  sub- 
ject; Edna,  who  died  in  1890,  at  the  age 
of  twenty-three  years;  Blanche,  who  mar- 
ried Lewis  B.  Strayer,  but  who  died  August 
9,  1896,  leaving  two  children,  Jane  and 
Elaine,  who  are  living  in  Lexington;  Car- 
rie, who  married  Robert  E.  Hatcher,  and 
resides  with  her  husband  and  two  children 
in  Colfax,  Illinois.  The  father  passed  to 
his  reward  August  28,  1890,  but  his  widow 
is  still  living,  and  yet  makes  her  home  in 
Lexington.  In  politics  he  was  a  Demo- 
crat, and  fraternally  he  was  a  member  of 
the  Indepedent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  He 
was  well  and  favorably  known,  and  a  man 
who  was  held  in  the  very  highest  esteem. 
At  his  funeral,  ex-Vice-President  Steven- 
son, Judge  Scott,  Hon.  James  Ewing  and 
Dr.  William  Hill  were  the  honorary  pall 
bearers. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  grew  to  man- 
hood in  his  native  city,  and  in  its  public 
schools  received  his  primary  education.  In 
1876  he  entered  Wesleyan  University,  at 
Bloomington,  where  he  remained  one  year. 
He  then  went  to  South  Bend,  Indiana,  and 
became  a  studentin  the  University  of  Notre 
Dame,  where  he  spent  three  years,  taking 
the  classical  course.  Having  decided  on  a 
business  career  he  left  the  university  and 
went  to  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  and  took  a 
business  course  in  Jones'  Business  College, 
from  which  he  graduated  in  1881. 

Returning  to  Lexington  after  his  grada- 
tion, Mr.  Claggett  entered  his  father's  store 
as  a  clerk,  continuing  in  that  position  one 
year,  when  he  was  admitted  to  the  firm  of 
Claggett   Brothers   &    Company.       On    the 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


347 


organization  of  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Lexington,  in  December,  1SS2,  he  was 
chosen  cashier,  and  served  as  such  un- 
til 1896,  when  the  bank  went  into  vol- 
untary liquidation.  In  the  management 
of  the  bank  he  showed  good  financial  ability 
and  had  the  confidence  of  the  entire  com- 
munity. On  the  death  of  his  father  he  was 
made  administrator  of  the  estate,  and  in 
its  management  and  final  disposition  dis- 
played unusual  executive  ability. 

On  the  13th  of  December,  18S2,  Mr. 
Claggett  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Nettie  McCurdy,  of  Bloomington,  born  in 
Lexington,  August  30,  1862.  By  this  union 
one  child  was  born,  Ralph  Bernard,  Oc- 
tober 13,  1883,  now  a  student  in  the  school 
in  Lexington.  On  the  27th  of  December, 
1886,  Mrs.  Claggett  passed  to  her  reward, 
and  on  the  24th  of  April,  1890,  Mr.  Clag- 
gett married  Miss  Gertrude  McNaught,  who 
was  born  in  Lexington,  August  13,  1869, 
and  daughter  of  William  N.  McNaught,  of 
that  city.  By  this  union  there  are  two 
children:  Loretta  and  Blanche  Mildred. 

In  politics  Mr.  Claggett  is  a  steadfast 
Democrat,  with  which  party  he  has  been 
identified  since  attaining  his  majority.  He 
has  always  taken  an  active  interest  in 
political  affairs,  and  has  been  honored  by 
his  party  and  fellow  citizens  with  various 
offices  of  honor  and  trust.  His  first  office 
was  that  of  alderman  from  his  ward,  and  he 
was  elected  president  of  the  council,  and 
was  the  youngest  man  ever  elected  to  that 
position.  He  has  practically  been  con- 
tinued in  office  since  he  arrived  at  man's 
estate.  In  1892  he  was  elected  as  a  min- 
ority member  of  the  legislature  from  his 
district,  and  was  a  very  active  member  of 
that  body.  He  was  uncompromisingly  in 
opposition  to  trusts  and   corporations,  and 


always  voted  in  the  interests  of  the  people. 
He  was  re-nominated  without  opposition, 
but  declined  the  nomination  to  accept  the 
nomination  of  state  treasurer  on  the  Demo- 
cratic ticket,  but  was  defeated  with  the  rest 
of  the  state  ticket,  the  state  going  Repub- 
lican. In  May,  1897,  he  was  again  elected 
mayor  of  Lexington  on  the  anti-saloon 
ticket,  and  had  the  satisfaction  of  closing 
the  saloons  of  the  city  in  a  very  short  time. 
Fraternally  Mr.  Claggett  is  a  member 
of  Lexington  Lodge,  No.  482,  A.  F.  &  A. 
M.;  Chenoa  Chapter,  No.  — ,  R.  A.  M. ; 
of  McLean  Lodge,  No.  206,  I.  O.  O.  F. ; 
and  of  Ideal  Lodge,  No.  338,  K.  P.  So- 
cially he  is  a  member  of  Bloomington  Club, 
in  which  are  some  of  the  best  people  of 
that  city  and  county.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Christian  church  at  Lexington,  of  which 
body  his  wife  is  also  a  member.  No  man 
in  McLean  county  is  held  in  higher  esteem 
than  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and  no  man 
is  more  worthy  of  the  honors  bestowed  on 
him. 


ELMER  E.  EWING,  a  representative 
and  prominent  farmer,  who  is  success- 
fully following  his  chosen  calling  in  Allin 
township,  is  one  of  McLean  county's  native 
sons,  his  birth  having  occurred  in  Mt.  Hope 
township,  January  26,  1864.  His  father, 
John  H.  Ewing,  was  born  in  Logan  county, 
Kentucky,  in  1839,  and  in  early  childhood 
was  brought  to  Illinois  by  his  parents, 
Nathaniel  and  Nancy  Ewing,  who  settled  on 
a  farm  in  Mt.  Hope  township,  McLean 
county,  where  the  father  of  our  subject  re- 
mained until  he  attained  his  majority.  He 
wedded  Miss  Mary  J.  Moore,  who  was  born 
December  27,  1837,  near  Zanesville,  Ohio. 
Her   parents,   John  and   Betty  Moore,  re- 


348 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


moved  with  their  family,  from  that  place  to 
Illinois,  in  1844,  and  located  in  Tazewell 
county,  where  the  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Ewing  was  celebrated.  They  began  their 
domestic  life  upon  a  farm  of  forty  acres  in 
Mt.  Hope  township,  McLean  county,  which 
he  had  previously  purchased.  In  1863  he 
responded  to  his  country's  call  for  aid  in 
putting  down  the  rebellion,  enlisting  in  Com- 
pany— ,One  Hundred  and  Forty-fifth  Illinois 
Infantry,  and  was  in  active  service  until 
taken  ill  with  measles,  from  which  he  died 
at  Rollo,  Missouri,  in  July,  1864. 

Elmer  E.  Ewing  was  but  six  months 
old  when  his  father  died  and  was  reared 
upon  the  home  farm  by  his  mother,  who 
continued  to  reside  upon  the  place  which 
her  husband  had  purchased  previous  to  his 
enlistment.  Our  subject  attended  the  dis- 
trict schools  of  the  neighborhood  and  later 
the  high  school  of  Bloomington,  and  when 
his  education  was  completed,  operated  the 
home  farm  until  1898,  when  he  sold  his 
property  in  Mt.  Hope  township,  and  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  ninety  acres  on 
section  31,  AUin  township,  upon  which  he 
is  now  successfully  engaged  in  general  farm- 
ing and  gives  considerable  attention  to  stock- 
raising.  He  ships  his  stock  from  Stanford, 
Danvers,  McLean  and  Covell,  and  is  the 
only  shipper  at  the  first  named  place. 

On  the  9th  of  December,  1886,  Mr. 
Ewing  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Mary  B.  Murphy,  a  native  of  McLean 
county,  where  her  parents,  W.  J.  and 
Frances  Murphy,  were  also  born.  The 
children  born  of  this  union  are  Bessie  and 
Verna,  who  are  attending  school  in  their  dis- 
trict; and  Fay  and  Dean  M.,  both  at  home. 
Mrs.  Ewing  is  an  earnest  member  of  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  church,  to  the 
support  of  which  her  husband  contributes. 


Politically,  he  is  a  stanch  Republican,  and 
though  he  takes  an  active  and  commendable 
interest  in  public  affairs,  he  has  never  cared 
for  the  honors  or  emoluments  of  public  of- 
fice, preferring  to  give  his  undivided  atten- 
tion to  his  business  interests.  He  is  a 
pleasant,  .genial  gentleman,  who  makes 
many  friends  and  is  quite  popular  in  his 
community. 


LEONARD  A.  CRUMBAUGH.  The 
prosperity  of  any  community  depends 
upon  its  business  activity  and  the  enter- 
prise manifest  in  commercial  circles  is  the 
foundation  upon  which  is  builded  the  ma- 
terial welfare  of  the  town,  state  and  nation. 
The  most  important  factors  in  public  life 
at  the  present  day  are  therefore  the  men 
who  are  in  control  of  successful  business  in- 
terests, and  such  a  one  is  Leonard  A. 
Crumbaugh,  of  Le  Roy.  He  is  promi- 
nently connected  with  various  trade  con- 
cerns and  is  now  at  the  head  of  one  of  the 
leading  and  most  reliable  banking  houses 
in  this  section  of  the  state. 

Almost  his  entire  life  has  been  spent  in 
McLean  county,  for  he  was  born  at  Elk 
Grove,  Sangamon  county,  November  13, 
1829,  and  in  the  spring  of  1830  was 
brought  to  this  locality.  His  father,  Daniel 
Crumbaugh,  was  born  near  Fredericksburg, 
Maryland,  December  7,  1794,  and  when 
fourteen  years  of  age  went  to  Kentucky, 
spending  much  of  his  youth  in  Scott  county, 
that  state.  During  the  war  of  18 13  he 
enlisted  in  his  country's  service  and  valiantly 
followed  the  stars  and  stripes  for  a  year, 
participating  in  the  battle  of  the  Thames. 
In  1816  he  marries  Susan  Winters,  by 
whom  there  were  four  children.  She  died 
in  1823.     On  receiving  an  honorable   dis- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


349 


charge  he  returned  to  his  home  and  soon 
afterward  went  to  Ohio,  where  he  remained 
about  three  years.  Later  he  spent  several 
years  in  Kentucky  and  was  married  in  Jan- 
uary, 1 8 — ,  to  Martha  M.  Robertson,  a 
native  of  North  Carolina.  In  1829  they  re- 
moved to  Sangamon  county,  Illinois,  and  in 
1830  came  to  what  is  now  McLean  county, 
casting  in  their  lot  with  the  pioneer  settlers 
of  this  undeveloped  region.  Mr.  Crum- 
baugh  secured  a  claim  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  in  Empire  township,  turned  the 
first  furrows  upon  the  place,  and  in  course 
of  time  developed  a  good  farm.  When  the 
land  was  placed  upon  the  market  he 
entered  it  from  the  government  and  added 
to  it  by  additional  purchase  until  he  became 
the  owner  of  some  five  hundred  acres.  He 
was  a  successful  and  prosperous  farmer, 
whose  active  and  useful  life  was  ended  in 
in  1876,  when  he  had  attained  the  age  of 
eighty-two  years.  His  wife  passed  away 
June  4,  1857. 

In  the  family  of  ten  children,  all  grew  to 
mature  years,  and  five  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters are  yet  living.  Of  this  family,  L.  A. 
Crumbaugh  is  the  eldest.  He  was  reared 
amid  the  wild  scenes  of  frontier  life,  upon 
the  home  farm,  receiving  such  educational 
privileges  as  the  early  schools  afforded,  but 
giving  the  greater  part  of  his  time  to  the 
labor  of  plowing,  planting  and  harvesting. 
He  was  early  trained  to  the  habits  of  indus- 
try and  economy,  which  have  characterized 
his  entire  life,  and  have  been  the  salient 
features  in  his  success.  He  gave  his  father 
the  benefit  of  his  services  until  twenty-three 
years  of  age,  and  then  began  farming  on  his 
own  account.  He  had  entered  a  tract  of 
two  hundred  and  forty  acres  near  the  old 
homestead  and  turning  the  furrows  upon 
thi§  land  he  transformed  it  into  rich  fields. 


making  it  a  productive  and  valuable  tract. 
He  later  bought  more  land  and  now  owns 
nine  hundred  and  si.xty  acres,  being  one  of 
the  extensive  land-holders  of  the  county. 
He  erected  thereon  a  large,  neat  and  sub- 
stantial residence,  good  barns  and  out- 
buildings, planted  an  orchard  and  ornamen- 
tal trees,  divided  it  into  fields  of  convenient 
size  by  well-kept  fences,  and  in  course  of 
time  became  the  owner  of  one  of  the  best 
improved  farms  of  the  township.  For  forty 
years  he  successfully  carried  on  agricultural 
pursuits,  but  in  1882  left  the  farm,  pur- 
chased lots  in  Le  Roy,  and  built  thereon  a 
good  residence,  in  which  he  has  since  made 
his  home. 

The  following  year  he  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  his  brother,  J.  T.  Crumbaugh,  and 
established  the  Citizens  Bank,  a  private  in- 
stitution, which  was  started  with  a  capital 
stock  of  twenty-eight  thousand  dollars.  This 
has  been  increased  from  time  to  time,  and 
with  passing  years  the  bank  has  gained  the 
reputation  of  being  one  of  the  most  popular 
and  solid  financial  institutions  of  the  county. 
Mr.  Crumbaugh  is  serving  as  president,  and 
his  son,  Frank  Crumbaugh,  fills  the  po- 
sition of  cashier.  He  is  also  a  stockholder 
in  the  State  National  Bank  of  Blooming- 
ton,  and  has  been  doing  business  with 
the  First  National  Bank  of  Bloomington 
since  its  establishment  in  the  '40s.  He  is 
also  a  stockholder  in  the  Building  and  Loan 
Association  of  Le  Roy,  a  local  institution, 
and  has  served  as  treasurer  from  the  be- 
ginning. It  is  now  in  a  flourishing  condi- 
tion. He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the 
Le  Roy  Electric  Light  Company,  is  its 
president  and  one  of  the  heaviest  stock- 
holders. Thus  along  various  lines  has  he 
been  prominently  connected  with  the  busi- 
ness  enterprises  that   have  contributed   to 


350 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


the  upbuilding  and  prosperity  of  his  town 
and  county.  His  energy,  industry,  system- 
atic business  methods  and  keen  discrimina- 
tion have  brought  to  him  a  creditable  and 
gratifying  success,  and  his  possessions  are 
the  just  reward  of  his  labor. 

Mr.  Crumbaugh  was  married  in  this 
county,  September  15,  1856,  to  Sarah 
Wiley,  a  native  of  the  county,  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  James  Wiley,  who  came  to  McLean 
county  in  1835.  There  were  five  children 
by  this  union:  Permelia,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  two  years;  Charles,  who  served  as 
cashier  of  the  Citizens  Bank  from  its  or- 
ganization until  his  death  in  1892;  Gertie, 
wife  of  Dr.  Hall,  of  Bloomington;  Frank, 
who  is  now  the  cashier  of  the  Citizens 
bank.  He  married  Jennie  Mount  and  they 
have  four  children,  Hazel,  Charley,  Vera 
and  L.  A.,  and  one  who  died  in  infancy. 

In  his  political  affiliations,  Mr.  Crum- 
baugh is  a  Jeffersonian  Democrat  and  since 
casting  his  first  vote  for  Franklin  Pierce  in 
1852,  has  supported  each  presidential  nom- 
inee of  the  party.  He  has  never  aspired 
to  office,  preferring  to  devote  his  energies 
to  his  extensive  business  interests.  He  be- 
longs to  the  Le  Roy  Universalist  church. 
Through  a  residence  of  almost  seventy 
years,  he  has  watched  the  progress  and  de- 
velopment of  McLean  county,  and  his 
name  should  be  inscribed  high  upon  the  roll 
of  its  leading  business  men,  valued  citizens 
and  honored  pioneers. 


IRA  MERCHANT,  a  leading  and  repre- 
sentative citizen  of  Bloomington,  has 
been  one  of  the  most  important  factors  in 
her  upbuilding  and  development,  and  his 
devotion   to  the   public   welfare    has   made 


him  a  valued  resident.  He  is  widely  known 
and  his  worth  and  ability  have  gained  him 
success,  honor  and  public  confidence. 

Mr.  Merchant  was  born  February  13, 
1838,  on  the  family  homestead,  a  farm  of 
two  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  in  Randolph 
township,  Morris  county.  New  Jersey,  near 
Morristown,  and  is  the  fourth  in  order  of 
birth  in  a  family  of  seven  children,  whose 
parents  were  Daniel  Piatt  and  Eliza  (Carey) 
Merchant.  His  early  years  were  passed  at 
home,  assisting  in  all  the  work  pertaining 
to  farming,  and  his  education  was  received 
in  the  district  school  and  in  select  private 
schools  in  Newark.  He  left  home  for  the 
west  in  November,  1854,  and  accepted  a 
position  as  a  rodman  in  a  survey  then  being 
made  through  Missouri  for  the  North  Mis- 
souri Railroad,  now  a  part  of  the  Wabash 
system.  After  the  surveys  were  completed 
he  worked  on  the  construction  in  Audrain 
and  Boone  counties  until,  for  lack  of  funds, 
the  work  ceased  in  1856.  He  was  next 
with  his  uncle,  Ahaz  Merchant,  city  en- 
gineer of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  his  cousin, 
Aaron  Merchant,  county  surveyor  of  Cuya- 
hoga county,  Ohio,  and  by  assisting  in  both 
city  and  county  work  for  several  months  he 
gained  some  valuable  information  in  land 
surveys  and  municipal  work. 

Later  the  engineer  for  whom  Mr.  Mer- 
chant worked  on  the  North  Missouri  Rail- 
road— James  P.  Low,  a  West  Point  gradu- 
ate— offered  him  a  position  with  an  en- 
gineering corps  in  Iowa,  with  headquarters 
at  Wapello,  Louisa  county.  Financial 
stringency  stopped  work  on  this  road  in  De- 
cember, 1856,  but  Mr.  Low  secured  a  posi- 
tion for  himself  and  engineering  party  on  a 
survey  that  commenced  at  White  Hall, 
Greene  county,  Illinois,  and  was  completed 
through  the  counties  of  Greene,  Scott,  Mor- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


353 


gan,  Cass,  Schuyler,  McDonough,  Warren, 
Mercer,  Henry  and  Rock  Island.  In  April, 
1857,  at  the  age  of  twenty  years,  he  was 
appointed  assistant  engineer  by  Mr.  Low 
and  placed  in  charge  of  construction  from 
White  Hall  to  Beardstown,  a  distance  of 
fifty  miles.  Subsequently  two  divisions 
were  formed,  and  he  took  charge  of  that 
portion  of  the  line  from  the  northern 
boundary  of  Scott  county  to  Beardstown. 
In  the  summer  of  1858  he  was  ordered  by 
the  chief  engineer,  Mr.  Low,  to  make  pre- 
liminary surveys  from  White  Hall  south, 
on  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad,  at 
Brighton,  and  was  placed  in  charge  of  the 
construction  of  this  division  after  complet- 
ing the  location. 

On  the  14th  of  February,  i860,  Mr. 
Merchant  married  Miss  Mary,  daughter  of 
Francis  and  Louisa  Arenz,  of  Cass  county, 
Illinois.  Her  father  was  a  prominent  man, 
interested  in  the  politics  of  that  time,  and 
was  a  friend  of  Lincoln,  Yates,  Baker,  Mc- 
Clernaut,  Palmer  and  other  noted  leaders 
in  political  life.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Merchant 
have  one  child,  Ella,  now  the  wife  of 
Charles  H.  McWhorter,  a  merchant  of 
Denver,  Colorado,  by  whom  she  has 
two  children,  Ira  and  Irene.  Our  sub- 
ject and  his  wife  also  have  an  adopted 
son,  a  nephew  of  Mrs.  Merchant,  \\'alter 
Francis  Arenz,  whose  mother  died  when  he 
was  only  one  month  old.  He  is  now  fifteen 
years  of  age. 

The  hard  times  and  great  business  de- 
pression preceding  the  war  of  the  Rebellion 
closed  the  work  of  construction  on  the 
Rock  Island  &  Alton,  now  the  St.  Louis  di- 
vision of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy 
Railroad.  Mr.  Merchant  was  then  engaged 
for  several  months  in  making  final  estimates 
of    all    contractors'    work    from     Brighton 


north  to  Macomb,  McDonough  county,  and 
was  the  last  civil  engineer  to  work  on  the 
line  previous  to  the  breaking  out  of  the  war. 

In  August,  1 86 1,  he  enlisted  in  a  com- 
pany raised  at  Winchester,  Scott  county, 
and  was  elected  orderly  sergeant  of  that 
company,  which  became  Company  C, 
Twenty-eighth  Illinois  Infantry.  After  a 
short  time  spent  at  Camp  Butler,  they  were 
ordered  to  St.  Louis  to  be  armed,  and  then 
proceeded  to  Bird's  Point,  Missouri,  under 
command  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Waters, 
no  colonel  having  been  assigned.  In  the 
fall  of  1 86 1  Lieutenant  Colonel  Armory  K. 
Johnson,  of  the  Fourteenth  Illinois  In- 
fantry, was  appointed  colonel  and  joined 
the  command  at  Fort  Holt,  Kentucky,  op- 
posite Cairo.  Mr.  Merchant  was  commis- 
sioned by  Governor  Richard  Yates  as  sec- 
ond lieutenant  of  his  company  on  the  27th 
of  December,  1861,  to  take  rank  from  No- 
vember 20.     On    the    19th    of    November, 

1S62,  he  was  commissioned  by  the 

same  governor,  on  recommendation  of  Col- 
onel Johnson,  and  on  the  commission  was 
endorsed  "promoted  for  meritorious  serv- 
ices at  Fort  Donelson  and  Pittsburg  Land- 
ing."  After  the  latter  battle  he  was  de- 
tailed for  signal  duty  and  was  with  the 
camp  of  instruction  at  Paducah,  Kentucky, 
until  June,  1862,  when  he  rejoined  his  reg- 
iment at  Grand  Junction,  Tennessee. 

On  the  4th  of  July,  1 862,  while  in  charge 
of  advanced  picket  at  Holly  Springs,  Mis- 
sissippi, Mr.  Merchant  was  wounded  in  the 
left  arm.  At  the  time  the  injury  was  con- 
sidered light,  but  erysipelas  setting  in  he 
was  in  danger  of  losing  his  arm.  When 
the  line  of  the  Memphis  &  Charleston  Rail- 
road was  abandoned  in  the  summer  of  1862 
and  the  troops  were  ordered  to  Memphis, 
the  wounded,   sick  and  convalescent   were 


354 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


sent  north  to  Cairo  to  be  assigned  to  hospit- 
als, but  on  account  of  the  danger  of  infec- 
tion to  other  wounded,  Mr.  Merchant  was 
prevented  from  entering  any  hospital.  In 
September  he  rejoined  his  command,  and 
while  not  physically  able  to  attend  to  all 
the  duties,  he  took  command  of  the  com- 
pany and  marched  to  Bolivar,  Tennessee, 
and  from  there  to  Hatchie  river,  where  he 
was  with  his  company  in  the  heat  of  the 
engagement,  October  6,  1862,  although 
carrying  his  arm  in  a  sling.  After  the  bat- 
tle was  over,  in  taking  a  short  cut  through 
the  timber  to  visit  the  field  hospital,  he 
came  upon  a  party  of  Confederates  in  hid- 
ing who,  supposing  they  were  surrounded, 
were  anxious  to  surrender  if  guaranteed 
they  would  not  be  fired  at.  They  were 
placed  in  line  and  marched  to  the  heights 
near  the  battle  ground  and  turned  over 
to  the  provost  marshal.  Major  General 
Stephen  A.  Hurlburt  personally  compli- 
mented Lieutenant  Merchant  for  his  action 
and  services  in  this  engagement.  Soon 
after  this  Colonel  Johnson  was  appointed 
colonel  command  the  Third  Brigade, 
Fourth  Division,  Sixth  Army  Corps,  com- 
posed of  the  Twenty-eighth,  Thirty-second, 
and  Forty-first  Illinois  and  the  Fifty-third 
Indiana  regiments  and  appointed  Lieuten- 
ant Merchant  brigade  quartermaster.  He 
was  in  the  saddle  constantly  in  Grant's 
movement  south  through  Mississippi  to 
Water  Valley,  where  the  command  was 
compelled  to  retreat  by  reason  of  the  cap- 
ture of  Holly  Springs  by  General  Van 
Doren.  During  the  winter  of  1862-3  the 
army  occupied  the  line  of  the  Memphis  & 
Charleston  Railroad  and  Lieutenant  Mer- 
chant was  with  the  brigade  at  Collierville  and 
acted  as  post  quartermaster,  railroad  agent 
and  express  agent.     Still  suffering  from  his 


arm  and  receiving  from  Dr.  West,  his  regi- 
mental surgeon,  the  advice  to  resign  or  be 
liable  to  lose  the  arm  and  perhaps  his  life, 
he  forwarded  his  resignation  to  General 
Grant  in  March,  1863,  and  it  was  accepted 
in  April. 

Returning  to  Illinois,  Mr.  Merchant 
went  to  Newark,  New  Jersey,  to  secure  the 
services  of  Dr.  Sweet,  a  noted  surgeon, 
who,  after  treating  him  several  months  and 
relieving  somewhat  the  rigidity  of  the  mus- 
cles and  soreness  of  the  arm,  told  him  he 
might  take  up  his  work,  as  no  further  im- 
provement could  be  made.  On  again  com- 
ing to  Illinois  he  was  elected  surveyor  of 
Sangamon  county  largely  through  the  in- 
fluence of  Governor  Yates.  After  serving 
the  term  for  which  he  was  elected,  he 
engaged  to  relocate  government  surveys  on 
the  Sullivant  tract  in  Ford  county,  some 
forty  thousand  acres  in  a  body.  After  com- 
pleting this  survey  he  took  charge  of  the 
field  party  and  completed  the  preliminary 
surveys  and  estimates  for  the  construction 
of  the  Peoria  &  Rock  Island  Railroad. 

In  the  winter  of  1868  Mr.  Merchant  lo- 
cated in  Bloomington  and  opened  an  office 
for  surveying  and  civil  engineering,  and  while 
making  a  start  in  local  work  was  employed 
by  Larrimore  &  Davis  to  assist  in  making 
abstracts  of  titles.  His  wife  had  been  ap- 
pointed the  first  superintendent  of  the  Sol- 
diers' Orphans'  Home,  and  in  August,  1867, 
under  the  direction  of  the  trustees,  John  M. 
Snyder,  Dr.  Allin  and  Jesse  A.  Willson,  she 
opened  a  temporary  home  in  the  residence 
No.  1207  North  Main  street.  She  most 
faithfully  and  efficiently  discharged  her  ardu- 
ous duties  in  the  care  of  over  fifty  children 
with  insufficient  accommodations,  and  was 
offered  the  position  of  superintendent  of  the 
permanent   home    in   June,    1869,   by   the 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


35S 


unanimous  vote  of  the  trustees,  but  was 
obliged  to  decline  on  account  of  the  ill 
health  of  her  daughter. 

Mr.  Merchant  was  first  appointed  city 
engineer  of  Bloomington,  in  1869,  largely 
through  the  influence  of  Thonias  J.  Burn, 
then  alderman  from  the  second  ward,  who 
from  that  time  on  has  always  been  a  warm 
friend  of  our  subject.  The  office  was  filled 
by  Mr.  Merchant  continuously  until  August, 
1880,  when  he  resigned  on  account  of  a  dis- 
agreement with  the  mayor,  but  was  reap- 
pointed in  1882,  and  served  that  year  and 
the  following  under  Mayor  John  ^^^  Trotter. 
Since  then  he  has  not  been  connected  with 
municipal  engineering.  In  the  spring  of 
1869  Bloomington  was  a  mud  town,  there 
being  several  weeks  during  which  no  loads 
could  be  hauled  from  the  Chicago  &  Alton 
and  Illinois  Central  railroads.  The  engi- 
neering work  that  year  consisted  in  paving 
the  streets  from  each  depot  to  the  public 
square,  the  Illinois  Central  bringing  stone 
from  La  Salle  and  the  Chicago  &  Alton  from 
Joliet  for  paving  Grove  street  and  two  blocks 
on  Main  from  the  Illinois  Central  depot, 
and  Chestnut  street  from  the  railroad  to 
Center  and  south  on  Center  to  the  square. 
Previous  to  this  time  there  were  no  pave- 
ments, no  sewers,  no  brick  sidewalks  and  no 
water  supply.  During  Mayor  Bunn's  ad- 
ministration, in  1870,  Nicholson  pavement 
was  laid  on  the  north  and  west  sides  of  the 
public  square,  and  the  history  of  the  pave- 
ments from  1870  to  1877,.  when  the  first 
solid  block  of  brick  pavement  was  laid  on 
the  west  side  of  the  square,  was  a  succession 
of  trials  and  failures  with  everything  that 
could  be  laid  that  would  not  take  the  prop- 
erty to  pay  for  it.  The  first  block  of  brick 
pavement  laid  in  the  United  States  was  on 
the  west  side  of  the  square  in  Bloomington, 


but  to-day  it  is  safe  to  say  that  more  square 
yards  of  this  pavement  are  laid  in  cities  from 
five  to  one  hundred  thousand  population 
than  all  others  combined. 

The  building  of  sewers  was  commenced 
under  Mayor  Funk's  terms  from  1871 
to  1875,  and  the  water-works  under  the 
same  mayor.  Mr.  Merchant  superintended 
the  construction  of  the  water-works,  pre- 
paring all  descriptions  for  ordinances  and 
making  all  plats  of  property  and  lists  of 
persons  specially  assessed.  The  stand-pipe 
which  gives  Bloomington  the  best  of  equal- 
ized pressure  for  distribution  of  water 
through  the  mains  was  constructed  under 
his  immediate  supervision  from  plans  drawn 
by  James  P.  Berkenline,  of  Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania;  and  he  also  originated  the 
system  of  records  in  the  engineer's  office. 
From  May,  1884,  until  March,  1888,  he 
was  engaged  in  contracting  and  in  engineer- 
ing for  tile  drainage  of  farms.  He  was 
then  employed  by  the  executors  of  the  es- 
tate of  the  late  David  Davis  as  business 
manager,  under  their  direction  taking  charge 
of  the  improvements  on  farm  lands  and 
keeping  books  and  accounts  of  the  estate 
until  the  death  of  Henry  S.  Swayne,  one  of 
the  e.xecutors,  in  1893,  since  which  time  he 
has  acted  as  business  agent  for  Mrs.  Sarah 
(Davis)  Swayne,  one  of  the  two  heirs  of 
David  Davis. 

In  his  political  relations  Mr.  Merchant 
is  independent,  voting  for  the  man  rather 
than  the  party.  He  has  always  taken  an 
active  interest  in  the  welfare  of  Blooming- 
ton and  his  abilities  have  been  exerted  in 
her  behalf,  so  that  she  now  ranks  among 
the  best  and  most  attractive  cities  compos- 
ing this  great  commonwealth.  He  is  an 
excellent  business  man  —  one  who  has  a 
peculiar  faculty  for  organizing  and  system- 


356 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


atizing  all  his  business  affairs,  and  he  is  a 
genial,  affable  gentleman  who  makes  many 
friends.  His  wife  has  been  a  member  of 
the  Second  Presbyterian  church  of  Bloom- 
Ington  for  over  thirty  years,  and  is  a  most 
estimable  lady. 


SAMUEL  B.  WILLERTON,  who  is  en- 
gaged in  farming  and  stock  raising  on 
section  35,  Danvers  township,  was  born  in 
Oswego,  New  York,  September  22,  1865, 
and  is  the  son  of  Christopher  and  Harriet 
(Baldwick)  Willerton,  who  located  in  Mc- 
Lean county  shortly  after  his  birth.  Chris- 
topher Willerton  was  born  November  23, 
18 18,  in  Lincolnshire,  England,  and  was 
the  son  of  William  Willerton,  a  dry-goods 
merchant  of  Gosberton,  Lincolnshire, 
England,  who  lived  and  died  in  his  native 
country.  He  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native 
county,  and  after  receiving  his  education 
engaged  in  farming.  On  the  nth  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1846,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Harriet  Baldwick,  also  a  native  of 
Lincolnshire,  born  March  28,  1827,  and 
daughter  of  Robert  and  Frances  (Bell)  Bald- 
wick, who  were  likewise  natives  of  Lincoln- 
shire, and  who  there  spent  their  entire  lives. 
They  were  the  parents  of  seven  children,  of 
whom  Mrs.  Willerton  was  third  in  order  of 
birth. 

After  his  marriage,  Christopher  Willer- 
ton, continued  to  engage  in  farming  in  his 
native  land  until  1852,  when  with  his  family 
he  came  to  the  United  States  and  located 
in  the  city  of  Oswego,  New  York,  where  he 
was  engaged  in  the  grain  business  for  thir- 
teen years.  He  then  came  to  McLean 
county,  Illinois,  and  locating  in  Danvers, 
he  ran  an  engine  in  a  mill  for  a  short  time, 
and  then  purchased  a  tract  of  land  in  Dan- 


vers township,  commenced  farming.  He 
continued  actively  engaged  in  farming  and 
stock  raising  until  1887,  when  he  moved 
into  the  village  of  Danvers,  where  he  lived 
retired  during  the  remainder  of  his  life,  his 
death  occurring  April  27,  1895.  His  wife 
yet  survives  him,  and  makes  her  home  in 
Danvers.  They  were  the  parents  of  seven 
children.  Robert  C.  is  now  residing  in 
Rock  Island,  Illinois.  Emma  makes  her 
home  with  her  mother  in  Danvers.  Martha 
is  the  wife  of  PhineasStubblefield,  and  they 
reside  in  Bloomington.  John  is  an  architect, 
and  resides  in  Chicago.  Albert  resides  in 
Farmer  City,  Illinois,  where  he  is  engaged  in 
the  mercantile  business.  Anna  is  the  wife 
of  William  Foreman,  and  they  reside  in 
Bloomington.  Samuel  B.  is  the  subject  of 
this  sketch.  In  politics  the  father  was  a 
Republican,  and  religiously  was  a  Congre- 
gationalist.  His  wife  is  also  a  member  of 
the  Congregational  church. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  grew  to  man- 
hood on  the  farm  in  Danvers  township,  and 
in  the  schools  of  the  township  he  received 
his  primary  education.  This  was  supple- 
mented by  an  attendance  of  one  year  and  a 
half  in  the  high  school  in  the  village 
of  McLean.  After  leaving  schoo,  he 
rented  a  piecaof  land  in  Danvers  town- 
ship and  engaged  in  farming.  In  1890 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Ella  Skaggs,  a  native  of  Danvers  township, 
and  daughter  of  Dr.  J.  M.  Skaggs,  of  whom 
further  mention  is  made  in  the  sketch  of  L. 
E.  Skaggs,  on  another  page  of  this  work. 
By  this  union  there  are  two  children — Ada 
v.,  born  August  20,  1892,  and  who  is  now 
attending  the  district  school;  and  Parke  E., 
born  May  15,   1895. 

In  politics  Mr.  Willerton  is  a  Republic- 
an, his   first  presidential  vote  being  cast  for 


THE   BIOGR.\PHICAL   RECORD. 


35; 


Benjamin  Harrison,  in  1SS8.  The  only  lo- 
cal position  filled  by  him  has  has  been 
that  of  school  director.  Fraternally  he 
is  a  member  of  Danvers  Camp,  M.  W. 
A.  His  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
church.  They  have  both  many  friends  in 
the  community  where  almost  the  entire  life 
of  the  one  has  been  passed,  and  the  entire 
life  of  the  other. 


ALBERT  FULTON,  who  operates  the 
Morrow  homestead  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  on  section  8,  Randolph  town- 
ship, within  three  miles  of  Heyworth,  has 
distinguished  himself  as  one  of  the  most 
active  and  enterprising  citizens  of  the  com- 
munity. 

One  of  the  honored  native  sons  of  Mc- 
Lean county,  Mr.  Fulton  was  born  in  the 
city  of  Bloomington,  April  6,  1855,  and  is 
a  worth  representative  of  one  of  its  highly- 
respected  old  families.  His  paternal  grand- 
father was  William  Fulton,  who  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania,  in  1792,  and  was  an  own 
cousin  of  the  noted  Robert  Fulton,  the 
steamboat  inventor.  When  a  young  man 
he  went  to  Ohio  and  became  one  of  the 
first  settlers  of  Harrison  county,  where  he 
remained  until  185 1,  when  he  came  to  Mc- 
Lean county,  settling  near  Bloomington, 
where  he  died  February  18,  187 1.  In  Har- 
rison county,  Ohio,  James  Fulton,  the  fa- 
ther of  our  subject,  first  opened  his  eyes  to 
the  light  of  day  in  September,  1826,  and 
there  he  grew  to  manhood  and  in  1853 
married  Miss  Mary  Boyd,  also  a  native  of 
that  county.  Her  parents,  William  and 
Ann  Boyd,  were  both  born  in  Ireland. 
James  Fulton  continued  to  engage  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits  in  his  native  county  until 
1851,  when  he  came  west  with   his   father 


and  took  up  his  residence  on  the  old  Judge 
Davis  farm,  only  a  mile  and  a  half  east  of 
the  court  house  in  Bloomington,  where  he 
made  his  home  until  1853,  when  he  returned 
to  Ohio  and  was  married;  then  returned 
and  was  engaged  in  merchandising  in  Old 
Town  for  some  years,  and  while  residing 
there  his  first  wife,  who  was  the  mother  of 
our  subject,  died  August  i,  1856.  Some 
years  later  he  wedded  Mary  E.  Bishop.  He 
finally  removed  to  Downs  township,  where 
he  purchased  a  partially  improved  farm,  to 
the  further  development  and  cultivation  of 
which  he  gave  his  time  and  attention  until 
called  from  this  life.  He  enlarged  and  re- 
modeled the  residence,  built  a  good  barn, 
and  converted  it  into  one  of  the  best  im- 
proved places  of  the  neighborhood.  There 
he  died,  September  8,  1892,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-six  years,  honored  and  respected  by 
all  who  knew  him.  His  wife  still  survives 
him  and  resides  on  the  old  home  place  in 
Downs  township.  By  the  first  marriage 
there  were  two  children:  Eliza,  now  the 
wife  of  B.  H.  Black,  of  Harrison  county, 
Ohio;  and  Albert,  the  subject  of  this 
review.  By  the  second  marriage  there 
were  five  children:  Belle,  wife  of  A.  J. 
Welch,  of  Downs  township;  Elizabeth  died 
in  infancy;  John  died  in  infancy;  Mattie  E. , 
wife  of  Joseph  Brown,  of  Randolph  town- 
ship; and  James  F.  resides  on  the  home 
place. 

Reared  in  this  county,  Albert  Fulton  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Blooming- 
ton and  early  in  life  acquired  a  good  practi- 
cal knowledge  of  every  department  of  farm 
work.  He  accompanied  his  father  on  his 
removal  to  Downs  township,  and  aided  him 
in  opening  up  and  developing  the  home 
farm,  remaining  under  the  parental  roof  un- 
til twenty-five  years  of  age. 


358 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


On  the  farm  in  Randolph  township, 
where  he  now  resides,  Mr.  Fulton  was  mar- 
ried, October  13,  1880,  to  Miss  Mattie  Mor- 
row, a  native  of  Clinton  county,  Ohio,  and 
a  daughter  of  Almon  and  Ruthi  (Templin) 
Morrow,  also  natives  of  the  Buckeye  state. 
In  i860  the  Morrow  family  came  to  Illinois 
and  first  located  in  the  southern  part  of  the 
state,  but  a  year  later  came  to  Heyworth, 
McLean  county,  where  the  father  enlisted 
August  9,  1862,  in  Coippany  B,  Ninety- 
fourth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  re- 
mained in  the  service  until  the  expiration 
of  his  three-years'  term,  when  he  was  hon- 
orably discharged  July  17,  1865.  With  his 
regiment  he  participated  in  a  number  of  im- 
portant engagements  and  many  skirmishes 
and  was  found  at  his  post  of  duty,  bravely 
defending  the  old  flag  and  the  cause  it  rep- 
resented. While  at  the  front,  his  wife  and 
child  returned  to  their  old  home  in  Ohio, 
where  he  rejoined  them  at  the  close  of  the 
war,  but  in  the  fall  of  1865  the  family  again 
came  to  McLean  county.  Two  years  later 
they  located  on  the  present  farm  of  our  sub- 
ject, which  Mr.  Morrow  operated  for  some 
years,  but  is  now  living  retired  in  Heyworth, 
enjoying  a  well-earned  rest.  Mrs.  Fulton 
was  reared  and  educated  in  this  county,  and 
by  her  marriage  to  our  subject  has  become 
the  mother  of  five  children,  namely:  Maude, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  three  years;  Elmer, 
Mary  M.,  Ruth  Amanda  and  Ada  Ruby,  all 
living. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Fulton  lived  for 
five  years  upon  his  farm  of  eighty  acres  in 
Downs  township,  and  then  removed  to  the 
Morrow  homestead  in  Randolph  township, 
where  he  still  resides.  He  has  assisted  in 
the  improvement  and  development  of  this 
property.  He  is  still  the  owner  of  eighty 
acres  of  well-improved  and  valuable  land  in 


Downs  township,  and  is  meeting  with  excel- 
lent success  in  his  farming  operations.  His 
political  support  has  always  been  given  the 
men  and  measures  of  the  Republican  party 
since  casting  his  first  presidential  vote  for 
Rutherford  B.  Hayes  in  1876,  but  he  has 
never  cared  for  political  office.  He  has, 
however,  been  a  member  of  the  school 
board  eight  years,  and  is  clerk  of  his  district. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  are  earnest  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Heyworth, 
and  have  a  host  of  friends  and  acquaint- 
ances who  esteem  them  highly  for  their  gen- 
uine worth. 


EDWARD  KINSELLA,  a  prosper- 
ous and  enterprising  farmer  residing 
on  section  33,  Gridley  township,  is  the 
owner  of  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
on  that  section  and  one  hundred  and  seven- 
teen acres  in  Money  Creek  township,  com- 
prising nearly  four  hundred  and  forty  acres. 
He  was  born  in  county  Wexford,  Ireland, 
June  20,  1845,  an<l  is  the  son  of  Thomas 
and  Elizabeth  (Lawless)  Kinsella,  both  of 
whom  are  natives  of  the  same  county. 
Thomas  Kinsella  was  reared  a  farmer,  an 
occupation  which  he  followed  during  his 
entire  life.  Realizing  that  Ireland  was  not 
the  place  in  which  to  rear  a  family  and  give 
them  opportunities  in  life  which  should  be 
enjoyed  by  every  free  man,  he  determined 
on  emigrating  to  the  United  States.  In 
1850,  with  his  family  of  four  sons,  he  set 
sail  for  this  free  country,  and  in  due  time 
landed  in  New  York  city,  from  which  place 
they  went  to  Onondaga  county.  New  York, 
and  there  remained  until  the  spring  of 
1857,  when  they  came  to  McLean  county. 
The  two  eldest  sons,  however,  had  pre- 
ceded the  rest    of   the    family,  having    first 


THE   BIOGR.\PHICAL   RECORD. 


359 


visited  Iowa,  and  returning,  had  located  in 
Funks  Grove  township,  where  they  rented 
land  from  Isaac  Funk.  In  that  township 
the  father  also  settled,  and  there  remained 
until  1862,  when  he  moved  to  Normal 
township,  and  renting  the  Carlisle  farm, 
there  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  dying 
in  Januar}',  1865.  The  four  sons  which 
accompanied  him  to  this  country  were 
Thomas,  for  many  years  a  prosperous 
farmer  of  Funks  Grove  township,  but  who 
is  now  living  retired  in  the  city  of  Bloom- 
ington;  James,  a  farmer  of  Livingston 
county;  Michael,  a  farmer  of  Towanda 
township,  and  Edward,  our  subject. 

Edward  Kinsella  was  but  five  years  of 
age  when  he  came  with  his  father  to  the 
United  States,  and  but  twelve  years  old 
when  he  came  to  McLean  county.  In  the 
schools  of  Onondaga  county,  New  York, 
and  in  those  of  McLean  county,  he  re- 
ceived his  education,  but  he  is  mostly  self- 
educated.  His  entire  life  has  been  spent 
upon  the  farm,  and  he  early  learned  to  be 
up  with  the  lark  and  toil  early  and  late  in 
order  to  provide  for  the  wants  of  the  family. 
In  the  fall  of  1864,  with  one  of  his  brothers, 
he  went  to  Blue  Mound  township  and  pur- 
chased the  farm  of  George  W.  Stipp,  pay- 
ing for  the  same  twenty-five  dollars  per 
acre.  This  was  owned  and  operated  in 
partnership  until  January  3,  1869,  when  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Mary  E.  Urel, 
daughter  of  John  and  Bridget  (Lyon)  Urel, 
who  was  born  in  Herkimer  county,  New 
York;  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Tippe- 
rarj-,  Ireland.  By  this  union  there  were 
eight  children,  five  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters, as  follows:  Charles  W. ,  born  Octo- 
ber 4,  1S69;  John  H.,  June  28,  1S72; 
Thomas  H.,  February  17,  1878;  Edward 
W.,  February  15,  iSSo;  Albert,   November 


27,  1SS4;  Elizabeth,  born  August  30,  1874, 
died  December  8,  1886;  Grace  and  Clara, 
at  home. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Kinsella  bought 
his  brother's  interest  in  the  farm  in  Blue 
Mound  township,  and  there  resided  until 
the  spring  of  1892,  when  he  exchanged  it 
for  his  present  place.  He  has  followed  a 
general  line  of  farming,  including  stock 
raising,  in  which  line  he  has  met  with  good 
success,  feeding  annually  about  two  car 
loads  of  cattle.  Coming  to  this  country  a 
poor  Irish  lad,  by  his  industry  and  thrifty 
habits  he  has  become  one  of  the  leading 
and  successful  farmers  of  the  county.  In 
the  purchase  of  his  first  farm,  he  had  to  go 
heavily  in  debt,  but  he  was  determined  to 
succeed.  Others  had  succeeded  before  him, 
and  he  saw  no  reason  why  he  should  not 
also  be  successful.  He  was  blessed  with 
strong  arms  and  good  health,  and  with  such 
capital,  backed  by  a  strong  will,  and  assisted 
by  his  sons,  he  could  not  help  but  succeed. 
In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  religiously 
a  Catholic.  His  wife  and  family  are  also 
members  of  the  Roman  Catholic  church. 


WILLIAM  J.  RHODES.  There  is  par- 
ticular satisfaction  in  reverting  to 
the  life  historj'  of  the  honored  and  vener- 
able gentleman  whose  name  initiates  this 
review,  since  his  mind  bears  impress  of  the 
historical  annals  of  McLean  county  from 
early  pioneer  days,  and  from  the  fact  that 
he  has  attained  to  a  position  of  distinctive 
prominence  in  the  community  where  he  was 
born  and  where  he  has  retained  his  resi- 
dence until  the  present  time,  being  now  one 
of  its  revered  patriarchs. 

Near  his  present  home,  at   the  edge  of 
Blooming    Grove,    Mr.    Rhodes    was    born 


36o 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


February  i6,  1825,  a  son  of  John  H.  S. 
and  Mary  (Johnson)  Rhodes,  whose  sketch 
appears  on  another  page  of  this  volume. 
He  was  educated  in  the  same  neighborhood, 
conning  his  lessons  in  the  old  log  school- 
house  with  split  logs  for  benches.  He 
obtained  a  good  practical  education,  and 
was  anxious  to  further  pursue  his  studies, 
but  during  those  early  days  his  father  was 
not  able  to  give  him  better  educational  ad- 
vantages than  the  common  schools  afforded. 
He  remained  on  the  home  farm  until  twen- 
ty-four years  of  age,  and  being  the  oldest 
son  was  given  charge  of  the  place  while  his 
father  and  a  Mr.  Randolph  went  south  to 
buy  cattle  which  they  brought  home  with 
them,  leaving  in  the  early  spring  and  not 
returning  until  fall.  This  responsibility  laid 
heavily  upon  our  subject  and  often  caused 
him  many  a  sleepless  night,  but  it  devel- 
oped his  character  and  in  many  ways  fitted 
him  for  a  successful  business  career  in  later 
years.  He  had  many  hands  working  under 
him  and  it  was  to  his  own  good  judgment 
and  able  management  that  the  farm  was 
successfully  operated  during  his  father's  ab- 
sence. 

On  the  7th  of  September,  1849,  Mr. 
Rhodes  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Sarah  Martha  Cowden,  a  daughter  of  Rives 
Cowden,  a  pioneer  of  Old  Town  township. 
His  father  then  gave  him  one  hundred  acres 
of  land,  and  he  embarked  in  farming  and 
stock  raising  on  his  own  account.  He  is  a 
man  of  rare  judgment  and  good  business 
ability,  and  as  a  stock  dealer  has  met  with 
most  gratifying  success,  annually  shipping 
several  carloads  to  the  city  markets.  He 
has  made  a  specialty  of  cattle,  but  to  some 
degree  has  also  been  interested  in  horses. 
Choosing  a  delightful  location,  he  built 
thereon  a  beautiful   home   in    1873,   which 


together  with  its  surroundings  makes  one  of 
the  most  attractive  homes  in  the  community. 
To  his  original  farm  he  has  added  until  he 
now  has  three  hundred  and  thirty  acres  of 
valuable  land  under  a  high  state  of  cultiva- 
tion and  improved  with  good  and  substan- 
tial buildings. 

Mr.  Rhodes  served  as  assistant  super- 
visor of  his  township  for  one  term,  being 
elected  on  the  Republican  ticket.  He  was 
a  supporter  of  the  party  at  that  time,  but  is 
now  an  ardent  Prohibitionist,  and  was  one 
of  the  pioneers  in  that  movement,  giving  it 
his  support  when  the  party  was  not  at  all 
popular.  For  three  years  he  made  his  home 
in  Bloomington  for  the  purpose  of  educating 
his  children,  and  while  there  was  the  nomi- 
nee of  his  party  for  alderman  of  the  fourth 
ward.  He  was  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Blooming  Grove  Grange,  of  which  he  was 
the  first  master,  and  which  he  represented 
in  the  State  Grange  for  some  years.  He 
also  attended  the  National  Grange  of  Indian- 
apolis and  met  many  prominent  men  there. 

Mr.  Rhodes'  first  wife  died  in  1872, 
leaving  five  children,  as  follows:  John  R. 
William  P.  married  Laura  Johnson,  of 
Bloomington,  and  now  lives  in  Nebraska. 
Martha  is  the  wife  of  J.  Orendorph,  of  Kan- 
sas, and  has  three  sons,  Guy;  Arthur  D., 
who  enlisted  in  the  army  during  our  late 
war  with  Spain;  and  Lester.  Elder  M., 
living  near  Heyworth,  this  county,  married 
Nettie  Mullinnix  and  has  three  children: 
George  William,  Lizzie  Blanche  and  Glen. 
James,  who  lives  near  our  subject,  married 
Love  Lindley  and  had  three  children,  now 
deceased.  Mr.  Rhodes  was  again  married, 
November  2,  1873,  his  second  union  being 
with  Lizzie  Arnold,  by  whom  he  has  one 
child,  Sarah  E.,  who  married  Harry  E. 
Becker,   of  Jacksonville.      They   have  one 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


3^1 


child — William  Rhodes  Becker.  Both  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Rhodes  are  earnest  and  faithful 
members  of  the  Christian  church,  of  which 
he  is  an  elder  and  one  of  the  oldest  in  point 
of  membership.  He  has  ever  been  a  liberal 
contributor  to  all  objects  tending  to  advance 
the  welfare  of  the  country,  and  in  his  daily 
walk  has  shown  himself  to  be  consistent 
with  the  beliefs  which  he  professes,  being 
generous  and  charitable  in  answering  the 
appeals  of  the  distressed. 


EDWARD  McREYNOLDS  was  for  many 
years  one  of  the  most  active,  enter- 
prising and  energetic  agriculturists  of  Allin 
township,  McLean  county,  but  is  now 
practically  living  retired,  enjoying  a  rest 
which  he  has  truly  earned.  A  native  of  In- 
diana, he  was  born  in  Posey  county,  June  26, 
1846,  and  is  a  son  of  Leonard  McReynolds, 
whose  was  born  in  Kentucky  about  1802, 
and  when  a  lad  of  thirteen  years  removed 
with  his  parents  to  Posey  county,  Indiana, 
where  he  attended  school  and  worked  with 
his  father  on  the  home  farm  until  1854, 
when  he  came  to  Illinois  after  the  latter's 
death,  which  occurred  in  the  Hoosier  state 
November  7,  1867.  On  locating  there 
his  father  had  purchased  eighty  acres  of 
timberland,  which  he  assisted  in  clearing 
and  improving,  rendering  it  suitable  for 
farming  purposes.  Leonard  McReynolds 
was  twice  married,  his  first  wife  being  Hulda 
Neal,  by  whom  he  had  eight  children. 
After  her  death  he  was  again  married  in 
Indiana,  his  second  union  being  with  Mrs. 
Nancy  (Reynolds)  Estes,  and  to  them  were 
born  four  children,  of  whom  our  subject  is 
one. 

Edward   McReynolds    was    about    eight 
years  of  age  when  he  accompanied  his  parents 


on  their  removal  to  McLean  county,  Illinois, 
and  to  its  public  schools  he  is  indebted  for 
his  educational  advantages.  The  father 
had  purchased  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  of  government  land  on  coming  to  this 
state,  erected  good  and  substantial  build- 
ings thereon,  laid  many  rods  of  tiling,  and 
converted  it  into  one  of  the  most  valuable 
farms  of  Allin  township.  In  this  work 
Edward  bore  an  important  part,  giving  his 
father  the  benefit  of  his  labors  until  1865, 
when  he  enlisted  at  the  age  of  eighteen 
years  in  Company  B,  One  Hundred  and 
Fifty-second  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  for 
one  year.  When  the  war  ended  he  was 
honorably  discharged  and  returned  to  the 
home  farm,  which  he  assisted  his  father  in 
operating  until  the  latter's  death,  which  is 
shown  above.  Since  then  he  has  purchased 
the  place  and  to  it  has  added  a  fifty-acre 
tract,  making  a  fine  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  seventy,  all  under  a  high  state  of  culti- 
vation and  well  improved.  With  him  his 
mother  continued  to  make  her  home  until 
she,  too,  was  called  to  her  final  rest,  April 
3,  1891. 

On  the  28th  of  December,  1866,  at  the 
age  of  twenty  years,  Mr.  McReynolds  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Sarah  Endi- 
cott,  then  eighteen  years  of  age.  She,  too, 
is  a  native  of  Indiana,  but  was  reared  and 
educated  in  Shelby  county,  Illinois,  where 
their  marriage  was  celebrated.  Her  par- 
ents were  Absalom  and  Matilda  Endicott, 
the  former  a  native  of  Kentucky,  the  latter 
of  Posey  county,  Indiana.  Her  grandpar- 
ents came  originally  from  Carolina,  and 
were  of  Irish  decent.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mc- 
Reynolds have  two  daughters,  the  older  of 
whom  is  Cora,  now  the  wife  of  Walter  H. 
Fry,  by  whom  she  has  five  children:  Pearly, 
Goldie,    Lisle,    Howard  and   Opal.      Leora 


362 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Blanche,  the  younger  daughter,  graduated 
from  the  Stanford  high  school  in  1898,  and 
is  now  at  home  with  her  parents. 

During  the  past  fifteen  years,  Mr.  Mc- 
Reynolds  has  made  many  improvements 
upon  his  farms,  which  add  greatly  to  their 
value  and  attractive  appearance,  but  for 
five  years  he  has  practically  lived  retired, 
though  he  still  continues  to  reside  upon  the 
old  homestead  and  superintends  the  work 
to  a  certain  extent.  He  has  always  en- 
gaged in  general  farming  and  made  a  spe- 
cialty of  stock  raising  and  has  met  with  well- 
deserved  success,  so  that  he  is  now  one  of 
the  substantial,  as  well  as  one  of  the  most 
reliable  and  highly-esteemed  agriculturists 
of  his  community.  He  and  his  estimable 
wife,  who  has  indeed  proved  a  true  help- 
meet to  him,  aiding  him  in  every  possible 
way,  are  both  consistent  members  of  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  church.  In  his 
political  views,  Mr.  McReynolds  is  a  Demo- 
crat, but  he  takes  no  active  part  in  politics 
aside  from  voting.  Educational  interests 
have  claimed  considerable  of  his  attention, 
and  he  has  most  efficienty  served  as  school 
director  in  his  township  for  a  number  of 
years. 


LEWIS  C.  HENDRYX  is  a  retired 
farmer  living  in  the  little  city  of  Le 
Roy,  who  has  by  his  shrewd  judgment,  ex- 
cellent management  and  fair  business  trans- 
actions, acquired  sufficient  property  to  en- 
able him  to  give  up  business  cares  and 
enjoy  the  result  of  his  former  labors. 

A  native  of  McLean  county,  Mr.  Hen- 
dryx  was  born  in  Old  Town  township, 
April  4,  1838,  and  is  a  worthy  representa- 
tive of  one  of  its  honored  pioneer  families. 
His    father,    Allen   Hendryx,    was    born  in 


Ohio  in  181 8,  and  during  his  boyhood  came 
to  this  state  with  his  father,  John  Hendryx, 
a  native  of  New  York  and  a  pioneer  of 
Ohio,  who  settled  in  what  is  now  McLean 
county  about  1828,  being  one  of  the  first  to 
locate  in  Old  Town  township,  where  he 
took  up  a  claim,  opened  up  a  farm  and 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  engaged  in 
agricultural  pursuits  there.  On  reaching 
man's  estate  Allen  Hendryx  was  married  in 
this  county  to  Miss  Jane  Frankeberger,  who 
was  born  in  Ohio,  but  was  reared  here. 
Her  father,  Rev.  Jesse  Frankeberger,  was  a 
prominent  pioneer  Methodist  Episcopal 
preacher,  of  Illinois,  who  came  to  this 
county  in  1829  and  died  in  Bloomington  in 
1870  after  a  long  and  useful  life.  He  was 
a  fellow-worker  with  Peter  Cartwright. 
After  his  marriage  Mr.  Hendryx  operated 
the  farm  which  he  owned  in  Old  Town 
township  for  some  years,  later  spent  ten 
years  in  Bloomington,  after  which  he  again 
lived  on  his  farm  until  1881,  and  then  re- 
turned to  Bloomington,  where  he  died  in 
1 89 1,  honored  and  respected  by  all  who 
knew  him.  Prior  to  the  civil  war  he  was  a 
stanch  abolitionist  and  was  connected  with 
the  underground  railroad,  being  a  firm 
friend  of  and  co-worker  with  Owen  Lovejoy. 
He  was  also  a  strong  temperance  man  and 
was  always  an  advocate  of  temperance 
principles.  His  estimable  wife  is  still  liv- 
ing with  a  daughter  in  Bloomington,  a  hale 
and  hearty  old  lady  of  eighty  years. 

Lewis  C.  Hendryx  is  one  of  a  family  of 
ten  children,  six  sons  and  four  daughters, 
all  of  whom  are  still  living  with  the  excep- 
tion of  one  daughter.  He  was  reared  to 
farm  work,  and  on  starting  out  for  himself 
chose  the  life  of  the  agriculturist.  He  be- 
gan operations  upon  a  five-acre  tract  of 
brush  land  in  Dawson  township,  which   he 


THE   BIOGR-APHICAL   RECORD. 


363 


cleared,  fenced  and  improved,  and  as  time 
passed  he  added  to  it  more  land  as  his 
means  would  permit  until  he  owned  two 
hundred  acres,  which  he  converted  into  a 
fine  farm.  He  had  one  of  the  largest 
orchards  in  the  township,  which  contained 
a  fine  variety  of  choice  fruits,  and  was  quite 
successfully  engaged  in  general  farming, 
stock-raising  and  dealing.  He  commenced 
life  for  himself  empty-handed  and  the  ac- 
cumulation of  this  valuable  property  was 
due  entirely  to  his  own  industry,  enterprise 
and  good  management.  He  also  owns  a 
good  home  in  Le  Roy,  where  he  is  now  liv- 
ing retired.  They  also  own  residence 
property  in  Normal,  also  the  residence  ad- 
joining his  own  in  Le  Roy. 

In  Da^vson  township,  April  4,  1S59,  Mr. 
HendrjTC  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Mary  Jane  Frankeberger,  also  a  native  of 
McLean  county.  Her  father,  Benjamin 
Frankeberger,  was  born  in  Ohio,  and  at  an 
early  day  came  to  this  county,  where  he 
married  Orvilla  Hendryx,  also  a  native  of 
Ohio,  who  was  brought  here  when  a  child 
of  eight  years.  For  some  years  they  made 
their  home  at  Wyanet,  Bureau  county,  near 
Princeton,  and  there  the  father  died  in 
1858,  while  serving  as  deputy  sheriff  of 
Bureau  county,  Illinois.  Mrs.  Frankeberger 
survived  him  many  years  and  reared  their 
family.  She  spent  her  last  days  with  Mrs. 
Hendryx  and  died  in  Le  Roy,  April  i,  1899, 
when  nearly  seventy-seven  years  of  age. 
The  children  born  to  our  subject  and  his 
wife  are  as  follows:  William,  a  business 
man  of  Le  Roy;  Silas,  a  traveling  salesman 
residing  in  the  same  place;  Ida  Belle,  wife 
of  George  Sutton,  a  farmer  of  Dawson 
township;  Peter  Price  and  Lillie  May,  both 
at  home;  Miner,  a  farmer  of  Dawson  town- 
ship;  and  Lewis  and  Minnie,  both  at  home. 


Since  casting  his  first  presidential  vote 
for  Abraham  Lincoln,  in  i860,  Mr.  Hen- 
dry.x  has  never  failed  to  support  each  Re- 
publican candidate  for  that  office,  and 
though  he  takes  an  active  interest  in  polit- 
ical affairs  and  does  all  in  his  power  to  in- 
sure the  success  of  his  party,  he  has  never 
sought  official  preferment  for  himself.  Both 
he  and  his  wife  are  prominent  and  influen- 
tial members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  of  Le  Roy,  with  which  he  has  long 
been  officially  connected,  serving  as  a 
trustee  for  four  years.  Mrs.  Hendryx  has 
been  church  steward  for  years,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  state  board  for  the  Girls'  In- 
dustrial Home  at  Bloomington.  He  has 
taken  thirteen  children  to  this  home,  and 
has  selected  and  fitted  up  a  hospital  room 
in  their  new  building,  furnishing  it  com- 
pletely, and  giving  it  the  name  of  Le  Roy. 
The  poor  and  needy  always  find  in  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hendryx  friends,  and  no  one  is  ever 
turned  away  hungry  from  their  door.  They 
have  labored  untiringly  for  their  church  and 
the  betterment  of  their  fellow  men,  and  as 
earnest  Christians,  honored  pioneers  and 
highly  esteemed  citizens  of  the  community, 
they  are  certainly  deserving  of  prominent 
mention  in  the  history  of  their  native 
county. 


JOHN  H.  S.  RHODES.  No  state  in  the 
Union  can  boast  of  a  more  heroic  band 
of  pioneers  than  Illinois.  In  their  intelli- 
gence, capability  and  genius  they  are  far 
above  the  pioneers  of  the  eastern  states, 
and  in  their  daring  and  heroism  they  were 
equal  to  the  Missouri  and  California  Argo- 
nauts. Their  privations,  hardships  and  ear- 
nest labors  have  resulted  in  establishing  one 
of  the  foremost  commonwealths  in  America, 


364 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


the  possibilities  of  whicii  are  far  greater 
than  those  possessed  by  any  of  her  sister 
states.  The  material  advancement  of  the 
prairie  state  is  the  wonder  of  the  world,  and 
it  has  been  largely  secured  through  the 
sturdy  and  inteUigent  manhood  of  her  early 
settlers  with  their  moral,  intellectual  and 
physical  stamina;  but  their  work  is  nearly 
completed,  and  every  year  sees  more  new 
graves  filled  by  those  who  helped  to  build 
an  empire,  and  soon,  too  soon,  will  the 
last  of  those  sturdy  pioneers  be  laid  away; 
but  their  memory  will  forever  remain  green 
among  those  who  live  after  them  and  appre- 
ciated their  efforts. 

The  name  of  John  H.  S.  Rhodes  was 
perhaps  more  closely  associated  with  the 
earlier  history  of  McLean  county  than  any 
other,  as  he  was  one  of  the  first  to  locate 
here  and  took  quite  an  active  and  promi- 
nent part  in  her^upbuilding  and  development. 
He  was  born  in  Maryland,  October  16, 
1796,  a  son  of  Ebenezer  and  Mary  (Starr) 
Rhodes,  representatives  of  old  and  highly- 
respected  families  of  that  state.  The  father, 
who  was  born  in  Holland  in  1780,  served  as 
an  orderly  sergeant  in  the  war  of  181 2, 
came  to  Illinois  in  1822,  and  first  located  at 
Springfield,  but  in  April,  1823.  came  to 
McLean  county,  and  his  was  the  third 
family  to  settle  at  Blooming  Grove,  where 
he  took  up  a  claim  and  subsequently  be- 
came the  owner  of  three  hundred  acres  of 
what  is  now  very  valuable  land.  He  was  a 
Baptist  minister  at  one  time,  but  after- 
ward united  with  the  Christian  church,  and 
was  one  of  the  first  preachers  of  that  de- 
nomination in  this  section  of  the  state.  He 
performed  the  ceremony  in  October,  1824, 
which  united  the  first  couple  ever  married 
in  McLean  county.  He  continued  to  reside 
upon   his   farm  until    his  death,  which   oc- 


curred in  1842.  His  wife  survived  him 
many  years,  dying  during  the  war  of  the 
Rebellion,  in  1862  or  1863. 

John  H.  S.  Rhodes  was  educated  in  the 
schools  of  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania,  and 
during  his  early  manhood  removed  to  Ohio, 
locating  not  far  from  Urbana,  where  he 
married  Miss  Mary  Johnson.  Soon  after- 
ward, in  1822,  he  came  with  his  parents  to 
Illinois,  and  after  a  short  stay  in  Spring- 
field came  to  Blooming  Grove,  McLean 
county,  in  April,  1823.  He  entered  and 
bought  land  here  from  time  to  time  until  he 
became  the  owner  of  over  one  thousand 
acres,  which  together  with  his  property  in 
Eord  and  Macon  counties  aggregated  over 
two  thousand.  With  one  or  two  excep- 
tions, he  was  at  that  time  the  largest  land 
owner  in  McLean  county.  He  was  also  a 
prominent  stock  dealer  and  raiser  of  horses 
and  in  all  his  undertakings  met  with  marked 
success,  for  he  was  a  man  of  good  execu- 
tive ability  and  sound  judgment.  He  was 
not  only  one  of  the  most  substantial,  but 
was  also  one  of  the  most  reliable  and 
highly-respected  men  of  his  community. 
He  served  as  an  officer  during  the  Black 
Hawk  war.  He  also  served  as  a  captain  of 
the  home  militia.  He  was  one  of  the  char- 
ter member  of  the  Christian  church,  which 
was  organized  in  1824  with  only  about 
seven  members,  and  gave  liberally  to  its 
support  and  to  the  erection  of  the  house  of 
worship,  as  well  as  to  many  other  enter- 
prises calculated  to  advance  the  moral, 
social  or  material  welfare  of  his  adopted 
country.  The  original  papers  of  the  Chris- 
tian church  are  now  in  possession  of  his 
son,  William  J.,  whose  sketch  appears  in 
another  part  of  this  work.  His  first  wife 
died  in  1845,  leavingthree  sons,  William  J. 
and  Aaron  P. ;  and  one  who  died  later,  and 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


365 


he  later  wedded  Mary  Yazel,  by  whom  he 
had  four  chidren.  He  passed  away  in 
1875,  honored  and  respected  by  all  who 
knew  him.  His  memory  is  a  sacred  inher- 
itance to  his  children,  and  is  cherished  by  a 
multitude  of  friends.  Throughout  his 
career  of  continued  and  far-reaching  use- 
fulness, his  duties  were  performed  with  the 
greatest  care,  and  during  a  long  life  his  per- 
sonal honor  and  integrity  were  without 
blemish. 


GEORGE  BENDER,  a  thorough  and 
skillful  farmer  and  a  business  man  of 
more  than  ordinary  capacity,  is  a  repre- 
sentative of  the  agricultural  and  stock-rais- 
ing interests  of  Allin  township.  There  he 
is  recognized  as  an  important  factor  in  pre- 
serving the  reputation  of  the  township  as  one 
of  the  best  in  McLean  county.  He  was 
born  in  Laubach,  Hesse  Darmstadt,  Ger- 
many, May  20,  1844,  and  is  a  son  of  John 
and  Christianna  (Hildebrandt)  Bender,  also 
natives  of  that  place,  and  representatives  of 
old  and  highly-respected  German  families. 
Their  marriage  was  celebrated  in  1834,  and 
to  them  were  born  three  children,  one  son 
and  two  daughters.  In  his  native  land  the 
father  was  overseer  of  a  large  farm  and  con- 
tinued to  hold  that  position  until  the  emi- 
gration of  the  family  to  the  United  States 
in  1852.  They  first  settled  in  Butler  county, 
Ohio,  where  he  rented  a  farm  and  engaged 
in  its  operation  for  eighteen  years.  Hav- 
ing been  successful  in  his  labors  in  that  state, 
he  came  to  McLean  county,  Illinois,  in 
1870,  and  invested  his  capital  in  eight}' 
acres  of  land  in  Allin  township,  to  the  im- 
provement and  cultivation  of  which  he  de- 
voted his  energies  for  several  years,  trans- 
/prming  it  into  one  of  the  valuable  farms  of 


the  township.  There  he  died  January  28, 
1895,  at  about  the  age  of  ninety-one  years, 
and  his  wife  passed  away  October  8,  1S83, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years,  honored 
and  respected  by  all  who  knew  them. 

George  Bender,  the  youngest  child  of 
this  worthy  couple,  came  to  the  new  world 
with  his  parents,  and  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  Ohio  and  Illinois.  He 
always  made  his  home  with  his  parents,  but 
for  some  years  prior  to  their  deaths  his 
labors  went  to  benefit  himself  and  he  saved 
some  money,  which  he  invested  in  eighty- 
two  acres  of  land.  He  has  since  purchased 
an  eighty-acre  tract  which,  with  the  eighty 
acres  he  received  from  his  father's  estate, 
makes  him  two  hundred  and  forty-two  acres 
of  fine  farming  land  under  excellent  cultiva- 
tion. The  greater  part  of  this  he  rents,  but 
operates  eighty  acres  with  good  success,  and 
in  addition  to  general  farming,  devotes  con- 
siderable attention  to  stock-raising.  The 
last  few  years,  however,  he  has  practically 
retired  from  active  labor  and  is  enjoying  the 
fruits  of  his  former  toil,  having  already 
made  for  himself  and  family  a  comfortable 
home  and  competence.  Besides  his  farm 
property,  he  is  a  stockholder  and  director 
of  the  Peoples  Bank  of  Stanford. 

On  the  1 6th  of  October,  1872,  was  cele- 
brated the  marriage  of  Mr.  Bender  and 
Miss  Mary  Mehl,  a  daughter  of  Michael  and 
Louisa  Mehl,  who  has  three  brothers  and 
two  sisters  living  in  Ohio  and  Illinois.  She 
was  born  November  10,  1852,  near  Prince- 
ton, Ohio,  of  which  place  her  mother  was 
also  a  native,  but  her  father  was  born  in 
Germany  and  belongs  to  one  of  the  old  fam- 
ilies of  that  country.  Of  the  four  children 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bender,  three  are  liv- 
ing, namely:  Bertha  L. ,  who  completed  her 
education  in  the  district  schools,  and  is  at 


366 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


present  at  home  with  her  parents;  Ada 
Pearl  and  Mabel  Edna,  who  are  still  attend- 
ing the  local  schools.  Mr.  Bender  is  one 
of  a  family  of  three  children,  and  he  not 
only  has  the  same  number,  but  each  of  his 
sisters  have  three  children.  He  and  his 
family  hold  membership  in  the  Christian 
church  of  Stanford,  of  which  he  is  an  elder, 
and  politically  he  is  identified  with  the 
Democratic  party.  He  has  capably  served 
his  fellow  citizens  as  road  commissioner 
and  as  school  director  for  a  number  of 
years,  always  having  taken  an  active  part 
in  educational  affairs.  His  genial  and  jovial 
disposition  has  gained  for  him  a  host  of 
friends,  and  he  has  the  confidence  and  high 
regard  of  all  with  whom  he  comes  in  con- 
tact, either  in  business  or  social  life,  for  he 
is  upright  and  honorable  in  all  his  transac- 
tions and  endeavors  to  do  by  others  as  he 
wishes  to  be  done  by. 


DANIEL  T.  CRUMBAUGH.  The  fit- 
ting reward  of  a  well-spent  life  is  an 
honorable  retirement  from  labor,  in  which 
one  may  enjoy  the  fruits  of  former  toil. 
Such  has  been  vouchsafed  to  Mr.  Crum- 
baugh,  who  for  many  years  was  promi- 
nently connected  with  the  agricultural  in- 
terests of  McLean  county,  but  has  now 
put  aside  business  cares.  He  resides  in  Le 
Roy,  where  he  owns  a  beautiful  home  and 
also  has  an  extensive  tract  of  land  in  Em- 
pire township,  the  rental  from  which  adds 
materially  to  his  income. 

Mr.  Crumbaugh  was  born  in  that  town- 
ship, January  24,  1832,  his  father  being 
Daniel  Crumbaugh,  and  his  brother,  L.  A. 
Crumbaugh,  whose  sketch  appears  else- 
where in  this  work.  He  spent  his  child- 
hood   days   on    the    home    farm,    his    time 


being  occupied  with  the  labors  of  field  and 
meadow  through  the  summer  months,  while 
in  the  winter  season  he  pursued  his  educa- 
tion in  a  log  school  house  where  school 
was  conducted  on  the  subscription  plan. 
Experience,  reading  and  observation  in  later 
life  have  made  him  a  well-informed  man 
and  activity  in  business  has  brought  to  him 
a  handsome  competence.  He  remained 
with  his  father  until  he  had  attained  his  ma- 
jortiy  and  then  in  connection  with  his  twin 
brother,  Thomas,  purchased  a  tract  of  raw 
land  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  which 
they  broke  and  fenced  and  transformed  into 
productive  fields.  Subsequently  they  bought 
another  quarter-section,  and  after  some 
time  divided  their  property,  our  subject  re- 
taining possession  of  the  original  purchase. 
As  his  financial  resources  increased  he  ex- 
tended its  boundaries  by  the  additional  pur- 
chase of  one  hundred  and  forty  acres, 
making  the  home  farm  three  hundred  acres 
in  extent.  He  also  made  judicious  invest- 
ments in  other  lands  and  owned  at  one 
time  about  one  thousand  acres,  all  in  Mc- 
Lean county.  The  progressive  and  enter- 
prising spirit  of  the  owner  was  shown  by 
the  excellent  improvements  which  he  made 
on  the  home  farm.  He  erected  a  good 
residence  and  a  large  barn,  but  the  latter 
was  afterward  destroyed  by  fire.  He 
drained  the  place  by  laying  many  rods  of 
tiling,  planted  an  orchard  and  many  orna- 
mental trees  and  was  the  owner  of  one  of 
the  valuable  farming  properties  of  the 
county.  He  thereon  made  his  home  until 
1894,  when  he  built  a  fine  and  commodious 
residence  in  Le  Roy  and  has  since  lived  re- 
tired. He  has  divided  his  land  among  his 
children,  thus  enabling  them  to  make  a 
good  start  in  life  unhampered  by  the  lack 
of  means  which  he  experienced.      He  has 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


367 


been  the  architect  of  his  own  fortunes  and 
has  builded  wisely  and  well.  He  started 
out  in  life  for  himself  a  poor  boy  and  en- 
gaged in  breaking  prairie  for  fourteen  years. 
To-day  as  the  result  of  his  sagacity,  labor 
and  business  ability,  he  is  ranked  among 
the  most  substantial  citizens  of  his  com- 
munity. 

Mr.  Crumbaugh  has  been  twice  mar- 
ried. In  1859,  in  Moultrie  county,  Illinois, 
he  married  Margaret  Wiley,  who  was  born 
in  McLean  county,  but  was  reared  in  Moul- 
trie count}'.  She  died  in  1S65,  leaving 
three  children:  David,  who  holds  a  res- 
ponsible position  in  the  Citizens  Bank  of 
Le  R03";  Maggie,  who  became  the  wife  of 
Pleasant  Parke,  and  after  his  death  married 
Newton  Hart,  her  home  being  now  in  Fair- 
field, Illinois;  and  Daniel  T. ,  Jr.,  a  farmer 
of  McLean  county.  Mr.  Crumbaugh  was 
married  again  November  22,  1869,  his  sec- 
ond union  being  with  Anna  Stine,  a  native 
of  Indiana,  who  was  brought  to  Illinois  in 
1845,  by  her  father,  Elias  Stine,  a  pioneer 
of  McLean  county.  When  a  young  man 
he  had  removed  from  Pennsylvania  to 
Indiana  and  had  there  wedded  Mary  Lantz, 
a  native  of  North  Carolina.  By  the  second 
marriage  of  our  subject  there  is  one  son, 
James  Wilmer,  a  railroad  man  living  in 
Slater,  Missouri. 

Mr.  Crumbaugh  exercises  his  right  of 
franchise  in  support  of  the  men  and  meas- 
ures of  the  Democracy,  and  cast  his  first 
presidential  ballot  for  James  Buchanan  in 
1856.  Political  office,  however,  has  no 
attraction  for  him,  as  his  time  has  been 
fully  occupied  by  his  business  interests.  He 
sustains  an  unassailable  reputation  among 
business  men,  and  his  sterling  worth  has 
won  him  high  esteem  throughout  the  county. 
For  sixty-seven    years  he   has    been    num- 


bered among  its  residents  and  is  a  worthy 
representative  of  a  family  that  through 
seven  decades  has  borne  a  conspicuous  part 
in  the  public  and  business  life  of  this  sec- 
tion of  the  state. 


ELIAS  BROCK.  If  one  desires  to  gain 
a  vivid  realization  of  the  rapid  advance 
in  civilization  which  the  last  few  decades 
have  brought  about,  he  can  listen  to  the 
stories  that  men  who  are  still  living  am.ong 
us,  and  by  no  means  overburdened  with 
years,  can  tell  of  their  boyhood.  The  log 
cabin  in  the  clearing;  the  still  ruder  school- 
house,  with  its  rough  seats  made  of  slabs, 
its  limited  range  of  studies  and  its  brief 
terms  arranged  on  the  subscription  plan; 
the  routine  of  work  at  home  unrelieved  by 
any  of  the  modern  devices  by  which  ma- 
chinery is  made  to  do  in  a  short  time  what 
formerly  occupied  the  entire  year; — these 
and  many  similar  descriptions  will  bring  up 
in  sharp  contrast  the  advantages  of  to-day. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch,  a  venerable  and 
highly  respected  citizen  of  Randolph  town- 
ship, residing  on  section  7,  can  relate  many 
interesting  reminiscences  of  this  sort.  Since 
1S29  he  has  been  a  resident  of  this  state, 
and  has  made  his  home  in  McLean  county 
since  1840. 

Mr.  Brock  was  born  in  Madison  county, 
Ohio,  December  10,  1824,  and  when  a  child 
of  five  years  was  brought  to  this  state  by 
his  parents,  Elias  and  Elizabeth  (Allerton) 
Brock,  who  spent  the  first  winter  here  in  De 
Witt  county.  In  1830  they  removed  to 
Sangamon  county  and  located  near  Spring- 
field, which  was  then  a  little  village  of  log 
huts  and  shanties.  There  they  lived  during 
the  winter  of  1830-31,  which  was  known  as 
the  winter  of  the  deep   snow,  and  several 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


years  later  returned  to  De  Witt  county, 
where  our  subject  grew  to  manhood. 

Early  in  life  Mr.  Brock  began  to  trade 
and  deal  in  stock,  and  before  the  day  of 
railroads  drove  his  stock  across  the  country 
to  the  Chicago  market.  His  first  purchase 
of  land  consisted  of  a  wild  tract  of  forty 
acres  in  De  Witt  county,  which  he  broke 
and  improved,  successfully  carrying  on 
operations  there  as  a  farmer  for  about 
eleven  years.  Later  he  bought  forty  acres 
in  Funks  Grove  township,  McLean  county, 
and  his  next  purchase  was  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  where  he  now  resides.  This  he 
bought  on  credit  and  paid  ten  per  cent,  in- 
terest on  the  amount,  but  as  time  passed 
prosperity  seemed  to  smile  upon  his  efforts, 
and  as  his  financial  resources  increased  he 
enlarged  his  home  farm  until  he  has  now  a 
valuable  place  of  three  hundred  and  thirty 
acres,  which  he  has  placed  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation  and  improved  with  good 
buildings.  Besides  this  property,  how- 
ever, he  now  owns  a  farm  of  four  hundred 
and  eighty  acres  in  Funks  Grove  township; 
fifty-eight  acres  in  De  Witt  county;  all  of 
above  land  joins;  forty  acres  in  Williamson 
county,  Illinois;  and  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  in  McPherson  county,  Kansas. 
Throughout  his  active  business  career  he 
has  continued  to  devote  considerable  atten- 
tion to  the  raising,  feeding  and  dealing  in 
stock,  shipping  annually  several  car  loads 
to  the  city  markets.  That  he  is  one  of  Mc- 
Lean county's  most  able  and  practical  finan- 
ciers and  successful  business  men  is  evi- 
denced by  his  life  record,  for  he  began  his 
career  with  no  capital  and  has  accumulated 
his  large  estate  through  his  own  labor,  per- 
severance and  good  management. 

In  DeWitt  county,  Mr.  Brock  married 
Miss  Christina  Ellinton,   a  native  of   that 


count}',  and  to  them  have  been  born  six 
children,  as  follows:  A.  W. ,  a  farmer  of 
Randolph  township;  Russell,  a  farmer  of 
Funks  Grove  township;  Elizabeth,  wife  of 
William  George,  an  agriculturist  of  the 
same  township;  Cassius  E.,  a  farmer  of 
this  county;  and  Martha,  wife  of  Herschel 
Stillman,  of  De  Witt  county. 

Mr.  Brock  was  a  soldier  of  the  Mexican 
war  and  was  under  the  command  of  Gen- 
eral Scott  in  Mexico  and  New  Orleans.  In 
his  political  views  he  is  a  Jeffersonian 
Democrat,  and  since  attaining  his  majority 
has  never  failed  to  support  that  party.  He 
has  never  had  much  time  to  devote  to  pub- 
lic affairs,  though  years  ago  he  served  for 
four  years  as  township  assessor.  Socially 
he  is  a  Master  Mason.  He  is  widely  known 
and  highly  respected,  and  this  brief  record 
of  so  honored  a  pioneer  and  worthy  citizen 
of  McLean  will  be  read  with  especial  inter- 
est by  his  many  friends  and  acquaintances. 


PETER  WINTZ,  an  honored  and  highly 
esteemed  citizen  of  Carlock,  was  for 
many  years  prominentlj'  identified  with  the 
agricultural  interests  of  McLean  county, 
but  is  now  living  retired,  though  he  still 
owns  a  fine  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  adjoining  the  village,  on  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  36,  White  Oak  township. 
He  was  born  in  Culpeper  (now  Rappahan- 
nock) county,  Virginia,  September  5,  1825, 
a  son  of  Henry  and  Sarah  (Fry)  Wintz. 
The  father  was  born  in  the  same  county 
April  17,  1788,  and  died  October  27.  1833, 
while  the  mother  was  born  in  Loudoun 
county,  \'irginia,  February  19,  1797.  Our 
subject  is  the  oldest  of  their  five  children, 
the  Qthers  being  as  follows;     Philip,    born 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

JKIVERSITY  OF  Viwn-r 


PETER  WINTZ. 


MRS.   CATHERINE  A.   WINTZ. 


OF  THE 
JtJIVERSITY  CF  HLINOir 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


373 


November  4,  1826,  is  now  a  resident  of 
Henry  county,  Illinois;  Mary,  born  August 
22,  1828,  married  Samuel  Fry,  a  distant 
relative  and  died  May  25,  1891,  at  her 
home  in  Sedgwick  county,  Kansas;  Dan- 
iel, born  June  16,  1831,  is  a  resident  of 
Howard  county,  Indiana,  and  Elizabeth, 
born  March  23,  1833,  is  the  wife  of 
George  Lowman,  of  Harvey  county,  Kan- 
sas. The  father  was  a  natural  mechan- 
ic, but  throughout  the  greater  part  of  his 
life  followed  the  occupation  of  farming. 
About  1827,  he  removed  with  his  family  to 
Warren  county,  Ohio,  and  a  year  later  to 
Preble  county,  that  state,  where  he  was  liv- 
ing at  the  time  of  his  death.  In  his  polit- 
ical affiliations  he  was  a  Whig. 

Upon  the  death  of  the  father,  the  mother 
was  left  in  rather  limited  circumstances,  and 
with  five  small  children  depending  upon  her, 
our  subject,  the  oldest,  being  but  eight  years 
of  age.  She  was,  however,  an  industrious 
and  thrifty  woman  and  a  good  manager,  so 
that  she  was  finally  able  to  purchase  forty 
acres  of  land,  to  which  she  later  added 
thirty  acres.  Our  subject  was  of  great  as- 
sistance to  her,  and  at  the  age  of  ten  years 
took  his  place  at  the  head  of  the  family,  do- 
ing such  work  upon  the  farm  as  hoeing, 
cradling  grain,  etc.  He  was  practically  the 
head  of  the  family  until  his  marriage,  and 
as  the  mother  died  about  that  time  the  fam- 
ily became  broken  up  and  scattered.  In 
connection  with  farming  he  also  worked 
some  at  the  carpenter's  trade  in  Ohio. 

On  the  8th  of  April,  1852,  Mr.  Wintz 
led  to  the  marriage  altar  Miss  Catherine  M. 
Fry,  who  was  born  in  Preble  county,  Ohio, 
February  20,  1832,  a  daughter  of  Jonas 
and  Christina  (Null)  Fry,  also  natives  of 
the  Buckeye  state.  On  the  third  of  May, 
following  their  marriage,  the  young  people 


started  for  McLean  county,  Illinois,  where 
some  Ohio  acquaintances  had  previously  lo- 
cated. With  a  team  and  wagon,  contain- 
ing all  their  earthly  possessions,  they  made 
the  journey,  which  consumed  sixteen  days, 
the  mud  and  high  water  making  the  trip  a 
difficult  one,  and  on  two  different  occasions 
they  were  compelled  to  hire  ox  teams  to  ex- 
tricate them  from  the  mud.  Prior  to  com- 
ing to  the  state,  Mr.  Wintz  had  purchased 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  in  White 
Oak  township,  which  he  still  owns,  and  ten 
acres  of  tember  land  on  section  4,  Danvers 
township.  Upon  this  land  he  broke  the 
first  furrow,  as  it  was  all  wild  and  unim- 
proved when  he  located  thereon.  His  first 
home  here  was  a  frame  house  of  but  one 
room,  fourteen  by  sixteen  feet  in  dimension. 
After  living  here  a  year  his  father-in-law 
and  family  came  to  the  county  and  located 
near  him  in  Danvers  township  where  Mr. 
Fry  acquired  a  large  tract  of  land,  a  portion 
of  which  subsequently  came  into  possession 
of  our  subject  and  wife.  At  one  time  he 
owned  a  little  over  a  section  of  land,  but 
has  since  given  the  most  of  it  to  his  child- 
ren, retaining  only  the  original  homestead 
of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  As  a 
general  farmer  and  stock  raiser  he  met  with 
most  excellent  success  becoming  one  of  the 
substantial  and  prosperous  citizens  of  his 
community,  and  besides  his  property  in  this 
county  he  owned  a  half  section  of  land  in 
Sedgwick  county,  Kansas. 

Mr.  Wintz  has  been  called  upon  to  mourn 
the  loss  of  his  estimable  wife,  who  passed 
away  November  13,  1885.  They  had  three 
children:  Rozina  E.,  born  September  20, 
1853,  is  the  wife  of  Frederick  Pease,  of 
Sedgwick  county,  Kansas,  and  has  a  family 
of  six  children;  Silas  G.,  born  September  4, 
1855,  died  August  28,  1861;  and  Moses  E., 


374 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


born  June  19,  1859,  is  married  and  resides 
on  the  homestead  farm. 

Soon  after  the  death  of  his  wife,  Mr. 
Wintz  removed  to  Carlock,  where  he 
erected  a  pleasant  residence  in  1890,  and 
has  since  Hved  retired,  while  his  son  oper- 
ates the  farm.  Politically,  he  is  a  Repub- 
lican, but  favors  the  prohibition  movements 
and  votes  for  principle  rather  than  party. 
He  has  refused  all  offices  except  those  con- 
nected with  the  school  or  educational  mat- 
ters. Until  recently  he  served  almost  con- 
tinuously as  school  director  and  trustee, 
and  introduced  the  petition  for  and  was  one 
of  the  prime  movers  in  organizing  the  first 
school  district  on  the  prairie  south  of  White 
Oak  Grove,  which  was  originally  No.  7, 
but  has  since  been  divided  into  parts  of 
three  different  districts.  He  has  also  taken 
a  prominent  part  in  church  work  and  is 
now  the  only  survivor  residing  in  this  county 
of  the  little  band  who  organized  the  United 
Brethren  church  at  Carlock,  the  others  hav- 
ing either  died  or  moved  away.  He  has 
served  as  trustee,  class-leader  and  superin- 
tendent of  the  Sunday  school,  and  has 
given  his  support  to  every  worthy  enter- 
prise for  the  public  good.  His  has  been  a 
long  and  useful  life,  in  which  he  has  been 
found  true  to  every  trust  reposed  in  him, 
and  has  gained  the  confidence  and  high  re- 
gard of  all  with  whom  he  has  come  in 
contact. 


JAMES  SMITH,  who  for  many  years 
represented  Money  Creek  township  as  a 
member  of  the  county  board  of  supervisors, 
is  the  proprietor  of  a  fine  farm  on  section 
23,  Money  Creek  township,  known  as  Maple 
Lane  farm.  He  was  born  in  Ontario, 
Canada,  November  10,  1837,  and  is  the  son 


of  Sylvester  and  Catherine  Smith,  both 
born  in  Canada.  By  trade  Sylvester  Smith 
was  a  carpenter,  an  occupation  which  he 
followed  during  his  entire  life.  He  met 
with  his  death,  the  result  of  an  accident, 
when  James  was  but  two  and  a  half  years 
old.  His  good  wife  did  not  long  survive 
him,  and  our  subject  was  left  an  orphan  at 
a  very  tender  age.  He  was  an  only  child, 
and  their  being  no  near  relatives  to  care  for 
him,  he  was  taken  and  reared  by  strangers. 
In  his  youth  he  commenced  to  learn  the 
shoemaker's  trade,  but  not  liking  it,  he 
abandoned  it  and  spent  two  years  at  the 
carpenter's  trade.  He  then  accepted  a 
position  as  a  common  seaman  on  the  great 
lakes  and  spent  one  season.  Realizing  that 
the  life  was  not  such  as  was  specially  bene- 
ficial to  a  young  man,  he  abandoned  that 
occupation,  and  the  summer  of  1858  before 
he  was  twenty-one  years  old  came  to  Mc- 
Lean county  and  sought  employment  as  a 
farm  hand.  He  was  first  employed  in  the 
hay  field,  and  then  assisted  in  threshing 
grain,  for  which  he  received  fifty  cents  per 
day.  Winter  coming  on  he  took  a  contract 
for  cutting  a  lot  of  cord  wood  for  Madison 
Young,  of  Money  Creek  township,  and  dur- 
ing the  winter  cut  one  hundred  and  ten 
cords,  for  which  he  received  fifty  cents  per 
cord.  The  three  years  following,  he  spent 
as  a  farm  hand,  and  in  such  employment  as 
he  could  find. 

The  war  for  the  union  was  now  in  prog- 
ress, and  calls  were  being  issued  for  men 
to  assist  in  restoring  the  government  to  its 
just  rights.  On  the  26th  of  January,  1862, 
Mr.  Smith  enlisted  in  Company  K,  Twenty- 
sixth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  under  Cap- 
tain Ira  J.  Bloomfield,  of  Bloomington,  the 
regiment  being  under  command  of  Colonel 
John    M.    Loomis,   of    Chicago.     With    his 


THE    BIOGR.\PHICAL   RECORD. 


375 


regiment  he  participated  in  many  battles 
and  skirmishes  during  the  continuance  of 
the  war.  The  first  engagement  was  at  Xew 
Madrid,  Missouri,  from  which  place  they 
went  to  Point  Pleasant,  where  they  were 
sent  to  gaurd  artillery  which  was  placed  so 
as  to  prevent  the  Confederates  from  carry- 
ing supplies  to  Island  No.  lo,  and  here  it 
was  said,  by  General  Pope,  in  his  official 
report,  was  the  first  instance  in  history  of 
infantry  defeating  gunboats.  A  detach- 
ment of  ninety  sharpshooters  were  selected 
to  pick  off  the  men  on  the  gunboats,  and 
they  were  so  successful  that  the  boats  were 
forced  to  desist  in  the  attempt  to  land  pro- 
visions on  Island  No.  lo. 

The  next  important  engagement  in  which 
the  Twenty-si.xth  regiment  participated  was 
that  of  Corinth,  where  after  a  two  days' 
fight  the  rebels  were  forced  to  evacuate. 
Following  the  battle  of  Corinth,  on  the  3rd 
and  4th  of  October,  1S62,  the  regiment  was 
in  the  battle  of  luka.  The  regiment  was 
later  sent  to  Vicksburg,  but  was  landed  up 
the  Yazoo  river,  where  it  was  set  to  watch 
the  rebels  under  General  Joe  Johnston.  After 
the  fall  of  Vicksburg  it  was  sent  to  Jackson, 
Mississippi,  and  formed  a  part  of  Sherman's 
corps,  and  again  were  brought  face  to  face 
with  General  Johnston,  and  defeated  him 
after  an  engagement  which  ended  July  16, 
1863.  Sherman's  corps  was  then  moved 
into  Tennessee,  and  later  was  engaged  in 
the  battle  of  Missionary  Ridge,  where  his 
command  took  an  important  part  on  Tunnel 
hill,  being  in  the  field  from  early  in  the 
morning  until  late  at  night,  being  under  fire 
of  both  artillery  and  infantry,  and  at  close 
range,  the  brigade  in  which  was  the  Twenty- 
sixth  suffering  great  loss  in  killed  and 
wounded. 

The  regiment  was  next  sent  with  others 


to  reinforce  General  Burnsides,  who  was 
confronted  by  General  Longstreet  at  Knox- 
ville,  Tennessee.  When  within  seven  miles 
of  that  place  they  were  met  by  the  Seventh 
Ohio  Cavalry,  who  reported  that  Longstreet 
had  retreated.  This  entire  march  of  about 
one  hundred  miles,  and  which  occupied  four 
days,  was  made  without  government  rations, 
being  compelled  to  forage  on  the  way,  thus 
living  off  the  country.  From  Knoxville 
they  returned  to  Chattanooga,  again  living 
off  the  country  while  tn  route.  A  little  later 
the  regiment  went  into  camp  at  Scottsbor- 
ough,  Alabama,  where  it  remained  until 
January  i,  1864.  The  regiment  here  re- 
enlisted  as  veterans,  but  our  subject  not 
having  served  quite  two  years,  was  ineligi- 
ble for  re-enlistment  as  such,  but  he  was 
given  a  furlough,  and  after  spending  thirty 
days  at  home,  went  to  Springfield,  Illinois, 
and  on  the  7th  of  February,  1864,  was  sworn 
into  the  service  as  a  veteran  for  three  years, 
or  during  the  war. 

Soon  after  returning  to  the  old  camp  at 
Scottsburg  the  army  was  reorganized,  and 
the  Twenty-sixth  regiment  became  a  part 
of  the  Fifteenth  army  corps,  under  Gen- 
eral John  A.  Logan,  and  participated 
later  in  the  campaign  against  Atlanta.  In 
this  campaign  the  regiment  took  a  very 
active  part,  being  in  many  engagements  and 
skirmishes,  and  at  all  times  doing  its  duty 
faithfully  and  satisfactorily  to  those  in  com- 
mand. It  next  went  into  camp  south  of 
Atlanta,  where  it  remained  until  in  October, 
1S64,  when  General  Hood  started  north. 
With  other  regiments  it  followed  Hood  for 
five  days,  and  was  then  ordered  to  return 
to  Atlanta,  at  which  place  they  were  sta- 
tioned when  the  country  was  voting  for  the 
election  of  a  president  to  succeed  President 
Lincoln.     While  the  Illinois  boys  were  not 


376 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


allowed  to  vote  by  ballot,  as  did  regiments 
from  some  of  the  other  states,  they  voted 
by  means  of  coffee  and  beans.  Those 
favoring  the  re-election  of  Lincoln  voted 
with  coffee,  while  those  favoring  McClellan 
voted  with  beans.  It  is  needless  to  say 
that  coffee  had  a  large  majoritj'. 

A  few  days  later  Sherman  started  on  his 
celebrated  march  to  the  sea,  and  with  him 
was  the  Twenty-si.xth  Iliinois.  At  Savannah, 
Georgia,  they  spent  Christmas  Day,  and 
from  that  place  they  were  sent  by  water  to 
Newbern,  North  Carolina,  where  they  dis- 
embarked to  engage  in  the  campaign 
through  North  Carolina.  Continuing  on 
the  march  to  Bentonville,  North  Carolina, 
they  met  Gen.  Joe  Johnston  in  force,  and 
an  engagement  followed  in  which  the 
Twenty-si.xth  participated.  This  was  on 
the  2 1st  of  March,  1865.  That  night  John- 
ston retreated,  and  our  army  following  the 
next  day.  At  Mill  creek  the  rebels  made  a 
stand  and  attempted  to  destroy  the  bridge 
across  the  creek  to  prevent  Sherman's  army 
from  crossing.  Here  a  heavy  engagement 
took  place.  Our  subject  was  the  color- 
bearer  of  his  regiment  and,  with  a  com- 
panion, kept  well  to  the  front.  They 
crossed  the  bridge  in  safety,  but  on  reach- 
ing the  opposite  side  he  was  struck  by  a 
musket  ball  fired  at  him  by  one  of  the 
enemy's  sharpshooters,  the  ball  striking  his 
forearm  and  carrying  away  two  and  a  half 
inches  of  one  of  the  bones.  A  small  book 
carried  in  his  breast  pocket  deflected  the 
ball,  which  would  otherwise  have  passed 
through  his  body.  The  book  had  every  leaf 
in  it  torn. 

After  receiving  his  wound,  Mr.  Smith 
was  sent  to  the  hospital  at  Goldsborough, 
North  Carolina,  where  he  remained  ten 
days,  going  from  there  to  Newbern,  in  the 


same  state,  where  he  was  put  abroad  the 
hospital  ship.  While  at  Newbern  they 
heard  of  the  surrender  of  Lee,  and  were 
greatly  cheered  by  the  same.  On  their  ar- 
rival at  New  York  on  the  ii;th  day  of  April 
their  joy  was  turned  into  sorrow  by  learn- 
ing of  the  death  of  President  Lincoln.  He 
remained  in  the  hospital  in  New  York  for 
about  ten  days,  and  was  then  sent  to  the 
hospital  at  Madison,  Indiana,  and  there 
remained  until  July  28,  when  he  went  to 
Springfield,  Illinois,  and  met  his  regiment, 
which  had  just  been  discharged.  This  was 
on  Saturday,  and  he  had  to  remain  until 
Monday,  when  he  was  discharged  alone. 

Immediately  on  receiving  his  discharge 
Mr.  Smith  returned  to  his  old  home  in 
Money  Creek  township,  and  on  the  17th  of 
December,  1865,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Martha  E.  Biggs,  daughter  of 
Lemuel  and  Nancy  (Mullen)  Biggs,  the 
former  a  native  of  Philadelphia,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  the  latter  of  Ohio,  both,  how- 
ever, being  early  settlers  of  McLean  county. 
Until  about  seven  years  of  age,  Lemuel 
Biggs  resided  with  his  parents  in  Dela- 
ware. They  then  removed  to  Ohio,  where 
he  spent  his  youth.  When  she  was  a  girl 
of  twelve  years  of  age  the  parents  of  Mrs. 
Biggs  came  to  McLean  county,  Mr.  Biggs 
following  some  five  years  later.  They  were 
married  in  this  county  and  became  the 
parents  of  ten  children,  of  whom  eight  are 
yet  living,  as  follows:  Andrew  E.,  a  farmer 
and  stock-raiser  of  Bates  county,  Missouri; 
Josiah,  a  farmer  of  Money  Creek  township; 
William,  a  farmer  residing  in  Arkansas; 
Sarah,  who  married  George  Davis,  but  died 
in  1866;  Nancy  J.,  wife  of  J.  J.  Kemp,  of 
Lexington;  Elizabeth,  widow  of  John  Arm- 
strong, of  Bates  county,  Missouri;  Louisa, 
wife    of    William    Arbogast,     of    Johnson 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


'>>n 


county,  Missouri;  Martha  E.,  wife  of  our 
subject;  Lemuel  A.,  of  Peoria,  Illinois;  and 
George  F.,  who  died  August  26,  1888.  The 
father  of  these  children  died  May  7,  i860, 
at  the  age  of  fifty-five  years,  and  his  wife 
in  1893,  when  eighty-one  years  old.  He 
was  a  substantial  and  successful  farmer, 
and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  the  owner 
of  eleven  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land. 
After  his  marriage  Mr.  Smith  engaged 
in  farming  on  the  farm  where  he  now  re- 
sides, and  which  was  then  owned  by  his 
brother-in-law,  A.  E.  Biggs.  He  remained 
there  one  year,  and  the  following  year  cul- 
tivated an  adjoining  farm.  He  then  moved 
to  Blue  Mound  township,  where  he  pur- 
chased a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  and  made  that  his  home  for  thirteen 
years.  He  then  returned  to  Money  Creek 
township  and  resided  for  five  years  on  the 
old  Biggs  homestead,  carrying  on  that  farm, 
in  the  meantime  purchasing  seventy  acres 
on  the  north,  where  he  erected  a  dwelling 
house  in  1886,  into  which  he  moved  with 
his  family.  He  made  that  his  home  for 
five  years.  Selling  his  Blue  Mound  farm, 
January  13,  1890,  he  purchased  his  present 
farm,  to  which  he  soon  removed  and  which 
has  since  been  his  home.  His  present  farm 
consists  of  three  hundred  and  thirty-two 
acres,  and  is  known  as  the  Maple  Lane 
farm.  In  addition  to  this  farm,  however, 
Mr.  Smith  is  the  owner  of  a  section  of  land 
in  Custer  county,  Nebraska,  which  is  rented. 
In  his  farming  operations  Mr.  Smith  has 
made  something  of  a  specialty  of  raising  fine 
bred  Percheron  horses  and  Poland  China 
hogs,  a  line  in  which  he  has  met  with  some 
degree  of  success.  He  has  always  taken 
more  or  less  interest  in  politics,  and  since 
the  war  has  given  his  support  to  the  Repub- 
lican party.      While  residing  in  Blue  Mound 


township  he  served  three  years  as  commis- 
sioner of  highways,  and  since  being  a  house- 
holder he  has  served  as  school  director.  In 
the  spring  of  1889,  he  was  elected  supervis- 
or of  Money  Creek  township,  and  by  re-elec- 
tion served  ten  years  in  that  responsible 
position.  That  he  made  a  satisfactory 
official  is  certainly  attested  by  his  long  serv- 
ice. Fraternally,  he  is  a  member  of  Lex- 
ington Post,  No.  240,  G.  A.  R.,  and  is  now 
past  commander  of  the  post.  In  religion 
he  is  a  Methodist,  holding  membership 
with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of 
Lexington. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  three  children 
were  born,  the  eldest  dying  in  infancy. 
Joseph  v.,  born  May  19,  1869,  was  married 
February  12,  1894,  to  Miss  Nellie  Drury,  of 
Lexington,  Illinois.  They  now  reside  in 
Kansas  City,  Missouri,  where  he  is  employed 
in  the  secret  service.  Andrew  J.  yet  re- 
mains at  home,  and  is  assisting  in  catrying 
on  the  home  farm.  The  family  are  well 
known  and  highly  respected,  Mr.  Smith  be- 
ing regarded  as  one  of  the  substantial  farm- 
ers of  the  county,  and  one  who  lives  at 
peace  with  his  fellowmen. 


JOHN  DEUTSCH,  a  wealthy  and  promi- 
nent farmer  of  Bloomington  township, 
where  he  owns  and  successfully  operates 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  valuable 
land,  was  born  near  the  city  of  Magdeburg, 
Prussia,  Germany,  August  30,  1835,  a  son 
of  Peter  and  Katharina  (Shenekal)  Deutsch. 
The  father,  a  native  of  the  same  place,  was 
a  roof-maker  by  trade,  and  continued  to 
work  at  that  occupation  until  coming  to 
America  in  1862.  He  and  his  wife  then 
made  their  home  with  our  subject  in  Bloom- 
ington, where  the  former  died  in  1884,  aged 


378 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


eighty-three  years;  the  latter  in  1S76,  aged 
seventy-six.  They  held  membership  in  the 
Lutheran  church  and  had  the  respect  of  all 
who  knew  them.  In  their  family  were  six 
children,  three  sons  and  three  daughters, 
all  of  whom  came  to  McLean  county: 
Joseph  makes  his  home  with  our  subject; 
Christ  is  employed  in  the  Chicago  &  Alton 
Railroad  shops  at  Bloomington;  John  is  the 
youngest  son;  Mary  is  now  deceased;  Lizzie 
is  the  wife  of  Henry  Eizenberg,  who  is  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  Hudson  township;  and 
Dora  is  the  wife  of  Fred  Wolcarr,  of  Bloom- 
ington. 

John  Deutsch  received  a  fair  education 
in  his  native  land,  and  there  worked  on  a 
farm  until  twenty-four  years  of  age.  With 
the  hope  of  benefiting  his  financial  condi- 
tion in  the  new  world  he  sailed  for  America 
in  1 861,  and  on  landing  proceeded  at  once 
to  Bloomington,  Illinois,  where  he  found 
work  in  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad  shops 
as  a  helper  at  the  machinist's  trade.  It  was 
not  long  before  he  had  thoroughly  mastered 
that  branch  of  the  business  and  was  given 
employment  as  a  machinist,  working  under 
Superintendent  Reynolds  of  the  car  shop 
department  for  twenty-three  years,  or  as 
long  as  he  remained  with  the  road.  His 
superior  soon  found  him  to  be  a  most  reli- 
able man  as  well  as  an  expert  workman, 
and  he  was  given  the  most  difficult  and 
painstaking  jobs  to  perform,  most  of  the 
time  having  charge  of  the  fitting  up  of 
brasses  for  axle  oil  boxes,  which  required 
great  care,  as  rough  brass  meant  heated 
boxes.  He  was  the  head  man  in  filling  all 
orders  in  this  particular  line,  and  when  new 
patterns  were  cast  it  was  his  duty  to  finish 
them  up  with  care,  in  which  he  displayed 
great  ability.  For  almost  a  quarter  of  a 
century  he  was  one  of  the  best  known  ma- 


chinists in  the  shops  and  had  the  entire  con- 
fidence of  the  company. 

On  the  nth  of  March,  1864,  Mr. 
Deutsch  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Benica, 
also  a  native  of  Germany,  who  in  i860 
came  to  the  United  States  with  her  father, 
Christ  Benica.  To  this  worthy  couple  have 
been  born  seven  children  who  are  still  liv- 
ing, and  one  who  died  at  the  age  of  nine 
months.  William,  a  fine  mechanic,  has 
now  made  his  home  in  Kansas  City  for  thir- 
teen years.  John,  who  now  has  charge  of 
some  machinery  for  John  Evans  &  Sons, 
Bloomington,  and  held  a  position  as  engin- 
eer at  the  World's  Fair  for  six  months, 
married  Louisa  Baum  and  has  one  child, 
Harry  Lincoln.  Louis  is  at  home  with  his 
parents.  Matilda  is  the  wife  of  Ernst  Tep- 
kie,  of  Twin  Grove.  Hulda,  Annie  and 
Edward  are  all  at  home. 

On  coming  to  America  Mr.  Deutsch  was 
not  only  without  capital  but  was  unfamiliar 
with  the  English  language,  and  there  were 
but  few  Germans  in  the  city  at  that  time 
with  whom  he  could  converse.  On  land- 
ing in  Bloomington  he  just  had  ten  dollars, 
all  of  which  was  spent  before  he  secured 
employment,  and  for  the  first  year  he 
worked  for  eighty  cents  per  day.  He  was 
industrious  and  observing,  however,  and  not 
only  mastered  the  language  in  a  short  time, 
but  also  prospered  in  his  new  home,  so  that 
at  the  end  of  a  year  he  was  able  to  send  for 
his  parents,  who  he  cared  for  until  they 
were  called  to  the  world  beyond.  His  first 
home  here  he  erected  at  the  corner  of  Pop- 
lar avenue  and  Empire  street,  which  he  has 
since  sold,  but  still  owns  property  on  South 
Madison  street  in  the  city.  Having  been 
financially  successful,  Mr.  Deutsche  bought 
a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in 
Bloomington  township  on  retiring  from  the 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


379 


machinist's  trade,  and  has  since  devoted 
his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits  with 
marked  success.  In  connection  with  gen- 
eral farming  he  is  also  interested  in  stock 
raising,  keeping  full  blooded  short  horn  cat- 
tle and  Norman  horses.  Upon  his  farm  he 
has  a  beautiful  home  of  the  regular  old 
eastern  type,  situated  on  an  elevation  and 
surrounded  by  many  fine  shade  trees  and 
beautiful  flowers,  making  it  an  ideal  spot. 
He  has  devoted  much  time  and  money  in 
keeping  up  his  place  and  making  a  pleasant 
home  for  his  family.  Politically  he  is  a 
stanch  Republican  and  religiously  both  he 
and  his  wife  are  active  members  of  the 
German  Lutheran  church,  with  which  he 
was  officiallj-  connected  for  sixteen  years, 
while  living  in  the  city,  serving  most  of  the 
time  as  trustee  and  treasurer,  and  for  about 
twelve  years  he  was  president  of  the  church 
board.  Since  Hving  on  his  farm  he  has 
been  one  of  its  collectors.  He  assisted  in 
bnilding  the  new  church  and  also  the  paro- 
chial schools,  being  a  member  of  the  build- 
ing committee  at  the  time  of  their  erection. 
He  was  the  first  officer  on  the  church  board 
and  continued  his  connection  with  it  for 
twelve  years,  or  until  his  removal  to  the 
country.  He  has  always  taken  a  very  act- 
ive and  prominent  part  in  all  church  work, 
and  as  an  upright,  honorable  man  he  is 
justly  deserving  the  high  regard  in  which  he 
is  uniformly  held. 


JAMES  VANCE,  a  well-known  stock 
dealer  and  shipper  of  McLean  county, 
and  a  prominent  representative  of  the  busi- 
ness interests  of  Le  Roy,  is  a  man  of  strong 
force  of  character,  purposeful  and  energetic, 
and  his  keen  discrimination  and  sound 
judgment  are  shown  in  his  capable  manage- 


ment of  whatever  he  undertakes.  He  dates 
his  residence  in  Illinois  from  1856  and  in 
McLean  county  since  1S77,  and  he  has 
therefore  witnessed  much  of  the  wonderful 
transformation  that  has  taken  place  here  in 
the  last  half  century. 

Mr.  Vance  was  born  on  the  ist  of  De- 
cember, 1852,  in  Pendleton  county,  West 
Virginia,  of  which  his  parents,  Solomon  and 
Rachel  (Davis)  Vance,  were  also  natives, 
while  the  maternal  grandfather,  James  Davis, 
was  a  prominent  farmer  and  business  man 
of  that  county.  The  father,  whose  birth  oc- 
curred in  1800,  was  a  well-educated  man, 
who  successfully  engaged  in  teaching  school 
during  his  early  life.  In  1856  he  came  west 
to  Illinois  and  located  in  De  Witt  county, 
where  as  a  farmer  he  continued  to  make  his 
home  throughout  life.  He  died,  however, 
east  of  Saybrook,  in  Ford  county,  while  on 
a  visit,  October  13,  1872,  at  the  ripe  old 
age  of  seventy-two  years.  His  wife  had 
previously  departed  this  life,  dying  March 
10,  1866.  As  one  of  the  prominent  and  in- 
fluential citizens  of  his  community,  he  was 
chosen  to  several  local  offices  of  honor  and 
trust,  including  that  of  assessor.  He  pos- 
sessed a  retentive  memory  and  was  well 
posted  on  the  leading  questions  and  issues 
of  the  day,  as  well  as  on  topics  of  general 
interest. 

Our  subject  is  the  second  in  order  of 
birth  in  a  family  of  six  children,  all  of  whom 
reached  years  of  maturity.  They  are  as 
follows:  Christina  married  Simon  Hedrich 
and  is  now  deceased;  Levi  is  a  resident  of 
^^■ichita,  Kansas;  Talmadge  is  a  farmer  liv- 
ing near  Webster  City,  Iowa;  Rebecca  is 
the  wife  of  G.  P.  Spratt,  whose  home  is 
near  Parnell,  De  Witt  county,  Illinois;  and 
Martha  married  John  Ertle  and  died  Octo- 
ber 26,  1897. 


38o 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


James  Vance  passed  his  boyhood  and 
youth  in  De  Witt  county,  assisting  in  the 
work  of  the  home  farm  during  the  summer 
season,  and  attending  the  common  schools 
for  a  few  months  each  winter.  When  a  young 
man  he  became  interested  in  buying  and 
selling  stock,  to  which  business  he  has  since 
given  the  greater  part  of  his  time  and  atten- 
tion. 

On  the  2 1st  of  November,  1876,  in  De 
Witt  county,  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of 
Mr.  Vance  and  Miss  Nancy  M.  Fuller, 
a  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Sarah  (Foley) 
Fuller,  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  Vir- 
ginia, respectively.  The  father  was  reared 
in  his  native  state  and  as  a  young  man  came 
west  and  settled  in  De  Witt  county,  Illinois, 
where  he  was  married.  He  became  one  of 
the  most  substantial  farmers,  stock-raisers, 
dealers  and  shippers  in  his  section  of  the 
state,  owning  one  thousand  acres  of  land  in 
De  Witt  county  and  a  similar  amount  in 
McLean  county.  He  spent  the  last  nine 
years  of  his  life  in  this  county,  where  he 
died  February  2,  1897,  honored  and  re- 
spected by  all  who  knew  him.  Mrs.  Vance 
was  born,  reared  and  educated  in  Rutledge 
township,  De  Witt  county,  and  is  the  sec- 
ond in  a  family  of  four  children,  the  others 
being  John  W. ,  a  prosperous  farmer  and 
e.xtensive  land-owner  of  McLean  county; 
Loaine,  wife  of  George  Helmick,  a  farmer 
of  Farmer  City,  Illinois;  and  Emma,  wife 
of  Lincoln  Bailey,  of  De  Witt  county.  To 
our  subject  and  his  wife  have  been  born  two 
children,  namely:  W.  D.,  who  is  a  partner 
of  his  father  in  the  butcher  business  in  Le 
Roy,  and  also  assisted  in  the  labors  of  the 
farm;  and  Elizabeth  M.,  a  student  in  the  Le 
Roy  schools. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Vance  began  their  domes- 
tic   life    upon    a  farm  in   McLean   county. 


where  he  first  purchased  twenty  acres  of 
improved  land  and  in  connection  with  its 
cultivation  he  continued  to  engage  in  the 
stock  business.  Later  he  bought  a  tract  of 
seventy  acres,  and  now  owns  one  hundred 
acres,  all  in  the  same  neighborhood,  while 
his  wife  has  a  farm  of  two  hundred  and 
forty-seven  acres  adjoining,  and  another 
eighty  acres  in  De  W^itt  county.  In  the 
fall  of  1898  they  removed  to  Le  Roy,  where 
they  purchased  a  pleasant  home,  and  where 
since  the  fall  previous  Mr.  Vance  has  con- 
ducted a  meat  market  in  connection  with 
the  stock  business.  He  is  one  of  the  heav- 
iest buyers  and  shippers  of  stock  in  this 
part  of  the  county,  handling  on  an  average 
some  four  or  five  car-loads  a  week,  and  is 
now  associated  in  business  with  W.  H. 
Cline  and  other  local  dealers. 

Politically,  Mr.  Vance  is  a  pronounced 
Democrat,  is  unwavering  in  the  support  of 
the  men  and  measures  of  that  party,  and 
cast  his  first  presidential  vote  for  Samuel  J. 
Tilden.  He  takes  an  active  and  commend- 
able interest  in  public  affairs,  especially 
along  educational  lines,  and  for  twenty 
years  has  most  efficiently  served  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  local  school  board.  As  a  busi- 
ness man  he  is  energetic,  enterprising  and 
reliable,  and  as  a  citizen  is  ever  ready  to 
discharge  every  duty  that  devolves  upon 
him,  and  his  genuine  worth  and  many  vir- 
tues are  widely  recognized. 


HENRY  L.  BELL  is  the  owner  of  one 
hundred  and  si.\ty  acres  of  fine  land 
in  Danvers  township,  which  he  keeps  under 
a  high  state  of  cultivation,  and  which  is 
one  of  the  best  improved  in  the  township. 
He  was  born  March  14,  1849,  in  Augusta 
county,  Virginia,  and  is  the  son  of  Abel  G. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


381 


and  Louisa  (Xupia)  Bell,  both  of  whom 
were  natives  of  Virginia,  the  latter  being  of 
French  descent,  her  father  being  of  French 
birth.  In  his  native  state  Abel  G.  Bell  was 
engaged  in  farming,  an  occupation  which  he 
followed  during  his  active  business  life.  In 
1854  he  came  west,  first  visiting  Iowa  with 
a  view  of  locating  there,  but  not  liking  the 
state  he  came  to  McLean  county,  and  se- 
lected a  location  in  Danvers  township.  He 
died  in  the  township  in  1867  at  the  age  of 
fifty-seven  years.  His  wife  survived  him 
many  years,  dying  in  1894.  They  were  the 
parents  of  four  sons  and  three  daughters. 
John  O.  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years. 
Henry  L.  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 
William,  who  was  the  twin  brother  of  Henry, 
died  when  eight  years  old.  Edgar  died  in 
infancy.  Ella  L.  is  the  wife  of  Aaron 
Miller,  of  Hall  county,  Nebraska,  and  they 
have  five  children.  Frank  W.  died  at  the 
age  of  twenty-six  years.  Alice  died  in  in- 
fancy. In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat,  and 
religiously  was  identified  with  the  Presby- 
terian church,  as  was  also  his  wife. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  but  five 
years  of  age  when  he  came  with  his  parents 
to  McLean  county,  and  on  the  home  farm 
in  Danvers  township  he  grew  to  manhood, 
and  received  his  education  in  the  district 
school.  He  remained  at  home,  assisting 
his  father  in  farm  work  until  his  marriage 
in  1 87 1  with  Miss  Lizzie  Skaggs,  daughter 
of  Dr.  J.  M.  Skaggs,  of  Danvers,  of  whom 
mention  is  made  in  the  sketch  of  L.  E. 
Skaggs.  She  died  in  1881,  leaving  four 
children.  Bertha  is  the  wife  of  Isaac  Dun- 
lap,  and  they  reside  in  Danvers  township. 
Gertrude  is  the  wife  of  George  Dunlap,  a 
brother  of  Isaac,  and  they  have  two  chil- 
dren, Irene  and  Grace.  They  reside  in 
Danvers  township.      Ada  \'.  is   the  wife  of 


George  Simpson,  and  they  reside  in  Dry 
Grove  township.  Luella  died  at  the  age  of 
nine  months. 

In  1887  Mr.  Bell  was  again  married,  his 
second  union  being  with  Miss  Mollie  Dun- 
lap,  daughter  of  George  and  Mary  (Nichols) 
Dunlap,  and  by  this  union  there  are  two 
children,  Henrietta  E.  and  William  D.,  both 
attending  the  district  school. 

In  connection  with  his  farming,  Mr.  Bell 
has  given  much  of  his  attention  to  stock 
raising,  especially  to  the  Sprague  and  Nor- 
man draft  horses,  and  has  bred  some  very 
fine  animals,  a  number  acquiring  consider- 
able speed.  He  endeavors  to  raise  the  best 
stock,  which  always  command  the  best 
prices.  He  has  also  devoted  considerable 
attention  to  the  raising  of  Poland  China  and 
Chester  white  hogs,  and  has  been  quite  suc- 
cessful in  this  line. 

For  three  years  Mr.  Bell  served  as  road 
commissioner,  and  for  a  number  of  years  he 
was  one  of  the  school  directors  of  his  dis- 
trict. In  politics,  he  is  a  thorough  Demo- 
crat. Religiously,  he  is  a  Baptist,  holding 
membership  with  the  church  in  Danvers. 
His  wife  is  also  a  member  of  that  body. 
Both  are  highlj' respected  in  the  community, 
and  Mr.  Bell  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  best 
farmers  in  the  township. 


WILLIAM  M.  FOWLER,  one  of  the 
most  honored  and  highly  respected 
citizens  of  Randolph  township,  is  now  living 
retired  on  his  farm  on  section  5,  near  Hey- 
worth.  His  has  been  a  long  and  useful 
career  of  ninety-two  years,  and  one  in  which 
he  has  gained  the  confidence  and  high  re- 
gard of  all  with  whom  he  has  come  in  con- 
tact. There  is  an  old  age  that  is  a  benedic- 
tion to  all  that  comes  in  contact  with   it, 


382 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


that  gives  out  of  its  rich  stores  of  learning 
and  experience,  and  grows  stronger  intel- 
lectually and  spiritually  as  the  years  pass. 
Such  is  the  life  of  Mr.  Fowler,  an  encour- 
agement to  his  associates  and  an  example 
well  worthy  of  emulation  to  the  young. 

He  was  born  in  Hillsboro  county,  New 
Hampshire,  October  22,  1807,  and  is  a  son 
of  Lemuel  Fowler,  who  was  born  in  Massa- 
chusetts, was  reared  in  the  old  Granite  state, 
whither  his  father,  Lemuel  Fowler,  Sr. ,  re- 
moved at  an  early  day  and  there  bought 
considerable  land.  In  New  Hampshire  the 
father  of  our  subject  married  Sarah  Sweet, 
a  relative  of  Leonard  Sweet,  the  great  law- 
yer and  personal  friend  of  Abraham  Lincoln. 
Lemuel  Fowler,  Jr.,  was  a  sailor  and  fol- 
lowed the  sea  for  some  years  in  early  life, 
but  in  1 8 10  removed  to  Morgan  county, 
Ohio,  secured  a  tract  of  wildland  and  turned 
his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits,  making 
his  home  there  throughout  the  remainder  of 
his  life.  When  he  located  upon  his  farm  the 
nearest  postoffice  was  forty  miles  away,  and 
the  entire  country  was  an  unbroken  wilder- 
ness. He  died  at  a  ripe  old  age,  having 
survived  his  wife  some  years. 

William  M.  Fowler,  of  this  review, 
passed  his  boyhood  and  youth  in  Ohio  and 
assisted  his  father  in  opening  up  the  home 
farm.  He  also  learned  the  shoemaker's 
trade  and  made  boots  and  shoes  for  the  en- 
tire neighborhood  for  twelve  miles  around. 
He  conducted  his  shop  in  Ohio  for  about 
twenty-eight  years,  did  half-soleing  for  ten 
cents,  and  worked  very  hard  to  support  his 
family.  Finally  he  was  able  to  purchased 
a  farm  of  eighty  acres  of  which  about  ten 
or  twelve  acres  had  been  cleared.  To  its  im- 
provement and  cultivation  he  devoted  the 
most  of  his  time  through  the  summer 
months.      In  this  early  days  when    money 


was  scarce  he  chopped  and  split  rails  for 
twenty-five  cents  per  hundred  and  chopped 
cord  wood  for  twenty-five  cents  per  cord. 
Later  he  sold  his  first  farm  and  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  timber  land  in  Noble  county, 
Ohio,  which  he  cleared  and  improved  by 
the  erection  of  a  small  frame  house  and  a 
double  log  barn.  Afterward  he  sunk  an 
old  oil  well  upon  his  place,  from  which  he 
obtained  three  thousand  barrels  of  oil,  which 
he  sold  at  a  fair  price.  With  the  money 
thus  obtained,  he  came  west  to  Illinois  in 
1864  and  in  Randolph  township,  McLean 
county,  purchased  a  partially-improved 
farm  of  three  hundred  acres,  two  miles 
from  Heyworth.  Here  he  has  since  made 
his  home  and  has  succeeded  in  converting 
the  place  into  a  most  desirable  and  valuable 
farm.  He  has  cleared  and  placed  under 
cultivation  eighty  acres,  and  has  laid  from 
four  to  five  thousand  tiles,  so  that  it  is  now 
well  drained  and  capable  of  high  culture. 

In  Morgan  county,  Ohio,  on  the  14th 
of  December,  1826,  Mr.  Fowler  wedded 
Miss  Mary  Hutchins,  who  was  born  in 
Maine,  November  10,  1804,  and  a  daughter 
of  Hollis  Hutchins,  who  was  also  born  in 
Maine,  and  from  there  removed  to  Morgan 
county,  Ohio,  in  18 12.  Mrs.  Fowler,  who 
was  a  most  estimable  lady,  a  true  helpmeet 
to  her  husband,  a  kind  and  indulgent 
mother  and  a  consistent  Christian,  died  in 
Randolph  township,  February,  1888.  Seven 
children  were  born  to  our  subject  and  his 
wife,  who  reached  years  of  maturity:  Mary 
married  John  Keller  and  settled  in  Ohio, 
where  she  died,  leaving  a  family;  Jane  mar- 
ried Samuel  Brown,  who  died  at  Nashville 
during  his  service  in  the  civil  war;  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Keller,  who  died  in  McLean  coun- 
ty; Mrs.  Sarah  McHugh,  a  widow  living  in 
this    county;   Lois,    who    married    George 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


3S3 


Dyer  but  is  now  deceased;  Mrs.  Margaret 
Wamsley,  a  resident  of  Iowa;  and  Sophia, 
deceased  wife  of  Augustus  Parker,  a  resi- 
dent of  Iowa. 

Politically,  Mr.  Fowler  was  originally 
an  old-line  Whig,  but  cast  his  first  presiden- 
tial vote  for  Andrew  Jackson,  in  1828,  since 
which  time  he  has  never  missed  a  presiden- 
tial election.  On  the  organization  of  the 
Republican  party  in  1856  he  joined  its 
ranks  and  supported  John  C.  Fremont  and 
has  since  affiliated  with  it.  The  public 
schools  have  always  received  his  hearty 
support  and  in  Ohio  he  served  as  a  member 
of  the  school  board,  and  also  for  a  time 
after  coming  to  this  county.  For  more 
than  forty  years  he  has  been  a  sincere  and 
consistent  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church,  and  he  has  long  been  con- 
nected with  the  Masonic  fraternity.  He 
has  always  been  a  strictly  temperate  man, 
never  using  liquors  at  all  until  past  the  age 
of  eighty  years,  and  since  then  only  for 
medicinal  purposes.  Upright  and  honor- 
able in  all  the  relations  of  life,  he  has  won 
the  friendship  and  high  regard  of  all  who 
know  him,  and  he  is  certainly  deserving  of 
honorable  mention  in  the  history  of  his 
adopted  county. 


FREDERICK  BLUM,  one  of  the  self- 
made  men  of  Bloomington  township, 
whose  early  home  was  on  the  other  side  of 
the  Atlantic,  commenced  life  without  other 
capital  than  his  strong  hands  and  resolute 
will,  and  has  attained  to  a  fine  position, 
socially  and  financially,  among  his  fellow- 
citizens.  His  home  farm,  which  lies  just 
east  of  the  city,  comprises  one  hundred  and 
sixty-seven  acres  of  valuable  land,  and  be- 
sides  this    he    owns   another  fine  farm    of 


one    hundred    and    twenty-seven    acres    on 
section  28,  the  same  township. 

Mr.  Blum  was  born  in  the  village  of 
Weiwell,  Baden,  Germany,  September  30, 
1850,  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  Blum. 
The  father,  who  followed  the  occupation  of 
farming  in  his  native  land,  brought  his  wife 
and  four  children  to  the  United  States  in 
1864,  two  older  children  having  already 
crossed  the  Atlantic  ten  years  previous  to 
this  time.  Our  subject  well  remembers 
how  strange  and  wild  everything  looked  on 
his  arrival  in  McLean  county — the  broad 
open  prairies,  few  of  the  farms  being 
fenced  at  that  time.  The  father,  with 
the  assistance  of  his  sons,  bought  and 
improved  a  fine  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  in  Towanda  township,  on  which 
he  spent  his  last  days  in  comfort,  dying 
there  in  1876.  His  estimable  wife  passed 
away  two  years  before  his  death.  In  this 
country  they  attended  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church,  although  they  were  reared  in 
the  Lutheran  faith,  and  both  were  highly 
respected  by  all  who  knew  them. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  educated 
primarily  in  the  schools  of  his  native  land, 
but  after  the  emigration  of  the  family  to 
this  country,  he  continued  his  studies  in  our 
common  schools  for  several  winters  and 
thus  obtained  a  good  knowledge  of  the 
English  language.  He  worked  with  his  two 
older  brothers  for  nine  years  upon  the  home 
farm  which  they  had  purchased,  although 
they  came  to  America  without  capital,  and 
it  was  wholly  through  their  own  industry, 
perseverance  and  good  management  that 
they  acquired  a  competence.  They  finally 
sold  the  place.  Our  subject  had  previously 
married,  in  1877,  Miss  Christiana  Wolf, 
also  a  native  of  Weisweil,  Baden,  Ger- 
many, who  came  with  her  parents  to  the  new 


384 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


world  and  located  in  Bloomington.  Of  the 
six  children  born  of  this  union,  two  died 
young,  the  others  being  Frederick,  Jr., 
Tina,  Balzer'and  Mamie. 

In  1886,  Mr.  Blum  made  his  first  pur- 
chase of  land,  consisting  of  eighty  acres 
near  Padua,  in  Dawson  township,  to  the 
improvement  and  cultivation  of  which  place 
he  devoted  his  energies  for  five  years,  sell- 
ing it  at  the  end  of  that  time.  In  the  mean- 
time he  bought  eighty  acres  in  Towanda 
township,  and  on  disposing  of  that  pur- 
chased the  farm  in  Bloomington  township, 
near  the  city,  where  he  has  since  most  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  general  farming.  On 
the  1st  of  March,  1897,  he  bought  the  farm 
on  section  28,  previously  mentioned,  and  is 
to-day  one  of  the  largest  land  owners  in 
Bloomington  township.  For  the  success 
that  he  has  achieved  in  life  he  deserves 
great  credit  for  it  is  largely  due  to  his  own 
industry,  perseverance  and  good  business 
ability,  and  his  career  should  furnish  both 
lesson  and  incentive  to  the  young  who  are 
forced  to  begin  life  for  themselves  without 
capital.  Mrs.  Blum  received  her  share  of 
her  father's  estate  which  has  been  of  mate- 
rial asistance  in  the  accumulation  of  their 
present  property.  Mr.  Blum  is  an  ardent 
supporter  of  the  Republican  party,  and 
while  living  in  Towanda  township  most  effi- 
ciently served  as  school  director  and  clerk, 
and  always  taking  a  deep  and  commendable 
interest  in  educational  affairs.  Religiously, 
he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  German 
Evangelical  church  of  Bloomington. 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  HICKEY  is  one  of  the 
most  prominent  men  of  Chenoa. 
Young  men  in  the  past  have  often  been  de- 
terred from  devoting    themselves  to  a  busi- 


ness life  because  of  the  wide-spread  impres- 
sion that  such  a  life  yields  no  opportunity 
for  the  display  of  genius.  The  time,  how- 
ever, has  gone  by  when,  other  things  being 
equal,  the  business  man  must  take  a  sec- 
ondary place  to  the  lawyer,  the  doctor,  the 
minister  or  the  editor.  In  fact,  as  a  rule, 
let  the  business  man  be  equally  equipped 
by  education  and  natural  endowments  and 
you  will  find  him  to-day  in  every  commu- 
nity exerting  a  wider  influence  and  wielding 
a  greater  power  than  a  man  of  equal  capac- 
ity treading  other  walks  of  life.  The  "men 
of  affairs"  have  come  to  be,  in  a  large  de- 
gree, the  men  upon  whom  the  country  leans. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  eminently  a 
"man  of  affairs,"  and  is  one  of  the  worthy 
sons  that  the  Emerald  Isle  has  given  to  this 
country.  He  was  born  in  County  Tip- 
perary,  in  May,  1838,  and  is  a  son  of 
Michael  and  Catherine  (Baker)  Hickey, 
natives  of  Ireland.  The  former  died  in 
1850,  in  his  native  land,  and  six  years  later 
his  widow  came  to  America,  where  she  now 
resides  with  her  son  at  the  advanced  age  of 
ninety-seven  years. 

Captain  Hickey  was  the  second  in  order 
of  birth  of  six  children,  three  of  whom  are 
living.  His  earlier  education  was  obtained 
in  Ireland,  and  after  emigrating  to  America 
he  resumed  his  studies  in  the  evenings.  He 
was  possessed  of  a  natural  inclination  for 
knowledge,  and  though  but  thirteen  years 
of  age  he  appreciated  to  a  certain  extent 
the  advantages  of  education.  His  first 
American  home  was  in  St.  Louis,  Missouri, 
where  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Wiggins 
Ferry  Company,  where  he  remained  from 
1856  until  1869,  advancing  with  great  rapid- 
ity from  the  position  of  watch-boy  to  that 
of  captain,  a  position  which  he  held  with  the 
full  confidence  of  his  employers.    In  1S64  he 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


385 


purchased  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of 
prairie  land  in  Lawndaie  township,  McLean 
count}',  which  he  improved  and  brought  to 
an  excellent  state  of  cultivation,  and  upon 
which  he  erected  a  residence  and  comfort- 
able stables  and  outbuildings.  In  1869  Cap- 
tain Hickey  resigned  from  the  employ  of  the 
Wiggins  Ferry  Company,  a  loss  which  the 
company  felt  very  keenly,  and  devoted  his 
attention  to  the  farm,  where  he  lived  thir- 
teen years.  He  confined  himself  principally 
to  stock-raising,  producing  a  very  fine  breed 
of  stock  which  was  very  much  in  demand 
throughout  this  and  the  surrounding  states. 
In  1 88 1  he  removed  to  Chenoa  where  he 
purchased  valuable  business  propertj-.  In 
1883  he  moved  to  Bloomington  where  he 
married  Mrs.  Catherine  Hegan,  the  widow 
of  Mather  Hegau.  He  remained  in  Bloom- 
ington for  five  years,  having  in  charge  the 
management  of  his  wife's  property,  and  also 
his  own  in  Chenoa.  In  March,  1892,  his 
wife  died  and  the  same  year  he  withdrew 
from  active  business  life  to  enjoy  a  much 
deserved  retirement.  He  is  a  devout  mem- 
ber of  the  Roman  Catholic  church  where  he 
is  always  foremost  in  any  charitable  enter- 
prise. In  1895  Captain  Hickey  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Mrs.  M.  Leadwith,  the  wid- 
ow James  Leadwithof  Lincoln,  Nebraska. 
In  politics  he  is  an  independent  voter, 
casting  his  ballot  for  the  best  qualified  for 
the  position  in  question.  He  has  been  hon- 
ored with  several  offices  of  trust  and  re- 
sponsibility, offices  which  he  has  filled  with 
much  credit  to  himself.  At  one  time  he  was 
made  foreman  of  a  grand  jury  where  he  won 
great  renown.  While  a  resident  of  Bloom- 
ington he  was  elected  as  a  member  of  the 
board  of  supervisors,  defeating  a  very  strong 
Democrat  in  a  Democratic  stronghold.  In 
Chenoa  he  has  served  as  councilman    and 


alderman,  and  Chenoa  knows  no  more  pub- 
lic-spirited citizen  than  Captain  Hickey. 
His  first  interest  is  always  for  the  general 
welfare  of  the  town  and  no  effort  is  spared 
that  will  in  any  wise  benefit  the  city  of  his 
adoption.  In  1874  Captain  Hickey  was  a 
delegate  to  the  convention  which  nominated 
A.  H.  Stevenson  as  a  member  of  congress 
from  the  thirteenth  district,  and  it  was  prin- 
cipally due  to  the  unrelaxing  efforts  on  the 
part  of  Captain  Hickey  that  the  nomination 
was  carried  through.  He  was  afterward  en- 
dorsed by  the  Democratic  party,  and  de- 
feated General  McN'ulty  in  the  campaign  of 
that  year.  A  few  weeks  subsequent  the 
Greenback  party  nominated  Captain  Hickey 
for  sheriff  of  McLean  county,  and  shortly 
afterward  the  Democratic  party  met  and 
and  endorsed  his  nomination  as  they  had 
done  that  of  Mr.  Stevenson.  At  that  time 
the  Republican  party  was  in  the  majority  by 
two  thousand  five  hundred,  but  by  the  per- 
sonal efforts  of  the  two  nominees  and  by  their 
popularity  with  the  masses,  the  majority 
was  reduced  to  about  three  hundred.  Cap- 
tain Hickey  is  a  most  genial  man  to  meet. 
He  is  a  fine  illustration  of  a  self-made  man, 
and  his  career  should  serve  as  a  lesson  to 
the  young.  He  began  his  career  under  ad- 
verse circumstances,  being  compelled  to 
make  his  own  way  and  his  success  in  life 
illustrates  most  forcibly  the  power  of  pa- 
tient and  persistent  effort  and  selft-reliance. 


ARTHUR  V.  PIERSON.  one  of  the  en- 
terprising farmers  of  Lexington  town- 
ship, owns  and  operates  a  fine  farm  on  sec- 
tion 15.  He  was  born  in  Morrow  county, 
Ohio,  May  19,  1849,  and  is  the  son  of 
James  S.  and  Mary  Jane  (Morrison)  Pier- 
son,  both  of  whom  are  natives  of  the  same 


386 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


state.  (See  sketch  elsewhere  in  this  vol- 
ume.) 

The  paternal  grandfather,  Arthur  Van- 
Dyke  Pierson,  for  whom  our  subject  was 
named,  was  born  in  Sussex  county,  New 
Jersey,  November  25,  1787,  and  his  wife, 
Phebe  Cook,  was  born  in  Washington 
county,  Pennsylvania,  September  6,  1793. 
She  was  a  daughter  of  Stephen  and  Sarah 
(McFarland)  Cook,  the  former  being  a  na- 
tive of  Morris  county,  New  Jersey,  born 
March  29,  175 1,  and  the  latter  of  Wooster, 
Massachusetts,  born  November  19,  1760. 
Stephen  Cook  followed  the  occupation  of  a 
farmer  in  his  native  state,  and  was  married 
in  1775.  In  1782  he  moved  to  Washington 
county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  lived  until 
1816,  when  he  settled  in  Knox  county,  Ohio. 
His  family  was  composed  of  seven  sons  and 
eight  daughters,  all  of  whom  grew  to  ma- 
ture years.  He  died  in  1829  and  his  wife 
in  185 1,  at  the  age  of  ninety-one  years. 

Arthur  VanDyke  Pierson  was  the  son  of 
John  and  Sarah  (VanDyke)  Pierson,  both 
natives  of  Sussex  county.  New  Jersey.  He 
was  born  on  the  24th  of  May,  1758,  and 
his  wife  on  the  i6th  of  March,  1760,  who 
was  the  daughter  of  Nancy  Schenck.  They 
were  the  parents  of  eleven  children,  all  of 
whom  grew  to  maturity.  He  was  a  minute 
man  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  serving  as  a 
volunteer  in  the  First  New  jersey  Regiment 
for  a  time,  and  later  with  the  Second  New 
Jersey  Volunteers.  He  continued  in  serv- 
ice throughout  the  entire  war,  and  was  in 
the  siege  of  Yorktown.  He  was  one  of 
General  Washington's  life  guard,  under 
General  William  Colfax,  while  at  Norris- 
town  in  the  winter  of  1778-9.  In  the  Sec- 
ond New  Jersey  regiment,  he  was  in  the 
company  of  Captain  Richard  Cox,  while 
Colonel  Ogden  was  in  command  of  the  regi- 


ment at  Yorktown.  John  Pierson  died  Feb- 
ruary II,  1827,  and  his  wife  May  27,  1830. 

The  Piersons  trace  their  ancestry  back 
to  John  and  Abraham  Pierson,  who  were 
Normans  and  went  to  England  with  Will- 
iam the  Conqueror.  They  were  men  of 
arms  under  that  famous  commander.  The 
family  in  America  was  first  represented  by 
Abraham  Pierson,  who  emigrated  from 
Yorkshire,  England,  in  1639,  and  who  lo- 
cated at  Lynn,  Massachusetts.  On  ac- 
count of  persecution  because  of  his  re- 
ligious views,  he  later  settled  in  Long 
Island,  New  York.  He  was  a  graduate  of 
Oxford  College,  and  in  religion  he  was  a 
Presbyterian.  In  his  family  were  six  or 
eight  children,  and  Abraham,  the  first,  born 
in  Lynn,  Massachusetts,  is  the  one  from 
whom  our  subject  is  descended.  He  was  a 
graduate  of  Harvard  College  in  1662. 
He  married  Abigail  Clark,  and  to  them  were 
born  a  number  of  children,  of  whom  John, 
the  father  of  John,  of  Revolutionary  fame, 
was  third  in  order  of  birth. 

Abraham  Pierson,  the  first  of  the  family 
in  America,  moved  from  Long  Island  to 
Bramford,  Connecticut,  and  was  pastor 
there  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  In  1665 
he  founded  the  town  of  Newark,  New  Jersey. 
Abraham,  Jr.,  his  son,  was  the  first  presi- 
dent of  Yale  College,  serving  from  1701 
until  his  death  in  1707.  John  Pierson  mar- 
ried Ruth  Woodbridge.  He  was  a  preacher 
of  the  Presbyterian  faith,  and  was  a 
graduate  of  Yale.  His  son,  Abraham,  the 
third,  was  the  father  of  John,  born  in  1758, 
and  of  whom  mention  has  been  made  as 
having  served  in  the  Revolutonary  war. 

The  Cook  branch  of  the  family  trace 
their  ancestry  back  to  Francis  Cook,  who, 
at  the  age  of  forty  years,  came  to  this  coun- 
try   in   1620    in  the  Mayflower.     The  first 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


387 


mention  of  the  Cook  family,  however,  of 
which  any  record  is  known,  was  in  1191, 
when  Walter  and  Richard  Cook  were  num- 
bered among  the  Crusaders  taking  part  in 
the  Holy  wars.  Francis  Cook  located  at 
Plj'mouth,  Massachusetts.  He  married  a 
lady  whose  Christian  name  was  Esther,  but 
of  whom  no  record  is  made  of  her  surname. 
They  were  married  in  1609.  One  son, 
Jacob,  was  born  in  16 18,  and  was  less  than 
two  years  old  when  his  parents  landed  on 
.American  soil.  Jacob  married  Damaris 
Hopkins,  who  also  came  to  America  with 
her  parents  in  the  Mayflower.  Of  their 
children,  Jacob,  Jr.,  born  in  1653,  married 
Lydia  Miller  on  the  i8th  of  June,  168 1,  and 
to  them  were  born  another  Jacob,  in  1691. 
He  married  and  had  a  son  which  he  named 
Jacob,  in  1725.  This  Jacob  married  Phcebe 
Lindley  February  12,  1750,  in  Morris 
county,  New  Jersey,  and  to  them  were  born 
five  children,  of  whom  Stephen,  born  March 
29,  175 1,  married  Sarah  McFarland,  and  to 
them  fifteen  children  were  born.  Sarah  is 
the  great-grandmother  of  our  subject.  Her 
daughter  Phcebe,  married  Arthur  VanDyke 
Pierson,  who  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of 
1812,  serving  in  a  company  of  Independent 
Rangers  from  Washington  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, under  Captain  Patterson.  He  was 
married  Januarj'  15,  1811. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  but  four 
years  old  when  brought  by  his  parents  to 
McLean  county,  and  in  the  school  at  Pleas- 
ant Hill,  Illinois,  received  his  education. 
At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  quit  school  and 
gave  his  undivided  time  to  assisting  his  fa- 
ther in  the  cultivation  of  the  home  farm. 
He  remained  at  home,  doing  his  share  of  the 
farm  work  until  his  marriage,  March  30, 
1876,  with  Miss  Carrie  Smith,  who  was 
born  June  12,  1853,  and  daughter  of  Milton 


and  Lydia  M.  (Goddard)  Smith.  By  this 
union  three  children  were  born.  Lawrence 
Milton,  born  October  6,  1868.  is  now  a  stu- 
dent in  Knox  "College,  Galesburg,  Illinois. 
Anna  Mary,  born  July  19,  1882,  is  attend- 
ing the  high  school  in  Lexington,  Illinois. 
Madge,  born  October  2,  1888,  is  attending 
the  home  school  in  Lexington  township. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Pierson  built  a 
good,  comfortable  home,  which  is  yet  occu- 
pied by  the  family.  His  farm,  which  con- 
sists of  two  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  ex- 
cellent land,  is  kept  under  a  high  state  of 
cultivation,  and  in  addition  to  the  raising  of 
grain,  he  gives  much  attention  to  stock 
raising,  principally  cattle,  hogs  and  horses. 
In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and  cast  his 
first  presidential  vote  for  General  Grant. 
He  has  been  a  school  director  for  twenty 
years,  and  is  an  elder  in  the  Presbyterian 
church  at  Selma,  Illinois.  Fraternally,  he 
is  a  member  of  the  Royal  Arcanum.  So- 
cially, he  and  his  family  are  held  in  the 
highest  esteem. 


ALLEN  R.  HOLLIS.  The  fine  farm 
owned  by  this  gentleman  on  section 
14,  Randolph  township,  McLean  county, 
invariably  attracts  the  eye  of  the  passing 
traveler  as  being  under  the  supervision  of  a 
thorough  and  skilled  agriculturist,  and  a  man 
otherwise  of  good  business  qualifications. 
He  was  born  in  Jessamine  county,  Kentucky, 
May  12,  1849,  but  since  March,  1857,  has 
made  his  home  in  this  county.  His  father. 
Berry  Hollis,  was  a  native  of  Virginia  and 
when  a  child  went  to  Kentucky,  where  he 
grew  to  manhood.  There  he  married  Eliza- 
beth Woods  and  for  some  years  was  a  lead- 
ing merchant  of  Midway,  Kentucky.  In 
1857  he  came  to  McLean  county,  Illinois, 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Bloomington  town- 
ship, where  he  continued  to  make  his  home 
until  •called  from  this  life  in  1893,  at  the 
ripe  old  age  of  eighty-eight  years.  His  wife 
still  survives  him  at  the  age  of  seventy-six. 

Allen  R.  Hollis  was  a  lad  of  eight  years 
when  brought  by  his  parents  to  this  county, 
and  as  soon  as  old  enough  to  be  of  any  as- 
sistance he  began  to  aid  his  father  in  the 
development  and  improvement  of  the  home 
farm,  remaining  with  him  until  reaching 
men's  estate.  In  Blooming  Grove,  he  was 
married  October  27,  1872,  the  lady  of  his 
choice  being  Miss  Olive  J.  Orendorfi,  a 
native  of  this  county  and  daughter  of 
Thomas  Orendorff,  one  of  the  first  settlers 
of  Blooming  Grove.  Five  children  grace 
this  union,  namely:  Estella,  now  the  wife 
of  Horace  Ryburn,  of  Randolph  township; 
Ernest,  Pearl,  Roy  L.  and  Mabel,  all  at 
home. 

For  five  years  after  his  marriage,  Mr. 
Hollis  rented  and  operated  a  farm  in  White 
Oak  township,  and  then  rented  a  place  in 
Randolph  township  for  four  years.  At  the 
end  of  that  time,  in  1884,  he  purchased  the 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  si.\ty-five  acres 
where  he  now  resides.  It  was  then  but 
partially  improved,  and  to  its  further  de- 
velopment and  cultivation  he  has  devoted 
his  time  and  attention  ever  since.  He  has 
built  a  good  residence  and  fences,  laid  tiling, 
set  out  an  orchard,  small  fruit  and  orna- 
mental trees,  and  made  many  other  useful 
improvements,  so  that  it  is  now  quite  a 
valuable  farm. 

Mr.  Hollis  is  a  stanch  adherent  of  the 
principles  of  the  Democracy,  though  at  local 
elections  he  votes  for  the  men  whom  he  be- 
lieves best  qualified  to  fill  the  positions  re- 
gardless of  party  affiliations.  He  has  been 
honored  with  a  number  of  township  offices, 


which  he  has  most  creditably  and  satis- 
factorily filled,  serving  one  year  as  assessor, 
while  at  present  he  is  president  of  the  board 
of  highway  commissioners,  of  which  he  has 
been  a  member  for  near  eight  years.  He 
has  been  a  member  of  the  school  board  for 
the  past  sixteen  years  and  is  now  clerk  of 
the  district.  His  wife  is  a  faithful  member 
of  the  United  Brethren  church,  and  though 
he  is  not  connected  with  any  religious  de- 
nomination he  gives  liberally  to  the  support 
of  that  and  other  churches.  Socially  he  be- 
longs to  Heyvvorth  Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and 
the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  The 
success  that  he  has  achieved  in  life  is  due  to 
his  own  industry,  enterprise  and  good  man- 
agement, and  for  the  same  he  certainly  de- 
serves great  credit.  His  business  methods 
have  always  been  upright  and  honorable, 
and  his  course  such  as  to  commend  him  to 
the  confidence  and  esteem  of  all  with  whom 
he  comes  in  contact. 


LEE  RUST,  a  prosperous  agriculturist 
residing  on  section  2,  Randolph  town- 
ship, is  a  typical  self-made  man,  and  in  the 
following  record  of  his  career  there  is  much 
to  arouse  respect  and  esteem.  He  has 
placed  his  reliance  upon  industry  and  per- 
severance rather  than  "luck,"  and  by  mak- 
ing the  most  of  circumstances,  however  dis- 
couraging, has  made  his  way  to  a  substan- 
tial success,  his  fine  farm  of  nearly  four 
hundred  acres  six  miles  from  Bloomington 
being  a  tangible  evidence  of  prosperity. 

Mr.  Rust  is  a  native  of  McLean  county, 
his  birth  having  occurred  in  Randolph 
township,  April  9,  1851.  His  father,  John 
F.  Rust,  was  born  in  Middle  Tennessee, 
August  II,  18 16,  and  was  a  son  of  William 
Rust,  a  hero  of  the  Mexican  war,  who  came 


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UERARY 

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THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


391 


to  Illinois  in  1828,  and  in  1834  took  up  his 
residence  in  McLean  county.  The  father 
of  our  subject  began  his  business  career  at 
the  age  of  sixteen  years  as  a  farm  hand  for 
Jesse  Funk,  by  whom  he  was  employed  for 
seven  years.  He  married  Miss  Elizabeth 
Lindley,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  who  came 
to  this  county  when  a  child  with  her  father, 
John  Lindley,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
this  locality.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rust  began 
their  domestic  life  upon  a  farm  in  De  Witt 
county,  building  a  log  cabin  upon  his  place, 
remaining  there  two  or  three  years,  and 
then  removed  to  Randolph  township,  where 
he  successfully  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits until  called  from  this  life  on  the  ist  of 
February,  1897.  His  worthy  wife  is  still 
living  at  the  age  of  seventy-six  years.  To 
them  were  born  eight  children,  five  sons 
and  three  daughters,  who  reached  man  and 
womanhood,  and  are  now  heads  of  families, 
namely:  George  W.  and  T.  J.,  both  farm- 
ers of  Randolph  township;  Lee,  our  sub- 
ject; Douglas,  a  farmer  and  stock-raiser  of 
Newell,  Iowa;  Benjamin  F.,  who  owns  and 
operates  the  old  homestead;  Elizabeth, 
wife  of  Martin  Bishop  of  Bloomington; 
Alice,  wife  of  John  Kelley,  of  Randolph 
township;  and  Minnie,  wife  of  John  Fitz- 
patrick,  of  Randolph.  One  child  died  in 
infancy,  one  at  the  age  of  four  years,  and 
another  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years. 

During  his  boyhood  Lee  Rust  acquired  a 
good  practical  education  in  the  common 
schools  and  gained  an  excellent  knowledge 
of  agricultural  pursuits  upon  the  home  farm. 
On  leaving  the  parental  roof  he  rented  a  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  thirty  acres  near  the  vil- 
lage of  Randolph  for  three  years,  and  in  1 877 
made  his  first  purchase  of  land,  consisting  of 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  on  which  he  has 
since  made  his  home.      He  has  extended  the 


boundaries  of  his  farm  from  time  to  time, 
however,  until  he  now  has  three  hundred 
and  seventy-eight  acres  of  excellent  farming 
land  all  in  one  body,  and  a  ten-acre  timber 
tract  besides.  Upon  his  place  he  has  erected 
a  large  and  comfortable  residence,  two  good 
barns  and  other  outbuildings;  has  set  out 
small  fruit  and  shrubbery;  has  laid  many 
rods  of  tiling;  and  by  good  fences,  has 
divided  the  land  into  forty-acre  fields,  so 
that  now  he  has  one  of  the  best  improved 
farms  in  the  township.  He  has  ever  given 
considerable  attention  to  raising,  feeding 
and  dealing  in  stock,  and  now  ships  to  the 
city  markets  about  ten  car-loads  of  cattle 
and  hogs  annually.  For  the  past  three 
years  he  has  also  bought  horses  all  over  this 
part  of  the  state  and  shipped  them  to  Buff- 
alo, New  York.  He  is  a  straightforward 
and  reliable  business  man,  and  his  well- 
directed  efforts  have  been  crowned  with  a 
merited  success. 

On  the  22nd  of  October,  1874,  in  Ran- 
dolph township,  Mr.  Rust  married  Miss  Mat- 
tie  McFarland,  who  was  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, but  was  reared  and  educated  in  Hey- 
worth,  this  county.  She  is  a  daughter  of 
Major  J.  C.  McFarland,  and  a  niece  of  Dr. 
McFarland,  whose  sketch  appears  on  an- 
other page  of  this  volume.  Our  subject  and 
his  wife  have  a  family  of  eight  children,  all 
at  home,  namely:  Anna,  James,  Clarence, 
Elmer,  Gracie,  Howard,  Humphrey,  Mabel, 
Walter  Lee  and  Roy  McFarland. 

Mr.  Rust  has  been  a  life-long  Democrat, 
and  cast  his  first  presidential  vote  for  Sam- 
uel J.  Tilden  in  1876.  As  a  friend  of  edu- 
cation, he  has  done  much  to  elevate  the 
standard  of  the  schools  of  his  community 
while  serving  as  a  member  of  the  school 
board  for  twelve  years  and  as  president  of 
the  district.      He  attends  and  gives  liberally 


392 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


to  the  support  of  the  Presbyterian  church, 
of  which  his  wife  is  a  member,  and  never 
withholds  his  aid  from  any  object  which  he 
beheves  calculated  to  advance  the  moral, 
educational  or  material  welfare  of  his  native 
county. 


ELIAS  LANDIS,  who  is  now  living  a  re- 
tired life  in  the  village  of  Downs,  Illi- 
nois, was  for  many  j'ears  one  of  the  most 
active  farmers  and  stock-raisers  in  McLean 
county.  His  residence  in  the  county  dates 
from  1854.  He  is  second  in  a  family  of  six 
children  born  to  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Gus- 
ler)  Landis,  all  or  whom  are  yet  living  as 
follows:  Mrs.  Caroline  Huffer,  of  Indian- 
apolis; Elias,  of  this  review;  Mrs.  Sarah 
Lindimood,  of  Dayton,  Ohio;  H.  G.,  a 
farmer  residing  near  Reading,  Lyon  county, 
Kansas;  Mrs.  Mary  Ann  Poole,  of  Dayton, 
Ohio;  and  Jacob,  a  merchant  of  Reading, 
Kansas.  The  paternal  grandfather,  Peter 
Landis,  was  a  native  of  Germany,  who  set- 
tled in  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania,  and 
lived  to  the  ripe  old  age  of  ninety-three 
years.  Jacob  Landis  was  born  in  Lancaster 
county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1796.  He  was 
there  married  to  Elizabeth  Gusler,  also  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  but  of  German  par- 
entage. He  was  a  carpenter  and  joiner  by 
trade,  and  followed  that  occupation  in  early 
life.  Later  he  engaged  in  farming,  in  which 
occupation  he  continued  during  his  active 
life.  He  moved  to  Ohio  in  1835  and  lo- 
cated within  one  mile  of  Dayton,  where  he 
occupied  a  rented  farm  for  eleven  years. 
He  later  purchased  a  farm  near  the  city,  on 
which  he  lived  until  late  in  life  when  he 
came  to  Illinois  and  made  his  home  with 
our  subject,  where  his  death  occurred  in 
November,  1881. 


Elias  Landis  was  born  in  Mifflin  county, 
Pennsylvania,  December  15,  1827,  and  was 
seven  years  old  when  the  family  moved  to 
the  vicinity  of  Dayton,  Ohio.  He  there 
spent  his  boyhood  and  youth  and  was 
reared  to  farm  life,  attending  the  common 
schools  as  the  opportunity  was  afforded 
him.  In  his  youth  or  young  manhood  he 
worked  at  pump-making  in  various  parts  of 
Ohio,  traveling  in  a  wagon  and  carrying 
his  tools  with  him.  About  January,  or  Feb- 
ruary, 1854,  he  came  to  McLean  county 
and  located  in  Bloomington,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  of  pumps,  in 
which  he  continued  for  about  four  years. 
He  not  only  manufactured,  but  put  in  his 
pumps  in  wells  in  almost  every  part  of  the 
county. 

Mr.  Landis  was  married  in  Bloomington 
township,  December  15,  1858,  to  Miss 
Frances  E.  Cowden,  a  native  of  Allen 
county,  Kentucky,  who  came  to  McLean 
county  in  early  childhood  with  her  parents 
and  here  grew  to  womanhood.  Her  father, 
R.  C.  Cowden,  was  a  native  of  Virginia, 
who  went  to  Kentucky  with  his  parents 
when  a  lad  of  seven  years,  there  grew  to 
manhood,  and  married  Mary  Prunty,  a  na- 
tive of  Kentucky,  who  prior  to  her  marriage 
was  a  teacher  in  her  native  state,  and  who 
also  engaged  in  teaching  after  her  removal 
to  Illinois.  Mr.  Cowden  was  also  a  man  of 
good  education,  and  also  engaged  in  teach- 
ing both  in  Kentucky  and  Illinois.  He  first 
located  in  Green  county,  this  state,  from 
whence  he  came  to  McLean  county,  being 
one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Old  Town  town- 
ship. 

After  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Landis 
located  in  Bloomington  township,  where  he 
rented  land  and  engaged  in  farming  for 
about  seven  years.      In  1865   he  purchased 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


393 


a  partially  improved  farm  in  Downs  town- 
ship, about  two  miles  east  of  the  present 
village  of  Downs,  and  into  a  small  frame 
house  on  the  place  he  moved  his  family. 
The  tract  comprised  one  hundred  and  six 
acres,  eighty  of  which  were  in  Downs  town- 
ship and  the  remainder  timber  land  in  Old 
Town  township,  and  to  its  cultivation  Mr. 
Landis  turned  his  undivided  attention.  The 
house  in  which  they  lived  was  later  de- 
stroyed by  fire,  and  on  its  ruins  he  erected 
a  larger  and  better  residence,  which  was 
the  home  of  the  family  until  his  retirement 
and  removal  to  Downs.  In  his  farming 
operations  he  met  with  a  fair  degree  of 
success,  devoting  his  attention  to  no  spe- 
cialty, but  engaging  in  general  farming  and 
stock-raising.  He  always  kept  his  farm 
under  a  good  state  of  cultivation  and  his 
buildings  in  good  repair. 

Commencing  life  at  the  foot  of  the  lad- 
der, by  hard  work  and  perseverance  he 
mounted  rung  by  rung  until  he  became  one 
of  the  substantial  farmers  of  the  county, 
now  owning,  in  addition  to  his  farm,  a  good 
house  in  Downs,  in  which  he  lives  at  ease 
in  retirement.  While  having  no  children 
of  their  own,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Landis  have 
taken,  reared  and  educated  three  children. 
Politically,  in  early  life  he  was  a  Whig, 
later  identified  with  the  American  party, 
voting  for  Millard  Fillmore  for  president  in 
1856.  The  American  party  being  short- 
lived, he  voted  the  Republican  ticket  until 
the  organization  of  the  Prohibition  party, 
since  which  time  he  has  voted  with  and  ad- 
vocated the  principles  of  that  party,  believ- 
ing that  in  them  alone  is  the  salvation  of 
the  country.  He  is  usually  found  among 
the  delegates  to  his  party  conventions,  both 
county  and  state.  While  not  caring  for 
office,    he    has    served    as    assessor    of    his 


township,  and  for  four  years  served  as  con- 
stable. He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  with  which  his  wife  is 
also  connected.  They  are  firm  believers  in 
the  Christian  religion,  and  endeavor  to 
walk  in  the  footsteps  of  the  Master.  The 
forty-five  years  in  which  he  has  lived  in 
McLean  county  have  wrought  some  won- 
derful changes,  and  in  the  work  of  trans- 
formation he  has  done  his  part,  and  all 
who  know  them  have  a  good  word  to  speak 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Landis. 


ZACHARIAH  LEWIS  CARTMELL,  a 
thorough  and  systematic  agriculturalist 
of  Bloomington  township,  where  for  the 
past  fourteen  years  he  has  owned  and  oper- 
ated a  fine  farm  of  si.\ty-four  acres,  is  a 
native  of  Ohio,  born  near  Mechanicsburg, 
Champaign  county,  October  3,  1S56,  and  is 
a  son  of  Thomas  and  Susan  (Longbreak) 
Cartmell,  also  natives  of  Champaign  county, 
their  respective  familes  being  pioneers  of 
that  region.  The  paternal  grandfather  of 
our  subject,  Jonathan  Cartmell,  was  from 
Kentucky,  while  the  maternal  grandfather, 
Zachariah  Longbreak,  was  from  Lancaster 
county,  Pennsylvania.  The  former  was 
proprietor  of  a  distillery  and  was  one  of  the 
prominent  and  well-to-do  citizens  of  Cham- 
paign county,  Ohio,  where  he  served  as 
squire  or  justice  of  the  peace  for  many 
years.  In  the  county  of  his  nativity  the 
father  of  our  subject  grew  to  manhood,  and 
there  engaged  in  farming  until  1864,  when 
he  moved  to  De  Witt  county,  Illinois,  locat- 
ing near  Waynesville.  Later  he  returned 
to  Ohio,  but  spent  his  last  days  in  Barnett 
township,  De  Witt  county,  Illinois,  where 
he  died  October  7,  1871.  Upon  the  home 
farm  there  the  mother   is  still   living.     She 


394 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


is  an  earnest  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  and  is  held  in  high  regard 
by  all  who  have  the  pleasure  of  her  ac- 
quaintance. 

Zachariah  L.  Cartmell,  whose  name  in- 
troduces this  sketch,  received  a  good  thor- 
ough education  in  the  common-schools  of 
De  Witt  county,  Illinois,  and  at  Marys- 
ville,  Union  county,  Ohio.  He  assisted  his 
father  in  the  operation  of  the  home  farm 
until  the  latter's  death,  and  then  had  charge 
of  the  place  until  he  was  married,  Decem- 
ber 30,  1879,  to  Miss  Alice  Harrold,  of  De 
Witt  county.  Her  father,  Mitchell  Har- 
rold, was  a  well-known  and  prominent 
pioneer  of  Wapella  township,  De  Witt 
county,  where  Mrs.  Cartmell  was  born. 
Three  children  blessed  this  union,  but 
Laura,  the  first  born,  died  October  31, 
1898.  She  was  a  young  lady  of  great  prom- 
ise and  her  death  was  mourned  by  a  large 
circle  of  friends  as  well  as  her  family.  The 
other  children  are  Nora  Imo  and  Sophia, 
both  at  home. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Cartmell  sold  his 
interest  in  the  home  farm  and  bought  his 
present  fine  farm  in  Bloomington  township, 
McLean  county,  in  1885.  He  has  erected 
thereon  a  good  house  and  made  other  im- 
provements which  add  greatly  to  its  value 
and  attractive  appearance,  has  laid  many 
rods  of  tiling,  and  has  placed  the  land  under 
a  high  state  of  cultivation,  so  that  it  is  now 
one  of  the  most  productive  places  of  the 
locality.  In  connection  with  general  farm- 
ing he  is  engaged  in  stock-raising  and  feed- 
ing, and  in  his  undertakings  is  meeting  with 
well  merited  success.  In  his  political 
affiliations  he  is  a  Republican,  and  he  gives 
his  support  to  all  objects  which  he  believes 
calculated  to  advance  the  moral,  educa- 
tional or  material  welfare  of  his  community. 


He  attends  and  supports  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  of  Bloomington,  of  which 
his  wife  is  a  sincere  member. 


ROBERT  C.  HALLOWELL.  Promi- 
nent among  the  wide-awake,  progres- 
sive and  successful  business  men  of  McLean 
county  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  a  well- 
known  furniture  dealer  of  Le  Roy.  His  life 
history  most  happily  illustrates  what  may 
be  attained  by  faithful  and  continued  effort 
in  carrying  out  an  honest  purpose.  Integ- 
rity, activity  and  energy  have  been  the 
crowning  points  of  his  success,  and  he  is 
now  one  of  the  most  prosperous  business 
men  of  his  community. 

Mr.  Hallowell  was  born  in  Cecil  county, 
Maryland,  April  21,  1834,  a  son  of  John  and 
Sarah  (Reynolds)  Hallowell,  both  natives  of 
Pennsylvania,  where  their  marriage  was  cele- 
brated. The  father  was  born  in  Chester 
county  and  belonged  to  a  family  of  English 
origin,  which  came  to  the  new  world  with 
William  Penn,  first  settling  in  Philadelphia. 
They  were  members  of  the  Society  of 
Friends  and  pioneers  of  Pennsylvania.  From 
his  native  county  John  Hallowell  removed 
to  Cecil  county,  Maryland,  and  in  1844  be- 
came a  resident  of  Champaign  county,  Ohio. 
There  his  wife  died  two  years  later,  and  he 
survived  her  but  a  few  years,  dying  in  1851. 

In  Champaign  county,  Ohio,  Robert  C. 
Hallowell  grew  to  manhood,  and  is  indebted 
to  the  common  schools  of  that  state  for  his 
educational  privileges.  As  a  young  man  he 
came  to  Illinois  in  i860  and  located  in  Em- 
pire township,  McLean  county,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits  for  a  few  years. 
On  the  2 1st  of  September,  1861,  he  respond- 
ed to  President  Lincoln's  call  for  troops  to 
assist  in  putting  down  the  rebellion,  and  hei 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


395 


came  a  member  of  Company  I,  Thirty-ninth 
Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry.  Although  he 
enlisted  as  a  private  he  was  soon  promoted 
to  fife  major,  and  served  with  that  rank 
until  the  expiration  of  the  term  of  his  enlist- 
ment. As  a  member  of  the  army  of  the 
Potomac  he  participated  in  a  great  many 
important  engagements,  including  the  bat- 
tles of  Winchester,  Luray,  Virginia,  Deep 
Bottom  and  the  many  engagements  before 
Richmond  and  Petersburg.  Although  he 
was  never  wounded,  he  suffered  much  from 
sickness.  When  his  term  of  enlistment  ex- 
pired he  was  mustered  out  near  Petersburg 
and  honorably  discharged  in  the  fall  of  1864. 

Returning  to  McLean  county,  he  soon 
afterward  took  up  his  residence  in  Le  Roy, 
and  in  1872  formed  a  business  partnership 
and  embarked  in  the  furniture  trade,  which 
he  successfully  carried  on  until  1892,  when 
he  sold  his  store  and  removed  to  San  Fran- 
cisco, California.  For  three  and  a  half 
years  he  was  a  resident  of  that  most  beauti- 
ful state,  enjoying  the  salubrious  climate 
and  partaking  of  the  delicious  fruits  of  the 
Pacific  slope.  In  1895,  however,  he  re- 
turned to  Le  Roy  and  again  became  inter- 
ested in  the  furniture  business.  He  is  an 
up-to-date,  thorough-going  business  man, 
whose  success  is  due  to  his  own  well-directed 
and  energetic  efforts.  He  carries  a  large 
and  complete  assortment  of  furniture,  and 
by  many  years'  experience  in  business  in 
this  line  he  is  thoroughly  familiar  with  the 
wants  of  the  public.  He  has  established  an 
enviable  reputation  for  fair  dealing  and  high 
class  goods. 

In  Champaign  county,  Ohio,  Mr.  Hallo- 
well  was  married  September  21,  1865,  to 
Miss  Martha  A.  Barley,  who  was  born, 
reared  and  educated  there.  They  have  one 
daughter,    Mrs.    George    W.    St.    Clair,   of 


Chicago.  Since  the  organization  of  the 
Republican  party  Mr.  Hallowell  has  been 
one  of  its  stanch  supporters,  casting  his 
first  presidential  vote  for  John  C.  Fremont 
in  1S56.  He  has  served  as  a  member  of 
the  board  of  aldermen  of  Le  Roy  and  town- 
ship collector  and  filled  some  other  local 
positions  of  honor  and  trust.  Socially,  he 
is  a  Master  Mason,  a  member  of  the  Grand 
Army  Post  of  Le  Roy  and  the  Odd  Fellows 
Lodge  of  the  same  place.  He  has  passed 
through  all  the  chairs  of  the  last  named 
order  and  is  now  past  grand  of  his  lodge. 
For  almost  half  a  century  he  has  been  a 
resident  of  McLean  county  and  has  watched 
with  interest  the  wonderful  transformation 
that  has  taken  place  here  during  that  time. 
He  has  been  actively  identified  with  its 
growth  and  prosperity,  and  is  therefore 
justly  numbered  among  the  most  valued 
and  useful  citizens  of  his  community.  He 
has  always  been  deeply  interested  in  public 
affairs  and  the  good  of  the  community 
where  he  has  so  long  resided,  and  certainly 
deserves  honorable  mention  in  the  history 
of  his  adopted  county. 


JAMES  T.  CRUMBAUGH.  The  name 
of  Crumbaugh  has  been  so  intimately 
associated  with  the  development  and  prog- 
ress of  McLean  county  through  almost 
three-quarters  of  a  century  that  a  repre- 
sentative of  the  family  hardly  needs  an  in- 
troduction to  the  readers  of  this  volume. 
J.  T.  Crumbaugh,  or  as  he  is  more  com- 
monly known,  Thomas  Crumbaugh,  is  a 
business  man  and  capitalist  of  high  stand- 
ing in  McLean  county,  and  his  strict  con- 
formity to  the  ethics  of  commercial  life 
have   won  him    uniform   confidence,  while 


396 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


his  enterprise  and  industry  have  gained  him 
material  reward. 

One  of  McLean  county's  native  sons,  he 
was  born  in  Empire  township,  January  24, 
1832,  and  is  a  twin  brother  of  D.  T.  Crum- 
baugh.  His  boyhood  days  were  spent  on 
the  old  homestead  farm,  and  in  the  public 
schools  of  the  neighborhood  he  acquired  a 
fair  English  education  that  fitted  him  for 
the  practical  duties  of  life.  On  attaining 
his  majority  he  formed  a  partnership  with 
his  twin  brother  and  purchased  a  tract  of 
prairie  land  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres, 
then  entirely  unimproved.  Soon  the  fur- 
rows showed  the  track  of  the  plow  and  the 
planting  was  followed  by  good  harvests. 
The  place  was  also  divided  into  fields  of 
convenient  size  by  well-kept  fences,  and 
as  their  financial  resources  were  increased 
as  the  result  of  their  labor  they  added  to 
their  property  from  time  to  time  until  their 
landed  possessions  aggregated  nearly  four- 
teen hundred  acres.  The  partnership  was 
continued  for  about  ten  years,  when  the 
property  was  divided. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  then  located 
on  his  share  of  the  land  and  continued  his 
farming  operations.  He  later  purchased 
more  land  and  is  now  the  owner  of  one 
thousand  acres  which  is  contained  in  three 
farms,  all  well  improved.  This  is  a  valua- 
ble property  and  yields  to  the  owner  a  good 
income.  In  1886  Mr.  Crumbaugh  rented 
his  farms  and  removed  to  Le  Roy,  where 
he  purchased  a  lot,  erecting  thereon  one  of 
the  most  pleasing  and  tasteful  residences  in 
the  town.  In  connection  with  his  brother, 
L.  A.  Crumbaugh  and  James  Bonnette,  he 
established  the  Citizens  Bank,  a  private 
banking  institution,  which  the  brothers  still 
conduct,  Mr.  Bonnette  having  sold  his  inter- 
est   to    them.      They  carry  on    a    general 


banking  business  and  their  trustworthiness, 
safe  and  conservative  methods,  and  unfail- 
ing enterprise  have  given  the  institution 
rank  among  the  best  financial  concerns  of 
McLean  county.  The  brothers  are  known 
as  men  of  decided  character  and  sound 
judgment,  are  practical  financiers  and  have 
the  confidence  of  all. 

In  Empire  township,  September  13, 
1862,  J.  T.  Crumbaugh  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Elizabeth  J.  Wiley,  a  sister  of  his 
brother  Leonard's  wife.  She  was  born, 
reared  and  educated  in  this  county,  and  is 
a  daughter  of  James  Wiley,  a  native  of  Ire- 
land, who  left  that  land  for  Jamaica  and 
later  came  to  the  United  States.  On  reach- 
ing this  republic,  he  became  a  resident  of 
Vermillion  county,  Illinois,  where  he  mar- 
ried Permelia  W'aters,  a  native  of  Virginia, 
and  to  them  were  born  si.x  children, 
namely:  Mrs.  L.  A.  Crumbaugh;  Mrs. 
John  Bishop,  of  Le  Roy;  James  S.,  a  sub- 
stantial farmer  of  Empire  township;  and 
Mrs.  James  T.  Crumbaugh;  Frank,  died  in 
1898,  and  Constantine,  deceased. 

Our  subject  and  his  wife  hold  member- 
ship in  the  Universalist  church  of  Le  Roy 
and  socially  he  is  connected  with  the  Odd 
Fellows  society  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias 
fraternity.  He  cast  his  first  ballot  for 
James  Buchanan  in  1856,  and  at  each  elec- 
tion since  that  time  has  supported  the  men 
and  measures  of  the  Democracy,  believing 
most  firmly  that  the  party  principles  con- 
tain the  best  elements  of  good  government. 
He  is  true  to  all  the  duties  of  citizenship 
and  obligations  of  business  and  social  life, 
and  while  his  labors  have  brought  to  him  a 
handsome  competence  he  also  belongs  to 
that  class  of  representative  American  citi- 
zens who  while  advancing  their  individual 
success  promote  the  general  prosperity. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


397 


ALBERT  OGDEN,  residing  on  section 
9,  Money  Creek  township,  is  the  owner 
of  a  fine  farm  of  two  hundred  and  sixty 
acres,  forty  acres  of  which  is  on  section  4. 
He  is  a  native  of  McLean  county,  and  was 
born  January  9,  1838,  on  the  farm  where 
he  now  resides,  and  within  seventy-five 
yards  of  his  present  residence,  the  family 
residing  in  a  double  log  cabin  which  was 
erected  by  his  father.  He  is  a  son  of  Sam- 
uel and  Nancy  (Vandolah)  Ogden,  the 
former  a  native  of  Madison  county,  Ohio, 
born  August  24,  1809,  and  the  latter  in 
Fayette  county,  Ohio,  born  in  May,  18 10. 
They  removed  to  McLean  county  in  1833, 
locating  on  the  farm  where  our  subject  now 
resides,  entering  at  the  time  eighty  acres  of 
land,  the  deed  to  which  was  signed  by  An- 
drew Jackson  as  president  and  Aaron  Burr 
as  secretary  of  state.  The  deed  has  never 
been  transferred  but  once,  from  father  to 
son,  our  subject. 

Samuel  Ogden  was  a  most  successful 
farmer,  owning  at  the  time  of  his  death 
about  nine  hundred  acres  of  land.  He 
carried  on  mixed  farming,  giving,  how- 
ever, special  attention  to  stock-raising. 
His  death  occurred  in  1892,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-three  years,  his  wife  preceding  him 
some  years,  dying  July  8,  1884.  She  was 
a  consistent  member  of  the  Christian 
church.  They  were  the  parents  of  ten 
children,  as  follows:  Obediah,  who  is  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  Money  Creek  township; 
Croghan,  who  died  at  the  age  of  seven  years; 
Sarah,  who  married  James  Coon,  but  is  now 
deceased;  Mary  A.,  who  died  when  fourteen 
years  old;  Albert,  the  subject  of  this  sketch; 
John  W.,  who  died  when  two  years  old; 
Angela,  wife  of  James  Pirtle,  of  Carthage, 
Missouri;  Alexander,  of  Montana;  George 
W. ,  of  Money  Creek  township;  and  Fran- 


ces  M.,   who  died   at  the   age  of   fourteen 
years. 

The  Ogden  family  are  of  English  descent, 
the  great-grandfather  of  our  subject  coming 
to  this  country  from  England  prior  to  the 
Revolutionary  war,  locating  near  Albany, 
New  York.  In  his  family  were  seven  sons, 
of  whom  Albert,  the  grandfather,  was  the 
youngest.  He  was  also  the  smallest  of  the 
number,  the  family  being  noted  for  the  size 
of  each  member,  none  of  them  weighing 
less  than  two  hundred  pounds.  The  entire 
family,  except  Albert,  remained  loyal  to  the 
crown.  While  too  young  to  participate  in  the 
struggle,  his  sympathies  with  the  struggling 
colonists  led  to  an  estrangement  with  the 
rest  of  the  family.  He  was  born  near  Albany, 
New  York,  and  after  reaching  man's  estate 
married  Martha  Riddle,  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania. Leaving  his  native  state,  he  first 
located  in  Kentucky,  but  shortly  after- 
wards moved  to  Madison  county,  Ohio,  and 
in  1 83 1  came  to  McLean  county,  Illinois, 
and  after  living  here  a  few  years 
moved  to  Livingston  county,  Illinois, 
settling  near  Pontiac.  Later  he  returned 
to  McLean  county,  and  locating  in  Money 
Creek  township,  there  spent  the  remainder 
of  his  life,  dying  August  15,  1845.  His 
wife  survived  him  and  passed  away  in  1850. 
Thep  were  the  parents  of  five  sons  and 
three  daughters,  all  of  whom  came  to  Mc- 
Lean county,  with  the  exception  of  the  eld- 
est son,  Abner,  who  lived  and  died  in  Ohio. 
The  other  members  of  the  family  were 
Benjamin,  the  first  to  settle  in  this  county, 
Jonathan,  John  and  Samuel;  Polly,  who 
married  James  Dawson  in  Ohio,  and  came 
with  him  to  McLean  county;  Deborah,  who 
married  Hiram  Tipton;  and  Susan,  who 
married  William  Orendorf,  of  Blooming- 
ton,  Illinois. 


39S 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


The  subject  of  this  sketch  has  spent  his 
entire  life  in  Money  Creek  township,  and  in 
the  pioneer  schools  of  the  township  he  ob- 
tained his  education,  usually  having  the 
privilege  of  attending  during  the  winter 
months.  He  remained  at  home,  assisting 
his  father  in  cultivating  the  home  farm 
until  after  he  had  attained  his  majority. 
On  the  8th  of  March,  i860,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Sarah  C.  Pirtle,  who 
was  born  in  Owen  county,  Indiana,  July  21, 
1843,  and  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Eliza- 
beth (McKnott)  Pirtle,  who  were  numbered 
among  the  early  settlers  of  McLean  county. 
By  this  union  thirteen  children  were  born, 
of  whom  ten  are  now  living:  Ora,  wife  of 
Enos  Trimer,  of  Normal,  Illinois;  Ella,  wife 
of  Mansford  Trimer,  a  farmer  of  Money 
Creek  township;  Elmon,  who  assists  in  car- 
rying on  the  home  farm;  Stella,  wife  of 
Charles  Yoder,  a  farmer  now  living  in 
Bloomington;  Dorothy,  who  still  remains 
with  her  father;  Pearl,  wife  of  Charles  Hel- 
aler  of  Towanda  township;  Nora,  wife  of 
John  W.  White,  of  Webster  City,  Iowa; 
Carl,  still  at  home;  Ernest  and  Tressie, 
also  at  home.  The  deceased  are  Mary, 
Vernie  and  Herschel,  who  died  in  early 
childhood.  The  good  wife  and  mother 
passed  to  her  reward  February    14,   1893. 

Immediately  after  his  marriage,  Mr. 
Ogden  took  up  his  residence  on  the  old 
homestead  where  he  was  born  and  where  he 
now  resides,  his  father  having  three  years 
previously  moved  to  another  place  north  of 
the  creek.  Here  he  commenced  his  mar- 
ried and  business  life,  and  with  the  excep- 
tion of  three  years  spent  with  his  father  on 
the  home  farm,  it  has  been  his  home  all  his 
life.  He  has  followed  general  farming,  and 
has  handled  a  great  deal  of  stock,  feeding 
several  car  loads  of  cattle   each  year.      All 


the  old  buildings  on  the  place  have  been  re- 
placed by  him,  and  the  farm  presents  a  neat 
and  attractive  appearance. 

In  politics  Mr.  Ogden  is  a  Democrat, 
being  a  life-long  supporter  and  advocate  of 
the  principles  of  that  party.  He  has  ever 
taken  an  interest  in  educational  matters, 
and  for  twenty-nine  years  has  served  as 
school  director.  He  has  also  served  in 
other  official  capacities,  and  for  twelve 
years  was  highway  commissioner  in  his 
township.  Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of 
Lexington  Lodge,  No.  482,  A.  F.  &  A.  M., 
having  been  a  member  of  that  order  for 
thirty-five  years.  He  is  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial and  reliable  citizens  of  the  town- 
ship, and  is  well  known  and  universally  re- 
spected. For  more  than  three  score  years 
he  has  lived  in  the  county,  his  younger 
days  being  spent  in  pioneer  times.  He  has 
a  vivid  recollection  of  the  early  days  and 
loves  to  recall  the  early  times,  although  he 
is  a  progressive  man  and  lives  in  the  pres- 
ent and  not  in  the  past. 


ALBERT  H.  NAFZIGER,  a  young  and 
enterprising  farmer,  now  owns  and  op- 
erates a  farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres 
of  fine  land  on  section  12,  Danvers  town- 
ship. He  is  a  native  of  Danvers  township, 
born  May  19,  1867,  and  is  the  son  of  Henry 
and  Helena  (Nafziger)  Nafziger,  both  of 
whom  were  natives  of  Germany,  the  former 
born  in  Wurtemberg,  October  19,  1832,  and 
the  latter  of  Hessen  Darmstadt,  October  21, 
1832.  The  paternal  grandfather,  Jacob 
Nafziger,  was  also  a  native  of  Wurtemberg, 
Germany,  and  was  by  occupation  a  farmer. 
In  1847  he  came  to  the  United  States,  and 
coming  direct  to  McLean  county,  he  settled 
in  Danvers  township,  where  he  purchased 


THE   BI0GR.\PHICAL   RECORD. 


399 


land  and  followed  farming  and  stock-rais- 
ing for  some  twenty-five  years,  and  then  re- 
moved to  the  village  of  Danvers,  where  he 
lived  a  retired  life  until  called  from  this 
world  in  1881,  at  the  age  of  eighty-one 
years.  His  wife  survived  him  some  years, 
dying  in  1896. 

Henry  Nafziger  received  his  education  in 
the  parochial  schools  of  Germany,  and  was 
fifteen  years  old  when  he  accompanied  his 
parents  to  the  United  States.  He  remained 
at  home  with  his  father  until  he  was  nine- 
teen j'ears  old,  when  he  went  to  Ohio,  and 
there  remained  about  two  years.  In  1854, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Helena 
Nafziger,  a  native  of  Germany,  and  daugh- 
ter of  Christian  Nafziger,  also  a  native  of 
the  same  country,  who  came  to  McLean 
county  about  1853,  locating  in  Danvers 
township,  where  he  purchased  two  hundred 
and  forty  acres  of  land,  and  engaged  in 
farming,  and  there  resided  during  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life.  He  died  in  1S93,  when 
about  ninety-two  years  old.  His  wife  died 
in  the  spring  of  1898,  when  ninety-four 
years  old. 

Henry  and  Helena  Nafziger  became  the 
parents  of  nine  children.  Frederika  died  at 
the  age  of  eighteen  years.  Robert  married 
Mary  Slaubaugh,  and  they  have  si.x  chil- 
dren. Their  home  is  in  Tazewell  county, 
Illinois,  where  he  is  engaged  in  farming. 
Emma  is  the  wife  of  August  Habecker,  and 
with  their  four  children  they  make  their 
home  in  the  village  of  Danvers,  where  he  is 
in  the  meat  market  business.  Henry  died 
when  four  years  old.  John  resides  in  Dry 
Grove  township,  where  he  is  engaged  in 
farming.  He  married  Bertha  Leibfritz,  and 
they  have  four  children.  Fred  resides  in 
Danvers  township,  and  is  engaged  in  farm- 
ing.     He  married  Lena  Schantz,  and  they 


have  three  children.  Albert  H.  is  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch.  Jacob  lives  in  Danvers 
township,  and  is  engaged  in  farming.  He 
married  Tillie  Otto,  and  they  have  three 
children.  Annie  died  at  the  age  of  one 
year. 

After  his  marriage,  Henry  Nafziger  lo- 
cated in  Danvers  township  and  rented  land 
for  a  short  time,  and  then  purchased  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  from  his  father  and 
began  its  cultivation.  He  was  quite  suc- 
cessful in  his  farming  operations,  and  at  the 
time  of  his  retirement  from  active  life,  he 
had  six  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  good  land 
in  Tazewell  and  McLean  counties.  He 
died  June  3,  1S97,  but  his  wife  is  yet  living, 
and  makes  her  home  in  the  village  of  Dan- 
vers. In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat,  and 
for  some  years  served  as  road  commissioner 
in  his  township,  and  was  also  a  school  di- 
rector a  number  of  years.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Mennonite  church,  as  is  also  his 
wife. 

.\lbert  Nafziger  was  reared  on  the  home 
farm,  and  received  his  education  in  the  dis- 
trict school,  and  when  about  twenty-one 
years  old  he  went  to  Tazewell  county,  Illi- 
nois, and  made  his  home  with  his  brother 
Robert  about  one  year.  Previous  to  going 
there,  however,  he  was  employed  on  the 
street  car  line  of  the  Fort  Clark  Railway 
Company,  at  Peoria,  Illinois,  for  about 
three  months.  After  leaving  his  brother,  he 
returned  home  and  lived  with  his  parents 
two  years,  and  then  rented  a  farm  of  eighty 
acres  of  Peter  Schantz  for  one  year. 

On  the  7th  of  February,  1893,  Mr.  Naf- 
ziger was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Ophelia  Kinzinger,  who  was  born  Decem- 
ber 13,  1873,  and  a  daughter  of  C.  W.  and 
Magdalina  (Strubhar)  Kinzinger,  the  former 
a  native  of  Woodford  county,  Illinois,  and 


400 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


the  latter  of  McLean  county,  in  the  same 
state.  Her  father  is  one  of  the  enterprising 
farmers  of  Danvers  township,  and  owns  a 
farm  of  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  on 
section  ii.  He  is  well  known  in  the  west- 
ern part  of  McLean  county.  To  our  sub- 
ject and  wife  one  child  has  been  born,  Ma- 
bel, born  November  23,  1893. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Nafziger  moved 
to  the  farm  of  his  father-in-law,  which  he 
rented  for  five  years.  On  the  24th  of  De- 
cember, 1897,  he  purchased  of  the  Thomas 
Wilson  estate,  two  hundred  and  forty  acres 
of  land  lying  on  section  12,  Danvers  town- 
ship, where  he  has  since  resided  and  given 
his  attention  to  general  farming.  His  place 
is  kept  in  good  repair  and  the  land  is  well 
cultivated  showing  that  he  thoroughly  un- 
derstands his  business. 

In  politics  Mr.  Nafziger  is  a  Democrat, 
and  he  is  now  serving  his  third  year  as  road 
commissioner.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Mennonite  church,  as  is  also  his  wife. 


MRS.  CATHERINE  SCHNEIDER, 
one  of  the  oldest  and  best-known 
German-American  residents  of  Blooming- 
ton,  is  a  lady  of  large  business  capacity  and 
marked  intelligence,  who  has  displayed  re- 
markable tact  and  energy  in  the  conduct  of 
her  affairs  since  her  husband's  death. 

Mrs.  Schneider,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Catherine  Off,  was  born  in  1834,  in 
Romelshousen,  Wurtemburg,  Germany, 
where  she  was  reared  and  educated,  and  on 
coming  to  the  United  States  in  1851  she 
located  in  Lancaster,  Pennsylvania,  where 
she  made  her  home  until  she  gave  her  hand 
in  marriage,  May  17,  1857,  to  John  Fred- 
erick Schneider.  He  was  born  near  Stut- 
gardt,  in  Wurtemburg,  Germany,  and  there 


grew  to  manhood,  his  education  being  ob- 
tained in  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
land.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  emigrated 
to  America  and  also  located  in  Lancaster, 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  learned  the  stone- 
mason's trade,  at  which  he  worked  in  that 
city  for  five  years.  In  1862,  in  company 
with  his  wife  and  oldest  children,  he  re- 
moved to  Bloomington,  Illinois,  and  for 
several  years  was  recognized  as  one  of  the 
finest  mechanics  in  his  line  in  the  city,  be- 
ing called  upon  to  perform  some  of  the  best 
and  most  difficult  work  here.  He  worked  on 
the  standpipe,  for  which  he  received  seven 
dollars  per  day;  built  the  bake  ovens  for 
Gerkens,  and  the  high  chimney  of  Cox 
Mills.  He  also  did  the  highest  as  well  as 
some  of  the  finest  work  on  the  jail,  which 
attracted  the  entire  attention  of  the  town. 
He  continued  to  successfully  follow  his  trade 
up  to  the  hour  of  his  death,  being  killed 
July  15,  1881,  at  10  A.  M.,  by  falling  from 
the  Homuth  building  on  East  Front  street. 
He  was  an  honored  member  of  the  Ancient 
Order  of  United  Workmen,  and  had  the  re- 
spect and  esteem  of  all  who  knew  him. 

Besides  his  widow,  Mr.  Schneider  left 
six  children,  namely:  Charles,  now  a  resi- 
dent of  St.  Paul,  Minnesota;  Ella,  wife  of 
William  Becker,  of  Minneapolis,  Minnesota; 
Lucy,  wife  of  J.  B.  Enlow,  of  Bloomington; 
Katie  and  Mary,  both  at  home  with  their 
mother;  and  Emma,  wife  of  Gus  Eckstine. 
At  present  there  are  also  eleven  grand- 
children. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schneider  had  built  a 
home  at  No.  1625  West  Market  street,  and 
being  left  with  six  children  and  nothing  for 
their  support  at  her  husband's  death,  Mrs. 
Schneider  opened  a  small  grocery  store  in 
the  front  part  of  her  house.  She  soon 
built  up  a  good  business  among  the  farmers 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


401 


of  the  locality,  and  finding  her  trade  con- 
stantly increasing,  she  erected  a  good  store 
building  at  the  corner  of  West  Market 
street  and  the  state  road.  Her  affairs 
have  always  been  conducted  in  a  systematic 
and  business-like  way,  and  due  success  has 
not  been  denied  her,  as  she  is  now  the 
owner  of  two  and  a  half  acres  of  land  in 
the  city  besides  her  store  property,  and  has 
a  ninety-nine  year  lease  to  an  acre  and  a 
half  from  the  Big  Four  railroad.  She  also 
owns  a  feed  mill,  but  this  she  does  not 
operate,  and  is  engaged  in  the  milk  busi- 
ness, only  keeping  at  present  four  cows, 
but  usually  six  or  eight.  She  has  invested 
some  in  real  estate  and  now  own  three  lots 
in  the  Fair  Grounds  addition.  She  has 
displayed  remarkable  business  and  execu- 
tive ability  in  the  management  of  her  in- 
terests and  her  straightforward,  womanly 
course  has  won  the  commendation  of  the 
entire  community.  She  has  not  only  pro- 
vided for  her  children,  but  has  given  them 
good  high  school  educations  and  has  reared 
them  in  such  a  way  that  they  are  now  fill- 
ing honorable  and  useful  positions  in  life. 
Religiousl}',  she  is  a  faithful  member  of  the 
Christian  church. 


WILLIAM  H.  HOWARD,  who  is  prac- 
tically living  retired  in  Le  Roy,  has 
for  forty-three  years  been  connected  with 
the  history  of  McLean  county,  and  he  has 
done  much  for  its  upbuilding  and  advance- 
ment. He  has  been  a  champion  of  every 
movement  designed  to  promote  the  gen- 
eral welfare,  a  supporter  of  every  enterprise 
for  the  public  good,  and  has  materially  aid- 
ed in  the  advancement  of  all  social,  indus- 
trial, educational  and  moral  interests. 


Mr.  Howard  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  in 
Franklin  county,  December  i,  1S53,  and  is 
a  son  of  Daniel  O.  and  Sarah  E.  (Smiley) 
Howard.  The  father  was  born  in  1821,  in 
Monroe  county,  New  York,  where  he  was 
reared  and  as  a  young  man  went  to  Ohio 
and  took  up  his  residence  in  Franklin  coun- 
ty. By  trade  he  was  a  miller  and  followed 
that  occupation  in  early  life,  but  on  coming 
to  McLean  county,  Illinois,  in  1856,  he  pur- 
chased a  farm  in  Empire  township  and 
turned  his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits. 
He  soon  transformed  his  place  into  a  highly 
cultivated  and  well  improved  farm,  to  which 
he  added  until  he  had  one  hundred  and 
si.xty  acres  in  the  homestead.  Later  in  con- 
nection with  his  sons  he  bought  more  land 
and  together  they  owned  about  five  hun- 
dred acres  of  rich  and  arable  land.  He 
was  a  man  of  good  business  capacity  and 
was  honored  with  a  number  of  local  offices 
of  trust,  including  that  of  supervisor  of  Em- 
pire township.  He  was  twice  married,  the 
mother  of  our  subject  being  his  second  wife. 
He  died  upon  his  farm  in  December,  1885, 
after  a  long  and  useful  life  of  sixty-four 
years,  in  which  he  won  the  respect  and  con- 
fidence of  all  with  whom  he  came  in  con- 
tact. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  oldest 
in  a  family  of  five  children,  the  others  being 
Charles  W. ,  a  resident  of  Le  Roy;  Homer 
D.,  who  holds  a  position  with  the  Illinois 
Central  Railroad  Company  and  lives  in 
Champaign;  Frank,  who  is  now  living  re- 
tired in  La  Porte,  Texas;  and  Mary,  wife  of 
Thomas  H.  Trevett,  a  prominent  and  suc- 
cessful business  man  of  Champaign,  Illinois. 

On  the  old  homestead  in  Empire  town- 
ship, William  H.  Howard  spent  his  boyhood 
and  youth  in  much  the  usual  manner  of 
farmer  boys  of  his  day.      He  was  given  good 


40i 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


educational  advantages,  and  after  attending 
the  common  schools,  was  a  student  for  two 
terms  in  the  Wesleyan  University  at  Bloom- 
ington.  Subsequently  he  engaged  in  teach- 
ing school,  and  successfully  followed  that 
profession  for  four  years.  On  the  13th  of 
June,  187S,  was  celebrated  his  marriage 
with  Miss  Nannie  E.  Scott,  a  native  of  Iowa 
and  a  daughter  of  William  E.  Scott,  now 
living  retired  in  Le  Roy.  Her  father  was 
born  and  reared  in  New  Jersey,  and  there 
married  Miss  Anna  Patterson,  a  native  of 
Ohio.  For  some  time  they  made  their  home 
in  Indiana,  later  spent  a  few  years  in  Jasper 
county,  Iowa,  and  from  there  came  to  Mc- 
Lean county,  Illinois,  locating  on  a  farm 
near  Le  Roy,  where  his  children  were  reared. 
He  was  one  of  the  leading  and  successful 
farmers  of  that  community,  and  is  a  man 
highly  respected  by  all  who  know  him. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Howard  began  housekeep- 
ing on  a  farm  near  Le  Roy,  where  he  owned 
eighty  acres  of  land,  to  the  improvement 
and  cultivation  of  which  he  devoted  his 
time  and  attention  with  marked  success  for 
many  years.  He  erected  thereon  a  sub- 
stantial residence,  good  barn  and  outbuild- 
ings, set  out  fruit,  ornamental  trees  and 
shrubbery,  and  converted  it  into  one  of  the 
best  and  most  desirable  farms  of  this  size  in 
the  locality.  In  connection  with  general 
farming  he  also  engaged  in  stock  raising  and 
feeding,  and  made  of  his  chosen  calling  a 
decided  success.  Renting  his  farm  in  1890, 
he  came  to  Le  Roy,  where  he  purchased  a 
house  and  four  acres  of  ground,  and  m  1897 
enlarged  and  remodeled  his  residence,  mak- 
ing it  one  of  the  most  attractive  homes  of 
the  town.  It  is  furnished  with  elegant  taste 
and  is  presided  over  with  gracious  dignity 
by  Mrs.  Howard.  Since  locating  here  our 
subject  has  purchased  another  farm  of  eighty 


acres  in  Downs  township,  which  is  also  a 
well-improved  place. 

Politically,  Mr.  Howard  is  independent, 
and  being  a  strong  temperance  man,  he  sup- 
ported the  men  and  measures  of  the  Pro- 
hibition party  for  some  years,  but  in  1896 
voted  for  William  J.  Bryan  and  free  silver. 
He  and  his  wife  are  active  and  influential 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
of  Le  Roy,  in  which  he  is  serving  as  record- 
ing steward.  They  are  widely  known  and 
highly  respected,  and  it  is  safe  to  say  that 
no  couple  in  the  community  have  more 
warm  friends  than  Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  H. 
Howard. 


WILLIAM  YOUNG,  one  of  the  leading 
and  most  enterprising  farmers  of 
Dawson  township,  and  one  of  the  largest 
land  owners  in  the  township,  was  born  in 
Darke  county,  Ohio,  January  10,  1843,  and 
is  the  son  of  Isaac  and  Barbara  (Nogle) 
Young,  the  former  a  native  of  Germany  and 
the  latter  of  Darke  county,  Ohio.  They 
were  the  parents  of  four  children,  two  of 
whom,  Rufus  and  Wesley,  are  now  deceased. 
Besides  our  subject,  the  one  living  is  Ander- 
son, who  is  living  near  San  Jose,  California, 
where  he  is  engaged  in  the  fruit  business. 

With  his  family,  Isaac  Young  came  to 
McLean  county  in  1850,  and  located  in 
Dawson  township,  where  he  purchased  land 
and  at  once  commenced  its  development. 
At  that  time  there  had  been  but  little  im- 
provement made  in  the  township,  it  being 
nearly  all  unimproved  land.  He  was  not 
permitted  long  to  enjoy  any  of  the  fruits  of 
his  labor,  but  was  called  to  rest  in  Novem- 
ber, 1856,  his  remains  being  interred  in  the 
Dawson  cemetery.  His  good  wife  long  sur- 
vived him,  passing  away  in  October,  1891. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


403 


She  was  laid  to  rest  beside  the  body  of  her 
husband.  A  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  she  lived  a  Christian  life, 
with  full  dependence  on  her  beloved  Saviour. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  seven 
years  old  when  he  accompanied  his  parents 
to  McLean  county.  On  the  old  farm  in 
Dawson  township  he  passed  his  boyhood 
and  youth,  and  his  father  dying  when  he 
was  but  thirteen  years  old,  greater  respon- 
sibilities rested  on  his  young  shoulders  than 
would  otherwise  have  been.  He  commenced 
work  at  an  early  age,  and  made  a  full  hand 
even  in  his  youth.  In  the  public  schools  of 
the  township  he  received  a  good  common 
school  education,  of  which  he  has  made 
the  best  use  of  in  after  life.  He  later  at- 
tended Wesleyan  University,  at  Blooming- 
ton,  and  was  there  when  the  civil  war  com- 
menced. 

On  the  27th  of  January,  1S67,  Mr.  Young 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Adelaide 
Harrison,  daughter  of  William  and  Nancy 
Jane  (Dawson)  Harrison.  She  was  born 
December  19,  1845,  '"  Dawson  township, 
McLean  county,  and  was  one  of  a  family  of 
nine  children. 

Mrs.  Young  comes  of  an  old  pioneer 
family.  Her  grandfather,  John  Dawson, 
came  to  McLean  county  at  a  very  early 
day,  when  many  Indians  were  yet  in  the 
vicinity.  He  selected  his  land  and  com- 
menced its  improvement,  and  as  other  set- 
tlers came  in  he  extended  to  them  a  hand 
of  welcome,  and  assisted  them  in  every  way 
in  his  power  in  the  selection  of  their  land, 
in  the  erection  of  their  log  cabins  and  in  the 
breaking  of  the  prairie.  He  was  a  good 
man,  one  whom  his  neighbors  delighted  to 
honor.  The  mother  of  Mrs.  Young,  the 
daughter  of  the  old  pioneer,  John  Dawson, 
departed    this    life  February  14,  1864,   and 


she,  too,  was  laid  to  rest  in  the  Dawson 
cemetery,  on  land  donated  by  her  father, 
for  burial  purposes.  Her  husband,  William 
Harrison,  long  survived  her,  dying  March 
28,  1895,  and  his  remains  were  interred  in 
the  same  sacred  spot,  there  to  wait  the 
resurrection  day. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Young  seven  children 
have  been  born,  one  of  whom  died  in  in- 
fancy. Charles,  residing  in  Dawson  town- 
ship, was  married  January  16,  1895,  to  Miss 
Eva  Bingham,  daughter  of  Albert  and  Mary 
(Hayes)  Bingham,  and  they  have  one  living 
child,  Elmer  L.  They  lost  two  in  infancy. 
Dora  B.  married  September  23,  1890,  James 
Watson,  and  they  have  one  son,  Forrest 
Young.  Their  home  is  in  Old  Town  town- 
ship. Etta  A.  resides  at  home.  She  is  a 
skilled  musician,  a  teacher  on  the  violin  and 
piano.  Frank  W.  is  assisting  his  father  in 
carrying  on  the  home  farm.  Lettie  Lee 
and  Grace  complete  the  family. 

As  already  stated,  Mr.  Young  was  in 
Wesleyan  University  at  Bloomington  when 
the  war  for  the  Union  commenced.  With 
some  of  his  companions  he  offered  his  serv- 
ices, and  was  sent  to  Camp  Butler,  near 
Springfield,  Illinois,  to  assist  in  guarding 
prisoners.  Later,  in  June,  1862,  he  en- 
listed in  Company  H,  Sixty-eighth  Regi- 
ment Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  served 
until  September  26,  1862,  when  he  was 
honorably  discharged  and  mustered  out  of 
the  service.  While  at  Alexandria,  Virginia, 
during  this  term  of  enlistment  he  was  taken 
sick  with  the  measles  and  was  reported  dead. 
His  mother  came  for  the  body  of  her  boy, 
and  instead  of  a  corpse  she  found  him  re- 
gaining his  health.  He  remarked  to  her: 
"Take  this  money,  all  I  have  (there  were 
nine  one  dollar  gold  pieces),  and  go  home." 
Once  more  Mr.  Young  enlisted  in  the  serv- 


404 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


ice  of  his  country,  this  time  in  Company  G, 
One  Hundred  and  Forty-fifth  Illinois  Volun- 
teer Infantry,  and  was  mustered  in  June  9, 
1864,  with  the  rank  of  sergeant,  and  was 
mustered  out  September  23,  1864. 

In  politics  Mr.  Young  is  a  Democrat. 
He  has  never  been  an  aspirant  for  office, 
but  he  has  been  honored  by  his  friends  and 
neighbors  with  several  local  offices,  among 
them  being  school  director,  a  position  which 
he  has  held  for  sixteen  years.  While  he 
takes  special  interest  in  political  affairs,  he 
prefers  to  give  his  time  to  his  business  in- 
terests, and  his  well-kept  fields,  fine  stock, 
and  good  dwelling  and  outbuildings  attest 
the  industry  and  thrift  of  the  owner.  With 
his  good  wife  he  has  many  friends  in  the 
county.  She  is  a  woman  of  refinement, 
one  whose  heart  and  sympathies  go  out  to 
the  deserving  poor,  and  she  is  often  found 
at  the  bedside  of  the  sick,  or  in  the  home 
of  sorrow  offering  consolation  to  the  af- 
flicted ones.  Mr.  Young  is  a  man  whose 
word  is  as  good  as  his  bond,  and  he  never 
goes  back  on  a  friend,  his  party,  country, 
pledge  or  promise.  Fraternally,  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 


FRED  A.  NAFZIGER,  who  resides  on 
section  2,  Danvers  township,  has  a 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  well 
improved  land,  which  is  under  a  high  state 
of  cultivation.  He  is  a  native  of  the  town- 
ship and  was  born  December  9,  1864.  His 
parents,  Henry  and  Helena  (Nafziger)  Naf- 
ziger,  were  natives  of  Germany,  of  whom 
more  is  said  in  the  sketch  of  Albert 
H.  Nafziger,  elsewhere  in  this  work.  He 
continued  in  the  public  schools  of  Danvers 
township  until  he  was  fifteen  years  of  age, 
when  he  took  up  the  battle   of  life    in  ear- 


nest, assisting  his  father  in  the  cultivation 
of  the  home  farm  and  rendering  filial  obe- 
dience until  he  was  twenty-two  years  old. 
He  then  went  to  Nebraska,  and  locating  in 
Gage  county,  he  there  engaged  in  farming 
one  year.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time 
he  concluded  that  McLean  county  was  a 
good  enough  place  for  him  in  which  to  live, 
and  so  returned,  and  for  one  year  rented 
land  of  his  father,  on  which  he  raised  a 
good  crop. 

On  the  6th  of  March,  1890,  Mr.  Nafzi- 
ger married  Miss  Lena  Schantz,  a  native  of 
Stanford,  McLean  county,  born  August  31, 
1864,  and  daughter  of  Peter  and  Elizabeth 
Schantz,  both  of  whom  are  natives  of  Hes- 
sen  Darmstadt,  Germany.  Peter  Schantz 
was  born  August  17,  1822,  and  there  grew 
to  manhood.  On  the  30th  of  May,  1855, 
he  married  Elizabeth  Haas,  who  was  born 
September  6,  1833,  and  the  daughter  of 
John  Haas,  a  brick  mason  by  trade,  who 
died  in  Germany.  Immediately  after  their 
marriage  they  emigrated  to  the  United 
States,  coming  direct  to  McLean  county 
and  locating  in  Allin  township.  On  his 
arrival  he  was  possessed  of  between  five 
and  six  dollars,  and  was  not  in  condition  to 
make  any  heavy  investments.  He  com- 
menced work  at  farm  labor  by  the  month, 
and  continued  to  be  thus  employed  for  two 
years.  He  then  rented  land  on  half  shares 
for  about  nine  years,  and  in  1865,  having 
by  industry  and  economy  succeeded  in  sav- 
ing some  money,  he  purchased  eighty  acres 
and  commenced  its  improvement.  Giving 
himself  to  general  farming,  he  met  with  suc- 
cess, and  has  now  two  hundred  and  forty 
acres  of  good  farming  land.  In  November, 
1892,  he  moved  into  Danvers,  built  a  fine 
residence,  and  has  since  lived  a  retired  life. 
In  his  family  were  seven  children,  three  of 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


405 


whom  are  deceased.  Gustave  married  Liz- 
zie Emig,  and  they  have  one  child.  They 
reside  in  Alhn  township.  Lena  is  the  wife 
of  our  subject,  and  they  have  three  chil- 
dren. Their  home  is  in  Danvers  township. 
Emma  and  Lizzie  are  at  home.  In  politics 
Mr.  Schantz  is  a  Democrat.  He  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Mennonite  church. 

To  our  subject  and  his  wife  three  chil- 
dren have  been  born:  Nora,  born  Decem- 
ber 27,  1S90;  Albert,  January  19,  1892;  and 
Walter,  March  10,  1896.  The  first  two 
are  now  students  in  the  home  school. 

After  his  marriage  our  subject  continued 
to  rent  land  for  about  three  years.  In  the  fall 
of  1894  his  father  deeded  each  of  his  chil- 
dren eighty  acres  of  land,  and  on  the  eighty 
acres  given  to  him,  Mr.  Nafziger  located,  and 
commenced  its  improvement.  In  February, 
189S.  he  purchased  eight}'  acres  adjoining 
from  his  brother  Albert,  and  now  has  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres.  He  is  giving  his 
attention  to  general  farming  and  stock  rais- 
ing, and  is  meeting  with  good  success.  In 
politics  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  for  six  years 
has  been  one  of  the  school  directors  of  his 
district.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  Mennonite  church. 


GEORGE  BISHOP,  one  of  the  pioneers 
of  McLean  county,  now  residing  on 
section  i,  Randolph  township,  has  been  a 
resident  of  the  county  since  1830,  a  period 
of  sixty-nine  years,  coming  as  a  lad  of  seven 
years  in  company  with  his  parents.  He  was 
born  in  Perry  county,  Ohio,  April  22,  1823, 
and  is  the  son  of  Jacob  and  Mary  (Weed- 
man)  Bishop,  the  former  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania, and  the  latter  of  Perry  county, 
phio,  where  their  marriage  was  celebrated. 


They  were  the  parents  of  six  sons  and 
seven  daughters,  all  of  whom  are  yet  living 
but  one  son. 

Believing  the  prairies  of  Illinois  would 
be  better  than  the  heavih-  timbered  land  of 
Ohio,  Jacob  Bishop  determined  to  try  his 
fortunes  in  the  new  state,  and  in  1830 
drove  with  teams  from  his  Ohio  home  to 
McLean  county,  Illinois,  and  on  his  arrival 
here  made  his  first  stop  at  Blooming  Grove. 
He  soon  afterwards  entered  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  of  land  in  Randolph 
township,  on  which  he  located  and  opened 
up  and  developed  a  good  farm.  Later  he 
purchased  one  hundred  and  seventy-six 
acres  in  Downs  township,  which  he  also 
improved.  He  was  fairly  successful  in  his 
business  affairs,  and  lived  to  see  his  adopted 
count}'  take  a  rapid  stride  to  the  front.  He 
died  at  the  age  of  ninety  years,  his  wife  not 
surviving  so  long,  dying  some  ten  years  pre- 
vious. 

George  Bishop,  who  was  the  second 
born  of  the  family  and  grew  to  manhood  on 
his  father's  farm,  remained  at  home  until 
he  attained  his  majority,  assisting  in  the 
farm  work.  His  education  was  limited  to 
the  common  schools  of  pioneer  times,  but 
he  made  the  best  use  possible  of  his  oppor- 
tunities, and  is  to-day  a  well-informed  man. 
He  was  married  in  1844,  to  Miss  Susan 
Jane  Wright,  a  native  of  Tennessee,  but 
who  was  reared  in  this  county.  Her  father, 
Jabez  Wright,  came  to  this  county  at  a 
very  early  day  from  Kentucky,  and  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits.  He  has  long  since 
passed  to  his  reward. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Bishop  pur- 
chased forty  acres  of  land  in  Randolph 
township,  moved  to  it  a  log  cabin,  and 
there  he  and  his  wife  began  their  domestic 
life.     The    land  purchased  was   unbroken, 


4o6 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


not  a  furrow  had  been  turned.  Commenc- 
ing work,  he  soon  had  the  forty  acre  tract 
under  cultivation,  and  as  his  means  in- 
creased he  added  to  its  area,  and  later  pur- 
chased a  land  warrant  with  which  he  en- 
tered one  hundred  and  seventy-six  acres  in 
Downs  township,  which  he  also  improved. 
He  also  bought  his  father's  interest  in 
Downs  township.  On  his  original  purchase 
in  due  time  he  built  a  good  residence  and 
various  outbuildings,  set  out  fruit  trees,  and 
at  one  time  had  the  best  orchard  in  the 
township,  which  included  two  hundred 
apple  trees.  This  was  killed  off  by  cold 
and  sleet,  but  he  has  put  other  trees  in 
their  ^place.  His  farm  is  well  tiled  and  is 
kept  well  improved  in  every  respect.  He 
commenced  life  for  himself  without  a  dollar, 
and  worked  as  a  farm  hand  for  seven 
dollars  per  month  for  Jesse  Funk.  By 
hard  work,  earnest  toil  and  perseverance  he 
succeeded  in  life,  and  is  now  numbered 
among  the  substantial  and  reliable  farmers 
of  McLean  county. 

By  his  first  wife  Mr.  Bishop  had  three 
children.  Joseph  W.  grew  to  manhood, 
and  enlisted  in  the  civil  war,  dying  at 
Springfield,  Illinois,  while  yet  in  service. 
John  T.  also  grew  to  manhood,  but  died 
in  December,  1897.  Mary  Jane  is  the  wife 
of  K.  A.  Ellsworth,  of  Decatur,  Illinois. 
The  mother  of  these  children  died  in  1855, 
and  for  his  second  wife  Mr.  Bishop  married 
Miss  America  Neal,  in  1856.  She  is  a  na- 
tive of  McLean  county,  and  daughter  of 
Ashley  Neal,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Mc- 
Lean county,  but  who  went  to  California  in 
1849  and  died  there.  By  this  second  mar- 
riage there  are  five  children:  David  A.,  now 
of  Decatur,  Illinois;  H.  Grant,  of  Bloom- 
ington,  where  he  has  a  business  position; 
Martin,  who  is  engaged  in  railroading,  and 


makes  his  home  in  Amboy,  Illinois;   Emma 
Belie  and  Adda,  both  at  home. 

In  early  manhood  Mr.  Bishop  was  polit- 
ically a  Whig,  and  cast  his  first  ballot  in 
1844  for  Henry  Clay.  When  the  Whig 
party  ceased  to  exist,  he  identified  himself 
with  the  newly-organized  Republican  party, 
with  which  he  has  since  acted.  He  would 
never  accept  official  position,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  that  he  served  on  the  school 
board.  The  first  district  school  in  the 
neighborhood  was  held  in  his  house,  and  he 
and  his  brother  donated  the  land  for  the  first 
school  house.  Religiously,  he  and  his  wife 
are  Methodists,  holding  membership  with 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  Hey- 
worth.  They  are  well  known  and  highly 
esteemed,  and  both  know  what  pioneer  life 
means.  They  assisted  in  developing  this 
country,  and  have  lived  to  see  McLean 
county  occupy  the  proud  position  as  one  of 
the  best  and  wealthiest  counties  in  the 
state. 


EDWARD  RYBURN  has  made  his  home 
in  McLean  county  since  the  3rd  of 
April,  1853,  and  has  become  one  of  its  most 
substantial  and  prosperous  farmers  and 
stock-raisers,  owning  and  operating  a  valu- 
able farm  of  seven  hundred  acres  on  sec- 
tions 20,  21,  28  and  29,  Randolph  town- 
ship. He  enjoys  the  well-earned  distinction 
of  being  what  the  public  calls  a  "self-made 
man,"  and  an  analyzation  of  his  character 
reveals  the  fact  that  enterprise,  well- 
directed  effort  and  honorable  dealing  has 
been  the  essential  features  in  his  pros- 
perity. 

A  native  of  Ohio,  Mr.  Rayburn  was  born 
in  Harrison  county,  November  39,  1839, 
and  is  a  son  of  James  Ryburn,  whose  birth 


EDWARD  RYBURN. 


OP  THE 
'f.'!VERSITy  Of  JLLINOfr 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


409 


occurred  in  Pennsylvania,  June  8,  1793. 
The  paternal  grandfather,  James  Ryburn, 
Sr.,  was  a  native  of  Virginia.  He  served 
as  a  soldier  of  the  Revolutionary  war  under 
the  command  of  Generals  Wayne  and 
Washington,  and  participated  in  the  battles 
of  Monmouth  and  Germantown,  and  in 
later  years  received  a  pension  from  the  gov- 
ernment in  recognition  of  his  services.  His 
father  was  born  in  Scotland  and  was  one  of 
the  original  settlers  of  the  Old  Dominion. 
After  the  Revolution,  James  Ryburn,  Sr., 
removed  to  Pennsylvania  and  became  one 
of  the  pioneers  of  York  county,  but  some 
time  later  took  up  his  residence  in  Wash- 
ington county,  that  state,  where  in  the 
midst  of  the  unbroken  forests  he  made 
one  of  the  first  clearings  and  developed  a 
farm. 

James  Ryburn,  Jr.,  was  reared  amid 
pioneer  scenes  in  Pennsylvania,  and  on 
reaching  man's  estate  he  was  there  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Mary  Ann  Bigley,  a  native  of 
that  state,  whose  parents  were  from  the 
north  of  Ireland.  In  1831  they  went  to 
Ohio  and  were  among  the  first  to  settle  in 
Harrison  county,  where  they  continued  to 
make  their  home  until  coming  to  McLean 
county,  Illinois,  in  1853.  In  Randolph 
township  the  father  purchased  the  old  Gov- 
ernor Moore  farm  of  about  one  hundred  and 
seventy  acres,  upon  which  he  and  his  fam- 
ily located,  but  he  was  not  long  permitted 
to  enjoy  his  new  home,  as  death  claimed 
him  November  2,  1857.  His  wife  survived 
him  many  years,  dying  in  1881.  To  this 
worthy  couple  were  born  eight  children, 
who  reached  years  of  maturity,  and  in  order 
of  birth  they  were  as  follows:  James,  on 
first  coming  to  Illinois  settled  in  DeW^itt 
county,  but  later  became  a  resident  of 
Bloomington,    where   his    death    occurred; 


Joseph  B.  makes  his  home  in  Bloomington; 
Elizabeth  died  unmarried;  Edward,  our 
subject,  is  the  ne.xt  in  order  of  birth;  Mrs. 
Maggie  R.  Flagg  is  living  in  Des  Moines, 
Iowa;  David  G.  and  Samuel  are  both  farm- 
ers of  Randolph  township;  and  John  died 
at  the  age  of  seventeen  years. 

Edward  Ryburn  was  a  lad  of  thirteen 
years  when  he  came  with  his  parents  to  this 
county,  and  upon  the  home  farm  in  Ran- 
dolph township  he  grew  to  manhood,  assist- 
ing his  brothers  in  its  operation  after  the 
father's  death.  His  primary  education  was 
obtained  in  the  country  schools,  and  was 
supplemented  by  a  course  in  the  schools  of 
Bloomington.  For  a  number  of  years  the 
sons  carried  on  the  home  farm  in  connection 
with  places  of  their  own,  and  after  reaching 
man's  estate  our  subject  and  his  brother 
Joseph  B.  were  in  partnership  in  their  farm- 
ing operations  for  three  years.  They  pur- 
chased a  small  herd  of  short-horn  cattle 
and,  in  addition  to  general  farming,  gave 
considerable  attention  to  breeding  and  deal- 
ing in  pure-blooded  stock.  At  the  end  of 
three  years,  however,  our  subject  removed 
to  De  Witt  county,  where  he  continued  to 
engage  in  the  short-horn  cattle  business  for 
one  year,  and  then  returned  to  McLean 
county,  locating  upon  a  part  of  his  present 
farm  in  February,  1867.  Here  he  first  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  fairly 
improved  land,  but  has  e.xtended  the  boun- 
daries of  his  farm  from  time  to  time  until 
he  now  has  seven  hundred  acres,  which  he 
has  tilled  and  placed  under  a  high  state  of 
cultivation.  His  farm  buildings  are  models 
of  convenience,  and  everything  about  the 
place  betokens  thrift  and  industry.  Besides 
his  valuable  property,  Mr.  Ryburn  owns  a 
half-section  of  land  near  Chillicothe,  in 
Caldwell  county,  Missouri,  and  is  very  ex- 


4IO 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


tensively  engaged  in  the  raising  of  cattle  and 
sheep.  He  was  one  of  the  prime  movers  in 
the  organization  of  the  Heyworth  Bank,  and 
from  the  beginning  has  served  as  a  stock- 
holder and  the  president  of  that  substantial 
institution.  He  is  a  business  man  of  far 
more  than  ordinary  ability,  and  in  all  his 
undertakings  has  met  with  most  gratifying 
success. 

On  the  farm  where  he  now  resides,  Mr. 
Ryburn  was  married  December  19,  1865,  to 
Miss  Amanda  R.  Passwaters,  who  was  born 
upon  that  place  and  educated  in  the  district 
schools  of  the  neighborhood.  Her  father, 
Richard  Passwaters,  settled  here  as  early  as 
1829.  Five  children  have  been  born  to  our 
subject  and  his  wife,  namely:  Mrs.  Anna  R. 
Hayes;  Mrs.  Dr.  F.  L.  Wakefield,  of  Hey- 
worth; William  E.,  who  is  married  and  is 
engaged  in  farming  in  Caldwell  county,  Mis- 
souri; John  R.,  who  is  married  and  lives  on 
the  old  homestead;  and  James  D.,  also  on 
the  home  farm  with  his  father. 

Since  attaining  his  majority  Mr.  Ryburn 
has  been  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  men  and 
measures  of  the  Republican  party,  and  cast 
his  first  presidential  vote  for  Abraham  Lin- 
coln in  1864.  For  three  terms  he  was  a 
prominent  and  influential  member  of  the 
county  board  of  supervisors,  during  which 
time  he  served  on  several  important  com- 
mittees, and  for  a  quarter  of  a  century  he 
has  labored  effectively  for  the  educational 
interests  of  his  community  as  a  member  of 
the  school  board.  As  a  citizen,  he  has  at 
all  times  the  good  of  the  community  at 
heart,  and  his  abilities  are  exerted  to  make 
the  county  of  his  adoption  rank  among  the 
brightest  and  best  of  all  composing  this  great 
commonwealth.  His  estimable  wife  holds 
membership  in  the  Presbyterian  church  of 
Heyworth, 


HENRY  C.  MYERS,  who  resides  on 
section  36,  Downs  township,  has  only 
been  a  resident  of  McLean  county  since 
1879,  but  in  that  time  he  has  become  thor- 
oughly assimilated,  as  much  so  as  if  he  was 
a  native  born.  He  is  a  native  of  Augusta 
county,  Virginia,  born  July  5,  1852,  and  is 
the  son  of  Samuel  C.  and  Mary  Ann  Myers, 
his  father  being  born  on  the  same  farm 
where  his  birth  occurred.  The  paternal 
grandfather,  Michael  Myers,  owned  the  farm 
where  his  son  was  born,  and  it  continued  in 
the  family  until  about  1879.  Samuel  Myers 
served  in  the  civil  war  as  a  member  of  the 
Fifty-second  Virginia  Infantry,  and  died 
while  in  the  service  during  the  first  year  of 
the  war. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  but  nine 
years  of  age  when  his  father  died,  and  on 
reaching  his  majority  he  succeeded  to  the 
old  farm.  In  the  common-schools  of  his 
native  state  he  received  his  education, 
and  upon  the  old  homestead  his  boyhood 
and  youth  were  spent.  As  soon  as  his 
years  would  permit  he  took  charge  of  the 
farm,  which  he  cultivated  until  he  decided 
to  come  to  Illinois.  He  was  married  in 
Augusta  county,  Virginia,  December  31, 
1875,  to  Miss  Ellen  Lamb,  also  a  native  of 
the  same  county  and  state,  and  daughter  of 
A.  A.  Lamb,  likewise  of  Augusta  county, 
who  came  to  McLean  county  in  1877  and 
located  on  a  farm  near  Bloomington.  By 
this  union  there  are  five  children:  Charles 
Henry,  Clarence  G.,  Bessie  C,  Emma  and 
Effie. 

Selling  the  old  home  place  in  Virginia, 
in  1879,  Mr.  Myers  came  with  his  family  to 
McLean  county,  and  bought  eighty  acres  of 
improved  land,  which  comprises  a  part  of 
his  present  farm.  Locating  thereon,  he 
commenced   his   farm   life    m    Illinois,    and 


THE    BIOGR.\PHICAL    RECORD. 


411 


that  he  has  been  successful  is  easily  attested. 
The  original  eighty  served  his  purpose  but 
a  short  time,  and  as  his  means  increased, 
or  the  opportunitj'  was  given  him,  he  has 
added  to  its  area  until  he  now  owns  two 
hundred  and  eighty  acres,  nearly  all  of 
which  has  been  made  in  the  past  twenty 
years.  His  farm  is  well  tiled,  the  improve- 
ments being  made  are  of  a  high  order,  and 
the  surroundings  show  that  all  is  controlled 
by  a  master  mind.  With  general  farming 
he  is  engaged  in  stock-raising,  which  is  no 
inconsiderable  part  of  his  business. 

The  first  presidential  ballot  cast  by  Mr. 
Myers  was  in  1876,  when  he  voted  for 
Samuel  J.  Tilden.  He  has  since  voted  for 
the  nominees  of  the  Democratic  party  and 
advocated  its  principles,  believing  them  for 
the  best  interests  of  the  whole  people. 
Fraternally,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Knights 
of  P3-thias,  holding  membership  with  the 
lodge  in  Leroy,  Illinois.  While  his  resi- 
dence here  has  been  short  in  comparison 
with  many  others,  he  has  yet  made  many 
friends  in  the  county,  and  all  regard  him  as 
a  man  of  honor  and  worthy  of  the  confi- 
dence  and  esteem  of  the  communit}-. 


CHALTOX  D.  WATERS.  Wherever 
there  is  pioneer  work  to  be  done,  men 
of  enerv'  and  ability  are  required,  and  suc- 
cess or  failure  depends  upon  the  degree  of 
those  qualities  that  are  possessed.  In  wrest- 
ing the  land  of  McLean  county  from  its  na- 
tive wilderness;  in  fitting  it  for  the  habita- 
tion of  men ;  in  developing  the  natural  re- 
sources of  the  community  in  which  they 
live,  few  if  any  have  contributed  more  large- 
ly than  Mr.  Waters,  and  it  is  mete  and 
proper  that  for  the  arduous  and  important 
laber  he  has  performed  he  should  receive 


due  reward.  He  developed  a  fine  farm  in 
Empire  township  and  for  years  was  success- 
fully engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  but 
now  lives  retired  in  the  village  of  Le  Roy. 

Mr.  Waters  was  born  in  Bourbon 
county,  Kentucky,  June  17,  1826,  but  his 
home  has  been  in  this  count}-  since  the  fall 
of  1830.  His  father,  Silas  Waters,  was  a 
native  of  \'irginia  and  a  son  of  Silas  Waters, 
Sr. ,  who  was  also  born  in  the  Old  Dominion 
and  with  his  wife  and  nine  children  removed 
from  that  state  to  Kentucky  at  a  very  early 
day.  The  journey  was  a  long  and  tedious 
one,  as  they  had  but  a  one-horse  cart  and 
the  whole  family  had  to  walk  most  of  the 
way.  The\-  were  among  the  first  settlers  of 
Bourbon  county,  and  there  the  children  all 
grew  to  man  and  womanhood.  There  Silas 
Waters,  Jr.,  married  Miss  Shannah  Con- 
way, a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  after  fol- 
lowing farming  for  some  years  in  that  state 
they  came  to  Illinois  in  the  fall  of  1830  and 
took  up  their  residence  in  Empire  township, 
McLean  county,  where  the  father  bought  a 
claim  and  opened  up  a  farm.  He  operated 
it  for  some  years  and  then  removed  to  De- 
Witt,  where  he  engaged  in  merchandising 
for  two  years,  later  following  the  same  pur- 
suit in  Le  Roy  for  three  years.  After  that 
he  lived  retired  in  the  latter  village  until 
called  from  this  life  October  6,  1882,  at  the 
ripe  old  age  of  seventy-eight  years.  He 
was  twice  married,  his  first  wife,  who  was 
the  mother  of  our  subject,  having  died  in 
1866.  He  was  a  practical  business  man 
and  an  earnest,  consistent  gentleman,  a 
great  worker  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.  He  was  also  very  prominent  and 
served  as  one  of  the  associate  county  judges 
for  several  years. 

Reared  on  the  home  farm  in  Empire 
township,  Chalton  D.  Waters   attended  the 


412 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


subscription  schools  to  a  limited  extent, 
but  the  greater  part  of  his  education  has 
been  obtained  by  reading  and  observation 
since  reaching  manhood.  He  worked  for 
his  father  until  twenty-five  years  of  age 
and  then  succeeded  to  the  homestead.  In 
De  Witt  county  he  was  married,  in  1852, 
to  Miss  Catherine  Moore,  who  was  born 
and  reared  in  Virginia,  and  died  upon  his 
farm  in  Empire  township,  August  13,  1881. 
Six  children  were  born  to  this  union  namely: 
Silas,  a  resident  of  Le  Roy;  Minnie,  wife 
of  Jasper  Morris,  of  Kingman  county,  Kan- 
sas; John,  a  dentist  of  Fisher,  Illinois;  Will- 
iam, a  resident  of  Le  Roy;  Anna,  wife  of 
James  Lisenbey,  of  Clinton,  Illinois;  and 
Mattie,  wife  of  Ed  Smither,  of  Urbana,  an 
engineer  on  the  Big  Four  railroad.  Mr. 
Waters  was  again  married  in  Le  Roy,  No- 
vember 25,  1884,  his  second  union  being 
with  Miss  Maria  Barnum,  a  native  of  Erie 
county,  New  York,  and  a  daughter  of  Sam- 
uel Barnum,  a  prominent  farmer  of  Empire 
township,  now  living  retired.  On  first  com- 
ing here  from.  New  York,  Mr.  Barnum  lo- 
cated in  Bloomington,  but  he  afterward  re- 
turned to  the  Empire  state,  where  he  spent 
a  few  years,  and  then  again  came  to  this 
county,  where  he  has  since  made  his  home. 
By  his  last  marriage  our  subject  has  one 
son,  Samuel  Fayette,  who  is  now  attending 
school  in  Le  Roy. 

For  many  years  Mr.  Waters  continued 
the  cultivation  of  his  farm,  comprising  two 
hundred  and  thirty  acres,  and  made  many 
improvements  upon  the  place,  including 
the  erection  of  a  good  residence,  barn  and 
other  outbuildings.  He  divided  the  land 
into  fields  of  convenient  size  by  good 
fences,  set  out  an  orchard,  and  converted 
it  into  one  of  the  most  valuable  places  of 
its  size  in  the  locality.     Mr.    Waters   suc- 


cessfully engaged  in  general  farming  and 
stock  raising  until  1888,  when  he  rented 
the  farm  and  moved  to  Le  Roy,  where  he 
purchased  lots  and  erected  three  houses, 
two  of  which  he  has  since  sold,  the  other 
being  his  present  home. 

Originally,  Mr.  Waters  was  an  old-line 
Whig  in  politics  and  cast  his  first  presiden- 
tial ballot  for  Zachary  Taylor,  but  since  the 
organization  of  the  Republican  party  he  has 
been  one  of  its  stanch  supporters.  He  holds 
membership  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  of  Le  Roy,  has  served  as  class  leader 
and  steward  in  the  same,  and  always  takes 
an  active  part  in  church  work.  For  almost 
seventy  years  he  has  made  his  home  in  Mc- 
Lean county  and  has  witnessed  the  wonder- 
ful changes  that  have  taken  place  here  in 
that  township;  has  seen  towns  and  cities 
spring  up,  the  railroads  and  telegraph  intro- 
duced, and  the  wild  land  converted  into  fine 
farms  which  rank  among  the  best  in  the 
state.  In  this  work  he  has  ever  bore  his 
part,  and  his  name  should  be  found  among 
the  foremost  of  its  honored  pioneers,  as  well 
as  its  representative  and  leading  citizens. 


CHRISTIAN  F.  NAFZIGER,  a  wide- 
awake and  progressive  farmer  of  Allin 
township,  McLean  county,  was  born  on  the 
14th  of  October,  1851,  in  Butler  county, 
Ohio.  His  father.  Christian  W.  Nafziger, 
an  honored  and  highly  esteemed  citizen  of 
Stanford,  was  born  in  Hesse  Darmstadt, 
Germany,  May  28,  18 19,  of  German  parent- 
age. The  grandfather  died  in  that  country 
in  March,  18 19,  two  months  before  the 
birth  of  his  son  Christian  W. ,  and  some 
time  afterward  his  wife,  with  her  children, 
emigrated  to  America  and  took  up  their 
residence  in   Butler  county,  Ohio,      In  the 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


413 


spring  of  1854,  she  came  to  McLean  county, 
Illinois,  where  she  died  in  the  fall  of  the 
same  year.  In  Ohio,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject grew  to  manhood,  and  was  there  em- 
ployed as  a  farm  hand  for  eight  years.  In 
the  meantime,  on  the  15th  of  March,  1S49, 
he  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Ehresmann,  who 
was  born  in  Hesse  Cassel,  Germany,  in  No- 
vember, 1823,  and  came  to  America  in  July, 
1842,  also  locating  in  Butler  county,  Ohio, 
where  she  joined  her  father  and  brothers 
who  had  preceded  her  to  this  country. 
She  has  two  brothers  and  three  sisters,  all 
now  deceased,  and  she  passed  away  Febru- 
ary 21,  1884. 

In  1854,  Christian  W.  Nafziger,  accom- 
panied by  his  wife  and  family  came  to  Illi- 
nois, and  after  renting  a  farm  in  McLean 
county  for  one  year,  he  purchased  eighty 
acres  in  Allin  township,  to  which  he  has 
since  added  another  eighty-acre  tract.  Sub- 
sequently he  purchased  the  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  on  which  our  sub- 
ject now  resides.  In  1878,  he  moved  to 
Stanford,  where  he  embarked  in  lumber 
business,  and  followed  the  same  for  five 
years.  He  is  now  living  retired  with  one  of 
his  daughters  at  that  place.  In  his  family 
were  six  children,  as  follows:  John  H., 
who  now  owns  and  conducts  a  livery  stable 
in  Minier,  Illinois;  Christian  F. ,  our  subject; 
Eliza  M.,  wife  of  Henry  Linker,  a  farmer  of 
Tazewell  county,  Illinois;  Gustafi  A.,  a 
farmer  of  Kansas;  Lena  E. ,  wife  of  George 
M.  Wright,  a  grocer  of  Stanford;  and  Will- 
iam J.,  a  farmer  of  Tazewell  county. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  but  an 
infant  when  brought  by  his  parents  to  this 
count}".  The  greater  part  of  his  education 
was  obtained  in  the  district  schools  of  Allin 
township,  but  he  also  studied  German  in 
Bloomington.       When    not    in    the    school 


room  he  assisted  his  father  in  the  labors  of 
the  farm  until  twenty-three  years  of  age, 
when  he  started  out  in  life  for  himself  as  an 
agriculturist,  at  first  operating  a  rented 
farm  and  boarding  at  home.  In  1877  he 
located  upon  his  present  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  which  he  purchased 
of  his  father  in  1888,  and  has  converted  the 
place  into  one  of  the  richest  and  most  pro- 
ductive farms  in  this  section  of  the  county. 
He  has  planted  some  lovely  shade  trees  as 
well  as  a  fine  orchard  of  pears,  peaches  and 
apples — one  of  the  best  in  Allin  township — 
and  also  has  a  large  walnut  grove  of  his 
own  planting.  His  farm  is  now  principally 
devoted  to  the  raising  of  grain,  though  he 
formerly  gave  considerable  attention  to  the 
raising  and  shipping  of  stock.  In  his  life 
work  he  has  met  with  well-merited  success, 
and  besides  his  farming  interests,  he  is  now 
a  stockholder  in  the  Farmers  Elevator  at 
Stanford,  which  is  operated  by  a  Mr.  Skin- 
ner, and  is  proving  a  paying  investment. 

After  living  alone  upon  his  farm  for  a 
few  years,  Mr.  Nafziger  was  married  July 
14,  1886,  to  Miss  Ida  B.  Mulnix,  a  native  of 
McDonough  county,  Illinois,  who  removed 
with  her  parents  from  there  to  Indiana, 
where  the  father  died  but  where  the  mother 
is  still  living.  At  the  time  of  her  marriage, 
Mrs.  Nafziger  was  staying  with  a  sister  in 
McLean  county.  She  died  March  21,  1892, 
and  was  preceded  by  their  youngest  child  a 
few  months.  Two  children  are  still  living, 
namely:  Albert  W. ,  born  July  14,  1887; 
and  Christian  P.,  born  June  14,  1889. 
Both  are  now  attending  school  in  the  home 
district.  After  the  death  of  his  wife,  Mr. 
Nafziger  kept  his  children  at  home  and  hired 
a  housekeeper  until  he  was  again  married, 
December  22,  1898,  his  second  union  being 
with  Mrs.  Nellie   (Thompson)   Calvert,  w'ho 


414 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


by  her  first  marriage  had  one  child,  Frances 
M.,  born  October  29,  1887.  There  are  no 
children  by  the  second  union.  Mrs.  Naf- 
ziger  was  born  in  Brown  county,  Ohio,  and 
at  the  time  of  her  marriage  to  our  subject 
was  living  in  Stanford,  this  county.  She  is 
a  consistent  member  of  the  Christian  church, 
to  which  Mr.  Nafziger  contributes  liberally, 
although  not  a  member.  His  political  sup- 
port is  always  given  the  men  and  measures 
of  the  Democratic  party,  and  he  has  most 
creditably  and  acceptably  filled  the  ofTfice  of 
constable  for  eleven  years,  and  in  the  spring 
of  1898  was  elected  school  trustee,  in  which 
position  he  is  now  serving.  Socially  he  is 
a  member  of  the  Camp  of  Modern  Wood- 
men at  Stanford  and  is  a  Master  Mason  of 
high  standing,  having  held  several  offices  in 
the  local  lodge.  He  is  widely  known  and 
highly  respected,  and  those  who  know  him 
best  are  numbered  among  his  warm  friends. 


WILLIAM  H.  MACY,  justice  of  the 
peace  and  druggist,  of  Towanda,  Illi- 
nois, was  born  in  New  Bedford,  Massachu- 
setts, January  25,  1834,  and  is  the  son  of 
William  M.  and  Mariam  P.  (Houghton) 
Macy,  the  former  a  native  of  Nantucket, 
Massachusetts,  and  the  latter  of  Lynn,  in 
the  same  state.  They  were  married  in 
Lynn,  but  immediately  removed  to  New 
Bedford,  where  our  subject  was  born.  Later 
they  removed  to  Trenton,  New  Jersey,  and 
still  later  to  New  York  City,  where  the 
father  died  in  July,  1838.  Soon  after  the 
death  of  her  husband  Mrs.  Macy  moved  to 
Nantucket,  Massachusetts,  where  she  died 
January  25,  1839,  on  the  fifth  birthday  of 
her  son,  of  whom  we  write.  She  was  the 
mother  of  another  child,  which  died  in  in- 
fancy. 


William  M.  Macy  was  interested  with 
his  brother-in-law,  Hezekiah  Barnard,  after- 
wards state  treasurer  of  Massachusetts,  in 
the  whaling  business,  but  in  the  war  of  181 2 
their  vessels  were  captured  by  the  English, 
which  caused  their  financial  ruin.  The 
parents  of  William  M.  Macy  were  William 
and  Anna  Macy,  both  natives  of  Nantucket, 
Massachusetts.  The  father  of  William,  who 
was  also  named  W^illiam,  was  likewise  a 
native  of  Massachusetts,  and  the  family 
were  all  members  of  the  Society  of  Friends. 
William  M.  Macy  was  twice  married,  his 
first  wife  being  a  Miss  Worth,  and  they  were 
the  parents  of  four  daughters,  one  of  whom 
yet  survives,  Elizabeth  H.,  now  a  wealthy 
lady  of  Brooklyn,  New  York,  residing  at 
No.  178  Carleton  avenue.  She  was  for 
some  years  a  teacher  in  a  private  school  in 
the  city  of  New  York,  and  by  judicious  in- 
vestment of  her  earnings  in  city  property 
amassed  considerable  wealth. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  left  father- 
less when  four  years  old  and  motherless 
when  but  five  years  old.  He  was  then 
taken  by  an  uncle,  Mr.  Barnard,  with  whom 
he  remained  until  he  was  sixteen  years  old. 
He  first  attended  a  Quaker  select  school, 
and  then  spent  two  years  at  the  West  Town 
boarding  school,  in  Chester,  Pennsylvania, 
near  Philadelphia.  He  then  returned  home 
and  spent  one  year  in  the  private  school  of 
John  Boogie,  after  which  he  was  appren- 
ticed to  learn  the  cabinet  maker's  trade  at 
Fall  River,  Massachusetts,  with  Borden  & 
Almy,  the  former  afterwards  being  the  vic- 
tim of  the  noted  Borden  murder  case.  He 
remained  with  that  firm  a  little  more  than 
three  years,  or  until  he  was  twenty-one 
years  old. 

In  the  spring  of  1856,  Mr.  Macy  came 
to  Illinois,    locating  first  in  Lodi,  Iroquois 


THE    BIOGIL\PHICAL   RECORD. 


415 


county,  where  he  worked  at  carpenter  work 
for  two  years.  He  then  went  to  Tremont, 
Tazewell  county,  where  he  worked  at  the 
cabinet  trade  for  one  year.  From  Tremont 
he  went  to  Fairbury,  and  at  Fairbury  and 
Pontiac  he  worked  at  either  cabinet  or 
carpentry  work  until  his  enlistment  in  the 
army  during  the  civil  war.  Under  the  first 
call  he  offered  his  services,  but  the  quota 
being  filled,  he  was  not  accepted.  On  the 
2d  of  August,  1 86 1,  he  enlisted  in  Company 
K,  Third  Illinois  Cavalry,  under  Colonel 
Carr,  and  Captain  R.  H.  Carnahan.  The 
regiment  went  into  camp  for  five  weeks 
at  Camp  Butler,  near  Springfield,  Illinois, 
during  which  time  they  were  engaged  in 
drilling  and  preparing  for  duty.  From 
Camp  Butler  they  were  sent  to  Benton  Bar- 
racks, near  St.  Louis,  where  they  received 
their  equipments.  The  regiment  was  as- 
signed to  command  of  General  John  C.  Fre- 
mont, and  was  ordered  to  Springfield,  Mis- 
souri, where  General  Price  was  encamped. 
Upon  its  arrival  it  found  that  Price  had 
evacuated  the  place.  After  remaining  a 
few  weeks  at  Springfield,  the  command  was 
sent  to  Rolla,  Missouri,  where  it  went  into 
camp  and  remained  until  the  spring  of 
1862.  While  at  Rolla  Mr.  Macy  was  de- 
tailed as  post  hospital  steward,  and  there 
remained  until  about  July,  when  he  was 
sent  to  Pilot  Knob,  where  he  met  Company 
M,  of  the  Third  Illinois  Cavalry,  with  which 
company  he  remained  under  command  of 
Colonel  Boyd  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Missouri 
Infantry,  until  the  fall  of  1862,  when  Com- 
pany M  was  ordered  to  Helena,  Arkansas, 
where  he  again  joined  his  own  company. 
Almost  as  soon  as  he  arrived  at  Helena,  he 
was  detailed  as  hospital  steward  of  his  reg- 
iment. 

The  regiment  was  ordered  from  Helena 


to  Vicksburg,  where  it  was  in  the  command 
of  General  Sherman.  It  was  soon,  how- 
ever, sent  to  Arkansas  Post,  and  after  the 
capture  of  that  place  it  returned  to  Vicks- 
burg. After  remaining  there  a  few  weeks 
it  was  ordered  to  Memphis,  and  our  subject 
was  stationed  at  different  times  in  various 
places  from  Memphis  to  Corinth  during  the 
remainder  of  his  term  of  service.  He  was 
present  at  the  battle  of  Tupello,  Mississippi, 
under  the  command  of  General  A.  J.  Smith, 
and  was  present  when  the  command  was 
attacked  by  General  Forrest  at  Memphis. 
In  September,  1864,  he  was  discharged 
from  the  service  at  Springfield,  Illinois,  his 
term  of  enlistment  having  expired. 

\\'hile  yet  in  the  service  Mr.  Macy  re- 
ceived a  furlough,  returned  home,  and  on 
the  22d  of  September,  1863,  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Mary  E.  Walden, 
daughter  of  Theophilus  and  Nancy  (Oppy) 
Walden,  the  marriage  ceremony  taking 
place  in  Fairbury,  Illinois.  On  receiving  his 
discharge  he  rejoined  his  wife  near  Attica, 
Indiana,  where  she  was  then  staying  at  the 
home  of  her  parents.  After  a  short  stay 
there  he  came  to  McLean  county  with  his 
wife,  and  in  May,  1865,  purchased  the  resi- 
dence, store  and  drug  stock  of  A.  L.  Hol- 
comb,  and  has  since  carried  on  the  busi- 
ness. 

Mrs.  Macy  was  born  in  Montgomery 
county,  Indiana,  October  17,  1837,  and  is 
the  3'oungest  of  four  children,  the  others 
being  Frances  A.,  born  October  14,  1829, 
who  is  now  the  wife  of  Campbell  Schultz, 
a  retired  farmer  of  Attica,  Indiana;  Samuel 
M.,  born  November  13,  1832,  and  who  for 
some  years  was  a  contractor  and  builder  in 
Chicago,  and  who  died  in  January,  1894; 
and  William  D.,  born  October  18,  1835, 
who    was    a     mechanic     and    merchant    of 


4i6 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Springfield,  Ohio,  and  who  was  a  soldier  in 
the  Twentieth  Illinois  Infantry  during  the 
civil  war,  and  who  saw  much  hard  service. 
He  died  Septertiber  6,  1891. 

Theophilus  Walden  died  December  14, 
1838,  when  Mrs.  Macy  was  an  infant.  Her 
mother  later  married  James  H.  Dazey,  of 
Montgomer}'  county,  Indiana,  who  died  in 
1867  while  on  a  visit  to  Mr.  Macy.  From 
Montgomery  county  he  removed  to  Tippe- 
canoe count}',  Indiana,  where  the  remainder 
of  his  life  was  passed.  By  this  second 
union  there  were  five  children:  Christopher 
J.,  born  September  24,  1840;  Sarah  C, 
born  December  8,  1842,  now  the  wife  of 
William  Spraggins,  of  Springfield,  Ohio; 
James  H. ,  born  December  6,  1S44,  living 
in  Leipsic,  Ohio;  Narcissus  S.,  born  March 
7,  1847,  now  the  widow  of  James  Bettice, 
of  Springfield,  Ohio;  and  Eliza  E. ,  born 
December  27,  1 849,  now  the  wife  of  Thomas 
Browning,  of  Lafayette,  Indiana.  The 
mother  of  these  children  died  July  24,  1880, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Macy  two  children 
were  born.  Mary  B.,  born  September  3, 
1864,  married  Dr.  William  C.  Girtin,  a  na- 
tive of  Kentucky,  who  was  e.xtensively 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine  in 
Towanda  until  his  death,  March  11,  1896. 
They  had  si.x  children:  Lulu  G. ,  Lila  M., 
Harry,  G.  Lynn,  Elizabeth  E.,  and  William 
C.  Mrs.  Girtin  again  married  March  28, 
1897,  to  Homer  V.  Meeker,  and  they  now 
reside  in  Monroe  county,  Missouri.  They 
have  one  son,  Charles  H.  The  second 
child  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Macy  was  William 
D.,  who  was  born  December  9,  1868,  and 
who  married  Miss  Arnetta  Janes,  of  Monroe 
county,  Missouri.  He  died  January  6, 
1899.  He  was  a  most  exemplary  young 
man,  respected  and  loved  by  all  who  knew 


him  because  of  his  many  admirable  qualities 
of  head  and  heart. 

In  politics  Mr.  Macy  has  always  been 
an  uncompromising  Republican,  and  has 
been  actively  identified  with  party  affairs 
for  many  years,  serving  as  chairman  of  the 
Republican  central  committee  of  his 
township,  and  doing  all  in  his  power  to  ad- 
vance the  interest  of  his  party.  The  first 
official  position  held  by  him  was  that  of 
school  director,  which  position  he  held  for 
three  years.  For  nineteen  years  he  has 
served  as  school  trustee,  and  for  twenty-one 
years  he  has  served  as  justice  of  the  peace. 
In  this  office  he  has  given  the  best  satisfac- 
tion, and  has  never  had  one  of  his  decisions 
overruled  by  a  higher  court.  He  has  also 
served  as  village  trustee,  and  during 
Grant's  first  term  he  was  postmaster  of 
Towanda.  Fraternally  he  has  been  a  Mas- 
ter Mason  for  thirty-five  years,  being  a 
member  of  Bloomington  Lodge,  No.  43, 
A.  F.  &  A.  M. ,  and  is  one  of  the  best 
posted  men  in  the  order.  Since  i860  he 
has  been  a  member  of  of  the  Baptist  church, 
and  has  taken  an  active  interest  in  the 
church  work,  and  for  some  years  was  super- 
intendent of  the  Sunday-school.  Mrs. 
Macy  gives  personal  attention  to  the  hotel 
known  as  the  Macy  Hotel,  which  the  trav- 
eling public  has  learned  to  appreciate  for 
its  homelike  comforts. 


JOSHUA  C.  DANIEL,  who  resides  on 
section  25,  Randolph  township,  has  a 
fine  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-four 
acres,  which  he  keeps  under  an  excellent 
state  of  cultivation.  He  is  a  native  of  Mc- 
Lean county,  and  was  born  in  Dry  Grove 
township,  October  31,  1837.  His  father, 
David    Daniel,  was  born    in  Virginia,    May 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


417 


26,  I  Si  5,  and  spent  his  boyhood  and  youth 
in  Virginia  and  Ohio,  coming  to  McLean 
county  in  early  manhood.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  Bloomington,  June  30,  1836,  to 
Miss  Martha  Miller,  a  native  of  Indiana, 
born  January  14,  1817.  After  marriage 
they  settled  in  Funk's  Grove  township, 
where  he  engaged  in  farming,  and  where 
his  death  occurred  in  1848.  His  widow 
later  married  W.  H.  Miller,  of  Randolph 
township,  but  is  now  for  the  second  time  a 
widow,  and  resides  in  the  township,  a  hale 
and  hearty  woman  of  eighty-two  years. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  on 
a  farm,  but  his  father  dying  when  he  was 
but  eleven  years  old,  he  was  at  a  very 
tender  age  compelled  to  begin  for  himself 
the  battte  of  life.  His  educational  advan- 
tages were  limited  to  the  public  school.  On 
the  4th  of  September,  1861,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Nancy  E.  Rutledge, 
a  sister  of  Leander  Rutledge,  whose  sketch 
appears  elsewhere  in  this  work,  and  daugh- 
ter of  Robert  H.  Rutledge,  who  was  born 
and  reared  in  Kentucky.  Mrs.  Daniel  was 
born  in  McLean  county  and  she  was  mar- 
ried in  Bloomington. 

After  marriage,  Mr.  Daniel  rented  a 
farm  in  Downs  township  and  there  resided 
for  several  years.  He  then  moved  to  Cham- 
paign county,  where  for  three  years  he  culti- 
vated a  rented  farm.  He  then  bought  a 
farm  of  eighty-three  acres  in  that  county  and 
began  its  improvement.  Later  he  purchased 
thirty-one  acres  additional,  giving  him  a  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  fourteen  acres.  He 
continued  to  reside  on  that  farm,  which  he 
greatly  improved,  until  1877,  when  he 
rented  the  place  and  returned  to  this  coun- 
ty, that  he  and  his  wife  might  care  for  her 
aged    father.      One  year   later  he    sold   his 

Champaign    farm  and    purchased    the  farm 
22 


where  he  now  resides,  which  was  known  as 
the  old  Mayberry  farm.  When  it  came 
into  his  possession  he  found  it  very  much 
run  down,  and  he  at  once  set  about  its  im- 
provement, and  in  due  time  tiled  the  land, 
set  out  fruit  and  ornamental  trees,  and  has 
erected  a  large  and  neat  residence,  having 
now  a  valuable  and  well-improved  farm. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Daniel  have  two  sons  and 
one  daughter.  Charles  Sherman,  the  eldest 
son,  married  Ellen  Myers,  of  Fayette  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  and  they  have  two  sons,  Hum- 
phrey and  Everett.  Robert  O.  married 
Grace  Passwaters,  and  they  reside  in  Ran- 
dolph township,  where  he  is  engaged  in 
farming.  Sarah  Ann  is  the  wife  of  Charles 
Yanney,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Ilifi 
E.,  and  two  sons,  Stanley  and  Roy.  They 
reside  in  Randolph,  and  he  is  engaged  in 
farming.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Daniel  lost  one 
son,  Frank  Sargent,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
eight  years,  and  one  child  that  died  in  in- 
fancy. 

Politically  Mr.  Daniel  is  an  ardent  Re- 
publican, and  cast  his  first  presidential  vote 
in  i860  for  Abraham  Lincoln.  He  has 
never  swerved  from  his  allegiance  to  the 
party,  but  has  voted  for  every  presidential 
nominee  of  the  party  from  Lincoln  to  Mc- 
Kinley.  He  has  served  three  years  as  road 
commissioner,  and  otherwise  never  held 
public  office,  caring  nothing  for  the  honors 
obtained  in  that  direction.  Mrs.  Daniel  is 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  at  Heyworth,  and  although  Mr. 
Daniel  is  not  member  he  attends  with  his 
wife  and  takes  a  part  in  the  Sunday  school. 
A  life  long  resident  of  the  county,  he  has 
witnessed  its  growth  and  development  and 
has  done  his  duty  in  bringing  about  the  won- 
derful results  which  are  manifest  on  every 
hand. 


4i8 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


OLIVER  S.  HARDING,  deceased,  for 
many  years  a  leading  agriculturist  and 
highly-respected  citizen  of  McLean  county, 
was  born  on  the  12th  of  December,  1826,  in 
Henry  county,  Indiana,  a  son  of  Saul  and 
Catherine  (McCall)  Harding.  The  father 
was  born  and  reared  in  Kentucky,  his  father, 
a  native  of  England,  having  located  there 
at  an  early  day.  When  Saul  Harding  was 
thirteen  years  of  age  the  family  removed  to 
Indiana  and  were  pioneers  of  that  state, 
where,  in  later  years,  he  successfully  en- 
gaged in  farming  and  also  bought  and 
shipped  horses  quite  extensively,  being  one 
of  the  prosperous  men  of  his  community. 
He  settled  in  Wapello  county,  Iowa,  when 
our  subject  was  fourteen  years  old,  at  which 
time  most  of  the  state  was  still  in  its  prim- 
itive condition,  and  their  nearest  market  was 
Ottumwa.  There  the  father  took  up  a  tract 
of  new  land  and  made  his  home  for  some 
years,  but  late  in  life,  after  all  of  his  chil- 
dren had  left  home,  he  went  to  Kansas, 
where  he  lived  with  his  grandchildren  for 
five  years,  his  death  occurring  in  that  state. 
His  wife  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  but  when 
a  small  child  was  brought  to  this  country  by 
her  parents.  Her  father  was  killed  in  Ken- 
tucky by  the  Indians,  and  subsequently  her 
mother  married  a  Mr.  Howard,  by  whom 
she  had  seven  children. 

Oliver  S.  Harding,  our  subject,  was  one 
of  a  family  of  fourteen  children.  During 
his  boyhood  he  attended  the  public  schools 
of  Indiana  as  he  had  opportunity,  but  after 
the  removal  of  the  family  to  Iowa,  his  en- 
tire time  was  devoted  to  agricultural  pur- 
suits, assisting  his  father  in  the  labors  of  the 
home  farm  until  he  attained  his  majority, 
when  he  entered  eighty  acres  of  land  in 
Wapello  county,  and  engaged  in  farming  on 
his  own    account.      On    the    6th   of    April, 


1850,  he  started  overland  for  California, 
and  arrived  in  Placerville  on  the  26th  of  the 
following  July.  He  engaged  in  mining 
there  until  November,  the  same  year,  when 
he  boarded  a  sailing  vessel  at  San  Fran- 
cisco, and  by  way  of  the  Isthmus  of  Pan- 
ama, returned  to  Jefferson  county,  Iowa, 
where  he  owned  and  operated  a  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  thirty-five  acres. 

It  was  in  that  county  that  Mr.  Harding 
was  married,  January  15,  1857,  to  Miss 
Leona  Eskew,  who  was  born  in  Waynes- 
ville,  DeWitt  county,  Illinois,  August  14, 
1838,  a  daughter  of  Paren  and  Julia  (Troxel) 
Eskew.  Her  father  was  born  in  Patrick 
county,  Virginia,  in  181 5,  and  died  October 
12,  1898.  He  successfully  engaged  in  farm- 
ing in  DeWitt  county,  Illinois,  until  the 
death  of  his  wife,  when  he  removed  to  a 
farm  near  Le  Roy,  McLean  county,  which 
place  he  continued  to  own  until  he  too  was 
called  away,  though  he  spent  his  last  days 
in  retirement  from  labor  in  the  village.  His 
wife,  who  was  about  eleven  years  his  jun- 
ior, was  born  in  DeWitt  county,  her  father 
being  one  of  its  earliest  settlers,  having  re- 
moved there  from  Kentucky  prior  to  the 
winter  of  the  deep  snow.  Her  paternal 
grandfather  was  a  native  of  Germany  and  a 
pioneer  of  Kentucky. 

In  1867  Mr.  Harding  came  to  McLean 
county  and  took  up  his  residence  in  Empire 
township,  where  he  purchased  a  farm  of 
two  hundred  and  ten  acres  and  successfully 
engaged  in  general  farming  and  stock- 
raising  there  for  thirteen  years.  On  selling 
that  place  he  removed  to  Martin  township, 
where  he  owned  and  operated  a  farm  until 
called  from  this  life  on  the  30th  of  March, 
1895.  He  was  an  honored  and  valued  cit- 
izen of  his  community  and  had  the  confi- 
dence and  high  regard  of  all  with  whom  he 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


419 


came  in  contact,  either  in  business  or  social 
life.  Politically,  he  was  first  a  Whig  and 
later  a  Republican,  and  his  support  was 
never  withheld  from  any  enterprise  which 
he  believed  calculated  to  prove  of  public 
good. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harding  were  born 
the  following  children:  Paren  H.  T. ,  who 
lives  in  Bloomington;  Julia,  deceased  wife 
of  John  Harper,  of  De  Witt  county;  Will- 
iam, a  resident  of  Taylor,  Missouri;  Rufus 
A.  J.  and  Nimrod,  who  live  on  the  home 
farm;  Chloe  E.,  wife  of  Joseph  A.  Thorn,  of 
Anchor  township;  Mary  E.,  who  is  with  her 
mother;  Dolly  M.,  wife  of  William  Preston, 
of  Bloomington;  and  Charles  A.  S.,  who  re- 
sides at  home  and  is  now  a  student  at  Wes- 
leyan  College.  In  the  spring  of  1S98  Mrs. 
Harding  removed  to  Bloomington,  purchas- 
ing a  pleasant  home  on  East  Chestnut 
street,  where  she  now  lives.  All  her  life 
she  has  been  an  earnest  and  consistent 
member  of  the  Christian  church,  and  has 
the  respect  and  esteem  of  all  who  know  her. 


CAPTAIN  HARRISON  LAWRENCE, 
whose  farm  lies  adjoining  the  village  of 
Pleasant  Hill,  Le.xington  township,  is  a  vet- 
eran of  the  civil  war,  having  a  record  of 
four  years'  hard  service.  He  was  born  in 
Richland  county,  Ohio,  June  28,  1840,  and 
is  the  son  of  Charles  and  Eleanor  (Bailey) 
Lawrence,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of 
Pennsylvania  and  Ohio,  respectively,  the 
former  born  in  1806  and  the  latter  in  18 12. 
The  paternal  grandfather,  John  Lawrence, 
was  a  farmer  by  occupation  in  his  native 
state  of  Pennsylvania,  and  never  came  west. 
The  family  trace  their  origin  to  one  of  three 
brothers  who  in  a  very  early  day  left  their 
native  country  for  America,  and,  being  ship- 


wrecked, lost  all  traces  of  one  another,  each 
one  not  knowing  but  the  others  were 
drowned.  The  various  members  of  the 
Lawrence  family  in  America,  however,  hav- 
ing compared  notes,  find  that  each  have  the 
same  tradition,  so  it  is  believed  that  all  the 
brothers  were  picked  up  at  sea  and  finally 
landed  in  this  country,  and  each  of  them 
married  and  reared  families. 

Charles  Lawrence,  the  father,  in  early 
life  followed  teaching  as  a  profession,  but 
later  in  life  was  engaged  in  farming.  When 
about  twenty-five  years  of  age  he  left  his 
native  state  and  located  in  Richland  county, 
Ohio.  He  married  Eleanor  Bailey,  by  whom 
he  had  ten  children,  nine  of  whom  grew  to 
maturity — George,  Rachel  E.,  James,  John, 
Harrison,  Lucinda  Jane,  William,  Margaret 
A.  and  Sarah  Louisa.  One  died  in  infancy. 
In  1852  the  mother  of  these  children  de- 
parted this  life,  and  the  father  later  married 
Sarah  McClune,  and  by  this  union  there 
were  four  children,  two  of  whom  lived  to 
maturity — Charles  and  Hugh.  In  politics, 
Charles  Lawrence  was  originally  a  Whig, 
and  later  a  Republican.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  as  was 
also  his  wife. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  grew  to  man- 
hood in  his  native  county,  and  was  educated 
in  the  public  schools.  At  the  age  of  twenty 
he  left  school,  and  in  April,  1861,  under  the 
first  call  of  President  Lincoln  for  volunteers 
to  assist  in  the  suppression  of  the  rebellion, 
enlisted  in  the  Fifteenth  Ohio  Volunteer  In- 
fantry and  served  four  months,  being  hon- 
orably discharged  on  the  29th  of  August,  in 
the  same  year.  While  with  this  regiment 
he  was  in  no  regular  engagement,  but  was 
in  active  service  at  Philiipi,  Virginia.  Re- 
turning home,  he  remained  a  very  short 
time,  when  feeling  that  his  country  had  still 


420 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


need  of  his  services,  he  again  enlisted, 
October  4,  1861,  becoming  a  member  of  the 
Sixty-fourth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry.  He 
enlisted  under  Colonel  John  Sherman,  as 
recruiting  officer,  the  colonel,  however, 
never  going  to  the  front.  Entering  the  serv- 
ice as  a  private  on  the  3 1  st  of  October,  1 86 1 , 
he  was  appointed  corporal;  was  promoted 
sergeant  October  21,  1862;  first  sergeant 
May  I,  1863;  and  on  the  3d  of  November, 
1864,  was  commissioned  first  lieutenant, 
and  February  23,  1865,  was  promoted  and 
commissioned  captain  of  the  company.  On 
account  of  disability  he  resigned,  and  was 
mustered  out  of  the  service  May  11,  1865. 

Soon  after  the  organization  of  the  regi- 
ment it  was  ordered  to  Kentucky,  where  it 
was  actively  engaged  during  the  greater  part 
of  the  year  1862,  and  was  in  several  skir- 
mishes with  the  rebels.  The  first  heavy 
engagement  in  which  the  regiment  partici- 
pated was  the  battle  of  Stone  River.  It 
was  sent  to  Pittsburg  Landing,  but  did  not 
participate  in  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  only  serv- 
ing as  ammunition  guards.  The  regiment 
was  under  Gen.  Crittendon,  of  the  Twenty- 
first  Army  Corps,  and  participated  in  the 
battle  of  Chickamauga.  On  the  25th  of 
November  following  it  was  in  the  battle  of 
Missionary  Ridge.  After  this  the  regiment 
was  with  Sherman  in  his  Atlanta  campaign, 
which  ended  in  August,  1864,  when  it  was 
sent  back  to  Chattanooga  and  opposed 
Hood  during  Sherman's  march  to  the  sea. 
From  Chattanooga  the  regiment  was  sent 
to  Nashville  on  the  way  participated  in  the 
battle  of  Spring  Hill,  November  29,  1864, 
during  which  engagement  Lieutenant  Law- 
rence was  wounded.  In  the  battle  of  Nash- 
ville, which  occurred  later  in  the  same  year, 
the  regiment  was  engaged,  but  our  subject 
had  not  recovered    sufficiently  to  take  part. 


This  battle  was  the  last  one  of  any  conse- 
quence in  which  the  regiment  participated. 

On  returning  to  civil  life  Captain  Law- 
rence engaged  in  farming  in  his  native  coun- 
ty, but  in  October,  1S65,  came  to  McLean 
county,  Illinois,  and  located  in  Lexington 
township,  where  he  rented  land  and  engaged 
in  farming.  Later  he  made  a  purchase  of 
land  adjoining  the  village  of  Pleasant  Hill, 
and  now  owns  two  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  of  well  tilled  land,  with  improvements 
on  the  place  well  adapted  to  nineteenth 
century  farming. 

On  the  20th  of  May,  1869,  Captain 
Lawrence  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Cyntha  A.  Smalley,  a  native  of  Illinois,  and 
daughter  of  Isaac  and  Nancy  Smalley.  Five 
children  came  to  bless  their  union.  Elea- 
nor J.  married  Frank  Wise,  and  they  reside 
in  Chenoa  township.  Charles  S.  remains 
at  home  and  is  assisting  in  the  cultivation 
of  the  home  farm.  Emma  J.  married  Will- 
iam Vandevender,  and  they  reside  in  Lex- 
ington township.  Bessie  B.  and  William 
yet  remain  at  home,  the  latter  being  a  stu- 
dent  in  the  school   at  Pleasant  Hill. 

Captain  Lawrence  is  a  fanner  of  ac- 
knowledged skill  and  ability,  and  while  hav- 
ing no  fads,  devotes  his  attention  to  gener- 
al farming  and  stock  raising.  In  1898  he 
went  to  the  state  of  Washington,  where  he 
has  relatives  living,  and  while  there  secured 
some  magnificent  specimens  of  curios  from 
the  Pend  d'  Oreille  river.  In  politics  the 
Captain  is  a  Republican,  and  for  some  years 
served  as  school  trustee.  He  is  a  member 
of  Lexington  Post,  No.  240,  G.  A.  R. ,  in 
which  he  has  served  in  nearly  every  official 
capacity.  He  is  also  a  member  of  Lexing- 
ton Lodge,  No.  482,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  of 
Ideal  Lodge,  K.  P.  Religiously  he  sup- 
ports the    M.    E.  church,    his  wife  holding 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


421 


membership  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  at  Pleasant  Hill.  Both  are  esteemed 
for  their  many  good  qualities  of  head  and 
heart. 

LUCIUS  A.  VASEY,  a  prominent  grain 
dealer  and  representative  of  Le  Roy,  is 
a  native  of  Illinois,  his  birth  having  occurred 
in  McHenry  county,  August  14,  1849.  His 
father,  Richard  Vasey,  was  born  in  Rome, 
New  York,  in  1825,  and  was  a  son  of 
William  Vasey,  a  native  of  England,  who 
on  coming  to  America  took  up  his  residence 
in  New  York.  Rev.  Thomas  Vasey,  a 
prominent  member  of  the  Wesleyan  confer- 
ence of  England,  was  related  to  the  family. 
Dr.  George  \'asey,  an  older  brother  of  the 
father  of  our  subject,  was  born  near  Scar- 
borough, England,  in  February,  1822,  and 
the  following  year  was  brought  to  the 
United  States  by  his  parents,  who  settled 
in  Oneida  county,  New  York.  His  early 
education  was  completed  at  the  Oneida  In- 
stitute, and  then  he  took  up  the  study  of 
medicine,  attending  three  courses  of  lectures 
at  the  Berkshire  Medical  Institute,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  with  the  class  of 
1846.  Subsequently  he  spent  a  short  time 
at  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons, 
New  York  City,  and  while  there  he  became 
personally  acquainted  with  Dr.  John  Torrey 
and  Asa  Gray,  who  were  his  friends  ever 
afterward.  In  1848  he  went  to  Elgin,  Illi- 
nois, where  engaged  in  the  practice  of  medi- 
cine for  eighteen  years.  Early  in  life  he 
commenced  the  study  of  botany,  which  he 
continued  for  many  years  in  Illinois.  He 
was  instrumental  in  forming  the  Illinois 
Natural  History  Society,  of  which  he  was 
made  president,  and  prepared  a  complete 
flora  of  this  state  which  he  presented  to  the 
Wegleyan  University  and  which  is  still  pre- 


serv'ed  in  the  museum  of  that  institution  at 
Bloomington.  In  April,  1872,  he  was  ap- 
pointed botanist  for  the  department  of 
agriculture  at  Washington,  D.  C. ,  a  posi- 
tion he  held  under  the  various  administra- 
tions for  twenty-one  years,  or  until  his 
death,  with  credit  to  himself  and  to  the  ad- 
vantage and  entire  satisfaction  of  the  gov- 
ernment. He  died  in  Washington,  March 
4,  1893,  at  which  time  resolutions  were 
passed  by  the  officers  of  the  National 
Museum  and  the  scientific  corps  of  the  de- 
partment of  agriculture,  expressing  in  strong 
terms  the  high  character  of  the  man  and  his 
high  standing  in  his  chosen  profession. 

Richard  Vasey,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  reared  in  his  native  state,  and  in  1840 
came  to  Illinois,  becoming  one  of  the  first 
settlers  of  McHenry  county.  There  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Rumamda 
Pierce,  also  a  native  of  New  York,  and  to 
them  three  sons  were  born,  of  whom  our 
subject  is  the  eldest.  Emory  died  on  his 
twenty-first  birthday  while  on  a  visit  in 
Pennsylvania;  Charles  H.  died  at  the  age 
of  twenty-two.  After  farming  in  McHenry 
county  for  some  years,  the  father  sold  his 
place  there  and  came  to  McLean  count}', 
purchasing  a  farm  adjoining  the  corporate 
limits  of  Bloomington  in  1865.  He  located 
here  for  the  purpose  of  educating  his  chil- 
dren, and  after  residing  thereon  for  ten 
years  he  e.xchanged  the  farm  for  another  in 
Empire  township.  There  he  successfully 
engaged  in  farming  and  stock-raising  from 
1875  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
September,  1882.  His  estimable  wife  still 
survives  him,  and  now  makes  her  home  with 
our  subject. 

Lucius  A.  Vasey  went  with  his  parents 
to  Bloomington  and  entered  the  Wesleyan 
University,    where  he  completed  the  class- 


42: 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


ical  course,  and  was  graduated  with  the  class 
of  1 87 1.  He  then  assisted  his  father  in  the 
operation  of  the  home  farm  until  1874.  On 
the  14th  of  April  of  that  year  he  was  mar- 
ried in  Bloomington  to  Miss  Amelia  J. 
Tobey,  a  native  of  Stockbridge,  Massachu- 
setts, who  came  to  this  state  when  a  child 
and  was  educated  in  Bloomington,  where 
she  afterward  successfully  engaged  in  teach- 
ing for  a  number  of  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Vasey  began  their  domestic  life  at  Bell- 
flower,  this  county,  near  which  village  he 
owned  a  farm,  and  was  engaged  in  its  opera- 
tion until  his  father's  death,  when  he  took 
charge  of  the  old  homestead.  He  made 
many  improvements  upon  the  place,  and 
engaged  in  stock-raising  in  connection  with 
general  farming.  The  place  is  now  oper- 
ated by  William  Jones,  a  most  excellent 
farmer,  who  has  aided  in  its  cultivation  for 
twenty-two  years,  and  is  known  to  be  thor- 
oughly reliable.  In  1889  Mr.  Vasey  pur- 
chased residence  property  in  Le  Roy  and 
moved  to  that  village,  where  he  engaged  in 
the  grain  and  coal  business  for  two  years. 
In  1890  he  began  buying  grain  at  Empire, 
and  in  1 897  erected  an  elevator  at  that  place, 
which  he  has  since  successfully  conducted. 
He  is  an  upright  and  reliable  business  man, 
of  sound  judgment  and  keen  discrimination, 
and  as  a  grain-dealer  he  has  steadily  pros- 
pered. 

Mr.  Vasey  lost  his  first  wife  in  June,  1 879. 
To  them  was  born  a  son,  Albert  William, 
who  is  a  graduate  of  Wesleyan  University, 
and  is  now  interested  in  farming  and  the 
grain  business.  Our  subject  was  again 
married,  in  188 1,  to  a  sister  of  his  former 
wife,  Miss  Sarah  M.  Tobey,  who  was  reared 
and  educated  in  New  York.  They  have 
an  adopted  child,  Enola,  whom  they  have 
reared  since  five  years  old. 


In  his  political  affiliations  Mr.  Vasey  was 
originally  a  Republican,  and  cast  his  first 
presidential  vote  for  General  U.  S.  Grant 
in  1872,  but  of  recent  years  has  supported 
the  men  and  measures  of  the  Prohibition 
party,  having  always  been  a  friend  of  tem- 
perance. He  was  a  delegate  to  the  judicial 
convention  that  nominated  Judge  Reeves, 
and  has  been  called  upon  to  fill  several  local 
offices,  having  served  as  justice  of  the  peace 
for  three  years  and  as  a  member  of  the 
school  board  in  Bellflower  and  Le  Roy  for 
sixteen  years.  He  is  now  a  prominent  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of 
Le  Roy,  with  which  he  is  officially  con- 
nected. Mrs.  Vasey  has  been  superintend- 
ent of  the  Sunday  school  for  three  years, 
and  held  that  same  office  while  living  in 
Bellflower.  He  is  a  man  of  exemplary  hab- 
its, and  has  ever  been  found  true  to  every 
trust  reposed  in  him  either  in  public  or  pri- 
vate life,  and  is  therefore  justly  deserving  of 
the  high  regard  in  which  he  is  held  by  his 
fellow  citizens. 


JAMES  T.  MARTIN,  one  of  the  most 
prominent  residents  of  Chenoa,  and  re- 
cently a  farmer  of  Livingston  county,  is  a 
native  of  Ohio,  being  born  in  Perry  county, 
on  the  28th  of  March,  1829.  He  is  a  son  of 
George  and  Hester  (Moore)  Martin,  the  for- 
mer a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  the  latter 
of  Tennessee.  George  Martin  was  a  miller 
by  occupation,  and  also  conducted  a  sawmill. 
He  was  a  man  of  great  executive  ability  and 
of  strong  religious  views.  He  was  an  ardent 
Methodist,  strong  in  his  convictions  and 
clear  in  his  perceptions  of  duty.  Politically 
he  was  a  Whig.  His  death  occurred  in  1 862, 
at  the  age  of  sixty-eight  years,  and  that  of 
his  wife  in  1866,  also  at  the  age  of  sixty- 


THE   BIOGR.\PHICAL   RECORD. 


42J 


eight  years.  There  were  twelve  children  in 
this  family,  ten  of  whom  grew  to  maturity, 
and  at  the  present  writing  si.\  are  living. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  eighth 
child  in  order  of  birth,  and  was  reared  in 
his  native  state,  receiving  his  education  in 
the  public  schools.  He  assisted  his  father 
in  the  management  of  the  home  farm  until 
1853,  and  then  went  to  Low  Point,  \\'ood- 
ford  county,  where  he  learned  carpentering, 
having  previously  had  a  wide  range  of  e.\- 
perience  in  the  use  of  tools,  as  his  father 
was  by  nature  a  mechanic.  He  worked  at 
his  trade  until  the  opening  of  the  civil  war, 
when  he  placed  himself  at  the  services  of 
his  country,  becoming  a  member  of  Com- 
pany F,  Seventy-seventh  Illinois  Volunteer 
Infantry,  under  J.  K.  Seccord,  Colonel  Grier 
commanding.  He  participated  in  the  bat- 
tles of  Vicksburg,  Fort  Hindman,  Mans- 
field, Fort  Gains,  Fort  Morgan  and  Mobile, 
and  many  others.  For  a  time  he  was  de- 
tached from  the  regiment,  doing  excellent 
service  as  a  mechanic,  and  later  rejoining 
his  regiment  and  serving  faithfully  until  the 
close  of  the  war. 

Upon  his  return  to  Woodford  county  and 
to  civil  life,  our  subject  worked  at  his  trade 
until  the  spring  of  1878,  when  he  removed 
to  Livingston  county,  Illinois,  where  he  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  seventy-five  acres 
of  valuable  land.  This  he  improved  and 
cultivated,  raising  a  general  crop.  In  1884 
he  moved  to  Chenoa,  returning  the  follow- 
ing year  to  his  farm,  where  he  lived  until 
1888,  again  moving  to  Chenoa,  where  he 
now  lives  a  quiet  and  retired  life,  free  from 
the  cares  of  business  and  the  bustle  of  active 
life.  In  June,  1862,  Mr.  Martin  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Jane  Arrowsmith,  a  native  of 
England,  who  came  to  this  country  in  1852. 
Three   children    have    come    to    bless    this 


union:  Louis  W. ,  Minnie  M.  and  Anna. 
Mr.  Martin  was  a  trustee  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  where  he  and  his  wife 
hold  membership  and  where  they  are  promi- 
nent and  energetic  workers.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Repub- 
lic, and  in  his  political  principles  he  is  a  Re- 
publican, who  always  raises  his  voice  for 
the  good  men  of  the  party.  He  is  bright 
and  cheerful  in  disposition,  genial  and  courte- 
ous in  manner,  and  has  the  good  will  and 
esteem  of  the  entire  community. 


MATTHEW  RICHARDSON,  who  is 
now  practically  living  a  retired  life  on 
his  home  farm  in  Dawson  township,  which 
comprises  three  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of 
excellent  farm  land,  is  a  native  of  Scotland, 
born  in  Dumfriesshire,  in  November,  1825, 
and  is  the  son  of  John  and  Margaret  (Lud- 
ermer)  Richardson,  both  of  whom  were  na- 
tives of  the  same  shire.  They  were  the 
parents  of  six  sons  and  four  daughters,  of 
whom  our  subject  is  the  only  one  to  come 
to  America.  John  Richardson  followed  the 
pursuit  of  agriculture,  and  for  many  years 
enjoyed  a  fair  degree  of  success,  but  un- 
fortunately going  security  for  a  friend  he 
lost  all.  He  lost  his  wife  in  1835,  and  he, 
too,  was  called  to  his  reward  in  1857. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  but  ten 
years  of  age  when  his  mother  died.  He 
continued  to  remain  with  his  father  until  his 
marriage  in  1850  to  Miss  Christina  Nichol, 
who  was  also  born  in  Dumfriesshire,  Scot- 
land. By  this  union  twelve  children  were 
born,  two  of  whom  died  in  childhood, 
Agnes,  and  one  unnamed.  Those  living  are 
Margaret,  Jane,  Mary,  John,  Jeannette, 
William,  Matthew,  Archibald,  Thomas  and 
George. 


424 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


After  the  birth  of  two  children,  Mar- 
garet and  Jane,  Matthew  Richardson  and 
his  wife  decided  to  emigrate  to  the  United 
States,  and  after  a  voyage  of  five  weeks 
they  landed  in  New  York  city,  from  which 
place  they  came  directly  west  to  Chicago. 
While  en  route  he  had  his  pocket-book 
stolen,  which,  with  the  exception  of  twenty- 
five  cents,  contained  all  his  money.  For- 
tunately he  met  a  friend  in  Chicago  with 
whom  he  remained  six  weeks  and  found  such 
employment  as  his  hands  could  find  to  do. 
He  then  came  to  McLean  county,  and  when 
he  arrived  in  Bloomington  he  had  but  five 
dollars,  which  was  the  extent  of  his  capital 
in  beginning  life  in  a  new  and  strange  coun- 
try. He  rented  a  tract  of  land  for  several 
years  until  he  was  able  to  secure  a  farm  of 
his  own.  His  first  purchase  was  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  in  Belle  Flower  town- 
ship, which  he  cultivated  until  1867,  when 
he  sold  the  same  and  purchased  eighty  acres 
on  section  11,  Dawson  township,  which 
constitutes  a  part  of  his  present  homestead. 

For  nearly  half  a  century  Matthew  Rich- 
ardson has  been  a  resident  of  McLean 
county.  Coming  here  a  poor  man,  by  in- 
dustry, honesty  and  perseverance,  he  has 
acquired  a  comfortable  competency,  and  is 
recognized  as  one  or  the  most  enterprising 
farmers  of  the  county.  In  the  years  that 
have  passed  he  has  made  many  friends, 
and  at  his  house  the  old  settlers  delight  to 
gather  to  pass  an  hour  in  friendly  converse, 
talking  over  old  times,  the  trials  and  hard- 
ships they  endured,  and  how  they  have 
lived  to  see  the  wonderful  changes  that  have 
been  made,  more  wonderful  than  man  could 
have  even  dreamed.  Mr.  Richardson  was 
one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Old  Settlers 
Society  of  Dawson  township,  and  in  the 
grove  on  his  farm    twelve   annual   meetings 


have  been  held.  No  man  in  Dawson  town- 
ship is  better  known,  and  no  man  is  held  in 
higher  esteem  than  the  honest  old  Scotch- 
man, Matthew  Richardson,  who  is  every- 
body's friend. 


DR.  BLISS  STANDISH  HOWE,  the 
manufacturer  of  the  well-known  "Dr. 
Howe's  Medicines,"  is  a  prominent  and 
successful  business  man  of  Bloomington, 
his  office  and  factory  being  located  at  319 
East  Mulberry  street.  He  was  born  near 
Canandaigua,  Ontario  county.  New  York, 
September  8,  1834,  a  son  of  William  and 
Polly  (Standish)  Howe.  His  mother  was  a 
lineal  descendant  of  Miles  Standish,  of  col- 
onial fame,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Peleg 
Standish,  who  at  an  early  day  removed  to 
Cayuga  county.  New  York.  William  Howe 
continued  his  residence  in  the  Empire  state 
until  185 1,  when  he  removed  to  Lake  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  locating  in  Benton  township, 
when  that  region  was  new  and  unimproved. 
He  was  quite  a  prominent  man  in  his  com- 
munity and  served  as  justice  of  the  peace 
for  a  number  of  years.  He  lived  in  Lake 
county  until  called  from  this  life,  and  his 
wife  died  in  Waukegan,  the  same  county. 
In  their  family  were  six  children,  and  in  or- 
der of  birth  were:  Sarah  Ann,  Oscar,  Orin, 
Bliss  S.,  Lucy  M.  and  Vinal. 

Dr.  Howe,  of  this  review  began  his  edu- 
cation* in  New  York,  and  after  the  family 
came  to  Illinois,  he  continued  his  studies  in 
the  schools  of  Waukegan.  He  remained 
upon  the  home  farm  until  he  became  inter- 
ested in  the  medicine  business,  first  as  a 
collector  for  Dr.  J.  M.  Frost,  of  Indian- 
apolis, Indiana.  He  was  also  in  the  em- 
ploy of  others  until  the  fall  of  1861,  when 
he    came    to    Bloomington    and    in     1864 


DR.   BLISS   STANDISH   HOWE. 


LIBRARY 
OF  THE 

j:;:vi:rsitv  of  illikcic 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


427 


formed  a  partnership  with  Dr.  Z.  Waters, 
manufacturing  a  general  line  of  family  medi- 
cines under  the  firm  name  of  Waters  & 
Howe.  Our  subject  traveled  with  these 
medicines  throughout  this  state,  and  had 
other  agents  in  different  parts  of  the  coun- 
try. Dr.  Waters  later  sold  his  interest  to 
a  Mr.  Woodard,  and  the  firm  became 
Woodard  &  Howe.  They  did  a  good  busi- 
ness until  the  winter  of  1876-7,  when  the 
partnership  was  dissolved.  Up  to  that  time 
the  medicines  had  been  known  as  the  Wa- 
ters medicines,  but  in  1878  Dr.  Howe  be- 
gan manufacturing  them  under  his  own 
name  and  has  since  been  alone  in  business. 
For  a  number  of  years  past  he  has  en- 
joyed an  excellent  trade  in  Illinois  and 
Indiana,  and  has  other  representatives 
elsewhere.  He  still  travels  in  the  inter- 
ests of  the  business,  and  has  been  on 
the  road  the  greater  portion  of  each  year 
since  1861.  He  does  a  large  commission 
business,  and  his  medicines  can  be  obtained 
at  many  of  the  leading  wholesale  drug 
houses  in  this  section  of  the  country. 
Among  the  preparations  he  puts  up  are  Dr. 
Howe's  vegetable  liver  pills,  Egyptian  salve, 
linament,  instant  pain  relief,  tonic  bitters, 
honey  balsam  and  blackberry  balsam.  Very 
few  men  have  traveled  longer  in  the  inter- 
ests of  one  business  or  have  sold  as  much 
medicine  as  Dr.  Howe,  he  having  been  on 
the  road  for  a  period  of  over  forty  years, 
and  has  met  with  a  well-merited  success  in 
business.  He  has  erected  a  pleasant  home 
for  himself  and  family  at  the  corner  of 
McLean  and  Mulberry  streets,  and  on  the 
same  lot  also  has  a  good  laboratory  and 
barn,  all  neat  and  substantial. 

Dr.  Howe  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Florence  Savage,  of  Mahomet,  Cham- 
paign county,  Illinois,  a    daughter  of  Moses 


and  Sarah  (Lee)  Savage.  Moses  was  a  son 
of  William  Savage.  Sarah  Lee  was  a 
daughter  of  Henry  Lee,  who  was  a  brother 
of  General  Robert  E.  Lee  and  a  native  of 
Virginia,  where  he  was  a  planter  and  where 
he  died.  Mrs.  Howe's  father  was  a  native 
of  Virginia  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1847  and 
settled  in  Piatt  county,  later  removed  to 
Champaign  county,  where  he  followed  farm- 
ing until  his  death.  Their  home  is  made 
bright  by  the  presence  of  an  adopted  daugh- 
ter. Fay  Marguerite,  an  orphan,  whose 
mother  was  Mrs.  Howe's  sister.  The  Doctor 
attends  and  supports  the  Baptist  church,  of 
which  his  wife  is  a  member.  He  has  been 
a  life-long  Republican  and  is  a  member  of 
Wade  Barney  Lodge,  No.  512,  A.  F.  &  A. 
M.,  also  of  Chapter  No.  26,  R.  A.  M.,  and 
Bloomington  Council,  R.  &  S.  M.  Mrs. 
Howe  is  a  member  of  the  Eastern  Star,  and 
is  now  acting  as  its  treasurer. 


LEANDER  RUTLEDGE.an enterprising 
and  representative  farmer  of  McLean 
county,  resides  on  section  35,  Randolph 
township.  He  is  a  native  of  the  county, 
and  was  born  on  the  old  homestead  adjoin- 
ing where  he  now  resides,  December  5i 
1843,  and  is  a  son  of  Robert  Rutledge,  a 
native  of  Kentucky,  born  in  1810,  and  who 
came  to  Illinois  in  1826,  when  but  sixteen 
years  old.  He  was  married  in  McLean 
county  to  Miss  Charity  Weedman,  a  native 
of  Ohio,  and  daughter  of  George  Weedman, 
who  was  a  pioneer  of  the  county,  and  their 
marriage  is  the  first  known  marriage  of  a 
white  couple  in  the  county.  They  located 
on  section  36,  Randolph  township,  where  he 
entered  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land 
and  at  once  commenced  its  improvement. 
He  later  purchased  two  hundred  and  forty 


428 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


acres  additional,  and  here  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  Iiis  life.  He  died  May  lo,  1891, 
at  the  age  of  eighty-one  years.  His  wife 
died  some  nine  years  previous. 

Leander  Rutledge  grew  to  manhood  on 
the  old  homestead,  and  when  old  enough  to 
follow  the  plow  and  drop  the  corn  he  was 
given  his  daily  task,  and  until  he  gained  his 
majority  he  assisted  in  the  cultivation  of  the 
home  farm.  His  education  was  obtained  in 
the  district  schools,  which  he  usually  at- 
tended in  the  winter.  In  1864  he  went  to 
Oakland  county,  Michigan,  and  was  there 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  Ann  Tilgh- 
man,  a  native  of  that  county  and  state. 
She  is  a  well-educated  lady,  and  was  a 
teacher  in  the  public  schools  of  her  own  na- 
tive state,  and  also  in  McLean  county,  Illi- 
nois, previous  to  her  marriage. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Rutledge  located 
on  the  farm  which  was  entered  bj'  his  grand- 
father Weedman,  which  has  been  his  home 
for  thirty-five  years.  His  present  residence, 
which  was  erected  in  1894,  is  on  section  35, 
but  on  another  part  of  the  same  farm.  In 
1891  he  rented  the  place  and  moved  to 
Hamilton  county,  Iowa,  where  he  remained 
three  years,  and  then  returned  to  the  old 
farm,  with  the  thought  that  McLean  county 
is  yet  the  garden  spot  of  earth.  In  addi- 
tion to  a  general  line  of  farming,  he  has 
given  special  attention  to  raising  cattle, 
feeding  annually  from  four  to  six  car-loads. 
The  farm  is  now  rented  and  he  is  devoting 
his  time  principally  to  building  and  repair- 
ing the  place. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rutledge  five  children 
were  born,  one  of  whom,  Eva,  died  at  the 
age  of  five  years.  Louie  is  now  the  wife  of 
Edward  Dorrell,  a  farmer  of  Randolph 
township.  Charity  is  the  wife  of  Frank 
Mason,   also  a  farmer   of  Randolph   town- 


ship. Martha  is  the  wife  of  Warren  Hayes, 
a  farmer  of  Downs  township.  Mary  is  yet 
at  home. 

LeanderRutledgeis  alife-long  Democrat, 
and  in  1864  cast  his  first  presidential  ballot 
for  George  B.  McClellan,  and  has  voted  for 
each  presidential  nominee  of  the  party  from 
that  time  to  the  present.  He  has  never  missed 
a  state  or  county,  and  but  one  township 
election  in  all  that  time.  While  a  politician 
in  the  true  sense  of  the  term,  and  a  firm 
believer  in  the  principles  of  his  party,  he 
has  never  aspired  to  office  and  has  accepted 
none,  save  that  of  school  director,  only 
taking  that  because  of  his  interest  in  the 
public  schools.  The  family  are  all  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at 
Hey  worth,  of  which  he  is  an  official,  serving 
as  trustee  and  steward.  He  is  president  of 
the  Cemetery  Association  of  Heyworth  and 
is  a  stockholder  and  director  in  the  Blooni- 
ington  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company. 
Fraternally,  he  is  a  member  of  Heyworth 
Lodge,  No.  483,  I.  O.  O.  F. ,  and  is  the 
present  noble  grand  of  the  lodge.  He  and 
his  wife  and  daughters  are  members  of  the 
Rebecca  degree.  A  life-long  resident  of  the 
county,  he  has  done  his  full  share  in  its 
progress  and  development,  and  has  ever  en- 
deavored to  live  at  peace  with  all  men, 
doing  as  he  would  be  done  by,  and  it  is  safe 
to  say  no  one  in  Randolph  township  is  held 
in  higher  esteem.  His  family  are  also  es- 
teemed by  all  who  know  them. 


JAMES  S.  PIERSON,  who  resides  on 
section  22,  Lexington  township,  is  the 
owner  of  a  fine  farm  of  two  hunnred  and 
thirty  acres,  which  he  keeps  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation.  He  was  born  in 
Knox  county,  Ohio,  August  7,  j3?i,  and  15 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


429 


the  son  of  Arthur  VanDyke  and  Phebe 
(Cook)  Pierson,  the  former  a  native  of  New 
Jersey,  and  the  latter  of  Pennsylvania. 
John  Pierson,  the  grandfather,  was  a  farmer 
and  teamster  by  occupation,  and  served  as 
a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 

Arthur  VanDye  Pierson,  when  about 
twelve  years  old,  accompanied  his  parents 
to  western  Pennsylvania,  and  there  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  pioneer  schools 
of  that  locality.  When  old  enough  he  as- 
sisted his  father  in  farming  and  teaming, 
doing  his  duty  faithfully  and  well.  He 
married  Phebe  Cook,  a  daughter  of  Stephen 
and  Sarah  Cook,  January  15,  iSii,  and  to 
them  were  born  eleven  children,  eight  of 
whom  grew  to  maturity — Samuel,  Cather- 
ine, Sarah,  Louisa,  James  S. ,  Annie,  Han- 
nah, Jabez,  Arthur  V.  and  Phebe.  Of  these 
onl}'  our  subject  and  Hannah  are  now  liv- 
ing. Hannah  is  the  widow  of  Gibler  Fo.\ 
and  resides  in  Downs,  Illinois. 

In  about  18 14,  Arthur  V.  Pierson  moved 
with  his  family  to  Kno.x  county,  Ohio, 
where  he  followed  farming  until  1S38,  when 
he  came  to  Illinois,  but  not  liking  the  state 
went  on  to  Iowa.  He  was  no  better 
pleased  there,  and  returned  to  Ohio  and 
resided  in  Kno.x  county  for  a  time  and  then 
moved  to  Morrow  county,  where  he  died 
May  5,  1842.  His  wife  survived  him  many 
years,  dying  on  the  30th  of  August,  1867. 
She  came  west  with  our  subject,  and  made 
her  home  with  him  until  called  to  the  upper 
and  better  world. 

In  the  subscription  schools  of  his  native 
county,  our  subject  received  his  education. 
The  school  house  was  built  of  logs,  with 
puncheon  floor  and  slab  seats  for  the  schol- 
ars. He  continued  in  school  until  about 
eighteen  years  old,  when  he  commenced 
life  for  himself,  working  for  his  father    in 


the  management  of  the  home  farm.,  which 
he  continued  to  do  until  the  father's  death 
in  1842.  He  then  took  charge  of  the  es- 
tate, settled  up  the  indebtedness,  and  run 
the  farm  until  1853,  when  he  came  to  Mc- 
Lean county,  Illinois,  and  located  in  Money 
Creek  township,  where  he  remained  one 
year.  He  then  moved  to  Menard  county, 
October,  1855,  and  located  on  his  present 
farm  in  Lexington  township.  While  not 
classed  among  the  pioneers,  he  was  yet 
here  early  enough  to  see  the  greater  part  of 
the  country  in  its  primitive  state,  with 
prairie  chickens  and  other  wild  game  in 
abundance. 

On  the  30th  of  July,  1846,  Mr.  Pierson 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  J. 
Morrison,  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  Septem- 
ber 12,  1826,  and  daughter  of  William  and 
Mary  (Young)  Morrison,  both  natives  of 
Ireland,  and  of  Scotch  and  Irish  parents. 
By  this  union  there  were  seven  children, 
the  first  dying  in  infancy.  Of  the  remain- 
der, Arthur  VanDyke  is  living  in  Lexington 
township;  Mary  L.  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  T.  D. 
Douglass,  of  Colfax,  Illinois;  Emily  mar- 
ried James  A.  Bailey,  and  they  reside  in 
Crawford  county,  Indiana;  James  Elmer 
died  December  8,  1893;  Sarah  E.  is  living 
at  home  with  her  parents;  and  Grace,  who 
married  Howard  McFarland,  died  January 
19,  1897. 

In  addition  to  general  farming,  our  sub- 
ject has  given  much  attention  to  sheep  rais- 
ing, in  which  he  has  been  very  successful. 
In  politics,  he  was  originally  a  Whig,  cast- 
ing his  first  presidential  vote  for  General 
Winfield  Scott.  Since  the  organization  of 
the  Republican  party  he  has  been  a  stanch 
advocate  of  its  principles.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Presbyterian  church,  as  is  also  his 
wife  and  family. 


430 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


HUGH  VAUGHAN.  In  this  intelligent 
age  when  men  of  energy,  industry  and 
merit  are  rapidly  pushing  their  way  to  the 
front,  those  who,  by  their  own  individual 
efforts,  have  won  favor  and  fortune,  may 
properly  claim  recognition.  Among  this 
numBer  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  who 
lives  on  section  36,  Chenoa  township,  where 
his  fine  farm  attracts  the  eye  of  the  most 
casual  observer.  He  is  a  native  of  Wales, 
born  in  Montgomeryshire,  November  20, 
1834,  and  is  the  son  of  Edward  and  Eliza- 
beth (Davis)  Vaughan,  both  of  whom  were 
natives  of  the  same  shire.  Edward  Vau- 
ghan was  the  son  of  Hugh  Vaughan,  also  a 
native  of  Wales,  who  followed  farming  and 
mining  in  his  native  country.  He  was  a 
large  landed  proprietor,  and  was  quite  an 
extensive  farmer  and  miner.  Of  his  family 
of  five  children  Edward  was  the  oldest. 

Edward  Vaughan  grew  to  manhood  in 
Wales,  where  he  followed  agricultural  pur- 
suits. He  married  Elizabeth  Davis  and 
they  became  the  parents  of  six  children: 
Jane,  Hugh,  Robert,  Edward,  John  and 
Mary.  Of  these  Jane  died  at  the  age  of 
thirty  years.  Of  the  sons,  Robert  and 
Hugh  came  to  the  United  States.  The 
former  on  his  arrival  concluded  to  remain 
in  New  York  for  a  time,  but  after  remaining 
there  for  about  six  months  went  to  Ohio, 
where  he  engaged  in  the  oil  business,  and 
there  continued  for  two  years.  He  then 
came  to  Illinois,  where  he  also  spent  two 
years,  and  then  went  to  Montana,  where  he 
is  now  living,  engaged  in  the  stock  business. 
He  has  been  quite  successful  in  that  far 
western  state,  and  is  quite  an  enterprising 
man.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Church  of  England. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  grew  to  man- 
hood in  his  native   country  and  was  reared 


to  farm  life.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one  he 
determined  to  try  his  fortune  in  free  Amer- 
ica, and  in  June,  1857,  he  landed  in  New 
York,  and  going  to  Oneida  county.  New 
York,  he  there  remained  two  and  a  half 
years,  and  in  1859  came  to  McLean  county, 
Illinois,  and  located  in  Lexington,  where 
he  engaged  in  manual  labor,  working  by  the 
month.  In  the  spring  of  i860  he  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  land,  and  in  addition  rented 
eighty  acres  and  commenced  farming  on  his 
own  responsibility. 

Realizing  that  it  was  not  good  for  man 
to  be  alone,  on  the  8th  of  April,  i860,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Helen 
Jones,  also  a  native  of  Montgomeryshire, 
Wales,  born  November  28,  1834,  and 
daughter  of  Hugh  and  Jane  (Evans)  Jones, 
both  of  whom  were  also  natives  of  the  same 
country.  Hugh  Jones  was  a  large  farmer 
in  Wales,  and  never  came  to  this  country. 
Mrs.  Vaughan  came  over  on  the  same  ves- 
sel with  her  future  husband,  but  they 
did  not  wed  for  a  few  years  afterwards. 
To  them  have  been  born  eight  children: 
Edward  R.  died  at  the  age  of  twenty  years, 
while  stopping  with  his  uncle  Robert,  in 
Montana.  Viola  J.  married  Kenneth  Mc- 
Iver,  and  with  their  two  children  they  now 
reside  in  Great  Falls,  Montana.  Hugh 
died  at  the  age  of  nine  months.  Elizabeth 
Mary,  Grace  J.,  Robert  E.,  Margaret  I.  and 
John  G.  are  living  at  home  with  their 
parents.  Robert  is  assisting  his  father  in 
the  cultivation  of  the  home  farm,  and  is  a 
young  man  of  good  business  ability. 

On  landing  in  the  United  States,  Mr. 
Vaughan  had  but  fifty  dollars,  and  that  has 
served  as  the  basis  for  his  added  accumula- 
tions. He  is  a  self-made  man  in  every 
sense  of  the  word,  having  the  assistance  of 
no  one  on  this  side  of  the  water,  but  with 


THE   BIOGR.\PHICAL   RECORD. 


431 


the  steadfast  determination  to  succeed,  he 
bravely  took  up  the  battle  of  life  in  a 
strange  country  and  success  has  crowned 
his  efforts.  His  fine  farm  of  two  hundred 
and  forty  acres  is  under  a  high  state  of  cul- 
tivation, with  splendid  improvements,  in- 
cluding fine  dwelling,  large  barn  and  various 
outbuildings,  and  all  the  improvements 
made  are  the  result  of  his  own  industry  and 
thrift. 

In  politics  Mr.  \'aughan  is  a  Republican, 
his  first  presidential  vote  being  cast  for  Illi- 
nois' greatest  son,  Abraham  Lincoln,  in 
1864.  Mrs.  Vaughan  is  a  member  of  the 
Congregationalist  church,  and  while  Mr. 
Vaughan  is  not  a  member,  he  attends  the 
same  and  contributes  to  its  support.  He 
donated  the  land  for  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church,  and  has  contributed  to  its  sup- 
port. In  fact,  there  is  no  benevolent  or 
charitable  object  but  finds  in  him  a  sympa- 
thizer and  one  willing  to  contribute  to  the 
e.xtent  of  his  abilitj'.  He  holds  a  high  place 
in  the  esteem  of  his  fellow  citizens,  and  is 
worthy  of  all  the  honors  bestowed.  In 
addition  to  his  home  farm,  he  is  the  owner 
of  an  eighty-acre  tract  in  Dewey  county. 
South  Dakota,  and  a  good  lot  in  Great 
Falls,  Montana. 


THEOPHILUS  F.  CAPP,  an  honored 
veteran  of  the  civil  war  and  who  was  a 
well-known  blacksmith  of  Bloomington, 
was  born  near  Delphi,  Indiana,  August  28, 
1835,  3^nd  was  a  son  of  Peter  and  Sarah 
(Kern)  Capp.  The  father  was  a  native  of 
Germany  and  on  his  emigration  to  America 
when  a  young  man,  he  first  settled  in  Penn- 
sylvania, but  later  located  near  Germantown, 
Ohio,  where  his  marriage    was  celebrated. 


The  mother  was  born  in  Ohio  and  was  a 
daughter  of  George  Kern,  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania and  a  representative  of  an  old 
Pennsylvania  Dutch  family  whose  early 
home  was  near  Reading,  that  state.  At  an 
early  day  he  removed  to  Ohio,  passing 
through  the  present  city  of  Cincinnati,  when 
it  contained  but  one  log  cabin,  and  go- 
ing forty  miles  back  into  the  country  he 
took  up  a  claim  in  Montgomery  county, 
where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
His  son  still  lives  on  the  old  homestead  there, 
it  having  been  in  possession  of  the  family 
for  more  than  a  century. 

Peter  Capp,  father  of  our  subject,  was 
one  of  the  pioneers  of  Indiana,  locating  near 
Delphi,  when  the  Indians  were  far  more 
numerous  in  that  region  than  the  white  set- 
tlers. There  he  took  up  a  claim  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  and  built  a  house, 
residing  there  until  his  death  which  occurred 
during  the  infancy  of  our  subject.  After 
that  sad  event  the  mother  returned  to  her 
father's  home  in  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
and  remained  there  for  some  years,  but 
spent  her  last  days  in  Fairbury,  Illinois.  In 
her  family  were  eight  children  who  reached 
years  of  maturity,  but  only  two  are  now  liv- 
ing, namely:  Mrs.  Sarah  Zimmerman,  of 
Fairbury,  Illinois;  and  George,  of  Lincoln, 
Nebraska. 

Mr.  Capp,  of  this  review,  was  reared  on 
his  grandfather's  farm  in  Montgomery  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  until  seventeen  years  of  age  and 
acquired  his  education  in  a  little  brick  school 
house  of  the  neighborhood.  He  then  went 
to  Hamiton  county,  the  same  state,  where 
he  learned  the  blacksmith  trade,  and  later 
worked  as  a  journeyman  in  Indiana  until 
coming  to  Henry,  Marshall  county,  Illinois. 

While  in  that  county  the  civil  war  broke 
out  and  Mr.  Capp  enlisted  in  Company  B, 


432 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Forty-seventh  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry, 
being  mustered  into  the  United  States  serv- 
ice August  1 6,  i86t,  at  Peoria,  two  months 
after  his  enlistment.  With  his  regiment  he 
was  then  sent  to  Jefferson  Barracks,  St. 
Louis,  where  they  were  drilled  and  equipped, 
and  as  sergeant  of  his  company  proceeded 
with  them  to  Jefferson  City,  Missouri, 
where  they  occupied  little  wedge  shape 
tents  until  February,  1862,  when  they 
moved  on  to  Ottoville.  On  the  5th  of  March 
they  were  ordered  to  break  camp  and  cross 
the  Missouri  river  at  Columbia.  They  then 
marched  to  St.  Charles,  just  above  St.  Louis, 
and  proceeded  by  railroad  to  Carondolet. 
They  remained  in  Jefferson  Barracks  until 
taking  the  boat  for  a  place  about  opposite 
Cairo,  and  spent  a  few  weeks  in  recoinnoit- 
ering  through  Missouri.  Returning  to  Cairo 
they  boarded  the  steamer  Gray  Eagle,  on 
which  they  spent  three  weeks,  and  on  finally 
landing  at  Island  No.  10  marched  to  New 
Madrid.  Before  the  surrender  of  Island  No. 
10,  they  met  the  enemy  and  fell  back. 
After  going  into  camp  they  received  orders 
to  get  ready  five-days  rations'  and  forty 
rounds  of  ammunition,  and  under  light 
marching  orders,  Mr.  Capp's  brigade,  which 
was  the  Second  Brigade,  Second  Division, 
Fifteenth  Army  Corps,  marched  until  day- 
light through  swamps  and  finally  reached 
the  Mississippi  river  below  Germantown, 
formed  in  line  and  were  ordered  to  lay 
down  on  arms.  After  sleeping  thus  in  the  cold 
frosty  air  for  a  few  hours,  they  were  ordered 
forward  to  capture  the  little  town,  which 
was  a  landing  place  on  the  Mississippi  in- 
side the  rebel  lines,  but  the  Confederate 
gunboats  drove  them  back  a  mile  and  a  half. 
They  had  no  tents,  and  as  they  had  brought 
with  them  only  rations  enough  for  five  days 
and    were    gone    three    weeks,    they    were 


forced  to  go  some  time  without  food  except 
corn  which  they  grated  on  a  canteen 
punched  full  of  holes.  After  the  island 
was  captured  they  succeeded  in  getting 
better  rations.  On  the  Gray  Eagle  the 
brigade  went  down  the  river  below  Helena 
and  at  this  time  Mr.  Capp  was  promoted 
to  the  rank  of  second  lieutenant.  A  few 
weeks  after  the  capture  of  Island  No.  10  the 
troops  started  for  Shiloh  by  way  of  the  Miss- 
issippi, Ohio  and  Tennessee,  but  did  not 
arrive  there  until  the  day  after  the  battle. 
Here  our  subject  was  commissioned  first 
lieutenant.  With  the  command  he  went  to 
Corinth  and  took  part  in  the  engagement  at 
that  place,  it  being  his  first  battle  of  any 
importance.  The  night  before  the  evacua- 
tion he  saw  the  rockets  sent  up  and  the 
blowing  up  of  the  magazine  there.  The 
regiment  to  which  he  belonged  spent  the 
summer  at  Rienzi,  and  September  19,  1862, 
participated  in  the  battle  of  luka.  Mr. 
Capp's  column  arrived  there  at  sundown 
and  had  to  shoot  at  close  range  under  the 
hottest  fire  he  ever  encountered.  In  this 
engagement  his  major  was  captured.  That 
night  the  Union  troops  slept  on  their  arms, 
and  at  midnight  were  ordered  to  crawl  back 
three  or  four  hundred  yards  and  form  a 
line,  but  at  daylight  the  rebels  had  disap- 
peared. After  following  them  for  a  day 
and  a  half  they  returned  to  Corinth,  where 
a  battle  was  begun  October  3,  the  Union 
army  being  defeated  the  first  day  and  fall- 
ing back  behind  the  breastworks.  The  sec- 
ond day,  however,  the  Second  brigade  lay 
back  of  Fort  Robert  and  Vendome,  and 
when  Price's  forces  came  up  they  received 
a  cross  fire  which  drove  them  back  defeated. 
Here  the  Forty-seventh  Illinois  lost  one 
hundred  and  fifty  men,  including  about  five 
commissioned  officers.      Under  command  of 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


433 


General  Grant  they  next  went  to  La  Grange 
to  make  ready  for  the  Vicksburg  campaign, 
the  Second  brigade  marching  at  the  head  of 
the  column.  A  new  regiment,  the  One 
Hundred  and  First  Illinois,  had  just  arrived, 
and  the  following  morning  was  placed  at 
the  head  of  the  column,  but  before  lo  a.  m. 
not  one  of  them  were  in  line.  The  troops 
proceeded  to  Oxford,  but  as  \'endome  and 
Price  took  Holly  Springs,  where  the  One 
Hundred  and  First  had  stopped,  the  whole 
brigade  had  to  march  back  to  their  assist- 
ance. They  then  proceeded  toward  Vicks- 
burg via  Youngs  Point,  where  the  army  dug 
a  number  of  canals,  etc.,  and  continued 
their  march  down  the  west  side  of  the  river 
to  a  point  below  Port  Hudson,  the  boats 
having  already  run  the  blockade  at  Vicks- 
burg. Re-crossing  the  river  the  rear  of  the 
army  became  detached  and  lived  off  the 
country.  Our  subject's  brigade,  which  was 
on  the  extreme  right,  camped  at  Jackson, 
Mississippi,  and  he  spent  one  day  and  two 
nights  in  the  capital  grounds.  By  orders 
from  headquarters  he  was  made  commander 
of  the  guards  for  General  Grant  and  staff  at 
the  Bowman  House,  where  he  remained 
until  May  19,  1863.  He  was  then  on  the 
picket  line,  digging  pits  until  May  22,  when 
a  general  assault  was  made.  He  lay  in  the 
hollow  in  front  of  the  battery  all  day,  it  be- 
ing a  place  where  it  was  impossible  to  ad- 
vance or  retreat.  The  next  day,  with  his 
brigade,  he  went  up  the  Yazoo  river  to 
Yazoo  City  in  search  of  Johnston's  army, 
and  on  their  return  after  two  weeks'  absence 
were  sent  across  the  Mississippi  river  op- 
posite Vicksburg  to  prevent  the  rebels  from 
going  in  or  out.  They  were  next  sent  down 
to  the  levee  to  watch,  it  being  a  place 
where  they  could  do  nothing,  though  fired 
upon  from  across    the    river  and  from  the 


sides  for  twenty-four  hours  and  their  loss 
was  severe.  After  that  details  of  one  hun- 
dred men  were  sent  to  watch  until  the 
surrender  of  Vicksburg,  July  4,  1863.  Mr. 
Capp  was  in  command  of  the  guard  when 
all  the  gunboats  came  in  with  colors  flying, 
making  a  most  beautiful  sight.  His  serv- 
ices in  behalf  of  the  sick  and  wounded  at 
this  place  will  never  be  forgotten  by  the 
many  from  his  regiment  and  others  that  he 
aided  in  returning  to  their  homes.  He  was 
selected  to  carry  a  petition  to  General 
Grant's  headquarters.  After  the  surrender 
of  \'icksburg  the  army  went  back  twenty- 
five  miles  east  of  that  place  to  Black  river, 
and  after  spending  the  summer  there  went 
on  the  Red  river  expedition.  About  this 
time  Mr.  Capp  was  detached  and  sent  north 
as  a  recruiting  officer  with  ten  non-commis- 
sioned men  under  him.  With  headquarters 
at  Peoria  he  swore  in  the  men  enlisting  and 
sent  them  to  St.  Louis  or  the  regiments 
which  they  wished  to  join.  In  April,  1864, 
he  was  ordered  back  to  New  Orleans,  but 
as  his  regiment  had  not  returned  from  the 
Red  river  expedition  he  went  to  Memphis, 
where  he  finally  rejoined  his  command  and 
where  they  remained  during  the  summer. 
He  was  sent  out  on  an  expedition  after 
Forest,  and  was  in  a  two  days'  fight  with 
that  general's  men.  Returning  to  head- 
quarters in  Memphis  he  remained  there 
until  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  enlist- 
ment, serving  as  quartermaster.  He  was 
mustered  out  October  11,  1864,  and  re- 
turned home  with  a  war  record  of  which  he 
may  be  justly  proud. 

Mr.  Capp  resumed  business  at  the  black- 
smith's trade  in  Henry,  Marshall  county, 
Illinois,  but  in  1867  came  to  Bloomington. 
For  about  ten  years  he  was  foreman  of  the 
mechanical  department  of  the  Walton  Plow 


434 


THE    BIOGR,\PHICAL    RECORD. 


Works  while  they  were  located  at  Bloom- 
ington,  and  made  the  first  dies  for  the  first 
plosvs  manufactured  and  all  of  the  forms 
and  patterns  until  the  company  sold  out. 
The  noted  Walton  plow  was  all  his  own 
idea,  and  he  personally  worked  on  them  as 
well  as  superintended  their  manufacture. 
For  three  years  he  was  also  with  the  Satley 
Manufacturing  Company  of  Springfield,  and 
held  a  similar  position  with  that  concern, 
but  on  account  of  the  gas  in  the  factory  he 
had  to  give  up  the  business.  Here  he  had 
charge  of  seventy-five  men  in  the  black- 
smith shop  and  grinding  and  polishing 
rooms,  and  on  leaving  the  company  he  was 
presented  by  the  employes  with  a  beautiful 
gold-headed  ebony  cane  as  a  token  of  their 
regard  and  respect.  On  his  return  to 
Bloomington  he  opened  a  shop  of  his  own 
and  did  a  successful  general  blacksmithing 
business.  On  East  street,  where  his  shop 
was  located,  he  owned  forty-six  feet  front, 
and  he  also  owned  his  pleasant  home  at  No. 
506  North  Center  street,  which  was  erected 
by  him.  He  was  quite  prominent  in  Grand 
Army  circles,  and  served  as  commander  of 
William  T.  Sherman  Post,  No.  146,  G.  A. 
R.,  and  represented  it  at  the  state  encamp- 
ment. He  manifested  the  same  loyalty  in 
days  of  peace  as  in  days  of  war,  and  all  who 
knew  him  had  for  him  the  highest  regard. 
He  attended  and  supported  the  First  Method- 
ist Episcopal  church.  His  death  occurred 
March  28,  1899. 

On  the  2 1  St  of  November,  1865,  Mr. 
Capp  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Elma  E.  Hoyt,  of  Henry,  Illinois,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Matthew  Hoyt.  They  have  two  chil- 
dren: Frank  M.,  who  graduated  from  the 
Wesleyan  Law  School  with  the  degree  of 
LL.  B.,  and  Helen  Hoyt,  who  is  a  fine  musi- 
cian. 


JOHN  A.  EWINS,  deceased,  was  for 
many  years  one  of  the  best  known  citi- 
zens of  McLean  county,  a  man  who  stood 
high  in  the  estimation  of  the  people,  a  good 
farmer,  business  man  and  citizen.  He  was 
born  in  Kingston,  New  Hampshire,  in  No- 
vember, 1825,  and  was  the  son  of  James  P. 
and  Mehitable  (Clement)  Ewins.  His  early 
boyhood  was  spent  among  the  granite  hills 
of  his  native  state,  and  in  1834  he  accom- 
panied his  parents  to  Illinois,  the  family 
stopping  for  a  time  in  Chicago,  during 
which  time  he  attended  school  on  the  south 
side  of  that  city,  which  was  then  but  a  mere 
village,  giving  little  promise  of  its  future 
greatness. 

Believing  he  could  better  himself,  James 
P.  Ewins,  in  December,  1834,  went  with 
his  family  to  LaSalle  county,  and  located  in 
Waupansie  grove,  where  he  made  claim  to 
two  hundred  acres  of  land.  This  land  was 
subsequently  purchased  by  some  eastern 
captalist,  for  speculative  purposes,  but  one- 
halt  was  deeded  to  Mr.  Ewins,  because  of 
information  he  furnished  about  the  country. 
After  living  in  LaSalle  county  for  nearly 
two  years,  in  the  fall  of  1836  he  came  to 
McLean  county,  and  located  near  the 
present  village  of  Danvers,  where  in  the 
spring  of  1837  he  purchased  forty  acres  of 
land,  and  where  he  made  his  home  until 
called  from  this  world  in  November,  1846. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  remained  at 
home  until  he  attained  his  majority,  when 
he  commenced  life  for  himself.  His  edu- 
cation which  was  begun  in  his  native  state, 
was  completed  in  the  schools  of  McLean 
county,  and  while  that  obtained  within  the 
school  room  may  not  have  been  very  great, 
yet  by  reading  and  observation  he  became 
a  well-informed  man,  and  was  always  well 
posted  in  the  current  events  of  the  day.      In 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


435 


the  spring  of  1856  he  engaged  in  the  mer- 
cantile business,  having  for  the  previous  ten 
years  being  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits. 
Two  years'  experience  in  the  mercantile 
business  in  the  village  of  Danvers  was  suf- 
ficient for  him,  and  in  185S  he  returned  to 
the  farm.  In  addition  to  general  farming, 
he  was  a  large  dealer  in  cattle  and  hogs,  in 
which  line  he  met  with  good  success.  From 
time  to  time  he  added  to  the  area  of  his 
possessions  until  he  was  the  owner  of  over 
six  hundred  acres  of  good  farming  land.  In 
1869  he  purchased  a  half  interest  in  the 
Danvers  mill,  which  he  sold  in  1873. 

Mr.  Ewins  was  twice  married,  his  first 
union,  which  was  celebrated  in  1854,  being 
with  Miss  Euphemia  R.  Blair,  a  native  of 
Illinois,  who  only  lived  ten  da3'S.  On  the 
10th  of  April,  1856,  he  was  again  married, 
his  second  union  being  with  Miss  Malinda 
T.  Franks,  a  native  of  Boone  county,  Ken- 
tucky, born  February  9,  1835,  ^"^  daughter 
of  James  T.  and  Rebecca  (Walton)  Franks, 
the  former  a  native  of  Virginia,  born  in 
Frederick  county,  December  i,  1795,  and 
the  latter  of  Boone  count}',  Kentucky,  born 
December  28,  1810. 

James  T.  Franks,  who  was  the  son  of  a 
Virginia  planter,  grew  to  manhood  in  his 
native  state  and  there  married  Miss  Malinda 
Oriar,  and  by  this  marriage  there  was  no 
issue.  While  residing  in  Virginia  he  was 
the  overseer  on  a  large  plantation.  From 
Virginia  he  moved  to  Kentucky  about  1829, 
and  there  married  Miss  Rebecca  Walton, 
and  they  became  the  parents  of  eleven 
children  that  grew  to  maturity,  of  whom 
Mrs.  Ewins  was  third  in  order  of  birth.  In 
1836  he  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Taz- 
well  county,  where  he  engaged  in  farming 
for  nine  years.  In  1845  he  came  to  McLean 
county  and   located   in   Danvers   township, 


where  he  bought  land  and  continued  to 
reside,  engaged  in  farming,  until  his  death, 
December  30,  1872.  His  wife  survived 
him  ten  years,  dying  December  25,  1882. 
He  was  an  excellent  farmer  and  stock  raiser, 
and  was  quite  successful  in  life.  Notwith- 
standing he  was  reared  in  a  slave  state  and 
was  himself  an  overseer  of  a  plantation  on 
which  were  many  slaves,  he  became  a  Re- 
publican in  politics  and  voted  with  that 
party  as  long  as  he  lived.  In  religion  he 
was  a  Cumberland  Presbyterian,  as  was 
also  his  wife. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ewins  five  children 
were  born:  Jennie  L.  married  B.  F.  Harber, 
and  they  reside  in  Bloomington,  where  he 
is  engaged  in  the  wholesale  implement 
business.  Frank  P.  is  living  in  Kansas 
City,  Missouri,  where  he  is  engaged  in  the 
hotel  business,  owning  and  managing  three 
hotels.  He  married  Miss  Amelia  Clark,  and 
they  have  had  three  children,  one  of  whom, 
Harry,  died  at  the  age  of  five  years.  The 
living  are  John  A.  and  Louise,  who  are  at 
home  with  their  parents.  Carrie  died  at 
the  age  of  one  year  and  three  months. 
Mary  died  when  but  three  and  a  half 
months  old.  Chester  R.  is  engaged  in 
farming,  operating  the  home  farm  of  four 
hundred  acres  in  Danvers  township.  (See 
sketch  on  another  page  of  this  work.) 

The  popularity  of  Mr.  Ewins  among  his 
neighbors  is  attested  by  his  election  for 
fourteen  years  as  a  member  of  the  county 
board  of  supervisors.  In  that  body  he  took 
a  very  active  part,  and  was  one  of  the  most 
influential  members,  being  clear-headed, 
conservative,  and  yet  withal  enterprising, 
always  ready  to  aid  in  every  public  improve- 
ment. He  was  a  thorough  and  consistent 
Republican,  believing  strongly  in  the  princi- 
ples of  the   party,  and    lending   his   aid    for 


436 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


their  promulgation.  While  not  a  member 
of  any  church,  he  was  a  believer  in  the  Chris- 
tian religion  and  with  his  wife,  who  is  a  mem- 
ber of  that  body,  attended  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterin  church.  On  the  istof  August, 
1895,  he  was  called  to  his  reward,  and  it  is 
safe  to  say  the  loss  of  no  man  in  Danvers 
township  was  ever  more  deeply  felt.  His 
friends  were  numerous  not  only  in  the  town- 
ship but  thoughout  the  county,  which  was 
his  home  for  very  nearly  a  half  century. 
His  widow  is  yet  living,  and  makes  her 
home  in  the  village  of  Danvers,  where  she 
is  loved  and  respected  by  all. 


WASHINGTON  IRVING  MERWIN. 
When,  afte  ryears  of  long  and  ear- 
nest labor  in  some  honorable  field  of  busi- 
ness, a  man  puts  aside  all  cares  to  spend  his 
remaining  years  in  the  enjoyment  of  the 
fruits  of  his  former  toil,  it  is  certainly  a 
well-deserved  reward  of  his  industry. 

"How  blest  is  he  who  crowns  in  shades  lil<e  these, 
A  youth  of  labor  with  an  age  of  ease," 

wrote  the  poet,  and  the  world  everywhere 
recognizes  the  justice  of  a  season  of  rest  fol- 
lowing an  active  period  of  business  life. 
Mr.  Merwin  is  now  living  retired  at  his 
beautiful  home  in  Bloomington,  and  his 
history  is  one  that  shows  the  accomplish- 
ment of  well-directed  labor. 

He  was  born  in  Kinderhook,  Columbia 
county.  New  York,  May  30,  1834,  a  son  of 
Jesse  and  Jane  (Van  Dyke)  Merwin,  and 
was  named  for  Washington  Irving,  the  noted 
author,  whose  home  was  at  Tarrytown-on- 
the-Hudson,  and  who  frequently  visited  our 
subject's  father  at  Kinderhook,  as  they  were 
warm  friends.  The  character  of  Ichabod 
Crane  in  Irving's  Sketch  Book  is  that  of  Mr. 
Merwin.     The  Merwins  were  originally  from 


Wales,  and  the  first  of  the  family  to  come 
to  America  settled  at  Milfords  Point,  Con- 
necticut, which  was  later  known  as  Mer- 
win's  Point.  The  father  of  our  subject  was 
born  at  that  place,  August  2,  1784,  and 
when  young  removed  with  his  parents  to 
Kinderhook,  New  York,  where  the  family 
were  neighbors  of  President  Martin  Van 
Buren,  who  thought  a  great  deal  of  our 
subject.  The  father  spent  his  active  life  as 
a  farmer  in  Kinderhook,  and  filled  the  office 
of  justice  of  the  peace  for  twelve  years.  He 
was  an  ardent  supporter  of  the  Democratic 
party,  and  one  of  the  leading  and  prominent 
men  of  his  township,  which  he  represented 
on  the  board  of  supervisors.  He  died  there 
November  8,  1852.  His  wife,  who  was 
born  September  12,  1788,  long  survived 
him,  passing  away  in  1882,  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  ninety-four  years.  Her  fa- 
ther, Peter  Van  Dyke,  belonged  to  an 
old  Dutch  family,  and  was  a  soldier  of 
Revolutionary  war.  Her  mother,  who  bore 
the  maiden  name  of  Marie  Poland,  lived  to 
the  extreme  age  of  one  hundred  and  two 
years.  To  the  parents  of  our  subject  were 
born  eleven  children,  eight  sons  and  three 
daughters,  of  whom  four  are  still  living,  our 
subject  being  the  youngest  of  the  family. 
The  others  are  as  follows :  Peter,  born 
October  16,  18 10,  was  a  farmer  of  Kinder- 
hook, who  died  about  i860;  Daniel  E., 
born  September  12,  1812,  was  a  dentist  of 
Valatie,  New  York,  and  died  January  5, 
1865;  Henry,  born  July  16,  18 14,  was  a 
resident  of  Hartford,  Connecticut,  where 
he  died  March  28,  1866;  Catherine,  born 
March  11,  18 16,  married  Martin  Link,  of 
Hudson,  New  York,  and  died  about  1889; 
Asher,  born  March  30,  18 18,  came  to  Mc- 
Lean county,  Illinois,  in  1852,  but  since 
1884  has    lived  in    Palatka,  Florida;  Alber- 


THF    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


437 


tine,  born  May  4,  1821,  married  John  M. 
Waltermire,  who  died  in  1S56,  leaving  two 
children,  and  she  later  married  Theodore 
Shultz,  and  they  now  make  their  home  in 
Kinderhook;  Cornelius,  born  April  30,  1820, 
died  June  30,  1871,  at  Valatie,  New  York; 
Jane  E.,  born  December  19,  1824,  mar- 
ried David  Waltermire,  and  died  August  5, 
1876;  Samuel,  born  May  19,  1829,  lived 
at  Valatie  and  died  in  1895;  '^nd  David, 
who  makes  his  home  in  Kinderhook  on  the 
old  homestead. 

Mr.  Merwin,  of  this  review,  grew  to 
manhood  upon  his  father's  farm  and  his  ed- 
ucation was  acquired  in  the  common 
schools  and  academy  of  Kinderhook.  On 
the  3d  of  December,  1856,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  Reynolds,  of 
that  place,  a  daughter  of  John  N.  and  Eliz- 
abeth (Eaton)  Reynolds,  who  were  also 
born  and  reared  in  Kinderhook  and  were 
representatives  of  old  New  England  fami- 
lies. Of  the  seven  children  born  to  this 
union  all  are  still  living,  namely :  James 
R. ,  who  is  engaged  in  the  loan  business  in 
Bloomington,  wedded  Mary  Miller  and  has 
one  child,  Louis;  Mary  A.  is  the  wife  of 
Walker  Boulware,  of  Folsom,  Illinois,  and 
has  three  children,  Lucile,  Louis  and  Hardin 
M.;  Clarence  B.  married  Nettie  Stone  and 
has  two  children,  Margaret  and  Ruth;  Kitty 
V.  D.  is  at  home;  Louis  B.  married  Miss 
Jessie  O.,  daughter  of  W.  O.  Davis,  and  is 
assistant  cashier  of  the  Third  National 
Bank,  of  Bloomington;  Ada  is  at  home; 
and  Leonard  R.  married  Leonora  Fiber,  of 
Chicago,  and  is  manager  of  the  Boston 
Dental  Parlors,  of  Chicago. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Mersvin  became 
interested  in  mercantile  business  in  Kin- 
derhook and  met  with  e.xcellent  success. 
On  selling  out  he  went  to  New  York  City, 


where  he  conducted  a  large  fancy  grocery 
on  the  Bowery,  and  also  had  a  stand  in 
Tompkins'  market,  and  continued  opera- 
tions there  until  disposing  of  his  business 
during  the  excitement  of  the  civil  war. 
He  then  purchased  a  farm,  which  after 
operating  for  four  or  five  years  he  sold  at 
an  advance  of  forty  dollars  per  acre.  After 
that  he  engaged  in  the  hardware  business 
and  sold  out  and  bought  a  farm — later  en- 
gaged in  the  confectionery  and  bakery  busi- 
ness at  Valatie,  Kinderhook  township, 
Columbia  county,  New  York,  and  did  an 
excellent  business,  as  he  had  no  competi- 
tors. Finding  that  the  long  hours  were 
wearing  both  himself  and  his  family  out,  he 
sold  in  1876  and  came  west.  Though  never 
an  office  seeker  he  had  been  called  upon  to 
fill  a  number  of  local  positions  of  honor  and 
trust.  For  seven  years  he  was  a  member 
of  the  town  board  in  Kinderhook. 

On  reaching  Illinois,  in  1876,  Mr.  Mer- 
win took  up  his  residence  in  Padua,  Mc- 
Lean county,  where  he  opened  a  general 
store  carrying  a  large  and  well- selected  stock 
of  goods.  He  became  the  leading  business 
man  of  the  place  and  dealt  quite  e.xten- 
sively  in  grain,  stock,  coal  and  lumber, 
handling  from  one  hundred  and  fifty  to  two 
hundred  thousand  bushels  of  grain  annually. 
He  was  one  of  the  first  in  this  region  to  put 
in  operation  the  new  style  perpetual  hay 
press,  sending  to  New  York  for  his  engine, 
and  has  pressed  and  loaded  a  car  of  hay  in 
eight  hours.  His  grain  and  hay  he  shipped 
to  eastern  markets  in  Massachusetts,  New 
York  and  Canada;  his  stock  to  Chicago. 
In  connection  with  his  other  business  inter- 
ests he  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  tile, 
running  four  kilns  and  giving  employment  to 
twelve  men.  While  engaged  in  that  busi- 
ness he    manufactured    hundreds    of    thou- 


438 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


sands  o{  tile.  He  also  served  as  station 
agent  for  the  Lake  Erie  &  Western  Rail- 
road, and  as  express  agent  and  postmaster 
at  Padua.  He  owned  and  operated  a  feed 
mill  and  practically  carried  on  all  the  busi- 
ness of  the  town.  He  had  a  telephone 
which  gave  him  communication  with  the 
outside  world,  and  was  one  of  the  most 
progressive,  enterprising  and  up-to-date 
business  men  of  the  community.  During 
his  residence  there  he  served  as  justice  of 
the  peace,  and  in  that  office  performed 
many  marriage  ceremonies  and  had  had 
many  laughable  experiences.  He  remained 
in  business  at  Padua  until  1882,  when  he 
came  to  Bloomington  and  was  engaged  in 
the  grocery  trade  for  three  years.  At  the 
end  of  that  time  he  returned  to  Blooming- 
ton,  where  he  has  since  lived,  having 
erected  a  handsome  residence  at  No.  1302 
East  Grove  street,  at  the  corner  of  Kreitzer 
avenue,  where  he  has  an  acre  of  land,  mak- 
ing a  beautiful  lawn  about  his  home.  When 
the  place  was  built  it  seemed  "way  out  "  in 
the  country,  but  houses  have  since  been 
erected  far  beyond  it  during  the  past  five 
years.  Mr.  Merwin  has  large  green  houses 
heated  by  hot  water  one  mile  east  of  his 
home,  and  to  these  he  gives  his  personal 
attention.  He  has  also  for  some  years  been 
quite  a  successful  dealer  in  city  real  estate. 
Mr.  Merwin  has  always  been  a  patriotic 
and  loyal  citizen,  and  as  he  was  ill  when 
the  civil  war  broke  out,  he  hired  a  substi- 
tute, although  he  would  not  have  been  lia- 
ble to  have  been  drafted.  Since  coming  to 
this  state  he  has  been  an  ardent  supporter 
of  the  Republican  party  and  as  a  public- 
spirited  citizen  withholds  his  aid  from  no 
enterprise  which  he  believes  will  prove  of 
benefit.  For  many  years  he  and  his  wife 
have  been   connected  with   the    Methodist 


Episcopal  church,  and  now  hold  member- 
ship in  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
of  Bloomington,  of  which  he  has  been  a 
trustee,  but  is  not  at  present  an  officer.  As 
a  citizen,  friend  and  neighbor,  he  is  true  to 
every  duty  and  justly  merits  the  esteem  in 
which  he  is  held. 


DAVID  H.  McFARLAND,  M.  D.  In 
comparison  of  the  relative  value  to 
mankind  of  the  various  professions  and  pur- 
suits it  is  widely  recognized  that  none  is  so 
important  as  the  medical  profession.  From 
the  cradle  to  the  grave  human  destiny  is 
largely  in  the  hands  of  the  physician.  One 
of  the  ablest  representatives  of  this  noble 
calling  in  McLean  county  is  the  gentleman 
whose  name  introduces  this  sketch.  For 
over  a  third  of  a  century  he  has  been  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  practice  in  Heyworth, 
and  he  stands  deservedly  high  in  social  as 
well  as  professional  circles. 

The  Doctor  was  born  in  Bedford  county, 
Pennsylvania,  October  16,  183 1,  and  is  a 
worthy  representative  of  one  of  the  honored 
pioneer  families  of  that  state.  His  ances- 
tors were  originally  from  Scotland,  and 
were  among  the  first  settlers  of  Franklin 
county,  Pennsylvania.  His  paternal  grand- 
father, James  McFarland,  was  a  native  of 
the  Keystone  state  and  was  a  soldier  of  the 
Revolutionary  war.  The  father.  Colonel 
Joseph  McFarland,  who  served  with  dis- 
tinction in  some  of  the  early  wars  of  this 
country,  was  born  and  reared  in  Franklin 
county,  and  there  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Nancy  Clark  Humphreys,  also  a 
native  of  that  county  and  a  daughter  of 
David  Humphreys,  who  was  a  representa- 
tive of  another  old  and  prominent  family  of 
that  state.      During  early  life  Joseph  Mc- 


THE    BIOGFL^PHICAL    RECORD. 


439 


Farland  engaged  in  farming  in  Franklin 
county,  and  afterward  carried  on  business 
as  a  merchant  at  Harrisonville,  Bedford 
county,  Pennsylvania,  for  several  years,  but 
finally  sold  out  and  returned  to  his  native 
county.  In  1848  he  removed  to  Clinton 
county,  Indiana,  where  he  improved  a  farm, 
making  his  home  thereon  for  a  number  of 
years.  His  death  occurred  in  Hanover, 
Indiana,  in  1S65,  when  he  was  nearly  eighty- 
seven  years  of  age.  His  wife  died  on  the 
Clinton  county  farm  in    185  i. 

Dr.  McFarland  was  a  young  man  of 
seventeen  years  when  he  accompanied  his 
parents  on  their  removal  to  Indiana,  and  he 
assisted  his  father  in  transforming  the  wild 
prairie  land  into  a  productive  farm.  He 
had  good  school  advantages,  attending  not 
only  the  common  schools  of  his  native  state 
but  also  Marshall  College  of  Pennsylvania. 
He  remained  under  the  parental  roof  until 
after  his  mother's  death,  in  1851,  when  he 
went  to  Monongahela  City,  Washington 
county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  clerked  in  a 
store  for  twentj-eight  months,  thus  receiv- 
ing a  thorough  business  training,  which  has 
been  of  great  benefit  to  him  in  later  3-ears. 
Returning  to  Frankfort,  Indiana,  he  was 
similarlj"  employed  in  a  retail  establishment 
there  for  about  a  year  and  about  the  same 
length  of  time  in  a  wholesale  store.  As 
clerk  and  manager,  he  then  had  entire 
charge  of  a  drug  store  in  Frankfort  for  Dr. 
William  Dunn,  and  while  there  began  the 
study  of  medicine  under  the  doctor.  He 
also  pursued  his  studies  under  the  direction 
of  Drs.  Byers  and  Carter,  and  took  his  first 
course  of  lectures  at  Rush  Medical  College, 
Chicago,  in  the  winter  of  1857-8.  Return- 
ing to  Frankfort,  he  engaged  in  the  prac- 
tice of  his  chosen  profession  there  for  over 
fi-  year,  and  later  opened  an  office  at  Han- 


over, Indiana,  where  he  was  living  when 
the  civil  war  broke  out.  In  1861  he  en- 
listed in  the  Union  service  for  three  years, 
and  was  appointed  assistant  surgeon  of  the 
Fifteenth  Indiana  \'olunteer  Infantry,  with 
which  he  went  to  the  front  and  was  in  act- 
ive service  until  November,  1862,  when  he 
resigned  his  commission  and  returned  home. 

At  Frankfort,  June  22,  1859,  Dr.  Mc- 
Farland was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Miriam  E.  Dunn,  a  daughter  of  John  E.  Dunn, 
a  merchant  of  that  city,  and  a  niece  of  Dr. 
William  Dunn,  previously  mentioned,  and 
Hon.  Williamson  McKee  Dunn,  congress- 
man from  the  Hanover  district  of  Indiana. 
After  a  happ\-  married  life  of  thirty-two 
years,  Mrs.  McFarland  passed  away  at  her 
home  in  Heyworth,  Illinois,  June  5,  1891, 
and  was  laid  to  rest  in  the  cemetery  at  that 
place,  where  a  monument  has  been  erected 
to  her  memory. 

Immediately  after  his  return  home  from 
the  army.  Dr.  McFarland  came  to  McLean 
county,  Illinois,  and  resumed  practice  in 
Heyworth,  where  he  has  since  made  his 
home.  After  taking  another  course  of  lec- 
tures at  Rush  Medical  College,  he  was 
graduated  in  the  class  of  1869.  During  his 
stud\-  in  Chicago  he  was  assistant  surgeon 
at  the  Chicago  hospital  and  also  graduated 
from  Blaney  laboratory.  Returning  to  Hey- 
worth well  qualified  to  resume  practice,  he 
has  met  with  signal  success  and  has  built 
up  a  large  and  lucrative  practice,  giving  his 
entire  time  and  attention  to  his  professional 
duties,  and  by  reading  and  study  keeping 
abreast  with  the  latest  discoveries  and  theo- 
ries in  the  science.  Politically,  Dr.  Mc- 
Farland was  originally  an  old  line  Whig, 
but  on  the  organization  of  the  Republican 
party  in  1856,  he  cast  his  ballot  for  John 
C.  Fremont,  and  has  since  been  one  of   its 


440 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


stanch  supporters.  His  first  vote  was  for 
General  Winfield  Scott.  For  a  number  of 
years  he  has  been  a  faithful  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  of  Heyworth,  and  his 
life  has  been  manly,  his  actions  sincere,  his 
manner  unaffected,  and  his  example  is  well 
worthy  of  emulation. 


GEORGE  W.  GASTMAN,  a  prominent 
and  representative  citizen  of  Hudson, 
needs  no  special  introduction  to  the  readers 
of  this  volume,  but  the  work  would  be  in- 
complete without  the  record  of  his  life.  He 
is  one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  county,  and  no 
man  in  his  community  has  been  more  promi- 
nently identified  with  public  affairs. 

Mr.  Gastman  was  born  in  New  York 
City,  at  No.  lOO  Henry  street,  July  12, 
1837,  a  son  of  Enoch  A.  and  Margaret  A. 
(Higgins)  Gastman.  The  father  was  born 
near  Amsterdam,  Holland,  June  15,  1801, 
and  came  to  America  late  in  the  '20s.  He 
was  married  in  New  York  City  in  1830  to 
Miss  Margaret  A.  Higgins,  a  native  of  Coun- 
ty Tipperary,  Ireland,  who  on  coming  to 
the  new  world  at  an  early  age  first  located 
in  Quebec,  Canada,  and  later  in  New  York 
City,  where  she  and  her  husband  continued 
to  make  their  home  until  1838.  It  was  on 
the  8th  of  June  of  that  year  that  they  ar- 
rived in  Bloomington,  Illinois.  In  the  east 
the  father  had  been  employed  as  a  city 
watchman  and  drayman,  but  on  coming  to 
this  country  turned  his  attention  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits.  As  a  member  of  the 
Hudson  colony  he  acquired  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  land  on  section  15,  Hud- 
son township,  and  four  lots  in  the  village 
of  that  name.  In  connection  with  the 
operation  of  his  land  he  worked  at  the  trade 


of  a  mason  and  plasterer,  which  he  had 
learned  in  early  life.  He  was  a  Jacksonian 
Democrat,  having  cast  his  first  presidential 
vote  for  "Old  Hickory,  "and  he  took  a  very 
active  part  in  public  affairs,  serving  as  dep- 
uty sheriff  under  Ed  Pike,  and  also  as 
school  director  for  several  terms.  To  his 
original  tract  of  land  he  added  eighty  acres 
and  continued  to  engage  in  farming  through- 
out life.  Religiously,  he  was  first  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Christian  church,  but  about  i860 
united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
and  died  in  that  faith  July,  1875.  ^^  was 
a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  Lodge  of 
Bloomington,  No.  "]"] ,  and  was  buried  with 
the  honors  of  that  order.  He  was  thrice 
married,  his  first  wife  and  the  mother  of  our 
subject  having  departed  this  life  February 
25,  1857.  By  that  union  he  had  three  chil- 
dren, of  whom  our  subject  is  the  second  in 
order  of  birth.  Enoch  A.,  Jr.,  the  oldest, 
has  devoted  his  life  to  educational  work, 
and  has  been  superintendent  of  the  city 
schools  of  Decatur,  Illinois,  for  thirty-nine 
years.  Francis  M.  was  one  of  the  boys  in 
blue  who  laid  down  his  life  on  the  altar  of 
his  country  during  the  civil  war.  Leaving 
school  at  Normal,  he  enlisted  in  1861,  in 
Company  A,  Thirty-third  Illinois  Volunteer 
Infantry,  which  company  was  principally 
made  up  of  students  from  that  institution, 
and  he  died  of  pneumonia  at  Reeves  Sta- 
tion, on  Black  river,  Missouri. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  only  a 
year  old  when  brought  by  his  parents  to 
McLean  county,  and  was  reared  upon  the 
home  farm  in  Hudson  township,  a  portion 
of  which  he  now  owns.  He  attended  first 
the  district  schools  but  completed  his  edu- 
cation at  Eureka  College,  where  he  spent 
two  years.  On  starting  out  in  life  for  him- 
self he   engaged  in  farming  and  in  March, 


THE   BIOGIL\PHICAL   RECORD. 


441 


1863,  located  on  the  old  homestead,  to  the 
cultivation  of  which  he  devoted  his  energies 
until  his  removal  to  the  village  of  Hudson 
in  February,  1885.  He  most  successfully 
engaged  in  general  farming  and  stock  rais- 
ing, he  and  his  brother  giving  special  atten- 
tion to  the  breeding  of  Berkshire  hogs.  He 
is  still  the  owner  of  one  hundred  and  twen- 
ty-five acres  of  the  old  home  farm,  and  forty 
acres  on  section  2. 

On  the  5th  of  April,  1S60,  Mr.  Gast- 
man  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Eliz- 
abeth J.  Woolen,  who  was  born  on  section 
26,  Hudson  township,  her  parents,  James 
and  Catherine  Woolen,  having  come  to  this 
country  at  an  early  day  from  Ohio.  She 
has  one  sister  living,  Mary  A.,  wife  of 
Charles  J.  Hicks,  of  Fitzgerald,  Georgia. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gastman  had  a  family  of  four 
children:  Margaret  A.,  born  March  16, 
1 86 1,  is  now  the  widow  of  William  A. 
Hitch  and  resides  in  Hudson;  Francis  M., 
born  June  22,  1864,  also  lives  in  Hud- 
son; Angenett,  born  12,  1866,  died  August 
25,  iSS9;and  Hattie  E..'  born  October  22, 
1867,  is  the  wife  of  John  M.  Byrd,  of  Hud- 
son. 

In  1868  Mr.  Gastman  commenced  giv- 
ing some  attention  to  surveying,  and  has 
held  the  office  of  deputy  surveyor  both  in 
McLean  and  Livingston  counties  for  two 
terms  each.  In  the  fall  of  1871  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  the  circuit  court  of  Shelby 
county  to  locate  twelve  miles  of  county  line 
between  that  and  Christian  county,  and  to 
establish  some  twenty  section  lines  in  the 
former,  being  one  of  the  three  commission- 
ers chosen  from  different  counties  for  that 
purpose.  His  duties  in  that  position  were 
most  ably  and  satisfactorily  performed.  In 
1872  Mr.  Gastman  was  elected  justice  of 
the  peace    in    Hudson   township,    to   fill  a 


vacancy  of  two  years,  and  with  the  e.xcep- 
tion  of  one  term  has  held  the  office  con- 
tinuously ever  since,  being  re-elected  at 
the  end  of  each  term.  He  is  thoroughly 
impartial  in  meting  out  justice,  his  opinions 
being  unbiased  by  either  fear  or  favor,  and 
his  fidelity  to  any  trust  reposed  in  him  is 
above  question.  He  has  served  for  four- 
teen consecutive  years  as  notary  public; 
for  twenty-three  years  os  highway  commis- 
sioner; and  for  a  quarter  of  a  century  as 
school  director  in  his  district.  The  first 
public  office  he  was  called  upon  to  fill  was 
that  of  township  clerk. 

Since  1SS5  Mr.  Gastman  has  made  his 
home  in  the  city  of  Hudson,  where  he 
erected  a  pleasant  residence  the  fall  pre- 
viously. For  two  years  he  assisted  in  the 
grain  business  of  Hasenwinkle  &  Co.x,  but 
since  then  he  has  given  the  greater  part  of 
his  time  to  his  official  duties,  though  for 
thirteen  years  he  has  represented  the  Home 
and  Queen  Insurance  Companies  in  his 
town.  During  his  residence  here  he  has 
been  a  member  of  the  village  board  four 
years  and  president  of  the  same  for  three 
years;  treasurer  of  the  school  board  eight 
years,  and  school  trustee  three  years.  He 
has  served  in  some  official  capacity  almost 
continuously  since  attaining  his  majority 
and  has  been  called  upon  to  act  as  admin- 
istrator of  several  estates.  Politicall}',  he 
is  a  Democrat,  but  at  local  elections  votes 
for  the  men  whom  he  believes  best  qualified 
to  fill  the  offices,  regardless  of  party  affili- 
ations. Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  Old 
Colony  Lodge,  No.  857,  I.  O.  O.  F.;  and 
religiously  his  estimable  wife  holds  mem- 
bership in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
He  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  leading  and 
most  highly  respected  citizens  of  his  com- 
munity, and  it  is,  therefore,  consistent  that 


442 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


he  be  represented  in  a  work  whose  province 
is  the  portrayal  of  the  Hves  of  the  promi- 
nent men  of  McLean  county. 


MATHIAS  E.  DENMAN.  Among  the 
successful  and  prosperous  representa- 
tives of  the  agricultural  interests  of  McLean 
county  is  the  gentleman  whose  name  heads 
this  sketch.  He  is  entirely  a  self-made 
man  in  the  truest  sense  of  the  word,  as  he 
started  out  in  life  for  himself  with  nothing 
but  his  indomitable  energy  and  a  determi- 
nation to  success,  and  through  his  own  well- 
directed  efforts  and  good  business  ability 
has  succeeded  in  accumulating  a  comforta- 
ble competence  that  enables  him  to  spend 
his  declining  years  in  ease  and  quiet,  free 
from  the  turmoil  of  business  life.  He  still 
resides  upon  his  farm  on  section  34,  White 
Oak  township,  but  for  the  past  twelve  years 
he  has  lived  retired. 

Mr.  Denman  was  born  in  Licking  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  March  3,  1820,  and  is  a  son  of 
Zenas  H.  and  Jane  (Smith)  Denman,  na- 
tives of  New  Jersey  and  Virginia,  respect- 
ively. His  grandfather,  Mathias  Denman, 
for  whom  he  was  named,  was  born  near 
Elizabeth,  New  Jersey,  and  at  an  early  day 
removed  to  Licking  county,  Ohio,  where 
he  improved  a  farm  and  spent  the  remainder 
of  his  life.  His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Elizabeth  B.  Townsley,  was  a  de- 
scendant of  Lord  Townsley.  The  father 
of  our  subject  was  seventeen  years  of  age 
when  he  went  with  the  family  to  Ohio,  and 
there  he  continued  to  make  his  home 
throughout  life,  dying  there  in  1 871,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-one  years.  By  occupation  he 
was  a  farmer.  In  his  family  were  nine  chil- 
dren who  reached  years  of  maturity,  and 
^our  of  the  number  are  still  living,  namely; 


Mathias  E;,  our  subject;  Nathan  S.,  who 
still  resides  on  the  old  homestead  in  Ohio; 
Roverta,  wife  of  Lucius  Z.  Hoyt,  of  Lick- 
ing county,  Ohio;  and  Augustin  A.,  of  Hall 
county,  Nebraska. 

In  his  native  state  Mathias  Denman  grew 
to  manhood,  and  he  acquired  his  education 
in  a  primitive  log  school-house,  to  which  he 
had  to  walk  a  distance  of  three  miles.  As 
soon  as  old  enough  to  be  of  any  assistance 
he  was  forced  to  leave  school  and  aid  his 
father  in  chopping  cord-wood,  which  in 
the  spring  of  the  year  they  burned,  manu- 
facturing it  into  charcoal  for  use  in  furnaces. 
He  remained  under  the  parental  roof  until 
twenty-three  years  of  age  and  was  then 
married,  November  29,  1842,  to  Miss  Eliz- 
abeth B.  Smith,  who  was  born  in  Muskin- 
gum county,  Ohio,  April  8,  1822,  a  daughter 
of  Thomas  and  Elizabeth  (Gander)  Smith, 
natives  of  Virginia,  where  they  continued  to 
make  their  home  until  after  the  birth  of 
three  of  their  children,  and  then  removed  to 
Salt  Creek  township,  Muskingum  county, 
Ohio.  That  region  then  was  all  wild  and 
unimproved,  and  there  they  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  their  lives.  Mrs.  Denman  was 
the  eighth  in  order  of  birth  in  their  family 
of  fifteen  children,  si.x  of  whom  are  still 
living. 

Of  the  twelve  children  born  to  our  sub- 
ject and  his  wife  three  died  in  infancy,  and 
the  others  are  as  follows:  Martha,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  twenty-seven  years,  unmarried; 
Elizabeth,  who  died  at  the  age  of  fourteen; 
John  H.,  who  was  married  in  Dewitt  county, 
Illinois,  to  Mary  Ellis,  and  now  lives  in  Sac 
county,  Iowa;  Thomas  S.  and  Jane,  twins, 
the  former  a  farmer  of  Benton  county,  In- 
diana, the  latter  the  deceased  wife  of  Philip 
Carlock,  of  Carlock,  this  county;  Eunice, 
wife  of  Henry  Gilstrap,  of  Tacoma,  Wash- 


LIBRARY 

or  THE 

•  /VERSITV  Of  ILLlNOd 


MATHIAS  E.   DENMAN. 


^  ^ 


MRS.   ELIZABETH   B.   DENMAN. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

.....VERSITY  Of  ILUNOIC 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


447 


ington;  Daniel  E.,  who  married  Armedia 
Carlock,  daughter  of  Winton  Carlock,  and 
resides  on  the  home  farm;  Charles  L.  has 
been  twice  married,  his  first  wife  was  Miss 
Nannie  Bush,  of  Normal;  his  second  wife 
Miss  Mary  J.  Baldridge,  and  they  live  on 
the  home  farm;  and  Belle,  at  home. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Denman  learned 
the  trade  of  a  blacksmith,  which  he  followed 
in  Licking  county,  Ohio,  for  ten  years.  In 
1852  he  hired  a  man  to  bring  him  and  his 
family  to  McLean  count}',  Illinois,  and  here 
he  began  life  with  no  capital  save  a  poor 
horse,  a  good  constitution  and  a  determina- 
tion to  succeed.  His  family  then  consisted 
of  wife  and  five  small  children.  He  arrived 
here  in  October  and  located  in  White  Oak 
tov/nship,  where  he  at  first  engaged  in  farm- 
ing through  the  summer  and  followed  his 
trade  during  the  winter.  When  his  own 
work  was  dull  he  worked  for  others  at  day 
labor.  He  first  pre-empted  a  tract  of 
land  on  section  31,  Hudson  township,  and 
in  1855  was  the  proud  possessor  of  one 
hundred  and  eighty-six  acres,  which  was  all 
raw  prairie  and  four  miles  from  the  nearest 
habitation,  being  left  vacant  on  that  account. 
Upon  that  place  he  erected  a  frame  house, 
and  devoted  his  energies  to  its  cultivation 
and  improvement  for  twelve  years.  He 
then  purchased  his  present  farm,  where  he 
has  since  made  his  home,  and  in  connection 
with  general  farming  he  was  for  several  years 
most  successfully  engaged  in  raising,  feeding 
and  dealing  in  stock,  and  as  he  shipped 
the  same  to  the  city  markets,  he  thus 
saved  all  commissions.  So  well  did  he  pros- 
per in  business  that  he  is  now  the  owner  of 
several  valuable  and  well-improved  farms 
including  his  home  farm  of  four  hundred 
and  two  acres  on  sections  33  and  34,  \\'hite 
Oak    township;  eighty  acres   in  Dry  Grove 


township;  two  hundred  and  seventy-six  acres 
in  Hudson  township;  forty  acres  in  Wood- 
ford county,  Illinois;  and  three  hundred  and 
ten  acres  in  Sac  county,  Iowa.  This  prop- 
erty has  all  been  acquired  through  his  own 
industry,  enterprise  and  good  management 
and  the  assistance  of  his  faithful  wife,  and 
for  his  success  he  deserves  great  credit. 

Politically,  Mr.  Denman  was  in  early 
life  an  old  line  Whig,  and  since  the  dissolu- 
tion of  that  party  has  affiliated  with  the 
Democracy.  He  has  held  several  township 
offices  of  honor  and  trust,  having  served 
nine  years  as  highway  commissioner  and 
school  director  for  several  years,  the  duties 
of  which  positions  he  most  capably  dis- 
charged. 


JAMES  W.  HARWOOD,  V.  S.,  one  of 
the  most  prominent  veterinary  surgeons 
of  Bloomington,  was  born  in  Newark,  New 
Jersey,  September  6,  1S63,  a  son  of  Andrew 
and  Rachel  (Atherton)  Harwood.  The 
father  was  a  foundryman.  Our  subject 
acquired  his  literary  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  New  York  city,  Newark  and 
Patterson,  New  Jersey,  and  having  always 
had  a  love  for  horses,  he  took  up  the  study 
of  veterinary  surgery  on  coming  to  Bloom- 
ington in  1885,  under  the  direction  of  Dr. 
Williams,  the  leading  veterinary  surgeon  of 
McLean  county.  Later  he  attended  McGill 
University  at  Montreal,  where  he  further  pre- 
pared himself  for  his  chosen  profession,  and 
after  that  entered  the  Veterinary  College  of 
New  York  city,  where  he  was  graduated  in 
1888,  after  three  years  of  study.  Thus  well 
fitted  for  what  he  had  chosen  as  his  life 
work,  he  returned  to  Bloomington  and  for 
a  time  was  engaged  in  practice  with  Dr. 
Williams, but  is  now  alone  and  has  succeeded 


448 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


in  building  up  a  large  and  constantly  increas- 
ing practice.  He  occupies  the  old  stand  at 
the  corner  of  Front  and  Prairie  streets,  where 
he  occupies  the  finest  hospital  of  the  kind  in 
central  Illinois,  or  indeed  in  the  state  out- 
side of  Chicago,  it  being  a  brick  block  thirty- 
five  by  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  feet. 
He  treats  all  kinds  of  diseases  common  to 
animals  and  has  met  with  most  excellent 
success.  As  a  business  man  and  citizen  he 
is  held  in  high  regard,  commanding  the  re- 
spect and  esteem  of  all  who  know  him. 


GEORGE  W.  WHEATLEY,  one  of  the 
most  popular  engineers  on  the  Chicago 
&  Alton  Railroad,  and  chief  engineer  of  the 
Bloomington  Division  of  the  Brotherhood 
of  Locomotive  Engineers,  was  born  in 
Wheeling,  West  Virginia,  December  20, 
1847,  a  son  of  William  and  Jane  (Reed) 
Wheatley.  The  father,  a  miller  by  trade, 
was  born  in  Washington,  Pennsylvania,  and 
reared  in  Virginia,  and  in  1856  came  to 
Putnam  county,  Illinois,  where  he  followed 
milling  until  his  retirement  from  active 
business  in  1868.  He  died  in  1881,  hon- 
ored and  respected  by  all  who  knew  him. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church,  and  served  as  school  trustee  in  Put- 
nam county  for  a  time.  The  mother,  who 
is  still  living  at  the  age  of  eighty-four  years, 
was  born  in  Ohio  county.  West  Virginia, 
and  finds  a  pleasant  home  with  our  subject 
in  Bloomington.  The  paternal  grandfather, 
George  Wheatley,  spent  his  early  life  in 
Virginia,  and  from  there  removed  to  West 
Virginia.  Either  he  or  his  father  was  a 
soldier  of  the  Revolutionary  war. 

Mr.  Wheatley,  whose  name  introduces 
this  sketch,  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Hennepin,    Illinois,    and  during 


his  youth  partially  learned  the  miller's 
trade.  In  1868,  at  the  age  of  twenty-one, 
he  commenced  his  railroad  career  as  a 
brakeman  in  the  employ  of  the  old  Toledo, 
Wabash  &  Western  Railroad,  now  the  Wa- 
bash Railroad,  on  which  he  used  the  old 
hand-brake  for  one  year.  In  the  winter  of 
1869  he  was  with  the  Rockford,  Rock  Is- 
land &  St.  Louis  Railroad,  now  the  Chi- 
cago, Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad,  as  en- 
gine wiper,  at  Beardstown,  Illinois,  where 
he  obtained  his  first  knowledge  of  engineer- 
ing. Later  he  was  fireman  on  the  same 
road  for  two  years,  and  worked  in  the  shops 
at  Beardstown  for  ten  months  to  perfect 
himself  in  his  knowledge  of  an  engine.  In 
1872  he  was  promoted  to  engineer  and  given 
an  old-style  engine  with  no  air  brake. 
After  spending  four  years  as  engineer  on 
that  road  he  removed  to  East  St.  Louis 
and  entered  the  service  of  the  St.  Louis  & 
Cairo  Narrow  Guage  Railroad,  running  both 
freight  and  passenger  engines.  Later  he 
was  in  business  for  himself  at  Greenfield, 
Illinois,  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Wheat- 
ley  &  Piper,  selling  the  McCormick  reapers 
and  binders  throughout  Greene  county  and 
meeting  with  most  excellent  success.  At 
the  end  of  four  years  the  partnership  was 
dissolved,  and  Mr.  Wheatley  returned  to 
the  service  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  & 
Quincey  Railroad,  with  his  home  at  Beards- 
town. He  ran  both  freight  and  passenger 
engines  for  that  road  until  February,  1888, 
and  in  1889  he  came  to  Bloomington  and 
has  since  been  with  the  Chicago  &  Alton 
Railroad  as  one  of  their  most  trusted  and 
faithful  employes.  He  has  been  in  several 
accidents,  and  once  had  his  fireman  killed 
by  his  side,  but  he  himself  has  never  been 
injured. 

On  the  3d  of  October,  1867,  Mr.  Wheat- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


449 


ley  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Alice 
A.  Kemp,  of  Camp  Point,  Adams  county, 
Illinois.  Her  father,  Thomas  Kemp,  a 
farmer  by  occupation,  was  born  in  Nelson 
county,  Kentucky,  and  at  an  early  day  came 
to  Adams  count}-.  He  was  one  of  the  first 
settlers  of  Camp  Point  and  erected  the  first 
hotel  in  the  town,  where  he  died  about  the 
time  of  the  civil  war.  Our  subject  and  his 
wife  have  two  children:  William  T.  mar- 
ried Olive  Kane,  of  Beardstown,  and  was 
for  a  time  a  conductor  on  the  Chicago  & 
Alton  Railroad,  but  is  now  general  yard- 
master  at  East  Radford,  Virginia;  and  Ma- 
belle  is  the  wife  of  Fred  House,  who  is  with 
the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  and  lives  in 
Clinton,  Illinois. 

Mr.  Wheatley  attends  and  supports  the 
Congregational  church,  of  which  his  wife  is 
a  member.  Since  1873  he  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Brotherhood  of  Locomotive  En- 
gineers, and  for  some  time  was  chief  execu- 
tive officer  of  Beardstown  Division,  No.  127, 
and  was  representative  to  the  grand  lodge 
four  times.  He  was  instigator  of  a  number 
of  new  laws  for  the  society,  and  since  com- 
ing to  Bloomington  has  been  a  member  of 
this  division,  of  which  he  has  been  chief 
e.xecutive  two  terms.  He  is  also  past  chan- 
cellor of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  Lodge,  to 
which  he  belongs.  Mrs.  \\'heatley  was  one 
of  the  organizers  of  the  grand  lodge  of  the 
Grand  International  Auxiliary  of  Brother- 
hood of  Locomotive  Engineers  at  Chicago 
in  1887,  and  one  of  its  earliest  members. 
She  helped  form  the  division  lodge  at 
Beardstown,  and  on  coming  to  Blooming- 
ton  was  transferred  to  Victoria  Division, 
No.  55,  in  which  she  has  held  many  offices. 
She  attended  the  grand  international  con- 
vention with  our  subject  at  St.  Louis  in 
1898.      The    society   is    an    insurance    and 


benevolent  organization,  and  one  of  its  ob- 
jects is  to  promote  sociability  among  the 
members.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wheatley  are 
among  the  most  prominent  members  of  the 
order  in  Bloomington,  and  wherever  known 
have  the  respect  and  esteem  of  all. 


HARVEY  PARKHURST,  M.  D.,  of 
Danvers,  Illinois,  is  one  of  the  oldest 
practicing  physicians  in  McLean  county, 
having  been  in  active  practice  here  since 
1853,  a  period  of  forty-six  years,  during 
which  time  the  good  that  he  has  done  is  in- 
calculable, and  the  close  personal  friend- 
ships formed  by  reason  of  such  fact,  is  equal 
to  that  of  any  other  one  man  in  whatever 
calling  engaged.  He  was  born  in  Sharon, 
\'ermont,  February  20,  1823,  and  is  the  son 
of  Elisha  and  Hannah  (Huntington)  Park- 
hurst,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Con- 
necticut. The  Parkhurst  family  in  America 
sprang  from  three  brothers  who  emigrated 
from  England  in  a  very  early  day,  and  some 
of  its  members  have  occupied  very  promi- 
nent positions  in  the  business  and  profes- 
sional world. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject 
was  Dr.  Phineas  Parkhurst,  who  served  as 
a  surgeon  during  the  Revolutionary  war, 
and  while  professionally  on  board  one  of 
the  privateers  of  his  country  was  stricken 
with  the  yellow  fever.  He  and  his  wife 
Lydia  were  the  parents  of  three  sons,  Jared, 
Hhineas  and  Elisha.  Our  subject  has  in 
his  possession  a  teaspoon  that  they  had 
when  they  were  married,  and  which  is 
marked,  L.  P.  P.,  (Lydia  and  Phineas 
Parkhurst.)  Lydia  Parkhurst  lived  to  the 
age  of  ninety-seven  j'ears  and  died  in 
Sharon,  Vermont. 

Elisha  Parkhurst  moved  from  Connecti- 


450 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


cut  to  Vermont  when  quite  young  and  there 
followed  the  occupation  of  a  farmer.  He 
married  Hannah  Huntington,  and  they  be- 
came the  parents  of  nine  children,  six  of 
whom  grew  to  maturity — Hiram,  Hannah, 
Phineas,  Sarah,  Harvey  and  Araunah.  Of 
this  number  our  subject  is  now  the  only 
surviving  one.  Politically  he  was  a  Whig, 
and  was  a  member  of  the  Congregational 
church.  Fraternally  he  was  a  Mason,  and 
his  son  has  a  Masonic  apron  which  he 
possessed  that  is  now  over  one  hundred 
years  old.  The  doctor  has  been  told  by 
those  who  have  seen  it  that  it  is  almost  a 
counterpart  of  the  one  owned  by  General 
Washington.  The  death  of  Elisha  Park- 
hurst  occurred  in  1840.  His  wife  survived 
him  many  years,  dying  when  eighty-eight 
years  old. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  seven- 
teen years  old  when  her  father  died.  In 
the  common  schools  of  Sharon,  Vermont, 
he  obtained  his  primary  education,  after 
whic  he  attended  the  Orange  County  Acad- 
emy for  a  time,  and  then  went  to  Massa- 
chusetts, where  he  taught  school  for  three 
years.  He  then  entered  a  school  in  Ando- 
ver,  Massachusetts,  which  he  attended  a 
little  more  than  a  year,  after  which  he  re- 
turned home  and  there  remained  some 
months.  Leaving  home,  he  went  to  Man- 
chester, New  Hampshire,  where  he  studied 
medicine  with  Dr.  Davis,  and  later  with 
Dr.  Jones,  in  the  same  office.  He  studied 
with  them  and  attended  lectures  at  Pitts- 
field,  Massachusetts,  Woodstock,  Vermont, 
and  at  Buffalo,  New  York,  for  over  three 
years.  From  the  Buffalo  Medical  College 
he  was  graduated  February  26,  185 1,  his 
diploma  bearing  the  signature,  among  oth- 
ers, of  Millard  Fillmore,  who  was  then 
President  of  the  United  States. 


After  receiving  his  diploma  Dr.  Park- 
hurst  went  to  Michigan,  where  he  com- 
menced the  practice  of  his  profession.  He 
remained  there,  meeting  with  fair  success, 
until  May  i,  1853,  when  he  located  in  Dan- 
vers,  where  he  has  since  continued  to  re- 
side, and  in  his  profession  meeting  with 
unqualified  success.  He  has  usually  prac- 
ticed alone,  but  about  the  beginning  of  the 
civil  war  he  admitted  to  partnership  Dr. 
Pierce,  but  the  relation  continued  but  a 
short  time.  Dr.  Pierce  entering  the  military 
service  and  going  to  the  front  with  the 
army  under  Grant,  died  at  Vicksburg.  In 
1877  the  Doctor  established  a  drug  store, 
which  he  has  since  conducted  in  connection 
with  his  practice.  He  now  does  but  little 
outside  business,  confining  himself  as  far 
possible  to  his  office  practice. 

On  the  1st  of  January,  1853,  Dr.  Park- 
hurst  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Catherine  Skillman,  a  native  of  New  Jer- 
sey, their  marriage  being  solemnized  in  Gull 
Corners,  Michigan.  By  this  union  there 
were  three  children  —  Mary  Frances,  Julia 
and  Kate  —  all  of  whom  are  now  deceased. 

In  politics  the  Doctor  is  a  Republican, 
but  he  has  never  cared  for  political  honors, 
the  demands  of  his  profession  requiring  his 
undivided  time.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Congregational  church,  of  which  body  his 
wife  is  also  a  member.  Fraternally  he  is  a 
Mason,  holding  his  membership  with  Dan- 
vers  Lodge,  No.  742,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  Pro- 
fessionally he  is  a  member  of  the  McLean 
County  Medical  Society,  and  was  one  of 
its  organizers.  He  has  always  taken  an 
active  interest  in  the  meetings  of  the  so- 
ciety and  in  the  discussion  of  the  questions 
that  properly  come  before  it.  He  has 
always  been  a  student,  and  deeply  inter- 
ested in  the   investigations  and  discpverieg 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


451 


made  in  the  medical  world.  Socially  he  is 
highly  esteemed,  and  his  residence  here  of 
almost  half  a  century,  during  which  time  he 
has  professional!}'  visited  the  homes  of  hun- 
dreds of  the  afflicted  ones,  has  brought  him 
into  intimate  associations  with  many,  and 
all  have  a  good  word  to  say  of  the  Doctor. 


OWEN  C.  RUTLEDGE,  of  Heyworth, 
is  now  living  a  retired  life  in  the  en- 
joyment of  a  rest  which  he  has  truly  earned 
and  richly  deserves  by  reason  of  his  indus- 
trious efforts  of  former  years.  Accomplish- 
ment and  progress  ever  imply  labor,  energy 
and  diligence,  and  it  was  those  qualities 
that  enabled  our  subject  to  rise  from  the 
ranks  of  the  many  and  stand  among  the 
successful  few.  He  is  now  one  of  the  highly 
respected  citizens  of  Heyworth,  and  his 
long  residence  in  McLean  county  and  the 
active  and  important  part  he  has  taken  in 
its  business  interests  well  entitle  him  to 
representation  in  its  history. 

A  native  of  McLean  county,  Mr.  Rut- 
ledge  was  born  in  Randolph  township,  Oc- 
tober 19,  I  S3 1,  and  belongs  to  one  of  the 
oldest  families  of  the  state.  His  father, 
Thomas  O.  Rutledge,  was  born  near  Augusta, 
Georgia,  in  1806,  but  during  his  childhood 
was  taken  to  Kentucky  by  his  father,  Rob- 
ert Rutledge,  who  spent  the  remainder  of 
his  life  there.  Amidst  pioneer  scenes, 
Thomas  O.  Rutledge  was  reared  in  Ken- 
tucky and  was  thus  well  fitted  for  his  sub- 
sequent career  as  one  of  the  original  settlers 
of  Illinois.  In  1826,  when  a  young  man 
he  came  to  this  state  and  took  up  his 
residence  in  McLean  county,  when  it  still 
formed  a  part  of  Tazewell  county.  Here 
he  was  married  in  January,  1829,  to  a 
cousin,  Miss  Cynthia  Rutledge,  a  daughter 


of  Thomas  Rutledge,  also  an  honored  pio- 
neer of  McLean  county,  who  died  and  was 
buried  at  Le  Roy.  The  father  of  our  sub- 
ject took  a  claim  of  eighty  acres  in  Randolph 
township,  upon  which  he  resided  until  1831, 
when  he  sold  that  place  to  David  Noble 
and  took  another  claim  of  eighty  acres  one 
mile  east,  on  section  35,  where  he  opened 
up  and  developed  a  good  farm,  to  which  he 
added  by  subsequent  purchase.  In  all  he 
entered  from  the  government  two  hundred 
and  forty  acres,  and  being  a  good  business 
man,  he  became  one  of  the  prosperous  and 
successful  farmers  and  stock  raisers  of  his 
community.  He  died  at  his  home  near 
Heyworth,  in  1888,  honored  and  respected 
by  all  who  knew  him.  His  wife  had  passed 
away  some  years  previous,  dying  in  1880. 
To  this  worthy  couple  were  born  nine  chil- 
dren, six  sons  and  three  daughters,  who 
reached  years  of  maturity,  but  two  sons  and 
one  daughter  are  now  deceased. 

Owen  C.  Rutledge,  our  subject,  received 
a  good  practical  knowledge  in  the  home 
school  and  Danvers  Seminary,  and  for  three 
years  he  successfully  engaged  in  teaching 
school  in  early  life.  In  1855  he  embarked 
in  the  grain  business  at  Heyworth,  in  which 
line  of  trade  he  continued  for  a  few  years, 
and  then,  during  the  civil  war,  conducted  a 
dry-goods  store  at  that  place  in  partnership 
with  Major  McFarland.  On  selling  out,  in 
1865,  he  again  engaged  in  buying  and  deal- 
ing in  grain  until  1891,  during  which  time 
he  built  and  conducted  an  elevator,  and 
also  dealt  in  lumber,  coal  and  live  stock, 
doing  a  large  and  prosperous  business  in 
these  various  lines.  In  1891  he  sold  out 
and  assisted  in  organizing  the  Heyworth 
State  Bank,  of  which  he  was  director  and 
cashier  until  1898,  when  he  resigned  on  ac- 
count of  ill   health.      He    is   now  living  re- 


45: 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


tired,  enjoying  the  fruits  of  his  former  toil. 
He  is  a  man  of  keen  discrimination  and 
sound  judgment,  who  has  carried  forward 
to  successful  completion  whatever  he  has 
undertaken  and  the  success  that  he  has 
achieved   in  life  is  certainly  justly  merited. 

Mr.  Rutledge  was  first  married,  in  1858, 
to  Miss  Sarah  A.  Elder,  who  was  born  in 
Indiana,  but  was  reared  and  educated  in 
McLean  county,  and  prior  to  her  marriage 
engaged  in  teaching  school.  She  died  in 
the  spring  of  1865,  leaving  one  daughter, 
Mary  P.,  now  the  wife  of  Howard  Galey, 
a  railroad  man  living  in  Emporia,  Kansas. 
In  Defiance  county,  Ohio,  Mr.  Rutledge 
was  again  married,  in  December,  1866,  his 
second  union  being  with  Miss  Letitia  A. 
Battershell,  whom  he  brought  as  a  bride  to 
his  home  in  this  county.  Of  the  three  chil- 
dren born  of  this  union,  one  died  in  in- 
fancy. Lettie  B.  grew  to  womanhood  and 
was  married  in  1894  to  Edward  M.  Wil- 
son of  Bloomington,  where  she  died  in  July, 
1895,  leaving  one  son.  Linden  R.  \\'ilson, 
who  now  makes  his  home  with  his  grand- 
father Rutledge.  Linden  M.  Rutledge,  our 
subject's  only  son,  is  a  business  man  of 
Chicago.  The  mother  of  these  children 
died  in  February,  1898,  and  was  laid  to 
rest  in  Heyworth  cemetery. 

Politically,  Mr.  Rutledge  has  always 
been  a  Jeffersonian  Democrat,  and  cast  his 
first  vote  for  Franklin  Pierce  in  1852,  since 
which  time  he  has  never  missed  a  presiden- 
tial election,  supporting  Palmer  and  Buck- 
ner  in  1896.  He  has  served  as  a  delegate 
to  numerous  conventions  of  his  party,  but 
has  never  sought  ofSce,  preferring  to  give 
his  undivided  attention  to  his  extensive  busi- 
ness interests.  However,  he  served  as  super- 
visor for  three  years  and  was  a  member  of 
some  important  committees,  has  been  school 


treasurer  twenty-one  years,  and  township 
treasurer  for  a  time.  He  has  been  an  earnest 
and  consistent  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  of  Heyworth  for  many  years,  and 
served  as  elder  for  fifteen  years,  resigning 
at  the  end  of  that  time.  Socially  he  is  a 
Master  Mason.  During  the  long  years  he 
has  been  a  resident  of  McLean  county,  he 
has  championed  every  movement  designed 
to  promote  the  general  welfare,  has  sup- 
ported every  enterprise  for  the  public  good, 
and  has  materially  aided  in  the  advancement 
of  all  social,  educational  and  moral  inter- 
ests. After  a  useful  and  honorable  career 
he  can  well  afford  to  lay  aside  all  business 
cares  and  live  in  ease  and  retirement. 


JOHN  STAPLETON,  L  L.  B.,  a  lead- 
ing and  prominent  attorney  of  Bloom- 
ington, was  born  in  Crawfordsville,  Indiana, 
March  i,  1844,  a  son  of  John  and  Charlotte 
(Hendricks)  Stapleton.  The  father  was 
born  in  181 3,  in  Wheeling,  West  Virginia, 
where  he  was  reared  and  educated,  and 
when  a  young  man  went  to  Champaign 
county,  Ohio,  his  parents  having  died  when 
he  was  small.  There  he  lived  with  his 
uncle,  Robert  Stapleton,  a  farmer  near  St. 
Paris.  After  he  became  of  age,  he  removed 
to  Crawfordsville.  Indiana,  where  he  mar- 
ried Charlotte  Hendricks.  Soon  after  that 
event,  he  settled  on  a  farm  near  Crawfords- 
ville, where  his  father-in-law's  family  were 
also  living  and  where  he  continued  to  reside 
until  1852.  He  then  came  to  Champaign 
county,  Illinois,  and  located  two  miles  west 
of  Urbana,  owning  and  operating  land  in 
what  is  now  the  northern  part  of  the  city  of 
Champaign.  This  he  entered  from  the 
government  and  erected  thereon  a  residence. 
After  a   residence   there  of   three  years  he 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


453 


sold  that  place  and  bought  land  near  Pon- 
tiac,  Livingston  county,  where  he  lived 
about  two  years.  His  next  farm  was  near 
Oconee,  Shelby  county,  and  there  he  died 
in  1857.  He  always  took  an  active  interest 
in  school  work,  and  most  efficiently  served 
as  school  director  and  school  trustee.  He 
was  identified  with  the  Democratic  party 
until  1856  when  he  joined  the  Republican 
ranks  and  voted  for  John  C.  Fremont.  Both 
he  and  his  wife  were  earnest,  consistent 
Christians  and  highly  respected  by  all  who 
knew  them.  She  departed  this  life  in  1863. 
She  was  born  at  Goshen,  Ohio,  August  4, 
1817,  eighteen  miles  from  Cincinnati,  and 
was  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Hendricks,  a 
pioneer  settler  of  Ohio  and  an  Indian  fighter 
in  his  younger  3-ears.  His  father  was  a 
soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 

Our  subject  is  the  fifth  in  order  of  birth 
in  a  family  of  ten  children,  of  whom  four 
are  still  living,  the  others  being  Martha 
Jane,  wife  of  William  B.  Prue,  who  lives 
near  Oconee,  Illinois;  Joseph,  one  of  the 
most  prominent  and  influential  citizens  of 
Assumption,  Illinois,  where  he  is  engaged  in 
the  lumber  and  grain  business,  and  where 
he  has  served  as  president  of  the  school 
board  for  a  number  of  years;  Nancy,  de- 
ceased wife  of  Alfred  Porter,  of  Plymouth, 
Iowa;  and  Wallace  M.,  a  resident  of  Popu- 
lar Bluff,  Missouri. 

In  the  common  schools  near  his  child- 
hood home  John  Stapleton  began  his  educa- 
tion, and  in  1866-67  he  attended  the  Wes- 
ley Academy,  near  Crawfordsville,  Indiana. 
For  three  years  he  successfully  engaged  in 
teaching,  the  first  year  as  a  teacher  in  a 
country  school,  and  as  principal  of  the 
schools  of  Oconee,  Illinois,  for  two  years. 
He  attended  the  State  Normal  University 
at  Normal,  Illinois,  in  1870-71,  after  which 


he  returned  to  Oconee  and  engaged  in  mer- 
chandising until  1873,  when  elected  county 
superintendent  of  schools  for  Shelby  county, 
serving  as  such  for  four  years.  Having 
been  a  student  in  the  Normal,  he  intro- 
duced many  Normal  methods  into  his  work 
during  those  years.  Prior  to  this  the  coun- 
ty had  been  accustomed  to  have  a  few  days 
training  for  the  teachers,  but  he  introduced 
a  summer  normal  of  five  weeks  and  made 
the  work  very  thorough,  employing  profess- 
ors from  the  Normal.  In  this  waj'  he  very 
considerably  raised  the  grade  of  teachers, 
and  was  the  first  superintendent  in  the 
county  to  grade  the  teachers  and  keep  a 
record  of  their  examinations  and  success 
for  future  reference,  which  custom  has  been 
adhered  to  by  his  successors. 

At  the  close  of  his  term  Mr.  Stapleton 
came  to  Bloomington  in  December,  1877, 
and  locating  at  Normal,  he  entered  the  law 
department  of  the  Wesleyan  University, 
from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1879,  with 
the  degree  of  LL.B.  In  the  meantime  he 
had  been  with  Major  W.  Packard  and  re- 
mained in  his  office  for  one  year.  He  has 
since  successfully  engaged  in  the  general 
practice  of  law  in  Bloomington,  and  is  one 
of  the  well-known  and  honored  members  of 
the  bar.  He  is  thoroughly  versed  in  the 
law,  is  a  man  of  deep  research  and  careful 
investigation,  and  his  skill  and  ability  has 
won  him  a  liberal  clientage.  Prominence 
at  the  bar  comes  through  merit  alone,  and 
the  high  position  which  he  has  attained  at- 
tests his  superiority.  For  two  years  he  was 
assistant  editor  and  manager  of  a  law  jour- 
nal, known  as  the  Weekly  Jurist,  which 
was  published  in  Bloomington  and  had  a 
very  general  circulation  throughout  the 
state.  It  contained  reports  and  many  able 
articles. 


4S4 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


On  Thanksgiving  day,  1872,  Mr.  Staple- 
ton  married  Miss  Mattie  E.  Shelton,  a 
daughter  of  Gillum  and  Sarah  C.  (Leech) 
Shelton,  of  Normal,  the  former  a  native  of 
Kentucky,  the  latter  of  Alabama.  Her  par- 
ents were  married  in  Belleville,  Illinois, 
where  they  then  owned  land,  but  later  re- 
moved to  Nashville,  this  state,  where  Mrs. 
Stapleton  was  born.  Her  father  was  a  promi- 
nent man,  especially  in  agricultural  affairs, 
and  for  some  time  served  as  president  of  the 
agricultural  society  of  Washington  county, 
Illinois.  In  early  days  he  was  a  raiser  of 
fine  horses.  He  removed  to  Normal,  where 
Mrs.  Stapleton  was  educated  and  continued 
to  live  until  her  marriage.  Her  father  died 
in  Saybrook,  in  October,  189S,  but  her 
mother  is  still  living.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Stapleton  were  born  three  children,  namely: 
Guy  S.,  who  met  an  untimely  death  by  ac- 
cident; Clyde  I.,  who  is  now  a  student  in 
the  dental  department  of  the  Northwestern 
University  at  Chicago;  and  Bernice  E. ,  who 
is  attending  the  high  school  of  Bloomington. 
The  family  occupy  an  enviable  position  in 
social  circles,  and  attend  and  support  the 
Baptist  church,  of  which  Mrs.  Stapleton  is 
a  member. 

As  a  Democrat  Mr.  Stapleton  has  always 
taken  an  active  and  prominent  part  in  local 
politics.  For  ten  years  he  was  chairman  of 
the  city  central  committee,  but  has  never 
cared  for  the  honors  or  emoluments  of  pub- 
lic office.  He  has  often  spoken  in  the  in- 
terests of  his  party  during  campaigns,  and 
has  been  a  delegate  to  county,  congressional 
and  state  conventions.  In  1896  he  did  not 
endorse  the  platform  of  his  party,  made  in 
Chicago,  and  became  a  member  of  the  ex- 
ecutive committee  on  the  gold  Democratic 
ticket.  He  was  made  a  Mason  at  Oconee, 
in  1872,  and  is   now    a  member  of    Normal 


Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.  He  is  past  chancellor  of 
the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  has  represented 
that  order  in  the  grand  lodge.  In  manner 
he  is  genial  and  courteous  and  his  friends 
are  in  number  as  his  acquaintances. 


kOUIS  MATERN  comes  from  the  Fa- 
therland and  the  strongest  and  most 
creditable  characteristics  of  the  Teutonic 
race  have  been  marked  elements  in  his  life 
and  have  enabled  him  to  win  success  in  the 
face  of  opposing  circumstances.  He  pos- 
sesses the  energy  and  determination  which 
mark  the  people  of  Germany  and  by  the  ex- 
ercise of  his  powers  has  steadily  progressed, 
and  has  not  only  won  a  handsome  compe- 
tence but  has  commanded  universal  respect 
by  his  straightforward  business  methods 
and  has  won  a  wide  reputation  in  the  scien- 
tific world  by  his  articles  on  the  chemical 
analysis  of  paints.  He  has  been  longer 
identified  with  the  business  interests  of 
Bloomington  than  any  of  its  citizens,  and 
is  still  the  leading  carriage  manufacturer 
and  dealer  of  the  city. 

Mr.  Matern  was  born  in  Giessen,  Ger- 
many, March  13,  1826,  a  son  of  George 
and  Janet  (Sack)  Matern.  The  father,  who 
died  when  our  subject  was  only  two  years 
old,  was  a  tanner  and  well-known  business 
man  of  that  place.  His  ancestors  who  can 
be  traced  back  to  161  5  were  all  millwrights, 
well-to-do  and  educated  men,  and  members 
of  the  Lutheran  church.  They  all  lived 
in  the  neighborhood  of  Giessen  and  were 
as  follows:  Conrad  Matern,  born  in  1626; 
John  Conrad,  born  in  1656;  George  Henry, 
born  in  1700;  George  Philip,  born  in  1728; 
and  John  Henry,  born  in  1758;  George, 
born  in  1802. 

In  his   native   place,  Louis    Matern    was 


THE   BIOGR.\PHICAL   RECORD. 


455 


educated  in  the  Realschule,  which  was 
equal  to  a  gymnasium,  or  even  more  broad, 
and  then  learned  the  dyer's  trade.  In  1849 
he  emigrated  to  the  United  States  and 
prior  to  coming  to  Bloomington  in  1853, 
he  worked  in  St.  Lobis.  Finding  no  de- 
mand for  dyers,  he  learned  the  painter's 
trade  and  the  knowledge  he  had  previously 
acquired  of  chemistry  and  colors  made  him 
one  of  the  best  posted  men  on  the  practical 
durability  and  chemistry  of  paints,  and  he 
has  since  written  many  able  articles  on  this 
subject  for  leading  German  and  American 
journals. 

On  his  arrival  in  Bloomington  Mr.  Ma- 
tem  embarked  in  the  carriage  business  at 
306-8  West  Front  street,  where  he  has  since 
carried  on  operations.  At  first  he  occupied 
small  wooden  buildings  and  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  carriages  and  farm  wagons 
until  the  big  factories  were  started,  since 
which  time  he  has  confined  his  business  to 
first  class  custom  work.  By  his  industry, 
skill  and  integrity  he  was  not  long  in  build- 
ing up  a  successful  business,  and  it  is  a  well 
known  fact  that  the  vehicles  manufactured 
by  him  are  the  best  that  ever  appeared  in 
McLean  count)-.  Old  ones  sold  at  auction 
bring  fifty  per  cent  more  than  those  of  other 
makes.  In  1869  he  tore  down  his  old  shop 
and  erected  a  brick  building  fifty  by  sixty 
feet,  two  stories  in  height,  and  once  gave 
employment  to  fifteen  hands,  doing  only 
custom  work.  His  son  is  now  interested  in 
the  business,  and  the  firm  name  is  L.  Matern 
&  Son.  Our  subject  also  owns  a  bicycle 
shop  at  No.  105  South  Madison  street, 
which  is  carried  on  by  his  son. 

Mr.  Matern  has  gained  considerable 
prominence  by  his  essa3's  on  linseed  oil 
painting,  and  a  renowned  reputation  in 
America,    England,    France    and    Germany 


because  he  was  the  first  who  systematically 
classified  the  chemical  action  of  paint  pig- 
ment to  linseed  oil,  thereby  proving  the 
durability  of  paints,  hence  the  well  known 
qualities  of  his  vehicle  paints.  The  West- 
ern Painter,  published  in  Chicago  January, 
1896,  said:  "Mr.  Louis  Matern,  who  has 
spent  his  life  at  the  painter's  trade,  learned 
his  trade  in  Germany,  and  consequently 
learned  it  well.  He  has  written  a  great 
deal  for  the  Western  Painter  during  the  last 
four  years,  and  we  hope  to  see  his  name  in 
our  columns  every  month  hereafter."  He  is 
a  deep  thinker,  a  logical  reasoner,  and  his 
words  always  impress  the  reader  with  the 
fact  that  he  knows  what  he  is  talking  about. 
Mr.  Matern  has  twice  been  married,  his 
first  wife  being  Miss  Martha  A.  Howe,  a 
native  of  England,  who  died,  leaving  four 
children:  Alice  K.,  now  the  wife  of  Cray- 
ton  Packard;  William  J.,  who  is  in  business 
with  his  father;  Minnie  M.,  wife  of  S. 
Bowen,  of  Bloomington,  and  Milton,  de- 
ceased. His  present  wife  was  in  her  mai- 
denhood Miss  Ann  PauU,  and  is  also  a  native 
of  England.  The  family  has  a  pleasant 
home  at  No.  311  West  Grove  street,  and 
are  widely  and  favorably  known.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Matern  both  hold  membership  in  the 
Unitarian  church,  and  socially  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Bloomington  Lodge  of  .\.  F.  and  A. 
M.,  No.  43- 


JAMES  H.  COX.  There  is  probably  no 
man  in  Hudson  who  has  done  more  for 
its  commercial  interests  and  its  growth  and 
development  than  the  gentleman  whose 
name  heads  this  review.  Without  vain 
display  he  has  moved  on  the  even  tenor  of 
his  way  and  left  his  mark  on  almost  every- 
thing which  has  advanced  the  interests  of 


456 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


the  village.  After  years  of  active  business, 
he  is  now  practically  living  retired,  enjoying 
the  rest  which  he  has  so  well  earned  and 
richly  deserves. 

Mr.  Cox  was  born  in  Norway,  O.xford 
county,  Maine,  April  21,  1822,  and  is  a  son 
of  William  and  Elizabeth  (Phipps)  Cox,  na- 
tives of  Massachusetts  and  New  Hampshire, 
respectively.  At  an  early  daj-  the  father  re- 
moved with  his  parents  from  Old  Plymouth 
to  Chatham,  New  Hampshire,  where  he 
was  married  and  continued  to  engage  in 
farming  for  some  time.  He  then  removed 
to  Norway,  Maine,  where  he  conducted  a 
mercantile  business  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  about  1850,  when  he  was  seventy- 
two  years  of  age.  His  wife  survived  him 
ten  years  and  also  died  at  the  age  of  seven- 
ty-two. Of  the  fourteen  children  born  to 
this  worthy  couple,  the  eldest  died  in  in- 
fancy, and  the  youngest  at  the  age  of  seven 
years,  while  the  others  reached  years  of  ma- 
turity and  were  as  follows:  Abraham  J.,  a 
prominent  politician  of  Albany,  New  York; 
Thomas  J.,  a  merchant  of  Dixfield,  Maine; 
William,  Jr.,  who  remained  on  the  old  home 
farm  in  Maine;  Samuel,  who  came  to  Mc- 
Lean county,  Illinois,  in  1836,  and  after 
living  for  a  time  in  Hudson  township,  re- 
moved to  Bloomington,  where  he  conducted 
a  gristmill;  George,  a  farmer  of  Hudson 
township;  Edwin,  who  taught  school  for 
many  years  in  Illinois  and  died  in  Fayette 
county;  James  H.,  our  subject;  Caroline, 
wife  of  Captain  William  E.  Sweetsir,  of 
Boston,  Massachusetts,  a  sea  captain  who 
was  engaged  in  the  West  India  trade;  Mary 
A.,  wife  of  Ammi  P.  Sweetsir,  of  Portland, 
Maine,  a  brother  of  the  captain,  who  later 
came  to  Illinois  and  engaged  in  milling  in 
Bloomington;  Louisa,  wife  of  Dr.  Harris,  of 
New    Hampshire;   Eva,    who  first   married 


Leonard  Brown,  of  Maine,  and  after  his 
death  came  to  Illinois,  where  she  married 
William  Mathews,  now  one  of  the  old  citi- 
zens of  Bloomington;  Rovvena,  who  married 
Claudius  Noyes,  of  Boston,  Massachusetts. 
With  the  exception  of  our  subject  and  Mrs. 
Noyes,  all  are  now  deceased. 

At  his  birthplace  James  H.  Cox  grew  to 
manhood, his  beng  youth  spent  upon  the  farm 
as  he  preferred  out  door  life  to  the  confine- 
ment of  the  store  and  his  father  had  exten- 
sive landed  possessions  on  each  side  of  the 
village.  Our  subject  obtained  a  good  practi- 
cal education  in  the  village  schools  and  soon 
after  attaining  his  majority  embarked  in 
the  mercantile  business  with  his  brother-in- 
law,  Lenord  Brown,  at  Welchville,  Oxford 
county,  Maine,  where  they  conducted  a 
store  for  two  years  or  until  the  death  of  the 
latter.  Mr.  Cox  then  returned  his  stock  of 
goods  to  Newry  Corners,  the  same  county 
— a  little  village  at  the  juncture  of  the 
Androscoggin  and  Bear  rivers,  where  he 
was  engaged  in  business  for  three  years.  He 
then  purchased  a  farm  atWaterford,  Maine 
and  followed  agricultural  pursuits  at  that 
place  for  two  years. 

On  selling  out  in  the  fall  of  1831,  Mr. 
Cox  came  to  McLean  county,  Illinois,  and 
spent  the  first  winter  at  Bloomington  in  the 
employ  of  A.  M.  Mathews.  In  the  spring 
of  1852  he  concluded  to  engage  in  business 
at  Hudson  and  accordingly  started  a  general 
store  at  that  place.  He  soon  succeeded  in 
building  up  a  good  trade,  his  patrons  coming 
from  twenty-five  to  fifty  miles  in  every 
direction.  For  some  years  he  gave  his  en- 
tire attention  to  that  business  and  met  with 
most  excellent  success.  When  his  sons  be- 
came old  enough  to  take  charge  of  the  same, 
he  retired  and  it  is  now  carried  on  by  them. 
For  some  time  he  was  also  interested  in  the 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


457 


grain  and  drug  business  in  company  with 
his  son  Charles  E.  Cox,  and  his  son-in-law, 
John  W.  Aldrich.  He  has  been  actively 
identified  with  the  improvement  and  de- 
velopment of  the  town  and  has  built  two 
store  buildings.  His  first  residence  here 
was  burned  in  i860  before  being  completed 
and  upon  the  same  site  was  erected  his 
present  home,  which  is  one  the  best  and 
most  substantial  in  the  village. 

On  the  6th  of  February,  1846,  Mr.  Co.\ 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  A. 
Chadbourn,  a  daughter  of  James  and  Mercy 
(Scribner)  Chadbourn,  natives  of  Maine. 
She  was  born  in  Harrison,  that  state,  Octo- 
ber 6,  1825,  but  during  her  childhood  was 
taken  to  Waterford,  Maine,  where  she  was 
reared.  Her  father,  who  was  known  as 
Colonel  Chadbourn,  served  with  that  rank 
in  the  state  militia  and  throughout  the 
greater  part  of  his  life  followed  farming 
through  the  summer  months  and  engaged 
in  logging  during  the  winter  in  the  pine 
timber  lands  of  Maine,  his  native  state. 
He  was  born  in  Gorham,  January  23,  1795, 
and  died  in  Waterford  earlj-  in  the  '50s. 
His  wife  was  born  in  1800,  and  died  Octo- 
ber 26,  1873.  Mr.  Cox  has  been  called 
upon  the  loss  of  his  estimable  wife  who  died 
December  22,  1S91.  To  them  were  born 
five  children  as  follows:  Charles  E.,  born 
September  25,  1848,  was  for  several  years 
connected  with  his  father  in  business  to 
Hudson,  as  a  grain  dealer,  but  now  follows 
farming  at  Vandalia,  Illinois;  Flora,  born 
June  5,  1 8 50,  is  the  wife  of  John  W.,  Aid- 
rich,  president  of  the  First  National  Bank 
of  Normal,  where  they  make  their  home; 
Nettie  C,  born  December  6,  1856,  is  the 
wife  of  Rev.  Francis  M.  Smith,  now  pastor 
of  the  Baptist  church  at  Marion,  Iowa;  and 
Harry  W.    and     Herbert     M. ,  twins,    born 


July  17,  1 86 1,  conducted  the  store  former- 
ly owned  by  their  father  until  the  spring  of 
1S99,  when  they  dissolved  partnership  and 
are  now  alone  in  business. 

In  his  political  views,  Mr.  Cox  has  al- 
ways been  a  stanch  Republican  and  was  the 
first  supervisor  of  Hudson  township,  in 
which  capacity  he  most  acceptably  served 
for  several  terms.  Soon  after  embarking 
in  business  at  Hudson,  he  was  appointed 
postmaster  and  held  that  office  until  the 
election  of  President  Cleveland.  He  has  also 
taken  an  active  part  in  educational  affairs 
and  for  manj"  years  was  a  most  efficient  mem- 
ber of  the  school  board.  He  is  an  active 
and  prominent  member  of  the  Baptist 
church  of  Hudson,  which  he  assisted  in  or- 
ganizing, in  which  he  has  served  as  deacon 
for  forty  years,  and  also  as  superintendent 
of  the  Sunday  school  for  many  years.  He 
is  deeply  interested,  as  he  always  has  been, 
in  public  affairs  and  the  good  of  his  com- 
munity where  he  has  so  long  resided,  and  it 
is  safe  to  say  that  no  man  in  the  community 
is  held  in  higher  regard  or  has  more  warm 
friends  than  James  H.  Cox. 


GEORGE  J.  FOSTER.  There  are  no 
rules  for  building  characters;  there  is 
no  rule  for  achieving  success.  The  man 
who  can  rise  from  the  ranks  to  a  position  of 
eminence,  is  he  who  can  see  and  utilize  the 
opportunities  that  surround  his  path.  The 
essential  conditions  of  human  life  are  ever 
the  same,  the  surroundings  of  individuals 
differ  but  slightly;  and  when  one  man  passes 
another  on  the  highway  to  reach  the  goal  of 
prosperity  before  others  who  perhaps  started 
out  before  him,  it  is  because  he  has  the 
power  to  use  advantages  which  probably 
encompass  the  whole  human  race.     To-day 


458 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


among  the  business  men  of  Normal  stands 
Mr.  Foster,  who  is  the  senior  member  of 
the  Phoenix  Nursery  Company  and  its  ef- 
ficient secretary.  He  is  a  man  worthy  of 
his  position,  whose  name  and  influence  are 
widely  known  and  felt,  and  represents  one 
of  the  oldest  industries  of  its  kind  in  the 
state.  It  was  established  by  Franklin  K. 
Phoenix,  at  Bloomington,  Illinois,  in  1852, 
first  on  a  small  scale,  but  by  ability  and 
good  management  it  increased  in  interest 
and  extent.  In  1877,  Mr.  Phoenix  discon- 
tinued the  business,  and  was  succeeded  by 
Tuttle  &  Follett,  who  continued  until  1882, 
when  the  business  again  changed  hands,  and 
for  a  time  was  known  as  Sydney  Tuttle  & 
Co.  In  1885  a  new  company  was  formed 
by  the  following  members:  W.  E.  Rossney, 
Sydney  Tuttle  and  George  J.  Foster.  This 
company  was  incorporated  in  1890,  and  was 
known  as  the  Phoenix  Nursery  Company, 
with  the  following  officers,  namely:  W.  E. 
Rossney,  president;  Sydney  Tuttle,  vice- 
president;  and  George  J.  Foster,  secretary. 
These  nurseries  cover  over  six  hundred 
acres  of  valuable  land,  most  of  which  is 
given  over  to  the  raising  of  fruits  and  orna- 
mental trees.  Among  the  latter  are  almost 
every  variety  of  the  American  forest. 
There  are  fifty  acres  devoted  to  the  culti- 
vation of  small  fruits,  and  twenty  acres  to 
hardy  roses.  In  the  thirteen  greenhouses, 
which  cover  a  large  area,  are  raised  native 
and  tropical  plants,  also  cut  flowers  through- 
out the  entire  year.  From  the  Phoenix 
nurseries  shipments  are  made  to  all  parts  of 
the  United  States,  Australia,  Canada,  Ire- 
land, Germany,  South  Africa  and  South 
America.  Mr.  Foster  is  one  of  the  main 
springs  in  this  great  wheel  of  industry.  He 
was  born  in  Rhode  Island,  January  2, 
1846,  where  he  received    his  early  training 


and  rudimentary  education.  He  has  al- 
ways followed  agricultural  pursuits,  having 
had  since  his  early  says  a  decided  liking  for 
this  line  of  business,  no  doubt  seeing  in  the 
bud,  leaf  and  plant,  the  creative  powers  of 
God.  In  1S64  Mr.  Foster  left  his  native 
state  and  went  to  Flushing,  Long  Island, 
where  he  entered  the  employ  of  Parsons  & 
Company,  under  whose  instructions  he 
became  conversant  in  all  the  departments 
of  the  nursery  business.  He  remained  in 
Flushing  for  four  years,  after  which  time 
he  removed  to  Bloomington  and  entered 
the  employ  of  Franklin  K.  Phoenix.  He 
has  remained  in  the  establishment  through 
all  its  various  changes,  having  entered  it  in 
1868. 

In  1870  Mr.  Foster  married  Miss  Lydia 
B.  Browning,  a  daughter  of  Perry  N. 
Browning.  Six  children  have  graced  this 
union,  five  of  whom  are  living;  Frederick 
B.,  deceased;  Alma  B.,  George  K.,  Bernice 
L. ,  Esther  B.,  and  John  B.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Foster  are  prominent  in  Grace  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  of  Bloomington,  where 
the  former  is  an  active  and  official  mem- 
ber. Politicall}'  he  is  a  Republican  who 
stanchly  upholds  the  principles  of  his  party. 


CHARLES  M.  PEIRCE,  L.L.  B.,  isone 
of  the  most  popular  and  successful  law- 
yers now  engaged  in  practice  in  Blooming- 
ton. It  is  said  that  the  poet  is  born,  not 
made;  but  the  successful  lawyer  is  both  born 
and  made, — made  by  close  application,  ear- 
nest effort,  by  perseverance  and  resolute  pur- 
pose. The  abilities  with  which  nature  has 
endowed  him  must  be  strengthened  and  de- 
veloped by  use,  and  only  by  merit  can  a 
lawyer  gain  a  pre-eminent  position. 

Mr.  Peirce  was  born  November  8,  i860. 


THE   BIOGIL\PHICAL   RECORD. 


459 


in  New  Market,  Tennessee,  twenty-five 
miles  east  of  Knoxville,  and  is  a  son  of 
John  B.  and  Mary  M.  (Bell)  Peirce.  both 
natives  of  Virginia,  the  former  born  in 
Smyth  county,  the  latter  in  Wythe  county. 
The  paternal  grandfather,  Moses  Peirce, 
spent  his  entire  life  in  S3mth  county,  Vir- 
ginia, and  was  a  soldier  of  the  war  of  1812, 
under  General  Jackson.  He  was  twice  mar- 
ried, and  the  father  of  our  subject  was  a  son 
by  the  second  wife.  John  B.  Peirce  was 
born  February  14,  1S32,  and  was  reared  in 
the  Old  Dominion,  where  he  continued  to 
reside  until  after  his  marriage,  removing 
from  there  to  East  Tennessee.  He  engaged 
in  blacksmithing  and  wagonmaking  until  the 
civil  war  broke  out,  when  he  entered  the 
Union  service  as  captain  of  a  company.  In 
attempting  to  cross  the  line  and  go  north  he 
was  among  the  first  to  be  captured  during 
that  struggle.  For  three  or  four  months  he 
was  incarcerated  in  a  Georgia  prison,  and 
was  then  discharged  on  parole.  With  his 
famil}-  he  then  came  north,  arriving  in 
Bloomington  in  the  fall  of  1S63.  He  was 
compelled  to  leave  all  his  accumulation  of 
years  behind  him  and  here  begin  life  anew 
and  empt3--handed.  After  spending  a  short 
time  in  Bloomington,  he  went  to  Danvers, 
where  he  worked  at  his  trade  one  year,  and 
thirty-one  years  ago  he  moved  to  what  is 
Anchor  township,  McLean  count}',  where 
he  purchased  a  tract  of  unimproved  prairie 
land,  to  the  development  and  cultivation  of 
which  he  has  since  devoted  his  energies. 
He  and  his  wife  are  still  living  upon  that 
place  and  are  numbered  among  the  highlj-- 
respected  citizens  of  that  community.  The}' 
have  a  family  of  eight  children  living  and 
two  sons  and  one  daughter,  deceased.  Will- 
iam B.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-four 
years  and  six  months,  was  township  super- 


visor and  school  treasurer  of  Anchor  town- 
ship from  the  time  of  attaining  his  majority 
until  his  death.  Charles  M.,  our  subject,  is 
next  in  order  of  birth;  John  F.  is  a  farmer 
of  Auburn,  Nebraska;  Glenn  is  a  farmer  of 
this  county;  Ed  is  an  attorney  of  Blooming- 
ton; Eugene  died  in  early  manhood,  in  Jan- 
uary, 1888;  Harry  and  Nettie  are  at  home; 
Kate  is  the  wife  of  James  T.  Aker,  of  Mc- 
Lean county:  and  Ella  O.  is  the  wife  of  H. 
J.  Thompson,  of  Arrowsmith,  this  county. 
The  only  school  privileges  afforded  our 
subject  before  he  attained  the  age  of  twen- 
ty-one were  those  of  the  common  district 
schools,  and  in  the  meantime  he  assisted 
his  father  in  the  operation  of  the  home 
farm.  Feeling  the  need  of  a  better  educa- 
tion, he  entered  the  Illinois  Wesleyan  Uni- 
versity at  Bloomington,  taking  the  literary 
course,  and  later  he  successfully  engaged  in 
teaching  school  through  the  winter  months, 
while  the  summer  seasons  were  devoted  to 
farm  work  for  three  years.  In  1884  he 
graduated  from  the  Commercial  College  at 
Lexington,  Kentucky,  and  also  pursued  a 
select  course  of  study  in  the  Transylvania 
College  there.  The  following  two  years 
were  devoted  to  the  study  of  law  in  the 
Northern  College  of  Law  at  Valparaiso, 
Indiana,  where  he  was  graduated  in  June, 
1888,  with  the  degree  of  LL.  B.  He  was 
then  admitted  to  practice  in  the  United 
States  circuit  and  district  courts  and  the 
supreme  court  of  the  state  of  Indiana,  and 
afterward  admitted  by  examination  to  prac- 
tice in  the  state  of  Illinois.  He  still  has  in 
his  possession  a  letter  dated  September  4, 
1888,  which  reads  as  follows:  "  Dear  Sir — 
In  answer  to  yours  of  the  3rd,  will  say  that 
the  result  of  your  examination  was  that 
"  *  *  you  passed  and  your  grade  was 
one  hundred  per  cent.      Allow  me  to  con- 


460 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


gratulate  you  on  your  splendid  examination. 
I  wish  you  big  success,  etc."  signed  John 
W.  Burton,  clerk  of  the  supreme  court. 
Mr.  Peirce  at  once  located  in  Bloomington, 
but  on  account  of  ill  health  was  compelled 
to  spend  one  year  in  the  mountains.  On 
his  recovery  he  resumed  practice  here  in 
the  fall  of  1889  and  was  not  long  in  secur- 
ing a  liberal  clientage.  He  has  had  charge 
of  many  of  the  important  cases,  including 
four  murders.  For  some  time  he  practiced 
principally  in  the  criminal  courts,  but  of 
more  recent  years  has  given  his  attention 
more  to  civil  practice  and  has  been  emi- 
nently successful  in  both  branches. 

On  the  8th  of  June,  1898,  Mr.  Peirce 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Ella 
Bane,  of  Arrowsmith,  a  daughter  of  Sam- 
uel T.  Bane,  and  they  now  occupy  a  beau- 
tiful home  at  No.  614  East  Mulberry  street, 
Bloomington.  Fraternally,  Mr.  Peirce  is  a 
member  of  Bloomington  Lodge,  No.  43,  F. 
&  A.  M. ;  and  Jesse  Fell  Lodge,  No.  164, 
K.  P.  He  has  met  with  success  financially 
as  well  as  professionally,  and  is  one  of  the 
charter  members  and  stockholders  of  the 
Corn  Belt  Bank.  In  1892  he  canvassed 
the  county,  engaged  in  speaking  and  other 
campaign  work,  in  favor  of  the  Republican 
party,  but  being  a  bimetalist,  he  supported 
Bryan  in  1896,  and  made  a  great  number 
of  speeches  in  the  interests  of  Democracy. 
He  has  never  been  an  aspirant  for  office, 
although  his  name  has  been  brought  before 
the  convention  of  his  party  as  candidate  for 
state  attorney.  Holding  marked  prece- 
dence among  the  members  of  the  bar  of  this 
county,  and  retaining  a  clientele  of  so  repre- 
sentative a  character  as  to  alone  stand  in 
evidence  of  his  professional  ability  and  per- 
sonal popularity,  Mr.  Peirce  must  assuredly 
be  accorded  a  place  in  this  volume. 


HERBERT  A.  POTTS,  D.  D.  S.,  one 
of  the  prominent  and  rising  j'oung 
dentists  of  Bloomington,  was  born  in  White- 
hall, Illinois,  February  15,  1873,  a  son  of 
William  and  Mary  (Stewart)  Potts.  The 
father  is  one  of  the  leading  and  successful 
farmers  and  live  stock  dealers  of  that  local- 
ity, and  is  also  a  veteran  of  the  civil  war, 
having  served  for  three  years  as  a  member 
of  the  Sixty-first  Volunteer  Infantry,  of 
which  regiment  he  was  quartermaster,  with 
the  rank  of  lieutenant.  Our  subject's 
paternal  grandfather,  Anthony  Potts,  was  a 
pioneer  of  Greene  county,  Illinois,  having 
located  there  at  a  very  early  day  in  the 
settlement  of  the  state. 

Reared  on  a  farm.  Dr.  Potts  acquired  his 
early  education  in  the  country  schools,  and 
by  assisting  his  father  in  the  cultivation  of 
the  land  he  developed  a  good  physique. 
Later  he  graduated  from  the  Whitehall 
high  school  in  the  class  of  1891,  and  then 
entered  the  dental  department  of  the  North- 
western University  of  Chicago,  where  he 
took  the  complete  course,  including  prac- 
tical work  in  the  operating  room.  During 
his  last  year  he  served  as  assistant  to  Pro- 
fessor George  W.  Haskins,  who  held  the 
chair  of  prosthetic  technics,  and  performed 
the  duties  of  that  position  in  addition  to  his 
regular  work.  Thus  he  became  an  in- 
structor to  many  of  the  students,  and  as 
only  the  best  pupils  are  selected  for  such  a 
responsible  position,  it  was  a  great  honor 
that  was  conferred  upon  him.  Dr.  Potts 
graduated  in  the  spring  of  1895,  and  in  Oc- 
tober of  the  same  year  opened  an  office  in 
Bloomington.  Although  he  was  entirely 
unacquainted  in  the  city,  his  skill  and  ability 
soon  won  him  the  liberal  practice  which  he 
now  enjoys.  His  office  is  fitted  up  with  all 
modern  appliances  needed  by  the  profession, 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


461 


and  he  is  acknowledged  to  be  one  of  the 
best  dentists  in  the  city.  He  is  a  promi- 
nent member  of  the  State  Dental  Society, 
before  which  he  gave  a  clinic  on  a  special 
line  of  work  at  its  last  meeting.  Socially 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias 
Lodge  at  Whitehall,  and  he  attends  the 
Second  Presbyterian  church  of  Bloom- 
ington. 


GEORGE  A.  ROSS,  who,  after  the  la- 
bors of  a  long  and  busy  life,  is  spend- 
ing his  later  years  in  ease  and  retirement  in 
the  village  of  Heyworth,  is  a  native  of  New 
York,  his  birth  having  occurred  in  Schenec- 
tady county,  April  19,  1828.  His  father, 
John  B.  Ross,  was  born  in  New  Jersey,  and 
was  a  son  of  Captain  Ross,  a  native  of  Scot- 
land, who  came  to  America  when  a  young 
man,  and  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
New  Jersey.  He  was  commissioned  a  cap- 
tain in  the  Colonial  army  during  the  Revo- 
lutionary war,  and  valiantly  fought  for  the 
independence  of  his  adopted  country.  The 
father  of  our  subject  was  reared  in  his  na- 
tive state,  but  when  a  young  man  removed 
to  New  York  and  first  located  in  Schenec- 
tady county,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade 
of  blacksmithing.  There  he  married  Eliza 
Stewart,  who  was  born  in  New  York  of 
Scotch  ancestry,  and  died  in  1830  during 
the  infancy  of  our  subject.  The  father 
afterward  married  again.  From  Schenec- 
tady he  removed  to  Saratoga  county,  New 
York,  and  later  to  Niagara  county,  and  was 
engaged  in  business  as  a  blacksmith  for 
many  years  at  Middleport,  where  he  died  in 
1883,  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty-four 
years. 

George  A.  Ross,  of  this   review,  who  is 
familiarly  known  as  Colonel  Ross,   grew  to 


manhood  in  Niagara  county,  New  York, 
and  in  early  life  assisted  his  father  in  the 
shop.  He  received  but  limited  school  ad- 
vantages, and  therefore  is  almost  wholly 
self-educated  by  reading  and  study  in  his 
mature  years.  Coming  west  in  the  fall  of 
1852  he  first  located  at  Decatur,  Illinois, 
where  he  was  employed  in  railroad  construc- 
tion through  the  winter,  and  the  following 
spring  returned  to  New  York,  where  he  spent 
a  few  weeks.  On  again  coming  to  Illinois 
he  located  in  McLean  county  and  entered 
the  service  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad, 
having  charge  of  two  sections  and  two  sets 
of  men. 

In  the  fall  of  1853  Colonel  Ross  again 
returned  to  New  York  to  claim  his  promised 
bride,  and  on  the  27th  of  November  of  that 
year  led  to  the  marriage  altar  Miss  Eleanor 
Jackson,  who  was  born  in  Genesee  county, 
but  reared  in  Orleans  county,  that  state. 
Her  parents,  Charles  and  Julia  (Fillo)  Jack- 
son, were  also  natives  of  Genesee  county, 
and  the  father  was  a  carpenter  by  trade. 
Immediately  after  their  marriage  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Ross  came  to  McLean  county,  Illinois, 
and  began  their  domestic  life  in  Heyworth, 
which  thriving  little  village  was  then  but  a 
hamlet  containing  two  log  houses.  Rent- 
ing a  dwelling  they  commenced  housekeep- 
ing in  very  primitive  style. 

At  that  time  Colonel  Ross  had  charge  of 
the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  track  between 
Heyworth  and  Wapella  and  was  overseer 
of  two  sets  of  workmen.  After  following 
railroading  until  1856,  he  then  rented  land 
and  turned  his  attention  to  farming.  In 
the  fall  of  1 86 1  he  made  his  first  purchase 
of  land,  consisting  of  a  tract  of  one  hundred 
and  seventy  acres,  at  Funks  Grove,  a  part 
of  which  had  already  been  broken  and  a 
small  one-story  house  erected  thereon.   Lo- 


462 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


eating  there  in  February,  1862,  he  devoted 
his  energies  to  the  improvement  and  culti- 
vation of  his  place  for  many  years.  He 
fenced  and  tiled  it,  built  a  good  barn,  gran- 
ary, corn  cribs,  etc.,  and  in  1866  erected  a 
pleasant  residence.  In  addition  to  general 
farming  he  engaged  in  feeding  and  dealing 
in  stock,  for  which  he  had  good  water  from 
wells  with  windmills  attached.  To  his 
original  purchase  he  added  eighty-one  acres 
adjoining,  making  a  fine  farm  of  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  acres,  which  he  converted 
into  one  of  the  best  improved  places  of 
Funks  Grove  township.  He  also  owns 
eighty  acres  of  good  land  in  Downs  town- 
ship, and  has  some  timber-  tracts,  all  of 
which  property  was  acquired  through  his 
own  untiring  labors,  good  management  and 
perseverance,  the  assistance  of  his  estimable 
wife,  who  has  indeed  proved  a  true  help- 
meet to  him.  Though  they  began  their 
married  life  empty-handed,  through  their 
united  efforts  they  have  accumulated  con- 
siderable property,  including  two  valuable 
and  well  improved  farms  and  an  elegant 
home  in  Heyworth,  which  is  one  of  the 
best  residences  in  town,  and  was  erected  by 
them  on  their  removal  to  that  place  in 
1888.  Since  then  they  have  lived  retired. 
Although  they  have  no  children  of  their 
own,  out  of  the  kindness  of  their  hearts 
they  have  reared  and  educated  three  boys, 
who  are  now  grown,  two  of  whom  are  mar- 
ried and  doing  for  themselves. 

Colonel  Ross  cast  his  first  presidential 
vote  for  General  Scott,  the  Whig  candidate, 
but  has  been  identified  with  the  Republican 
party  since  its  organization  in  1856,  and  has 
never  failed  to  cast  his  ballot  for  its  nomi- 
nees at  each  presidential  election.  He  has 
served  as  a  delegate  to  several  county,  con- 
gressional and  state  conventions  of  his  party 


and  has  attended  three  national  conventions. 
He  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  three  of  the 
greatest  men  that  our  country  has  produced 
— Lincoln,  Blaine  and  Garfield.  He  has 
always  taken  an  active  interest  in  political 
affairs,  and  has  been  elected  to  various  local 
positions  of  honor  and  trust,  both  in  Funks 
Grove  and  Heyworth,  the  duties  of  which 
he  most  capably  and  satisfactorily  dis- 
charged. For  many  years  he  was  one  of 
the  most  active  and  enterprising  farmers  of 
the  county,  as  well  as  one  of  its  most  relia- 
ble and  honorable  citizens,  and  now  in  his 
declining  years  is  enjoying  a  well-earned  rest, 
free  from  the  cares  and  responsibilities  of 
business  life.  Throughout  the  community  he 
is  widely  andfavorabl}'  known. 


JACOB  MEETH,  Sr.,  is  a  leading  repre- 
sentative of  the  business  interests  of 
Bloomington,  where  he  has  successfully 
carried  on  operations  as  a  brick  and  stone 
contractor  for  over  a  quarter  of  a  century. 
Of  excellent  business  ability  and  broad 
resources,  he  has  attained  a  prominent 
place  among  the  substantial  men  of  the 
city.  He  has  won  success  by  his  well- 
directed,  energetic  efforts,  and  the  prosper- 
ity that  has  come  to  him  is  certainly  well 
deserved. 

A  native  of  Germany,  Mr.  Meeth  was 
born  in  Frankfort-on-the-Main,  May  30, 
1849,  a  son  of  Adam  and  Katherina  (Jacobs) 
Meeth.  The  father  was  born  and  reared  in 
Dieburg,  Hessen,  and  there  learned  the 
mason's  trade.  Later  he  bought  his  right 
to  citizenship  in  Frankfort-on-the-Main  and 
there  worked  at  his  trade  as  foreman  for  a 
gentleman  until  his  death.  The  mother 
died  at  the  same  place.  Our  subject  was 
educated  in  the  schools  of  Frankfort,  and  at 


JACOB  MEETH. 


LIBR'.RY 
OF  THE 
■r;  ITV  Of  ILLIKOIt 


THE    BIOGR.\PHICAL    RECORD. 


465 


the  age  of  thirteen  years  commenced  learn- 
ing the  mason's  trade  with  the  firm  for 
which  his  father  worked.  He  remained 
with  them  for  three  years,  but  completed 
his  apprenticeship  with  others,  in  which 
way  he  gained  a  better  knowledge  of  the 
different  methods  pursued  by  different  per- 
sons in  the  same  business. 

Crossing  the  Atlantic  in  1854,  Mr. 
Meeth  first  located  in  St.  Louis,  Missouri, 
where  he  worked  for  three  years.  There  he 
was  married  in  1871  to  Miss  Minnie  Buch- 
holtz,  also  a  native  of  Germany,  who  came 
to  New  York  when  she  was  six  years  old  and 
to  Bloomington  before  she  was  twelve. 
Her  father,  Michael  Buchholtz,  was  one  of 
the  first  Germans  to  locate  in  the  latter 
city,  taking  up  his  residence  here  in  1861. 
He  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade  and  worked 
at  the  same  in  Bloomington  until  called 
from  this  life  in  1879.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Meath 
have  three  children:  Lucy,  now  the  wife 
of  Patrick  Cunningham,  of  Bloomington; 
Minnie,  at  home;  and-  Jacob,  Jr.,  who 
learned  his  trade  with  his  father  and  now 
works  for  him. 

For  one  year  after  his  marriage,  Mr. 
Meeth  made  his  home  in  Chicago,  but  since 
the  3d  of  July,  1872,  he  has  resided  in 
Bloomington,  where  he  at  once  embarked 
in  business  for  himself  as  a  brick  and  stone 
contractor.  He  has  been  very  successful 
and  secured  many  of  the  largest  contracts 
in  the  city.  He  erected  the  tower  of  Holy 
Trinity  church  and  convent;  Smith's  Chop 
House,  one  of  the  principal  early  buildings 
of  the  city;  the  Kechler  building;  the  Waits 
Hotel;  the  Brown  &  Bush  building  in  Nor- 
mal; an  addition  to  the  brewery;  the  Wild- 
burger  building  on  North  Main  street;  the 
McGregor  building  and  many  others;  and 
was  superintendent   of  the  construction  of 


the  Harber  Brothers  agricultural  imple- 
ment building  and  of  the  building  for  the 
training  department  of  the  Normal  Univer- 
sity. He  has  also  done  a  great  deal  of  stone 
work,  including  the  Jewish  synagog  of 
Bloomington,  and  many  of  the  township 
bridges  even  as  far  as  Pekin  and  Peoria,  and 
gives  employment  to  a  large  force  of  men. 
Mr.  Meeth  has  purchased  a  fine  piece  of 
property  one  hundred  and  ninety-two  feet 
by  one  hundred  fifteen  feet  at  the  corner  of 
Lincoln  and  Wright  streets,  and  has  built 
thereon  a  fine  residence.  In  this  beautiful 
home  hospitality  reigns  supreme,  for  the 
family  is  one  of  prominence  socially.  In 
politics  Mr.  Meeth  is  a  stanch  Democrat, 
and  though  he  has  served  as  school  director, 
he  has  never  cared  for  political  honors,  pre- 
ferring to  give  his  undivided  attention  to  his 
business  interests. 


PETER  H.  VANCE,  now  living  a  retired 
life  in  his  pleasant  home  in  the  village 
of  Danvers,  is  a  pioneer  of  Woodford 
county,  Illinois,  although  when  he  first 
located  there  with  his  father  it  was  a  part 
of  McLean  county,  the  family  homestead 
being  within  six  miles  of  Danvers.  He  was 
born  in  Todd  county,  Kentucky,  April  20, 
1 8 16,  and  is  the  son  of  James  and  Jane 
(Hay)  Vance,  both  of  whom  were  natives 
of  the  same  state.  They  were  the  parents 
of  four  children,  of  whom  our  subject  was 
third  in  order  of  birth.  About  1821  the 
family  moved  to  Christian  county,  Ken- 
tucky, where  they  remained  until  1835, 
when  they  came  to  Illinois,  locating  in  what 
was  then  McLean  county,  but  which  was 
later  set  off  and  became  a  part  of  Wood- 
ford county,  but  which  is  on  the  line  of 
Danvers  township. 


466 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


James  Vance  was  a  farmer  by  occupation 
both  in  Kentucky  and  in  Illinois.  On  com- 
ing to  this  state  he  took  up  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  government  land  and  began 
its  improvement.  He  was  quite  successful 
in  all  his  undertakings  and  at  the  time  of 
his  death  had  several  hundred  acres  of  land. 
His  first  wife  dying,  he  later  married  her 
sister,  Mary  Hay,  who  also  died  many  years 
ago.  He  was  a  man  of  strong  character, 
the  right  sort  of  a  person  to  be  a  pioneer. 
His  influence  was  felt  in  the  community 
where  he  resided  and  all  trusted  and  re- 
spected him. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  nineteen 
years  old  when  he  came  with  his  parents  to 
Illinois.  After  assisting  his  father  in  open- 
ing up  the  home  place,  he  went  to  the  lead 
mines  in  Galena,  where  he  spent  about 
three  years  and  succeeded  in  laying  by  some 
money.  He  made  his  father's  house  his 
home  until  his  marriage  in  1845.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Louisa  A.  Mitchell,  a  native  of 
Illinois,  and  daughter  of  Rev.  Peyton 
Mitchell,  one  of  the  pioneer  ministers  of 
the  gospel  of  this  state,  and  a  brother  of 
Mitchell,  the  great  astronomer.  By  this 
union  eleven  children  were  born,  one  of 
whom  died  in  infancy.  James  died  at  the 
age  of  twelve  years.  Elizabeth  married 
James  Robinson,  but  is  now  deceased. 
Mr.  Robinson  makes  his  home  in  Bloom- 
ington.  Ella  May  married  H.  W.  MeClure, 
now  deceased,  leaving  five  children.  Mary 
and  Peyton  are  deceased.  Minnie  is  her 
father's  housekeeper.  Charles  E.  and  Jud- 
son  are  in  the  banking  business  in  Danvers, 
and  are  men  of  good  business  ability. 
Charity  married  L.  E.  Skagg,  and  they 
reside  in  Danvers  township.  Cora  resides 
at  home  with  her  father. 

Soon    after    returning    from    the    lead 


mines,  Mr.  Vance  purchased  a  tract  of  land 
adjoining  that  of  his  father,  comprising 
eight  hundred  and  forty  acres,  which  he  in 
due  time  placed  under  cultivation.  As  his 
means  increased  he  added  to  his  possessions 
until  he  had  one  thousand  acres  in  Wood- 
ford and  McLean  counties,  Illinois,  and  five 
hundred  acres  in  Franklin  county,  Iowa. 
While  he  engaged  in  mixed  farming,  he 
gave  special  attention  to  the  raising  of 
stock,  particularly  fine  horses,  roadsters 
and  draft,  and  has  had  upon  his  place  some 
forty  or  fifty  head  of  choice  animals.  In 
mules,  hogs  and  cattle  he  also  had  gener- 
ally a  large  number  of  head,  and  was  very 
successful  in  this  branch  of  his  business. 

In  1882  Mr.  Vance  moved  with  his 
family  to  the  village  of  Danvers,  and  in 
1883,  in  connection  with  his  two  sons,  of 
whom  mention  has  been  made,  he  founded 
the  bank  at  Danvers,  giving  the  active 
management  into  the  hands  of  the  sons. 
In  this  enterprise  they  have  met  with  suc- 
cess, the  bank  being  conducted  upon  a  con- 
servative, yet  withal  liberal  manner,  afford- 
ing accommodations  to  the  business  men 
and  farmers  of  the  surrounding  country. 
The  proprietors  are  popular  men,  and  de- 
serve the  confidence  reposed  in  them  by 
their  patrons. 

Mr.  Vance  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
church  at  Danvers,  and  was  one  of  its  con- 
stituent members  when  organized  in  1838, 
and  is  to-day  the  only  surviving  member  of 
the  original  organization.  He  has  always 
taken  an  active  part  in  the  church  work, 
and  for  forty  years  was  superintendent  of 
the  Sunday-school.  For  many  years  he 
served  as  deacon  of  the  church,  an  office 
which  he  was  particularly  well  qualified  to 
fill,  both  by  nature  and  inclination.  Mrs. 
Vance,   whose   death    occurred    March   10, 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


467 


1892,  was  also  a  member  of  that  body. 
She  was  a  true  Christian  woman,  a  loving 
wife  and  affectionate  mother,  and  her  death 
was  a  sad  loss  to  the  happy  household,  and 
her  many  friends  in  McLean  and  Woodford 
counties.  She  was,  however,  prepared  to 
go  when  the  summons  came,  for  she  knew 
in  whom  she  believed,  and  died  the  death  of 
the  righteous  one. 

In  early  life  Mr.  Vance  was  an  advocate 
of  Whig  principles.  Coming  from  the  state 
of  Henry  Clay,  and  knowing  the  man  as  he 
did,  he  could  not  help  but  have  an  admira- 
tion for  the  man,  who,  although  willing  to 
accept  the  high  honor,  would  yet  "  rather 
be  right  than  president."  He  continued  to 
advocate  the  principles  of  the  Whig  party 
as  long  as  it  was  in  existence.  He  then 
allied  himself  with  the  newly  organized  Re- 
publican party,  with  which  he  has  since 
continued  to  act  and  vote.  While  residing 
in  Woodford  county  he  held  various  local 
offices,  serving  as  county  treasurer  one  term. 
For  twenty-four  years  he  filled  the  office  of 
justice  of  the  peace  in  a  most  satisfactory 
manner,  and  was  also  treasurer  of  his  school 
district  for  several  years.  In  whatever  po- 
sition he  was  called  on  to  fill,  he  discharged 
its  duties  in  a  thorough  and  conscientious 
manner.  All  who  knew  him  reposed  in 
him  the  utmost  confidence,  and  that  confi- 
dence, which  was  never  betrayed,  is  still  re- 
tained. Coming  to  this  state  in  his  young 
manhood,  he  has  here  spent  sixty-four  years, 
and  as  he  recalls  the  years  that  have  passed, 
he  can  scarcely  realize  the  great  changes 
that  time  has  wrought.  At  the  time  of  his 
arrival,  and  for  some  years  afterward,  there 
was  not  a  mile  of  railroad  in  the  state,  while 
now  it  is  covered  by  a  perfect  network  of 
iron  rails;  telegraphs  and  telephones  were 
unknown;  the   reaper  and  the  mower  had 


not  formed  themselves  in  the  mind  of  man, 
much  less  had  a  practical  existence;  steam 
printing  presses,  capable  of  turning  out 
their  thousands  of  well  printed  papers  per 
hour,  were  not  even  dreamed  of.  All  these 
he  has  lived  to  see,  and  in  the  great  work 
of  transformation  he  has  borne  his  part  and 
done  what  he  could. 


GEORGE  H.  McCOMB,  a  worthy  and 
honored  citizen  of  Heyworth,  was  for 
some  years  actively  identified  with  the  agri- 
cultural and  industrial  interests  of  McLean 
county,  but  has  now  retired  from  active 
labor  to  spend  his  remaining  years  in  the 
pleasurable  enjoyment  of  his  accumulations. 
He  was  born  in  Indiana  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, July  16,  1822,  and  is  a  representative 
of  an  old  and  distinguished  family  of  that 
state.  His  grandfather.  General  James  Mc- 
Comb,  a  native  of  Ireland,  came  to  the  new 
world  when  a  young  man  of  eighteen  years 
and  located  in  Indiana  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, being  one  of  its  earliest  settlers.  In 
his  time  he  was  one  of  the  most  prominent 
men  of  the  state,  was  a  leading  member  of 
the  Pennsylvania  legislature  for  several 
years,  and  served  with  distinction  as  a  gen- 
eral in  the  Continental  army  during  the 
Revolutionary  war.  He  continued  his  resi- 
dence in  Indiana  county  throughout  life, 
and  was  recognized  as  one  of  its  most  in- 
fluential farmers  and  business  men. 

James  McComb,  Jr.,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  was  born  and  reared  in  Indiana 
county,  Pennsylvania,  and  there  married 
Miss  Jane  Laughlin,  a  native  of  the  same 
place  and  a  daughter  of  Randall  Laughlin, 
who  was  born  in  Ireland  and  was  an  early 
settler  of  Pennsylvania.  Both  the  McComb 
and  Laughlin  families  were  of  Scotch-Irish 


468 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


descent.  The  father  of  our  subject  spent 
his  entire  life  in  his  native  county,  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits,  dying  there  in  1865, 
when  over  eighty  years  of  age.  His  wife 
had  passed  away  several  years  previous. 
He  served  as  county  commissioner,  and 
held  other  public  positions  of  honor  and 
trust. 

In  the  county  of  his  nativity,  George  H. 
McComb  grew  to  manhood  with  limited 
school  advantages,  and  is  mostly  self-edu- 
cated. In  Armstrong  county,  Pennsylva- 
nia, March  10,  1847,  was  celebrated  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  McComb  and  Miss  Caroline 
Irwin,  who  was  born,  reared  and  educated 
there.  Her  parents,  Benjamin  and  Mar- 
garet (Marshall)  Irwin,  were  born  natives  of 
the  Keystone  state,  and  of  Scotch-Irish  ex- 
traction. The  father,  who  was  a  soldier  of 
the  war  of  18 12,  was  born  near  Philadel- 
phia and  spent  the  greater  part  of  his  life 
as  a  farmer  in  Armstrong  county. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  McComb  began  their  do- 
mestic life  in  the  village  of  Covode,  Indiana 
county,  where  he  engaged  in  business  as  a 
blacksmith  for  twenty  years.  In  March, 
1865,  at  the  president's  last  call  for  troops 
to  aid  in  putting  down  the  rebellion,  he 
enlisted  in  Company  B,  Sixty-seventh 
Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry,  which 
was  assigned  to  the  Sixth  Corps,  Army  of 
the  Potomac,  and  was  kept  on  guard  duty 
in  Virginia  and  near  Washington,  D.  C. , 
until  discharged  in  the  fall  of  1865,  at  Phil- 
adelphia. Returning  to  his  home  Mr.  Mc- 
Comb resumed  work  at  his  trade  in  Covode, 
where  he  remained  for  three  years.  In  1869 
he  came  to  McLean  county,  Illinois,  join- 
ing his  brother,  John  L.  McComb,  who  had 
located  here  three  years  before.  Our  sub- 
ject settled  in  Downs  township,  where  he 
built  a  shop,   and  in  connection  with  work 


at  his  trade  he  engaged  in  farming  upon 
rented  land  for  several  years.  He  then  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  of  his  present  farm  in 
Randolph  township,  adjoining  eighty  acres 
he  had  previously  purchased,  but  has  since 
given  the  latter  tract  to  his  sons,  James  B. 
and  Thomas  R.  For  some  years  he  con- 
tinued to  engaged  in  farming  and  black- 
smithing  upon  his  place,  but  since  1890  has 
lived  retired  in  the  village  of  Heyworth, 
where  he  bought  residence  property. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  McComb  have  a  family  of 
six  children,  namely:  Corydon  Irwin,  a 
farmer  of  Downs  township;  Mary  Alice, 
wife  of  H.  F.  Bishop,  of  Bloomington; 
Emily  V.,  wife  of  W.  L.  Van  Horn,  in 
Downs  township;  James  B.,  a  farmer  living 
near  LeRoy;  Thomas  R. ,  an  agriculturist  of 
Downs  township;  and  Anna  B.,  who  is  well 
educated  and  has  been  a  successful  teacher 
in  the  Heyworth  school  for  some  years. 
They  have  also  lost  three  children:  Elmer 
Elsworth,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eight 
years;  William  George,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  six;  and  Caroline  Jane,  at  the  age  of 
three. 

Our  subject  and  his  wife  began  their 
married  life  in  limited  circumstances,  but 
through  their  combined  efforts,  they  have 
succeeded  in  securing  a  comfortable  home 
and  competence,  wnich  now  enables  them 
in  their  declining  years  to  lay  aside  active 
labor  and  enjoy  a  well-earned  rest.  For 
over  fifty  years  they  have  traveled  life's 
journey  together,  sharing  its  joys  and  sor- 
rows, its  adversity  and  prosperity,  and  on 
the  loth  of  March,  1897,  celebrated  their 
golden  wedding,  on  which  occasion  there 
were  gathered  together  their  children, 
grandchildren  and  several  friends  to  offer 
their  congratulations  and  best  wishes.  They 
were  the  recipients  of  a  number  of  beauti-- 


THE   BIOGR.\PHICAL   RECORD. 


469 


ful  and  useful  presents,  and  all  had  a  most 
enjoyable  time.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McComb 
both  hold  membership  in  the  Presbyterian 
church  of  Heyworth,  and  their  upright  and 
honorable  lives  have  gained  for  them  the 
friendship  and  high  regard  of  all  with  whom 
they  have  come  in  contact.  Mr.  McComb 
cast  his  first  vote  for  Henrj'  Cla}',  and  con- 
tinued to  support  the  Whig  party  until  the 
organization  of  the  Republican  party,  when 
he  joined  its  ranks,  voting  for  John  C.  Fre- 
mont, in  1S56,  and  has  since  been  one  of  its 
stanch  adherents.  He  has  never  cared, 
however,  for  the  honors  or  emoluments  of 
public  office. 


FRED  W.  ONGLEY,  assistant  fuel  agent 
agent  of  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad, 
with  headquarters  in  Bloomington,  is  the 
fourth  oldest  employe  in  the  service  of  that 
road,  having  been  connected  with  it  since 
1865.  He  was  born  in  Dover,  England, 
December  2,  1838,  and  is  the  son  of  Ed- 
ward and  Sarah  (Smith)  Ongley,  the  former 
born  in  county  Kent.  England,  and  the  lat- 
ter in  the  cit\-  of  London.  She  was  the 
daughter  of  William  Smith,  a  wealthy  citi- 
zen of  London,  who  left  her  an  independent 
life  income.  She  was  reared  in  lu.xury,  as 
is  evidenced  by  the  fact  that  our  subject  has 
now  in  his  possession,  in  a  state  of  good 
preservation,  fine  china  cups  and  saucers 
bought  by  her  in  Bologne,  France,  the  day 
the  battle  of  Waterloo  was  fought.  He 
has  also  many  other  interesting  relics  of  her 
father's  familj-,  some  of  which  are  over  one 
hundred  years  old. 

Edward  Ongley  was  brought  up  a  gen- 
tleman in  his  native  coudtr}',  and  was  politic- 
ally a  Tory.  He  came  to  the  United  States 
in  the  winter  of  1S3S-39  with  his  wife  and 


family  of  seven  children  and  located  in 
Onondaga  county,  New  York,  where  he 
made  a  home  and  spent  the  remainder  of 
his  life.  He  was  a  man  highly  respected 
and  well  known  in  Syracuse,  New  York. 
On  coming  to  this  country  he  espoused  the 
doctrines  and  principles  of  the  Whig  party, 
voting  for  its  last  presidential  nominee. 
General  Winfield  Scott,  in  1852.  Relig- 
iously, he  was  an  Episcopalian,  being 
reared  and  dying  in  that  faith.  His  death 
occurred  in  March,  1853.  while  his  wife 
survived  him,  being  called  to  her  reward  in 
1864.  Of  their  family  of  seven  children, 
three  are  yet  living.  Edward  S.  is  a  manu- 
facturer of  boots  and  shoes  in  Worcester, 
Massachusetts.  Caroline  is  the  widow  of 
George  Ristben  and  is  now  residing  in  Cali- 
fornia. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  who  is  the 
remaining  living  child  of  Edward  and  Sarah 
Ongley,  came  to  the  United  States  with  his 
parents  an  infant  of  but  about  three  months 
old,  and  in  the  schools  of  Onondaga  and 
Syracuse,  New  York,  obtained  his  educa- 
tion. He  remained  with  his  parents  until 
1854,  when  he  came  west  to  Chicago,  and 
entered  the  employ  of  the  Illinois  Central 
Railroad  in  their  shops,  learning  the  ma- 
chinist trade.  After  serving  an  apprentice- 
ship, he  went  on  the  road  as  an  engineer 
from  Chicago  to  Champaign.  In  the  years 
that  have  since  passed,  he  has  been  actively 
engaged,  and  has  practically  seen  all  the 
improvements  of  the  country,  including  Chi- 
cago, a  city  which  did  not  give  promise  of 
the  vast  proportions  it  has  since  attained. 
While  still  residing  in  that  city,  on  the  4th 
of  May,  i860,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Catherine  Kennedy,  a  native  of 
Scotland,  whose  family  was  numbered 
among  the  early  settlers    of   Chicago,    her 


470 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


father  being  a  retired  heavy  stock  man.  By 
this  union  five  children  were  born.  Eliza- 
beth was  educated  in  Wesleyan  University, 
and  is  now  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools 
of  Bloomington.  Fred  is  with  the  Inter- 
State  Mining  Company  of  Missouri.  He 
married  Mrs.  Mary  Walton,  of  Higby,  Mis- 
souri. Chester  is  in  Montana  with  the 
Northern  Pacific  Railroad.  Charles  for  a 
number  of  years  has  been  train  dispatcher  at 
Bloomington  of  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Rail- 
road. Benjamin  is  in  the  foreign  export 
department  of  Swift  &  Co.,  Chicago. 

Leaving  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad, 
Mr.  Ongley  was  for  a  time  in  the  employ  of 
the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railway,  and 
during  the  civil  war  was  in  the  employ  of 
the  general  government,  as  a  locomotive 
engineer,  in  Tennessee  and  Alabama.  Dur- 
ing that  time  he  was  in  very  many  danger- 
ous places  and  lived  on  the  same  rations  as 
Was  dealt  out  to  enlisted  men.  After  the 
close  of  the  war,  he  again  came  north,  and 
in  June,  1865,  entered  the  employ  of  the 
Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad  at  Bloomington, 
as  an  engineer.  He  continued  in  that  line 
for  twenty  years,  all  of  which  time,  with  the 
exception  of  two  years,  being  in  the  pas- 
senger service.  In  all  that  period  he  never 
had  an  accident,  although  running  through 
trains.  In  1884  he  was  appointed  assistant 
agent  in  the  fuel  department  of  the  road, 
having  charge  of  everything  pertaining  to 
the  purchase  and  use  of  fuel  for  the  road. 
The  road  uses  over  two  hundred  thousand 
tons  of  coal  per  year,  and  one  of  his  duties 
is  to  secure  bids  for  this  immense  purchase. 
That  his  work  is  satisfactory  is  attested  by 
his  long  continuance  in  this  branch  of  the 
service. 

Mr.  Ongley  is  the  owner  of  a  beautiful 
home    on  East  Chestnut  street,   where   he 


lives  with  his  family,  and  where  it  is  his  de- 
light to  entertain  his  many  friends.  Fra- 
ternally he  is  a  member  of  the  National 
Union  of  Locomotive  Engineers.  With 
his  good  wife,  he  holds  membership  with 
Grace  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Polit- 
ically he  is  a  Republican,  though  not  a 
partisan. 


ELI  KIRK  CROTHERS,  M.  D.,  now 
deceased,  was  for  years  one  of  the  most 
prominent  physicians  in  Bloomington,  one 
whose  reputation  was  not  confined  alone  to 
the  city  of  his  adoption,  but  his  ability  was 
recognized  throughout  the  length  and 
breadth  of  the  land.  He  was  born  in  Mt 
Pleasant,  Ohio,  October  29,  1826,  and 
when  ten  years  of  age  came  with  his  parents 
to  Illinois,  his  father  making  a  home  in  Ful- 
ton county,  where  he  engaged  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits.  In  the  schools  of  his  native 
state,  and  in  those  of  Fulton  county,  our 
subject  attained  his  literary  education.  At 
the  age  of  nineteen  he  entered  the  office  of 
a  physician  in  Vermont,  Illinois,  and  read 
medicine,  taking  his  first  lectures  at  Mc- 
Dowell Medical  College,  St.  Louis,  Missouri, 
and  his  last  course  at  Jefferson  Medical 
College,  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  from 
which  he  received  his  degree.  After  en- 
gaging in  practice  a  few  years,  he  returned 
to  Jefferson  Medical  College  and  took  a  post 
graduate  course.  Later  he  took  a  special 
course  in  the  treatment  of  the  eye  and  ear, 
in  which  he  made  a  specialty  during  the  last 
years  of  his  life. 

In  1850  Dr.  Crothers  located  in  Bloom- 
ington for  the  practice  of  his  profession, 
and  in  a  short  time,  by  reason  of  his  supe- 
rior skill  as  a  physician,  built  up  a  large  and 
lucrative  practice,  doing  all  that  it  was  pos- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


471 


sible  for  one  man  to  do,  keeping  two  teams 
and  a  driver  and  working  them  all  down. 
He  visited  professionally  all  the  neighboring 
towns,  and  was  often  called  into  consulta- 
tion with  other  physicians.  He  was  active 
in  the  discharge  of  his  duties,  attending  to 
calls  in  and  out  of  the  city,  as  long  as  health 
would  permit.  When,  in  justice  to  himself, 
he  could  no  longer  attend  to  outside  work, 
he  engaged  in  office  practice,  giving  special 
attention  to  the  treatment  of  the  eye  and  ear. 

Dr.  Crothers  was  one  of  the  charter 
members  of  the  McLean  County  Medical 
Society,  and  was  its  second  president.  He 
took  an  active  part  in  its  proceedings  for 
some  years,  contributing  some  very  valuable 
papers.  He  was  a  very  close  student  in  his 
profession,  and  his  colleagues  considered 
him  authority.  Dr.  Byford,  of  Chicago, 
pronounced  him  one  among  the  best  diag- 
nosticians of  whom  he  had  any  knowledge, 
and  Professor  Gross,  of  Philadelphia,  said 
about  the  same  thing  of  him.  He  had  a 
fine  library,  and  made  the  best  use  of  his 
books.  Financially,  he  became  well-to-do, 
owning  at  one  time  the  largest  drug  store  in 
Bloomington.  He  built  three  business 
blocks  in  the  city,  two  on  the  south  side  of 
the  square  and  one  on  Front  street,  all  good 
business  blocks  to-day,  and  creditable  to  the 
city. 

On  the  1st  of  May,  185 1,  Dr.  Crothers 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Marie 
Louise  Depew,  of  Bloomington,  daughter  of 
Elijah  Depew,  originally  from  Virginia,  of 
the  same  family,  but  several  removes,  from 
the  noted  Chauncey  Depew.  The  family 
are  of  English  ancestry.  Miss  Depew  came 
with  her  father  to  Bloomington  in  1840.  In 
Indianapolis  he  was  engaged  in  the  dry- 
goods  trade,  in  which  line  he  continued 
after  his  removal  to  Bloomington.      He  be- 


came one  of  the  leading  business  men  of  the 
city,  and  had  an  extensive  acquaintance 
throughout  the  state.  He  was  never  an  as- 
pirant for  office,  but  was  an  earnest  worker 
in  the  Whig  ranks.  On  the  organization  of 
the  Republican  party,  he  gave  his  adherence 
to  that  party,  and,  in  fact,  was  one  of  its 
organizers.  He  was  well  versed  in  history, 
and  David  Davis  made  the  statement  that 
he  never  found  him  in  error.  Later  he  re- 
moved to  the  south  part  of  the  state,  where 
his  death  occurred.  While  Mr.  Lincoln 
was  in  the  white  house,  he  sent  Mr.  Depew 
many  public  documents  addressed  in  his 
own  handwriting. 

To  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Crothers  four  children 
were  born,  all  of  whom  have  received  good 
educations.  Noble  E.  is  now  a  resident  of 
Paxton,  Illinois.  Louise  M.  is  a  graduate 
of  pharmacy.  Eli  K.,  Jr.,  is  engaged  in 
business  in  Bloomington.  Rachel  is  a  well 
known  elocutionist. 

After  her  marriage,  Mrs.  Crothers  be- 
came interested  in  her  husband's  work,  and 
studied  with  him  for  some  time,  and  finally 
became  his  assistant.  In  1877-8  she  took 
a  course  in  the  Woman's  Medical  College  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  in  1 880-81  a  course  in 
the  Woman's  Medical  College,  of  Chicago, 
and  also  a  special  course  in  gynecology  at 
the  Rush  Medical  College,  of  Chicago,  the 
privilege  for  which  was  secured  through  the 
influence  of  Prof.  W.  H.  Byford  and  other 
friends.  Returning  to  Philadelphia,  in 
1S82-3,  she  received  her  degree  of  Doctor 
of  Medicine.  For  some  years  she  had  a 
large  general  practice,  and  also  in  gynecol- 
ogy. She  was  the  first  successful  female 
physician  in  Bloomington,  and  met  with  a 
good  deal  of  opposition,  even  from  the  pro- 
fession, they  not  taking  very  kindly  to  the 
idea    of    women    entering    the    profession. 


472 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


She  kept  on  her  way,  however,  and  in  time 
made  even  her  opponents  her  warm  friends. 
Of  late  she  has  confined  herself  to  office 
practice.  Her  colleagues  in  the  profession 
in  Bloomington  and  McLean  county  ac- 
knowledge her  ability,  and  esteem  her  highly 
for  her  work's  sake.  She  is  a  member  of 
the  Christian  church. 

Without  his  knowledge  or  solicitation, 
Dr.  Crothers  was  appointed  by  President 
Lincoln,  medical  examiner  of  soldiers  during 
the  civil  war,  and  held  the  office  until  it  be- 
came too  burdensome,  and  practically  with- 
out pay.  He  examined  the  soldiers,  who, 
on  account  of  wounds  or  disease,  were  home 
on  furlough,  and  extended  the  furloughs 
when  he  thought  it  was  necessary  for  the 
soldier's  good.  It  made  for  him  an  im- 
mense lot  of  work,  his  district  extending 
over  a  considerable  portion  of  central  Illi- 
nois. Lincoln  knew  him  personally,  hav- 
ing been  his  attorney  in  the  only  suit  the 
Doctor  ever  had. 

From  early  life,  Dr.  Crothers  was  a 
member  of  the  Christain  church,  and  for 
many  years  was  an  elder  in  his  local  church. 
He  took  an  active  interest  in  every  depart- 
ment of  church  work,  and  was  a  strong  be- 
liever in  the  inspiration  of  the  Bible.  His 
death  occurred  in  April,  1893,  ^^'^  he  was 
sincerely  mourned  by  the  family  which  he 
loved  so  well,  the  church  to  which  he  was 
devoted,  his  professional  brethren,  and  the 
citizens  generally,  among  whom  nearly  for- 
ty-three years  of  his  life  was  spent. 


MRS.  GEORGE  BRADNER  is  a  repre- 
sentative ot  the  oldest  and  two  of  the 
most  prominent  pioneer  families  of  Bloom- 
ington, her  first  husband  being  William  H. 
AUin,  a  son  of  James  Allin,  who   in    1828 


entered  the  land  from  the  government  where 
the  city  now  stands.  He  was  a  native  of 
Virginia,  born  January  13,  1788,  aad  before 
coming  to  this  state  lived  for  a  time  in  In- 
diana, where  he  married  Miss  Catherine 
Livingston,  who  was  born  October  23,  1801. 
He  located  at  Vandalia,  Illinois,  when  it 
was  a  mere  trading  post  and  there  engaged 
in  business  until  his  removal  to  Blooming- 
ton.  With  an  ox  team  he  moved  his  small 
stock  of  goods  to  this  place,  while  his  wife 
came  on  horseback.  Selecting  a  location 
at  what  is  now  the  corner  of  Grove  and 
East  streets,  he  erected,  in  1828,  a  two- 
room  log  cabin  which  is  still  standing  al- 
though it  is  now  covered  on  both  the  out- 
side and  inside.  One  room  was  used  for  a 
store,  the  other  for  a  living  room,  and  it 
was  there  that  the  first  business  in  Bloom- 
ington was  conducted,  but  the  white  settlers 
in  this  locality  were  then  very  scarce  and  it 
became  rather  an  Indian  trading  post.  In 
the  living  room  the  first  session  of  court  in 
Bloomington  was  held  and  as  Mrs.  Allin  was 
sick  in  bed  at  the  time  she  was  obliged  to 
be  present,  it  being  the  first  and  only  time 
she  was  ever  in  court.  The  first  religious 
services  were  also  held  there  by  a  circuit 
rider  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
On  coming  to  this  county  in  1828,  Mr. 
Allin  entered  about  a  section  of  land,  but 
the  same  year  he  desired  to  enter  more,  and 
finding  that  another  gentleman  wished  to 
secure  the  same  tract  and  was  watching  his 
movements,  he  drew  up  the  papers  and  sent 
his  son  William  H.,  then  a  lad  of  ten  years, 
on  horseback  to  Springfield  to  enter  the 
same.  The  boy  started  off  in  the  opposite 
direction  until  out  of  sight  and  then  pro- 
ceeded direct  to  Springfield,  crossing  the  wild 
prairies  and  fording  unbridged  creeks.  The 
sun    was    his    guide.      He    was    not    much 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


473 


missed  but  on  coming  out  of  the  land  office 
after  making  his  entry  he  met  the  man  who 
had  gone  there  for  the  same  purpose.  He 
finally  reached  home  in  safety  after  a 
journey  of  si.xty  miles. 

James  Allin  laid  out  Bloomington  into 
streets  and  town  lots,  the  city  limits  being 
Grove  street  on  the  south,  and  East,  West 
and  North  streets,  respectively.  It  was  only 
four  blocks  square  and  comprised  what  is 
now  the  very  heart  of  the  city.  The  cen- 
tral block  he  gave  to  the  county  on  condi- 
tion that  this  be  made  the  county  seat, 
which  was  eventually  done.  That  his  shrewd 
business  judgment  was  far  in  advance  of  the 
time,  ishown  b}-  the  fact  that  he  gave  alter- 
nate lots  to  any  responsible  man  of  character 
who  would  build  on  and  improve  the  same. 
In  this  way  Bloomington  was  started  and 
grew  more  rapidly  than  the  other  cities 
around.  He  laid  out  a  number  of  early  ad- 
ditions, all  in  the  northwest  part  of  town. 
In  his  little  log  store  he  conducted  the  first 
post  office,  but  as  his  trade  increased,  he 
enlarged  his  store  and  business  facilities,  his 
goods  being  brought  up  the  Illinois  river  to 
Pekin  and  then  across  the  country  by  teams. 
In  later  years  his  time  was  principally  de- 
voted to  the  real-estate  business,  entering 
new  lands'and  laying  out  additions  to  the  city. 
On  the  Whig  ticket  he  was  elected  to  the 
state  legislature  in  1838,  and  as  a  public- 
spirited  and  enterprising  citizen,  he  always 
took  an  active  interest  in  public  affairs.  His 
home  was  a  stopping  place  with  Lincoln 
when  a  young  man,  and  it  was  Mr.  Allin 
that  first  predicted  that  he  would  one  day 
be  president  of  the  United  States.  In  his 
later  years  he  was  a  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church,  with  which  his  wife 
was  always  connected.  He  died  May  5, 
1869,  and  she  passed  away  March  2,  1872, 

25 


honored  and  respected  by  all  who  knew  them. 
In  their  family  were  three  sons,  all  now  de- 
ceased, and  one  daughter,  Mrs.  Dr.  Hoover, 
a  resident  of  Chicago.  William  H.,  the 
eldest  son,  is  mentioned  below;  James  died 
in  Kansas  City,  Missouri;  and  John,  in  Wil- 
mington, Illinois. 

William  H.  Allin  was  born  April  25, 
1S18,  in  Indiana,  and  therefore  was  only 
ten  years  old  when  brought  by  his  parents 
to  Bloomington.  As  there  were  no  schools 
in  this  region  at  that  time,  he  was  almost 
wholly  self-educated  by  reading  and  study 
in  later  years.  As  a  boy  he  assisted  his 
father  in  the  store,  and  when  the  latter 
failed  by  going  security  for  others,  he  took 
the  store  and  successfully  conducted  it.  He 
wa  one  of  the  three  men  who  laid  out  the 
new  addition  to  the  city  cemetery,  the 
others  being  Judge  David  Davis  and  James 
Robinson.  One  fine  lot  was  reserved  with 
the  understanding  that  the  first  of  the 
three  to  die  was  to  be  hurried  there,  and  it 
fell  to  the  lot  of  Mr.  Allin,  as  he  passed 
away  Monday,  July  27,  1857.  He  was 
successfully  engaged  in  mercantile  business 
for  nineteen  years,  and  became  the  owner 
of  considerable  land  in  different  parts  of 
the  county.  He  also  owned  the  block  in 
the  city  bounded  by  Jefferson,  Madison, 
Monroe  and  West  streets,  on  which  he  loca- 
ted in  1845.  His  widow  still  owns  and 
occupies  the  old  homestead  there,  but  has 
sold  the  half  which  was  the  garden,  it  being 
now  occupied  by  the  jail.  He  had  the  re- 
spect and  esteem  of  all  who  knew  him  on 
account  of  the  honorable,  straightforward 
business  policy  he  ever  followed.  Integ- 
rity, activity  and  energy  were  the  crowning 
points  of  his  success,  and  his  connection 
with  various  enterprises  was  of  decided  ad- 
vantage  to    this  section  of  the  state,  pro- 


474 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


moting  its  material  welfare  in  no  uncertain 
manner.  He  liberally  assisted  in  the  build- 
ing of  the  Normal  School  and  also  the  Wes- 
leyan  University,  and  when  the  railroad 
was  started  gave  the  right  of  way  through 
a  number  of  his  farms.  He  served  for  two 
terms  or  eight  years,  as  county  clerk  of  Mc- 
Lean county,  and  in  politics  he  was  first  a 
Whig  and  later  a  Republican.  He  was 
present  at  the  organization  of  the  Repub- 
lican party  in  the  Majors  building,  and  was 
one  of  its  active  supporters  from  its  in- 
ception. 

On  the  20th  of  November,  1838,  William 
H.  Allin  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Judith  Ann  Major,  and  to  them  were  born 
five  children,  of  whom  four  reached  years 
of  maturity,  namely:  Susan,  now  deceased, 
was  the  wife  of  James  Walker,  of  Peoria; 
Edward  is  mentioned  below;  Caroline  is  the 
wife  of  Walter  Rogers,  of  this  county;  and 
William  H.  is  now  a  resident  of  Maud,  Ken- 
tucky. Edward  Allin  was  born  in  Bloom- 
ington,  May  6,  1842,  and  began  his  educa- 
tion in  the  citj-  schools.  In  1858-9  he  at- 
tended Jubilee  College,  Peoria  county,  and 
later  took  a  commercial  course  at  Eastman's 
Business  College,  Poughkeepsie,  New  York, 
after  which  he  returned  to  Bloomington. 
In  1864,  he  went  to  Kinderhook,  New  York, 
where  he  married  Miss  Mary  E.  Thomas, 
whose  father's  farm  adjoined  that  of  Mar- 
tin Van  Buren.  After  spending  thirteen 
years  in  the  east,  Mr.  Allin  returned  to  his 
native  city,  where  he  is  now  living  retired 
from  business  cares  on  account  of  ill  health. 
He  has  two  children:  Caroline;  and  Robert 
T. ,  of  Peoria,  who  married  Mary  Griller 
and  has  one  child.  Carrie  Allin. 

Mrs.  Bradner,  formerly  Mrs.  William  H. 
Allin,  is  still  living  and  is  a  bright,  active 
old  lady,  loved  and  respected   by  all  who 


know  her.  She  was  born  near  Paris,  Ken- 
tucky. May  9,  1814.  Her  parents,  William 
P.  and  Margaret  A.  (Ship)  Major,  were  both 
natives  of  Bourbon  county,  that  state,  the 
former  born  March  i,  1790,  the  latter  Au- 
gust I,  1792,  and  they  were  married  in  1812. 
After  farming  there  for  some  years,  he  freed 
such  of  his  slaves  as  could  be  self-support- 
ing and  got  masters  for  others,  and  then  re- 
moved to  Christian  county,  Kentucky, 
where  he  lived  from  1818  to  1835.  He  had 
been  much  opposed  to  slavery  for  many 
years,  and  in  1835,  he  finally  came  to  Illi- 
nois, locating  one  mile  north  of  the  court 
house  in  Bloomington.  He  was  quite  well- 
to-do,  and  here  he  erected  what  was  then 
the  finest  house  in  the  country,  it  being  two 
stories  in  height,  with  wings  on  each  side,  a 
porch  in  front  and  built  almost  entirely  of 
black  walnut.  He  entered  large  tracts  of 
land  all  around  his  first  purchase,  which 
\vas  made  of  Mr.  Allin,  and  became  the 
owner  of  more  than  a  thousand  acres  on  the 
east  and  west  sides  of  Main  street.  He  was 
a  prominent  stock  raiser,  making  a  special- 
ty of  Durham  cattle,  and  also  had  from  fif- 
teen hundred  to  two  thousand  sheep. 

In  his  own  home  Mr.  Allin  organized  the 
first  Christian  church  in  the  county,  with 
eleven  members,  and  gave  the  lot  and  fur- 
nished most  of  the  money  for  the  erection 
of  a  house  of  worship  for  the  congregation. 
When  there  was  no  preacher  available,  he 
took  charge  of  the  church  services,  but  he 
lived  to  see  a  large  and  prosperous  church 
established  in  Bloomington,  in  which  has 
been  placed  a  memorial  window  to  him. 
His  daughter,  Mrs.  Bradner,  is  now  the 
only  one  of  the  original  members  living. 
His  home,  church  and  business  claimed  his 
entire  attention;  he  was  a  devoted  Chris- 
tian, and  in  all  the  relations  of  life  was  an 


THF    BIOGIL\PHICAL   RECORD. 


475 


upright  and  honorable  man.  Of  his  ten 
children,  nine  lived  to  be  grown  and  five 
are  still  living:  Judith  Ann,  now  Mrs.  Brad- 
ner;  Labon  S. ,  a  physician  of  Chicago; 
John  A.,  a  phjsician  of  Spokane  Falls, 
Washington;  Ann  M.,  now  Mrs.  Jones,  of 
Springfield,  Illinois,  whose  husband  is  an 
ex-judge  and  was  the  first  officer  appointed 
by  President  Lincoln  as  circuit  clerk  of  the 
southern  district  of  Illinois;  and  James,  a 
resident  of  Denver,  Colorado. 

In  October,  1876,  Mrs.  Allin  married 
George  Bradner,  who  was  born  in  Dans- 
ville.  New  York,  and  educated  in  Rome, 
that  state.  About  1840  he  came  to  Illinois, 
and,  with  Governor  Mattison,  was  engaged 
in  business  at  Joliet  for  some  time  as  a 
manufacturer  and  dealer  in  wool.  He  was 
also  interested  in  the  hardware  trade  and 
was  a  prominent  and  successful  business 
man.  He  came  to  Bloomington  at  about 
the  time  the  first  railroad  was  built  here, 
and  continued  his  interest  in  the  same  lines 
of  business  until  his  retirement  in  1876. 
He  was  one  of  the  leading  business  men  of 
this  city  and  was  held  in  high  esteem  by  his 
associates  and  friends.  He  died  December 
31,  1896,  when  almost  eighty-five  years 
of  age. 


TOHXS.  POPPLE,  the  well-known  editor 
vJ  and  proprietor  of  the  Danvers  Dis- 
patch, and  dealer  in  hardware,  Danvers, 
Illinois,  was  born  in  Boston,  England, 
January,  24,  1843,  and  when  a  lad  of  ten 
years  started  for  America  with  his  parents, 
arriving  here  in  August,  185 1,  the  family 
locating  first  in  Oswego,  New  York.  His 
father.  Rev.  Samuel  Popple,  was  a  minister 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  died 
at  Watertown,  New  York,  in  1855.      In  the 


schools  of  Oswego  and  Watertown,  New 
York,  our  subject  obtained  a  good  English 
education.  In  1858  he  came  west  and 
located  in  Bloomington,  Illinois,  where  he 
has  since  continued  to  reside,  a  period  of 
thirty-nine  years. 

On  locating  in  Danvers,  Mr.  Popple  en- 
gaged in  the  milling  business,  in  which  he 
continued  until  1870.  Being  possessed  of 
more  than  ordinary  musical  talent,  and  de- 
sirous of  perfecting  himself  in  this  art,  he 
went  to  Chicago  and  placed  himself  under 
the  instructions  of  Prof.  H.  R.  Palmer,  and 
for  five  years  he  devoted  himself  to  the 
study  of  music.  He  then  became  a  teacher 
of  the  same,  which  he  followed  with  success 
for  five  years.  In  1875,  in  connection  with 
his  brother  Luther,  he  established  the  hard- 
ware store  of  Popple  Bros.,  buying  out  the 
stock  of  William  Estes,  of  Danvers.  Later 
his  brother  sold  his  interest  to  John  A. 
Ewins,  and  the  firm  became  Popple  & 
Ewins.  On  the  death  of  the  latter,  Mr. 
Popple  purchased  his  interest  of  the  heirs, 
and  is  now  sole  proprietor. 

On  the  4th  of  June,  1865,  Mr.  Popple 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Jennie  E. 
Franks,  a  native  of  Danvers,  and  by  this 
union  four  children  were  born — Edwin  G., 
Mabel  W. ,  Ethel  F.  and  Park  W. 

Soon  after  the  establishment  of  the 
Bloomington  Leader,  Mr.  Popple  became 
its  Danvers  correspondent,  and  continued 
to  act  as  such  until  April  3,  1880.  He 
made  a  model  correspondent,  the  Leader 
frequently  calling  attention  to  his  communi- 
cations in  the  highest  terms  of  praise,  and 
asking  that  other  correspondents  should 
at  least  copy  his  style  in  brevity  and 
terseness.  His  manuscript  was  always 
well  written,  clear  and  distinct  as  copper 
plate,  and  was  the  delight  of  the  composing 


476 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


room.  Upon  severing  his  connection  with 
the  Leader,  Mr.  Popple,  in  company  with 
John  P.  Yoder,  established  the  Danvers 
Dispatch,  its  first  number  bearing  date 
April  I,  1880.  After  two  years  Prof. 
Yoder  withdrew,  since  which  time  Mr. 
Popple  has  been  sole  proprietor  and  editor 
of  the  paper.  The  Dispatch  soon  won  its 
way  into  popular  favor,  and  it  is  said  to 
have  the  largest  circulation  of  any  paper 
published  in  McLean  county,  outside  of 
Bloomington.  Mr.  Popple  is  a  concise  and 
interesting  writer,  and  exhibits  more  than 
ordinary  ability  as  a  journalist  and  business 
manager. 

It  would  seem  that  the  editorial  and 
business  management  of  his  newspaper  and 
the  active  management  of  his  hardware 
store  would  be  as  much  as  Mr.  Popple  could 
well  attend  to,  but  there  is  no  enterprise  of 
benefit  to  Danvers  and  vicinity  but  finds  in 
him  an  active  friend,  one  who  will  in  some 
way  find  time  to  render  some  assistance. 
For  twenty-two  years  he  has  been  secretary 
of  the  Rock  Creek  Fair  Association,  and  for 
the  same  length  of  time  has  been  secretary 
of  the  Danvers  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Com- 
pany. To  each  of  these  institutions  he  has 
given  much  time  and  thought,  and  the  suc- 
cess attending  them  in  a  great  measure  is 
due  to  him. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Popple  is  a  charter  mem- 
ber of  Danvers  Lodge,  No.  742,  A.  F.  &  A. 
M.,  in  which  lodge  he  has  held  the  office  of 
secretary  for  many  years.  For  twenty-five 
years  he  has  been  secretary  of  the  Danvers 
Township  Sunday-school  Association,  and 
in  Sunday-school  work  he  has  always  taken 
an  active  interest,  officiating  as  organist  in 
the  Baptist  and  Presbyterian  Sunday- 
schools.  In  fact,  there  is  no  good  work  in 
the  community  in  which  he  lives  that  does 


not  receive  his  hearty  co-operation.  While 
reared  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  faith,  he 
does  not  allow  denominational  lines  to  pre- 
vent his  rendering  whatever  assistance  he 
can  for  the  moral  welfare  of  the  community. 
Honored  and  esteemed  by  all  who  know 
him,  he  possesses  that  genial  disposition 
which  is  careful  not  to  wound  a  friend  and 
avoids  making  an  enemy. 


JOHN  M.  BLOUGH  is  a  well-known  and 
prominent  citizen  of  Hudson  township, 
where  he  is  most  creditaby  and  satisfactori- 
ly serving  as  justice  of  the  peace.  He  also 
owns  and  operates  a  fine  farm  of  eigh- 
ty acres,  which  is  the  west  half  of  the  north- 
east quarter  of  section  10,  and  in  his  under- 
takings is  meeting  with  a  well-deserved  suc- 
cess. 

Mr.  Blough  was  born  in  Somerset  coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania,  December  28,  1865,  a 
son  of  William  and  Mary  M.  (Forney) 
Blough,  also  natives  of  the  Keystone  state, 
where  they  continued  to  make  their  home 
until  coming  to  McLean  county,  Illinois,  in 
February,  1866.  In  Hudson  township  the 
father  purchased  land  and  now  owns  and  oc- 
cupies the  east  half  of  the  southeast-quar- 
ter of  section  15.  Throughout  his  active 
business  life  he  has  engaged  in  general  farm- 
ing and  stock  raising  and  due  success  has 
not  been  denied  him.  The  Democratic 
party  finds  in  him  an  ardent  supporter  of  its 
principles,  and  he  has  taken  an  active  part 
in  educational  affairs,  serving  for  several 
terms  as  school  director  of  his  district.  He 
has  also  been  prominently  identified  with 
church  work  as  a  member  of  the  Dunkard 
church  and  has  filled  the  office  of  deacon 
for  many  years.  Of  his  nine  children,  four 
died  in   childhood  in  Pennsvlvania  and  one 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


477 


daughter  after  coming  to  this  state.  Those 
still  living  are  John  M.,  our  subject;  Ida  L,, 
at  home  with  her  parents;  Urias,  a  farmer 
of  Hudson  township,  who  married  Delia 
M.,  daughter  of  Hiram  Johnson,  of  Gridley 
township;  and  Noah,  who  resides  on  the 
home  farm  and  assists  his  father  in  its  oper- 
ation. On  both  sides  our  subject  is  of  Ger- 
man desceht,  but  for  several  generations 
his  ancestors  have  resided  either  in  Penn- 
sylvania or  Virginia. 

During  his  boyhood  and  youth  John  M. 
Blough  became  thoroughly  familiar  with  the 
duties  which  fall  to  the  lot  of  the  agricul- 
turist, and  he  aided  in  the  operation  of  the 
home  farm  until  his  marriage.  It  was  on 
the  1 6th  of  February,  18S7,  that  he  led  to 
the  marriage  altar  Miss  Addie  A.  Johnson, 
daughter  of  Hiram  O.  and  Elbertine  (Cap- 
ron)  Johnson.  Her  father  was  a  native  of 
New  York,  but  was  married  in  Wisconsin, 
from  which  state  he  came  to  Illinois  in 
1866,  locating  first  in  Hudson  and  later  in 
Gridley  township,  McLean  county,  where 
he  purchased  sixt}'  acres  of  land,  on  which 
his  widow  still  resides.  He  died  there  in 
February,  1893,  honored  and  respected  by 
all  who  knew  him.  In  political  sentiment 
he  was  a  Democrat.  He  had  a  family  of 
six  children,  five  of  whom  are  still  living, 
namely:  Hattie  V.,  wife  of  F.  R.  Porter, 
of  Hudson;  Addie  A.,  wife  of  our  subject; 
Arthur  F.,  a  farmer  of  Panola  township, 
Woodford  county,  Illinois;  Delia  M.,  wife  of 
Urias  Blough,  brother  of  our  subject;  and 
Nina  J. ,  who  lives  with  her  mother  in  Grid- 
ley  township.  Our  subject  and  his  wife 
have  an  interesting  little  family  of  three 
sons:  Adren  W. ,  Arthur  O.  and  Paul  M. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Blough  located 
upon  his  present  farm,  which  up  to  that 
time  had   been  owned    by  his  father,    and 


there  he  has  since  successfully  carried  on 
operations  as  a  general  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser.  He  has  made  many  improvements 
upon  the  place,  including  the  erection  of  a 
good  barn  in  1892,  and  has  enlarged  and 
remodeled  the  residence,  so  that  he  now  has 
one  of  the  neatest  and  best-kept  places  in 
the  community.  Politically  he  follows  in 
the  footsteps  of  his  father,  supporting  the 
men  and  measures  of  the  Democratic  party 
by  his  ballot.  In  the  spring  of  1897  he  was 
elected  justice  of  the  peace,  and  was  one  of 
the  youngest  ever  elected  to  that  office  in 
the  county,  being  at  that  time  only  thirty- 
one  years  of  age.  The  duties  of  the  office, 
however,  he  has  since  most  capably  dis- 
charged, winning  the  commendation  of  the 
public.  His  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Dunkard 
church,  and  both  are  held  in  high  regard  by 
all  who  know  them. 


LUMAN  W.  CAPEN,  deceased,  was  for 
many  years  one  or  the  leading  and 
prominent  business  men  of  Bloomington 
and  one  of  its  honored  and  highly  esteemed 
citizens.  He  was  born  in  Skaneateles,  New 
York,  September  13,  1807,  and  traced  his 
ancestry  back  to  Bernard  Capen,  a  native 
of  Dorchester,  England,  and  one  of  the 
Winthrop  colony  who  came  to  the  new 
world  in  1630  and  founded  Dorchester, 
Massachusetts,  now  part  of  Boston.  All 
of  his  ancestors  were  born  in  the  old  Bay 
state.  His  father,  John  Capen,  went  with 
what  is  known  as  the  Massachusetts  colony 
to  Vermont,  where  he  married  Miss  Rhoda 
Thompson.  On  account  of  a  change  in 
the  state  line  the  colony  lost  much  of  its 
land  and  Mr.  John  Capen  removed  to  Skan- 
eateles, New  York,  and  four  years  later  to 
Warsaw,  that  state.      He  was  a  farmer  and 


<%■! 


478 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


miller  by  occupation,  and  was  blind  for 
sixty-two  years.  Remaining  on  the  home 
farm  until  he  attained  his  majority,  our 
subject  was  educated  in  the  schools  of 
Skaneateles,  and  began  his  business  ca- 
reer as  a  clerk  in  a  country  store  at  Sen- 
eca Falls,  New  York.  Later  for  thirty-five 
years  he  successfully  engaged  in  general 
merchandising  at  Union  Springs,  on  Cay- 
uga lake,  being  in  partnership  with  his 
brother-in-law,  Laban  Hoskins,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Hoskins  &  Capen. 

Disposing  of  his  interests  in  the  east  in 
1855,  ^^r.  Capen  came  to  McLean  county, 
Illinois,  and  purchased  a  farm  one  mile  east 
of  Bloomington,  where  the  fair  grounds 
are  now  located.  The  following  spring  he 
and  his  family  located  thereon  and  for  one 
year  he  gave  his  attention  to  agricultural 
pursuits,  but  at  the  end  of  that  time  he 
traded  his  farm  for  city  property  and  re- 
moved to  Bloomington,  taking  up  his  resi- 
dence on  South  Center  street.  Later  he 
removed  to  East  Grove  street,  where  he 
made  his  home  for  a  quarter  of  a  century. 

On  his  removal  to  the  city,  Mr.  Capen 
formed  a  partnership  with  his  son  Henry, 
and  embarked  in  the  crockery,  glass  and 
china  business, — theirs  being  the  first  store 
of  the  kind  in  Bloomington.  The  only 
building  they  could  procure  at  that  time  was 
a  little  carpenter  shop  on  the  east  side  of 
the  square,  and  as  it  was  simply  boarded 
up,  they  suffered  much  from  the  cold  that 
first  winter,  but  in  the  spring  were  able  to 
rent  a  better  building  on  the  south  side  of 
the  square.  They  soon  built  up  a  large  and 
profitable  trade  and  opened  a  branch  store 
at  Decatur,  in  i860,  of  which  the  son  had 
charge  for  eight  years.  At  the  end  of  that 
time  they  sold  out  their  Decatur  business, 
and  about  two  years  later  sold  the  Bloom- 


ington business  and  purchased  almost  a  half 
interest  in  the  Phoeni.x  Savings,  Loan  & 
Trust  Company  Bank,  of  which  our  subject 
became  cashier  and  his  son  assistant  cash- 
ier. For  seven  years  they  were  connected 
with  that  institution,  and  after  selling  their 
interests  Mr.  Capen   retired  from  business. 

He  was  twice  married,  first  March  17, 
1 83 1,  to  Miss  Sj'bil  Hoskins,  who  was  born 
December  29,  1802,  a  daughter  of  John 
Hoskins.  She  died  February  27,  1842, 
leaving  two  children,  Henry  and  Mary  E. ; 
the  latter  died  young.  Mr.  Capen  was 
again  married,  February  20,'  1844,  his  sec- 
ond union  being  with  Miss  Eliza  Munger, 
who  that  day  was  twenty-five  years  of  age, 
her  birth  having  occurred  in  Auburn,  New 
York,  February  20,  1819.  Her  father  was 
Asa  Munger,  a  clock-maker,  who  was  the 
first  man  in  the  United  States  to  manufac- 
ture clocks  by  prison  labor.  The  children 
born  of  the  second  marriage  were  Charles 
L. ,  who  is  represented  elsewhere  in  this 
volume;  Harriet  E.,  wife  of  Joseph  Town- 
send;  Mrs.  Lillian  C.  Howard,  a  widow  liv- 
ing in  Bloomington;  James  S.,  a  resident  of 
Detroit,  Michigan;  and  Jerome  E.,  a  resi- 
dent of  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania.  The 
mother  of  these  children  departed  this  life 
August  20,  1897,  and  Mr.  Capen  passed 
away  December  24,   1883. 

Mr.  Capen  was  an  enterprising  and  pro- 
gressive citizen  who  took  a  deep  interest  in 
public  affairs  and  did  all  in  his  power  to 
promote  the  general  welfare.  He  laid  out 
an  addition  of  eighty  acres  to  the  town  of 
Normal,  and  in  that  venture  met  with  ex- 
cellent success.  During  the  civil  war  he 
took  a  very  active  and  prominent  part  in 
the  sanitary  commission,  and  was  appointed 
by  the  county  board  of  supervisors  to  take 
charge    of    collecting    and    disbursing    the 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


479 


funds  for  the  relief  of  sick  soldiers  and 
soldiers'  families,  his  store  being  headquar- 
ters. In  this  way  he  was  brought  in  touch 
with  many  people  and  distributed  forty 
thousand  dollars,  no  bond  being  required  of 
him.  He  was  one  of  the  early  abolitionists 
and  his  home  became  a  station  on  the  un- 
derground railroad.  His  son,  Charles  L., 
well  remembers  going  into  the  kitchen  one 
night  and  finding  three  negroes  there.  A 
wagon  was  obtained  in  which  these  men 
were  taken  to  the  next  "  conductor,"  a 
Quaker  living  near  Lake  Ontario.  Mr. 
Capen  affiliated  with  the  Republican  party 
from  its  organization  until  his  death,  but 
never  cared  for  political  preferment.  He 
was  one  of  the  first  members  of  the  Second 
Presbyterian  church  of  Bloomington,  with 
which  he  united  only  si.x  months  after  its 
organization,  and  in  which  he  served  as 
elder,  trustee  and  for  many  years  treasurer. 
He  was  one  of  its  most  prominent  and  act- 
ive members;  was  a  member  of  the  building 
committee  on  the  erection  of  the  church; 
and  later  he  and  another  gentleman  gave 
their  notes  to  keep  it  from  being  sold  for 
mortgage.  Truly  such  a  life  is  worth  having 
been  lived,  and  such  lives  deserve  perma- 
nent record  on  the  pages  of  their  country's 
history,  that  others,  seeing  their 
works,  may  follow  in  their  footsteps. 


JOHN  R.  HAYDEN,  foreman  of  the  tin 
and  copper  department  of  the  Chicago 
&  Alton  Railroad  shops,  and  one  of  the 
most  energetic  and  enterprising  citizens  of 
Bloomington,  was  born  in  Clear  Spring, 
Washington  county,  Maryland,  December 
27.  1839,  a  son  of  William  and  Harriet 
(Spickler)  Hayden.  The  father  was  born 
ip  Westminister,  Carroll  county,  Maryland, 


and  was  the  son  of  Richard  Hayden,  born 
February  8,  1789,  in  Westminister,  Carroll 
county,  Maryland.  He  was  one  of  a  family 
of  ten  children,  the  others  being  John,  born 
January  22,  1777;  Eleanora,  March  18, 
1779;  William,  August  22,  1781;  Bazel, 
July  16,  1784;  Anna,  May  18,  1786;  Dennis, 
July  28,  1 791;  Ambrose,  October  19,  1793; 
James,  October  26,  1795;  and  Catherine, 
May  27,  1798.  He  belonged  to  one  of  its 
most  prominent  and  honored  families,  of 
which  Judge  Hayden,  of  Carroll  county,  son 
of  Bazel  Hayden,  was  also  a  member.  He 
was  also  a  tin  and  coppersmith  by  trade, 
and  carried  on  business  along  that  line  at 
Cumberland,  Maryland,  where  he  located 
in  1843,  when  it  was  the  terminus  of  the 
Baltimore  &  Ohio  Railroad.  As  the  place 
grew,  his  business  also  increased,  and  at  his 
death  he  was  one  of  the  leading  merchants 
of  the  place.  He  was  also  one  of  the  prom- 
inent and  influential  men  of  the  city,  and 
served  as  captain  of  a  company  of  militia. 
His  widow,  Harriet,  who  survived  him 
many  years,  was  born  in  Adams  county, 
Pennsylvania,  in  June,  1820,  and  was  of 
German  extraction;  was  the  daughter  of 
Adam  and  Harriet  (Beecher)  Spickler,  and 
there  were  four  children,  as  follows:  Cath- 
erine, John,  George  and  Harriet.  To  them 
were  born  five  sons,  of  whom  our  subject  is 
the  eldest,  but  only  two  are  now  living,  our 
subject  and  William.  After  his  death,  the 
mother  carried  on  the  business  for  two 
years,  and  then  married  her  head  clerk,  Mr. 
McLaughlin,  of  Cumberland,  Maryland,  who 
had  charge  of  the  store  until  he  died,  when 
she  sold  the  business.  By  him  she  had 
four  children,  two  of  whom  are  deceased. 
The  living  are  Margaret  and  Mary,  who  re- 
side in  Cumberland,  Maryland.  She  died 
in  October,  1898.      She  was  a  most  esti- 


48o 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


mable  lady,  who  in  early  life  was  a  Lu- 
theran, but  later  joined  the  Catholic  church, 
to  which  the  father  of  our  subject  belonged. 

John  R.  Hayden,  of  this  review,  com- 
menced his  education  in  private  schools  and 
later  attended  the  Brothers  Academy  at 
Cumberland.  He  then  learned  the  tin  and 
coppersmith's  trade  with  his  stepfather,  and 
completed  his  apprenticeship  before  his 
mother  sold  out  the  business.  In  1857  he 
came  to  Amboy,  Illinois,  and  found  em- 
ployment in  the  tin  and  copper  department 
of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad,  with  which 
he  was  connected  until  1864.  During  that 
year  he  entered  the  Chicago  &  Alton  shops 
at  Bloomington,  but  ten  years  later  returned 
to  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  at  Amboy, 
where  he  served  as  foreman  of  the  tin  and 
copper  department  for  five  years.  Since 
1879,  however,  he  has  filled  a  similar  posi- 
tion with  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad  at 
Bloomington,  and  has  the  entire  confidence 
and  respect  of  the  company. 

On  the  5th  of  April,  1864,  Mr.  Hayden 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Sarah  A. 
Wells,  who  was  born  near  Peterboro,  Can- 
ada, a  daughter  of  William  Wells.  In  1853 
her  father  removed  to  Chicago  and  four 
years  later  to  Amboy,  Illinois.  The  chil- 
dren born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Haj'den  are  as 
follows:  George,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
eighteen  years;  John,  who  is  now  in  the 
railway  mail  service;  Harriet,  who  is  the 
wife  of  Edward  B.  Finck,  of  Philadelphia, 
and  has  one  daughter,  Sarah;  Robert,  a 
resident  of  Duluth,  Minnesota,  who  married 
Millie  Wells  and  has  one  son,  Harry; 
Frank,  who  died  at  the  age  of  seven  years; 
Harry,  a  resident  of  Bloomington;  Mary 
and  William,  who  are  both  attending  school 
in  Philadelphia.  The  family  hold  member- 
ship in  Holy  Trinity    Catholic   church  and 


are  widely  and  favorably  known.  They 
have  a  fine  home  at  No.  308  West  Union 
street,  where  hospitality  reigns  supreme. 

Socially,  Mr.  Hayden  is  a  member  of  the 
Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen,  the 
National  Union,  and  the  Catholic  Order  of 
Foresters.  He  takes  an  active  and  promi- 
nent part  in  local  politics,  and  has  served 
as  chairman  of  the  Democratic  committee 
for  his  precinct  and  ward  for  many  years. 
During  his  residence  in  Amboy,  for  three 
years  he  was  a  member  of  the  board  of 
education,  and  has  always  taken  consider- 
able interest  in  educational  affairs. 


ALEXANDER  HALSEY,  residing  on 
section  12,  Funk's  Grove  township, 
where  he  owns  and  operates  a  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  valuable  land, 
comes  of  an  old  pioneer  family  that  settled 
in  this  county  in  1837.  He  was  born  in 
Randolph  township,  November  5,  1842, 
and  is  the  son  of  Eli  and  Nancy  (Scott) 
Halsey,  the  former  a  native  of  West  Vir- 
ginia, born  in  181  5,  and  the  latter  of  Ten- 
nessee. Eli  Halsey,  however,  was  twice 
married,  first  in  Virginia,  and  with  that 
wife  he  came  to  DeWitt  county,  in  1837, 
but  later  removed  into  Funk's  Grove  town- 
ship and  purchased  the  farm  where  our  sub- 
ject now  resides.  His  wife  dying  here,  he 
later  married  Nancy  Scott.  He  died  at 
his  late  home  in  Wapella  township,  DeWitt 
county,  January  19,  1892,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-six  years.  His  wife  survives  him 
and  is  yet  living  on  the  old  home  farm,  an 
active  old  lady  of  seventy-eight  years. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  on 
the  old  farm  and  educated  in  the  home 
school.  He  remained  with  his  parents  and 
assisted  his  father  in  the  cultivation  of  the 


ALEXANDER   HALSEY  AND  WIFE. 


LIBRARY 
OF  THE 
'VERStTY  Of  ILLIKCIl 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


483 


farm  until  his  marriage,  October  8,  1864, 
to  Miss  Mary  Jane  Davis,  who  was  born  in 
Switzerland  county,  Indiana,  and  daughter 
of  James  L.  Davis,  a  native  of  the  same 
county  and  state,  who  after  his  marriage 
removed  to  DeWitt  county,  Illinois.  By 
this  union  were  born  ten  children,  of  whom 
seven  are  now  living:  John  C. ,  of  Hey- 
worth;  Minnie,  at  home;  Arthur,  married 
and  farming  in  DeWitt  county;  Arda  H., 
who  died  January  16,  1899,  at  the  age  of 
twenty-six  years;  Robert  Oscar,  married 
and  farming  in  DeWitt  county;  Martin 
Luther,  who  died  in  1892,  when  fourteen 
years  old;  Owen  A.,  Olive  Etta  and  Anna 
Jane  at  home;  one  died  in  infancy. 

After  marriage  Mr.  Halsey  located  on  a 
farm  in  DeWitt  county,  Illinois,  where  he 
continued  to  reside  until  1880,  when  he 
sold  out  and  moved  to  Davis  county,  Mis- 
souri, and  located  near  Ballatin,  where  he 
rented  a  farm  for  two  years,  and  then  pur- 
chased a  farm  of  two  hundred  acres,  on 
which  he  lived  for  two  years.  Realizing 
that  Illinois  was  yet  the  best  state  in  which 
to  live,  he  sold  his  Missouri  farm,  and  in 
the  spring  of  1884  returned  to  Illinois  and 
purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
land  in  Funk's  Grove  township,  and  on  that 
farm  he  resided  four  years,  when  he  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of 
his  present  farm,  to  which  he  has  since 
added  forty  acres.  Since  moving  to  the 
place,  in  1888,  he  has  built  a  large  and  sub- 
stantial residence  and  good  barn,  and  has 
made  a  number  of  improvements  of  a  sub- 
stantial character.  In  addition  to  the  home 
place  he  owns  a  good  farm  in  DeWitt 
county,  which  is  occupied  by  his  son, 
Arthur  Halsey.  He  confines  himself  to  no 
special  thing,  but  engages  in  general  farm- 
ing   and    stock-raising,     feeding     annually 


about  two  car-loads  of  cattle  and  quite  a 
number  of  hogs.  He  is  the  owner  of  two 
steam  threshers  and  a  corn  sheller,  and 
during  the  season  engages  in  threshing  and 
shelling,  thereby  realizing  quite  a  handsome 
sum  each  year. 

Politically,  Mr.  Halsey  is  a  Democrat, 
in  the  principles  of  which  party  he  is  a 
thorough  believer.  His  first  presidential 
vote  was  cast  in  1864  for  George  B.  Mc- 
Clellan,  and  his  last  in  1896  for  William  J. 
Bryan.  He  has  no  inclination  for  public 
office,  but  has  served  several  years  on  the 
school  board,  and  has  been  clerk  of  his 
school  district.  He  is  well  known  in  the 
southern  part  of  McLean  and  the  northern 
part  of  DeWitt  counties  as  a  man  of  exem- 
plary habits  and  worthy  of  the  esteem 
of  all. 


CHARLES  I.  CAPEN  is  one  of  the  at- 
torneys of  Bloomington  and  is  making 
a  specialty  of  corporation  law. 

Mr.  Capen  was  born  in  Union  Springs, 
Cayuga  county,  New  York,  January  31, 
1848,  and  is  a  son  of  Luman  W.  and  Eliza 
(Munger)  Capen,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears 
elsewhere  in  this  volume.    [See  that  article]. 

In  1856,  Mr.  Capen  accompanied  his 
parents  on  their  removal  to  McLean  coun- 
ty, and  after  living  on  a  farm  for  about  a 
year,  they  located  in  Bloomington.  In  the 
public  schools  of  this  city  he  acquired  his 
early  education,  and  in  1865  was  a  member 
of  the  first  class  to  graduate  from  the  high 
school  department  of  the  Illinois  Normal. 
He  then  entered  Harvard  College,  where 
he  was  granted  the  degrees  of  A.  B.  and  A. 
M.,  and  was  graduated  in  1869,  taking  spe- 
cial honors  in  philosophy  and  political  econ- 
omy.      Subsequently    he    studied    law    in 


484 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Bloomington,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  1 87 1,  since  which  time  he  has  engaged 
in  general  practice.  His  present  office  is  in 
the  Gresheim  building.  Of  recent  years  he 
has  given  special  attention  to  corporation 
law. 

On  the  27th  of  October,  1875,  Mr. 
Capen  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Ella  E.  Briggs.  a  daughter  of  Robert  W. 
Briggs,  formerly  of  Tazewell  county,  Illinois. 
They  have  two  children:  Charlotte  B., 
who  graduated  from  the  Illinois  Normal  in 
1894  and  from  the  University-  of  Chicago  in 
1898,  receiving  the  degree  of  Ph.  B. ;  and 
Bernard  C. ,  who  is  sixteen  years  of  age  and 
is  now  attending  the  Bloomington  high 
school.  The  family  have  a  pleasant  home 
at  710  North  East  street,  and  attend  the 
Second  Presbyterian  church. 

In  1893,  Mr.  Capen  was  appointed  by 
Governor  Altgeld  as  a  member  of  the  state 
board  of  education,  was  re-appointed  by 
Governor  Tanner,  and  is  still  holding  that 
position,  being  virtually  a  trustee  of  the 
Normal  School.  He  is  also  one  of  the  in- 
structors of  the  Wesleyan  Law  School. 


ISAAC  MESSER.  Illinois  owes  its  high 
standing  among  the  sovereign  common- 
wealths that  make  up  the  United  States  to 
the  high  character  and  dauntless  spirit  of 
the  settlers  who  made  their  homes  within 
her  borders  in  pioneer  days.  To  their  in- 
spiration and  work  is  due  her  wonderful 
progress  in  agriculture,  manufacturing  and 
the  arts.  They  have  opened  the  mines, 
transformed  the  wild  land  into  fertile  farms, 
and  established  churches  and  schools  in 
savage  wilds,  laying  the  foundation  for  the 
grand  institutions  of  philanthropy  and  learn- 
ing which  are  the  glory  of  the  state  at  the 


present  day.  Among  these  honored  pioneers 
the  Messer  family  is  deserving  of  prominent 
mention,  as  its  representatives  have  been 
actively  identified  with  the  upbuilding  and 
development  of  McLean  county  for  the  long 
period  of  seventy  years. 

Isaac  Messer,  now  a  leading  agriculturist 
of  Hudson  township,  was  born  in  this 
county  December  28,  1831,  one  mile  east 
of  the  present  town  of  Le.xington,  and  is  a 
son  of  Isaac  and  Sidney  (Forbes)  Messer, 
both  natives  of  Lancaster  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  about  the  same  age.  The  family 
was  founded  in  America  by  three  brothers 
who  came  from  Ireland,  one  settling  in 
Pennsylvania,  the  second  in  Connecticut 
and  the  third  in  Virginia.  The  first  of  these 
was  Samuel  Messer,  the  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  a  shoemaker  by  trade,  who  died 
when  Isaac  was  a  small  boy.  The  father's 
birth  occurred  in  1782.  From  Pennsylvania 
they  removed  to  Pickaway  county,  Ohio,  in 
181 1,  and  on  leaving  there  in  1828  came  to 
Illinois.  For  six  months  they  were  resi- 
dents of  Sangamon  county,  but  in  the  spring 
of  1829  took  up  their  residence  in  what  was 
then  called  Mackinaw,  but  is  now  Lexing- 
ton township,  McLean  county,  where  the 
father  took  a  squatter's  claim.  He  sold 
that  place  in  March,  1834,  to  a  Mr.  Black, 
of  Kentucky,  and  removed  to  section  3, 
Hudson  township,  where  our  subject  now 
resides.  He  received  a  government  patent 
to  this  land,  signed  bj-  President  Jackson, 
which  has  been  transferred  to  our  subject, 
and  is  now  in  the  possession  of  the  latter. 
The  father  acquired  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  land  on  sections  2  and  3, 
Hudson  township,  about  one  hundred  acres 
of  which  was  timber  land,  but  the  remainder 
he  improved  and  placed  under  cultivation, 
being  successfully  engaged  in  general  farm- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


485 


ing  and  stock  raising.  He  was  a  great 
hunter  and  an  excellent  marksman,  often 
killing  as  many  as  four  deer  in  one  day. 

Politically,  he  was  a  Jacksonian  Demo- 
crat, and  religiously,  an  earnest  and  faithful 
member  of  the  United  Brethren  church. 
He  was  a  local  preacher  and  organized  a 
number  of  the  first  churches  of  that  denomi- 
nation in  this  and  Livingston  counties. 
During  his  active  life  he  devoted  much  time 
to  ministerial  work  and  refused  all  political 
honors,  considering  them  unreconcilable  with 
his  religious  life  and  duties.  He  died  at  his 
home  in  Hudson  township,  January  21, 
1 86 1,  honored  and  respected  by  all  who 
knew  him.  His  worthy  wife  had  passed 
away  May  8,  1843,  and  the  remains  of  both 
were  interred  in  the  family  burying  ground. 

Of  the  ten  children  born  to  them,  one 
died  in  infancy  in  Ohio;  another  in  McLean 
county,  in  1835,  at  the  age  of  eight  years; 
and  though  the  others  reached  years  of  ma- 
turity, all  are  now  deceased  with  the  excep- 
tion of  our  subject.  John  B.  spent  his  life 
on  a  farm  in  Gridley  township,  where  he  died 
November  10,  1879;  Mary,  wife  of  Joseph 
Gilderstein,  one  of  the  Hudson  colonists, 
who  is  also  deceased;  Elizabeth,  who  mar- 
ried Peter  R.  Sparrow  and  died  in  Neosha 
county,  Kansas,  in  1895;  Jane,  who  married 
Isaac  Turnipseed,  a  farmer  on  section  2, 
Hudson  township,  and  died  in  April,  1896; 
Sidney  A.,  who  married  Madison  Young,  of 
Money  Creek  township  and  died  March  30, 
1850;  Rebecca,  who  married  Calvin  Dough- 
ty, a  Hudson  colonist,  and  died  June  21, 
1844;  Joseph,  who  lived  on  section  3,  Hud- 
son township,  a  part  of  his  father's  estate, 
and  died  April  13,  1898;  and  Isaac,  our 
subject,  who  is  the  youngest  of  those  who 
reached  maturity. 

Amid  oioneer  scenes  Isaac  Messer  grew  to 


manhood  and  he  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  Hudson  township.  He  in- 
herited some  of  his  father's  hunting  instinct 
and  in  early  life  was  very  handy  with  a  rifle. 
He  also  had  ample  opportunity  of  indulging 
in  that  sport,  as  he  has  seen  as  many  as 
one  hundred  deer  in  one  day,  besides  great 
flocks  of  wild  turkeys,  prairie  chickens,  etc. 
The  latter  were  too  numerous  to  notice, 
having  seen  rail  fences  lined  with  them  for 
one  mile.  It  was  in  1868  that  he  killed  the 
last  flock  of  wild  turkeys,  sixteen  in  num- 
ber, in  Money  Creek  township.  After  his 
marriage,  at  the  age  of  twenty-four  years, 
he  took  charge  of  the  home  farm,  his  father 
remaining  with  him,  however,  until  his 
death.  His  entire  life  has  been  devoted  to 
farming  and  stock-raising.  He  has  an  ex- 
cellent farm  of  two  hundred  acres,  which  is 
stocked  with  fine  Norman  and  Percheron 
horses.  He  kept  principally  short-horn 
cattle  until  1893,  when  he  founded  a  herd 
of  red  polled  cattle,  of  which  he  now  has 
thirty- five. 

On  the  13th  of  July,  1854,  Mr.  Messer 
married  Miss  Nancy  E.  Lock,  who  was  born 
in  Anderson  county,  Kentucky,  March  24, 
1836.  Her  parents,  Robert  and  Mary  (Hol- 
man)  Lock,  were  also  natives  of  that  state, 
and  came  to  McLean  county,  Illinois,  in 
1852,  locating  in  Hudson  township  one 
year,  thence  to  Gridley  township,  three 
miles  from  the  village  of  that  time.  They 
had  thirteen  children,  six  sons  and  seven 
daughters,  only  three  of  whom  are  now  liv- 
ing: Nancy  E.,  wife  of  our  subject;  Reuben, 
a  resident  of  Hudson  township;  and  James 
L. ,  of  Buckley,  Iroquois  county,  Illinois. 
Six  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Messer,  namely:  William  H.,  born  July  13, 
1856,  has  charge  of  the  grain  elevator  at 
Cappa,    Illinois.       (2)    Elizabeth    J.,    born 


486 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


April  2,  1858,  married  Daniel  Ogden,  of 
Money  Creek  township  and  has  four  chil- 
dren: Bertha,  Susan,  Bessie  and  Glenn. 
(3)  Mary  I.,  deceased  wife  of  Thomas  Pat- 
ton,  of  Gridley  township,  and  (4)  Margaret 
I.,  at  home,  were  twins,  born  December  18, 
1862.  (5)  Fannie,  born  April  13,  1869, 
married  Jackson  Hinthorn,  of  Hudson  town- 
ship, and  has  five  children:  Elva,  Leah, 
Floyd  and  Lloyd  (twins),  and  Murrell  J. 
(6)  Nora  E.,  born  January  13,  1879,  is  at 
home  with  her  parents. 

Mr.  Messer's  political  support  is  always 
given  the  Democracy,  but  he  has  never  cared 
for  the  honors  or  emoulments  of  public  office, 
preferring  to  give  his  entire  time  and  atten- 
tion to  his  farm,  which  he  still  operates 
with  the  assistance  of  hired  help.  Outside 
of  school  offices  the  only  public  position  he 
has  filled  was  that  of  constable,  in  1858  and 
1859,  at  which  time  there  were  many 
forced  closures,  entailing  such  hardships  on 
one  of  the  parties  interested  that  he  became 
disgusted  with  the  office  and  would  not  serve 
another  term.  He  has  always  taken  an  act- 
ive and  commendable  interest  in  educa- 
tional affairs,  and  for  twenty-one  years  most 
capably  served  as  school  director.  His 
name  is  a  synonym  for  honorable  business 
dealing  ;  he  is  always  mentioned  as  one  of 
the  invaluable  citizens  of  the  community, 
and  on  the  rolls  of  McLean  county's  hon- 
ored pioneers  his  name  should  be  among  the 
foremost. 


GEORGE  PORTER  ELA,  deceased, 
was  one  of  Bloomington's  honored  and 
highly-respected  citizens  and  was  for  forty 
years  prominently  identified  with  the  growth 
and  upbuilding  of  this  county.  He  was 
born  in  Lisbon,  New  Hampshire,  July   13, 


1832,  a  son  of  Cyrus  and  Elizabeth  (Ela) 
Ela,  who  were  descendants  of  one  of  the 
oldest  and  most  widely-known  families  of 
that  state.  He  traced  his  ancestry  back 
through  Cyrus,  Jacob,  Jacob,  Jacob  and 
John  to  Israel  Ela,  of  Haverhill,  Massa- 
chusetts, who  took  the  freeman's  oath  in 
1677.  Our  subject's  paternal  grandmother 
was  a  Hough  and  of  good  old  Revolutionary 
stock.  Mr.  Ela  was  the  third  in  order  of 
birth  in  a  family  of  seven  sons,  of  whom 
two  died  in  early  manhood;  two  were  killed 
in  the  civil  war;  and  two  are  still  living  in 
New  Hampshire. 

Mr.  Ela  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm 
in  New  Hampshire,  and  his  early  education, 
acquired  in  the  district  school  of  the  neigh- 
borhood, was  supplemented  by  a  course  in 
Drury  Academy  at  Exeter,  that  state,  where 
he  took  up  the  study  of  surveying  and  civil 
engineering.  He  taught  school  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  his  birthplace  and  remained  there 
until  the  spring  of  1857,  when  he  came  to 
McLean  county,  Illinois.  After  teaching 
for  one  year  in  Hudson,  he  came  to  Bloom- 
ington  in  May,  1858,  and  as  a  surveyor  and 
civil  engineer,  he  opened  an  office  at  the 
southwest  corner  of  Main  and  Front  streets. 
Having  located  here  at  an  early  day,  he  did 
most  of  the  surveying  of  this  section,  lay- 
ing out  most  of  the  city  of  Bloomington, 
and  in  1865-66  resurveying  most  of  the 
open  prairie  in  the  different  townships  of 
the  county,  which  had  not  been  surveyed 
since  first  laid  out.  With  the  exception  of 
seven  towns,  he  laid  out  every  town  in  the 
county,  and  to  Lexington,  Chenoa,  Say- 
brook,  Danvers,  McLean,  Le  Roy  and  Hud- 
son, he  made  additions  much  larger  than 
the  original  sites.  For  many  years  prior  to 
his  death,  he  was  considered  authority  for 
corners  and  locations  in  the  county  and  dur- 


THE    BIOGR.\PHICAL   RECORD. 


487 


ing  his  last  year  located  a  corner  where 
there  was  no  evidence  of  the  same  except 
the  deeply  buried  mark.  He  did  all  the 
work  along  the  line  of  civil  engineering  for 
the  original  Bloomington  &  Normal  street 
railway.  His  thorough  knowledge  of  engin- 
eering was  largely  instrumental  in  establish- 
ing the  tile  drainage  system  in  this  and  sur- 
rounding counties.  He  conceived  the  idea 
of  using  brick  for  paving  material,  and  with 
N.  B.  Keefer,  a  brickmaker  of  Blooming- 
ton,  laid  ten  feet  of  brick  pavement  on 
Center  street,  west  of  the  court  house,  as  an 
experiment.  That  was  the  first  brick  pave- 
ment ever  laid  in  the  United  States,  and  it 
remained  intact  for  many  years.  He  lived 
to  see  brick  largely  used  as  paving  material. 
Mr.  Ela  held  the  office  of  city  engineer 
for  some  time,  and  was  county  surveyor  for 
twenty  consecutive  years,  but  during  the 
last  eight  years  of  his  life  he  engaged  in  sur- 
veying but  little.  He  became  largely  inter- 
ested in  and  confined  his  attention  to  ab- 
stract making,  doing  it  from  his  thorough 
knowledge  of  lands,  corners,  people  and  the 
records  on  file.  He  had  invested  quite  ex- 
tensively in  real  estate  and  was  quite  a  suc- 
cessful business  man.  During  the  civil 
war,  in  company  with  Ira  Moore,  he  raised 
a  company,  which  was  mustered  into  the 
United  States  service  as  Company  G,  Thir- 
ty-third Illinois' Volunteer  Infantry  and  was 
known  as  the  Normal  Regiment.  He  was 
commissioned  first  lieutenant  of  the  corn- 
pany  and  was  on  duty  in  Missouri,  lower 
Mississippi.  In  July,  1862,  he  resigned 
with  the  intention  of  joining  the  Ninety- 
fourth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  which 
was  then  being  organized  at  Bloomington, 
but  before  his  resignation  was  accepted  and 
he  reached  home,  the  regiment  had  depart- 
ed for  the  front.      He  did  not  re-enlist  but 


was  appointed  provost  marshal  of  the  north- 
ern district  of  Illinois,  which  position  he 
held  until  the  close  of  the  war,  when  it  was 
abolished. 

On  the  23d  of  April,  1863,  Mr.  Ela  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Frances  Har- 
riet Rowell,  of  Littleton,  New  Hampshire, 
where  she  was  born  November  15,  1835. 
Their  acquaintance  began  in  the  east,  being 
friends  and  neighbors  there.  She  was  a 
daughter  of  Guy  C.  and  Clarissa  (Rankin) 
Rowell.  The  Rowell  family  is  of  Welsh 
descent  and  was  founded  in  New  England 
prior  to  the  Revolutionary  war,  in  which 
struggle  Mrs.  Ela's  great-grandfather,  Dan- 
iel Rowell,  took  part,  being  one  of  the 
minute  men  from  New  Hampshire  at  the 
battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  and  later  a  lieuten- 
ant in  Colonel  Stark's  regiment  of  New 
Hampshire  militia.  He  was  present  at  the 
surrender  of  General  Burgoyne.  Mrs, 
Ela's  father,  a  farmer  of  Littleton,  New 
Hampshire,  moved  to  Bloomington,  Illi- 
nois, in  the  fall  of  1862,  just  prior  to  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ela,  and  pur- 
chased land  near  Hudson.  After  the  death 
of  his  wife  he  made  his  home  with  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Ela  until  he  was  called  to  the  world 
beyond,  March  17,  1891.  Religiously,  he 
was  a  strict  orthodox  Congregationalist. 
Three  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Ela,  namely:  Clarissa  E.,  principal  of  the 
drawing  department  of  the  State  Normal 
University;  Guy  C,  senior  member  of  the 
Ela  Manufacturing  Company,  manufact- 
urers of  grocers'  supplies  and  shelf  goods; 
and  Harriet  G.,  at  home.  The  family  are 
members  of  the  Second  Presbyterian  church, 
and  have  a  pleasant  home  at  No.  309  East 
Locust  street,  where  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ela 
spent  their  entire  married  life. 

Politically,  Mr.    Ela  was  an  ardent  Re- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


publican,  but  aside  from  the  office  of  county 
surveying,  he  never  cared  for  pubHc  posi- 
tions. He  was  a  great  reader,  and  was 
well  posted  on  current  events,  as  well  as 
science,  politics,  literature  and  history.  He 
studied  law,  and  was  for  more  than  twenty 
years  a  member  of  the  Bloomington  bar, 
though  he  practiced  only  in  connection  with 
his  other  business  interests.  When  the 
University  Center  was  organized  he  became 
an  interested  participant  in  what  was  said 
and  done,  and  rarely  did  he  miss  a  meeting. 
Though  of  a  quiet,  retiring  disposition,  he 
made  friends  readily,  and  had  the  happy 
faculty  of  being  able  to  retain  them.  His 
home  life  was  beautiful  and  exemplary. 
Ardent  and  consistant  in  his  affections,  he 
was  a  most  tenderly  devoted  husband  and 
father.  To  him  there  was  truly  "  no  place 
like  home,"  and  he  found  his  greatest  enjoy- 
ment in  the  companionship  of  his  wife  and 
children.  He  died  February  5,  189S,  hon- 
ored and  respected  by  all  who  knew  him, 
for  he  was  truly  one  of  nature's  noblemen. 


JUDGE  HENRY  A.  KARR,  a  prominent 
and  influential  citizen  of  Heyworth,  as 
well  as  one  of  the  honored  pioneers  of  Mc- 
Lean county,  dating  his  residence  here  from 
1834,  was  born  in  Hamilton  county,  Ohio, 
near  Cincinnati,  August  5,  1830,  and  traces 
his  ancestry  back  to  Sir  Walter  Kerr  (as  the 
name  was  then  spelled),  a  native  of  Scot- 
land and  the  founder  of  the  family  in  the 
United  States.  He  was  one  of  the  pioneers 
of  New  Jersey,  and  the  family  became  quite 
prominent  in  Sussex  county,  that  state. 
There  our  subject's  great-grandfather,  Cap- 
tain John  Karr,  spent  his  entire  life.  He 
held  a  captain's  commission  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary  war.      His  son,  Thomas   Karr,  the 


grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  also  a  native 
of  Sussex  county.  New  Jersey. 

Walter  Karr,  the  Judge's  father,  was 
born  in  Sussex  county,  in  1794,  and  when  a 
young  man  went  to  Hamilton  county,  Ohio, 
where  he  was  numbered  among  the  pioneers. 
There  he  married  a  second  cousin.  Miss 
Eliza  Karr,  a  daughter  of  Walter  Karr,  who 
was  also  a  native  of  New  Jersey  and  an  early 
settler  of  Hamilton  county,  Ohio.  After 
his  marriage  the  father  of  our  subject  en- 
gaged in  farming  there  for  a  few  years  and 
in  1834  came  to  McLean  county,  Illinois, 
where  he  bought  a  claim  of  forty  acres  and 
also  entered  land,  owning  at  one  time  two 
hundred  acres,  which  is  now  mostly  within 
the  corporate  limits  of  Heyworth.  Upon 
the  original  purchase  was  a  cabin,  into  which 
the  family  moved,  the  father  at  once  turn- 
ing his  attention  to  the  further  improvement 
and  cultivation  of  his  place.  Later  he  built 
a  good  residence  and  made  many  other  im- 
provements upon  the  farm  which  added 
greatly  to  its  value  and  attractive  appear- 
ance. He  was  one  of  the  well  read  and 
best  informed  men  of  the  county,  and  was 
widely  and  favorably  known.  He  died  in 
March,  1876,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty- 
two  years,  having  long  survived  the  mother 
of  our  subject  who  passed  away  in  1S38. 

Judge  Karr  passed  his  boyhood  and 
youth  in  McLean  county,  and  is  indebted 
to  its  common  schools  for  his  early  educa- 
tion, which  has  been  greatly  supplemented 
in  later  years  by  the  knowledge  acquired  by 
experience,  reading  and  observation.  He 
remained  with  his  father  until  he  attained 
his  majority,  and  after  leaving  home  fol- 
lowed the  carpenter's  trade  for  some  years. 
At  Heyworth  he  was  married  January  10, 
1 861,  to  Miss  Martha  E.  Storey,  a  native 
of  Hamilton  county,  Illinois.      Her  father, 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


489 


\ 


Henry  Storey,  was  born  in  Georgia,  but  was 
reared  in  southern  Illinois,  and  there  mar- 
ried Miss  Mary  Allen.  He  followed  farm- 
ing in  Hamilton  county  for  some  years,  but 
finally  came  to  McLean  county,  where  he 
carried  on  operations  as  a  farmer  and  car- 
penter. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Karr  have  four  chil- 
dren, namely:  Lyon,  a  man  of  superior  edu- 
cation, and  a  prominent  citizen  of  Eureka, 
served  as  county  superintendent  of  public 
schools  for  some  years,  and  is  now  treasurer 
of  Woodford  county;  Grant  is  completing 
his  education  in  Germany,  having  nearly 
finished  a  five-years'  course  in  pedagogy  at 
Jena;  Mary  is  a  well-educated  young  lady, 
who  is  now  employed  as  a  teacher  in  Aus- 
tin, a  suburb  of  Chicago;  and  Frank  has 
been  a  prominent  teacher  of  this  state,  and 
is  now  a  student  at  Leland  Stanford  Uni- 
versity. 

After  his  marriage  Judge  Karr  brought 
his  bride  to  the  old  homestead  at  Heyworth, 
and  for  some  years  they  lived  in  the  house 
which  his  father  had  built,  but  recently  a 
new  house  of  modern  style  of  architecture 
has  been  erected  upon  the  same  lot  and  is 
their  present  home.  It  is  one  of  the  best 
and  most  attractive  residences  in  the  village. 
The  Judge  still  owns  a  valuable  farm  of 
eighty  acres  now  within  the  corporate  lim- 
its of  Heyworth,  and  devotes  a  part  of  his 
time  to  agricultural  pursuits.  Politically  he 
is  a  Jacksonian  Democrat,  who  cast  his  first 
presidential  vote  for  Franklin  Pierce  and 
his  last  for  William  J.  Bryan.  He  has 
served  as  a  delegate  to  county  and  congres- 
sional conventions  and  always  taken  an  has 
active  and  prominent  part  in  local  politics, 
and  his  fellow  citizens,  recognizing  his  worth 
and  ability,  have  often  elected  him  to  office. 
For  several  years  he  served  as  justice  of  the 
peace  and  police  magistrate  and  also  as  a 


member  of  the  village  and  school  boards, 
and  his  official  duties  have  always  been  most 
faithfully  and  conscientiously  discharged. 
He  and  his  sons  are  all  members  of  the  Ma- 
sonic fraternity,  himself  and  Frank  belong- 
ing to  the  blue  lodge  of  Heyworth,  in  which 
he  is  past  master.  His  estimable  wife  is  an 
earnest  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church 
of  that  place.  During  the  si.\ty-five  years 
of  his  residence  here  Judge  Karr  has  watched 
with  interest  the  wonderful  transformation 
that  has  taken  place  in  McLean  county,  and 
as  a  public  spirited  and  progressive  citizen 
he  has  borne  an  active  part  in  its  develop- 
ment and  prosperity,  and  has  never  with- 
held his  support  from  any  enterprise  which 
he  believed  calculated  to  prove  of  public 
good.  He  is  therefore  justly  numbered 
among  its  valued  and  representative  citi- 
zens, and  is  certainly  entitled  to  honorable 
mention  in  a  work  whose  province  is  the 
portrayal  of  the  lives  of  the  leading  and 
prominent  men  of  McLean  county. 


JOHN  W.  VANCE,  who  is  now  serving 
as  mayor  of  Danvers,  was  born  in  Wood- 
ford count}',  Illinois,  April  5,  1853,  and  is 
the  son  of  Andrew  and  Eliza  Gordon 
(Wheeler)  Vance,  the  former  a  native  of 
Todd  county,  Kentucky,  born  in  18 18,  and 
the  latter  of  Massachusetts,  born  in  Novem- 
ber, 1830.  In  his  native  state  Andrew 
Vance  remained  until  he  was  seventeen 
years  old,  and  then  accompanied  his  father, 
James  Vance,  to  Illinois.  James  Vance 
located  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  McLean 
county  line  in  Woodford  county,  and  there 
took  up  some  government  land  and  engaged 
in  farming.  Andrew  remained  with  his 
father,  assisting  in  farm  work  a  few  years, 
and  then  went  to  Galena,  Illinois,  where  he 


490 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


was  employed  in  the  lead  mines  about  one 
year.  Returning,  he  located  in  what  was 
then  Concord,  but  now  Danvers,  Illinois, 
in  1846,  and  there  engaged  in  the  mercan- 
tile business  with  U.  S.  Hodge.  After  con- 
tinuing in  that  business  until  1851,  he  moved 
back  to  Woodford  county  to  care  for  his 
father  in  the  latter's  declining  years,  and 
continued  with  him  until  his  death  in  Novem- 
ber, i860.  In  1 861  he  returned  to  Danvers, 
and  there  continued  to  reside  until  1868, 
when  he  purchased  a  farm  in  Danvers  town- 
ship just  east  of  the  village,  and  there  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits  until  his  death, 
November  6,  1893.  Success  had  crowned 
his  efforts,  and  at  that  time  he  was  the 
owner  of  between  seven  and  eight  hundred 
acres  of  land  in  Danvers  and  Allin  town- 
ships. His  wife  preceded  him  some  six 
years,  dying  September  23,  1887.  They 
were  the  parents  of  six  children,  three  of 
whom  grew  to  maturity:  John  W.,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch;  James  Edward,  who 
died  February  10,  1893,  and  Frank  A.,  who 
married  Miss  Mary  Cory,  they  residing  with 
their  three  living  children  in  the  village  of 
Danvers.  In  politics  Andrew  Vance  was  a 
Republican,  and  during  his  early  life  took 
quite  an  active  part  in  politics.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  church,  as  was  also 
his  wife. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  his 
primary  education  in  a  country  school 
just  across  the  county  line  in  McLean 
county,  and  in  the  village  school  at  Dan- 
vers. He  then  attended  Eureka  College  a 
short  time,  and  then  entered  Wesleyan 
University,  at  Bloomington,  where  he  took 
a  three-year-couse.  After  leaving  the  Uni- 
versity he  returned  home,  and  on  the  istof 
October,  1877,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with   Miss  Helen   I.    McClure,  a   native    of 


McLean  county,  born  October  29,  185 1. 
Her  father,  Thomas  B.  McClure,  was  also 
a  native  of  McLean  county,  and  was  born 
September  15,  1829.  He  was  the  son  of 
Robert  McClure,  a  colonel  in  the  Black 
Hawk  war,  and  who  was  one  of  the  first 
settlers  of  McLean  county.  Thomas  B. 
McClure  married  Miss  Emma  Clark  No- 
vember 18,  1849.  She  is  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky, born  February  28,  1830,  and  is  the 
daughter  of  Henry  I.  and  Mary  L.  (Mans- 
field) Clark,  both  natives  of  Virginia,  who 
moved  to  Kentucky  in  an  early  day,  and  to 
Woodford  county,  Illinois,  in  1836.  Her 
father  served  as  sergeann  during  the  war  of 
18 1 2.  To  Mr.  snd  Mrs.  Thomas  McClure 
were  born  seven  children,  five  of  whom 
grew  to  maturity:  Helen  I.,  wife  of  our 
subject;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  John  I.  Armour, 
and  now  residing  in  Marshalltown,  Iowa: 
Emma,  wife  of  Charles  Vance,  of  Danvers; 
William,  residing  in  St.  Louis;  and  Joseph, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-one  years. 
Mr.  McClure  was  for  years  a  merchant  in 
Danvers,  but  in  1866  moved  to  St.  Louis, 
Missouri,  where  he  engaged  in  the  grocery 
business,  and  also  in  the  real-estate  busi- 
ness. He  died  in  that  city  July  8,  1897. 
In  politics  he  was  a  Republican,  and  while 
not  a  member,  gave  support  to  the  Presby- 
terian church.  His  wife  survives  him  and 
is  now  residing  in  Danvers.  She  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Congregational  church. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Vance  moved  to 
his  farm  adjoining  the  village  of  Danvers  on 
the  north,  a  part  of  which  was  inside  the 
corporate  limits,  and  a  portion  afterward 
surveyed  and  subdivided  into  town  lots.  He 
there  resided,  actively  engaged  in  farming 
and  stock  raising  until  1889,  when  on  ac- 
count of  the  ill  health  of  his  wife,  he  moved 
into  the  village,  where  he   has  since  practi- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


491 


cally  lived  retired.  For  a  time,  in  addition 
to  his  farm  duties,  he  was  engaged  in  buying 
and  shipping  stock.  His  farm,  adjoining 
the  village,  comprises  eighty  acres,  in  addi- 
tion to  which  he  owns  a  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  in  Allin  township. 

In  politics  Mr.  Vance  is  a  Republican, 
and  for  several  years  he  was  a  member  of 
the  village  board,  and  in  1,899  was  elected 
mayor  of  the  village.  He  has  taken  an  act- 
ive part  in  local  politics,  and  has  served  as 
a  delegate  in  a  number  of  county,  congres- 
sional and  state  conventions.  Fraternally, 
he  is  a  member  of  Danvers  Lodge,  No.  742, 
A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  of  Bloomington  Chap- 
ter, No.  25,  R.  A.  M.  He  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America, 
and  was  formerly  a  member  of  the  Elks. 
His  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Congregational 
church.  As  a  citizen  he  is  enterprising  and 
up  with  the  times,  believing  in  doing  all  in 
his  power  to  advance  the  interests  of  his 
town,  county  and  state,  and  is  quite  pop- 
ular with  the  people. 


JACOB  WAHL  is  now  living  a  retired 
life  in  Bloomington  and  is.  numbered 
among  the  substantial  residents  of  the  city, 
but  when  he  came  to  America,  on  attaining 
his  majority,  he  had  no  capital  save  a  strong 
determination  to  succeed.  Steadily  has  he 
worked  his  way  upward,  advancing  step  by 
step  until  he  has  reached  a  position  of  afflu- 
ence, and  now  in  his  declining  years  he  can 
rest  from  arduous  toil,  his  needs  being  sup- 
plied by  the  labors  of  former  years. 

Mr.  Wahl  was  born  in  Wurtemberg, 
Germany,  March  21,  1827.  The  family 
was  originally  from  Holland,  but  for  three 
generations  Wurtemberg  had  been  the  an- 
cestral   home,  and   there  Job  Jacob  Wahl, 


father  of  our  subject,  was  born,  reared  and 
carried  on  farming.  He  became  the  wealth- 
iest man  in  the  country  side  and  served  as 
the  "squire"  for  si.xteen  years.  He  spent 
his  entire  life  there  and  was  one  of  the 
most  prominent  and  influential  citizens  of 
the  community.  His  son,  Jacob  Wahl,  re- 
mained on  the  farm  until  seventeen  years  of 
age,  when  he  went  to  the  city  and  learned 
the  butcher's  trade,  serving  a  regular  four 
years'  apprenticeship.  He  not  only  received 
no  compensation  for  his  services,  but  had 
to  pay  two  hundred  dollars  for  the  privilege 
of  being  instructed  in  the  business.  On 
attaining  his  majority  he  was  called  to  ren- 
der military  service  to  his  country,  but 
hiring  a  substitute,  he  secured  a  pass  per- 
mitting him  to  leave  the  fatherland  and 
came  to  America.  He  located  first  in  New 
York  City,  but  soon  made  his  way  westward 
to  Pekin,  Illinois,  traveling  by  canal,  steam- 
er and  on  foot,  and  reaching  his  destination 
after  two  months  upon  the  road.  He  could 
speak  no  English,  and  in  order  to  gain  a 
livelihood  worked  at  anything  that  he  could 
get  to  do  through  the  succeeding  five  years. 
On  the  20th  of  January,  1853  Mr.  Wahl 
arrived  in  Bloomington  and  during  the  great- 
er part  of  the  time  since  has  been  actively 
connected  with  the  business  interests  of  the 
city.  Here  he  engaged  in  the  butchering 
business,  opening  a  meat  market  which  was 
the  first  store  on  Front  street.  Later  he 
removed  to  Center  street,  and  built  the  first 
brick  block  there,  the  location  being  just 
opposite  the  present  business  conducted  un- 
der the  name  of  "My  Store,"  on  the  old 
Sydney  Baker  place.  Mr.  Wahl  did  his 
own  butchering  and  met  with  success  from 
the  beginning.  There  was  another  meat 
market  here  at  the  time,  but  he  soon  se- 
cured such  a  large  patronage  that  the  other 


492 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


market  was  forced  to  close.  He  was  par- 
ticularly famed  for  the  excellent  sausage  he 
made,  and  his  trade  continued  to  be  large  and 
lucrative  for  many  years.  At  the  time  he 
opened  his  store  there  was  no  bank  in 
Bloomington,  and  the  commercial  possibil- 
ities of  the  city  were  yet  to  be  developed. 
As  the  years  passed  Mr.  Wahl  made  many 
investments  in  real  estate,  and  although  all 
did  not  prove  profitable,  he  was  generally 
successful  in  such  dealings,  and  eventually 
became  one  of  the  wealthy  German  citizens 
of  Bloomington.  He  owned  a  fine  residence 
on  Front  street,  and  also  erected  five  or  six 
houses  which  he  rented. 

About  twenty-one  years  ago,  however, 
he  sold  his  meat  market  here  and  removed 
to  Abilene,  Kansas,  where  he  purchased  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land.  He  at 
once  began  to  cultivate  and  improve  the 
farm,  but  made  his  home  thereon  for  only 
eighteen  months  and  removed  to  the  city 
that  his  sons  might  engage  in  the  meat  busi- 
ness which  was  the  only  line  with  which  they 
were  familiar.  He  erected  there  a  fine 
brick  block  which  now  bears  the  name  of 
Wahl  Brothers,  and  for  a  number  of  years 
conducted  one  of  the  largest  and  most  pay- 
ing meat  markets  in  Abilene.  Success  at- 
tended his  efforts  and  fortune  seemed  to 
favor  him  in  that,  the  day  before  the  failure 
of  one  of  the  banks  there  he  drew  out  seven 
thousand  dollars,  and  deposited  it  in  a  new 
bank,  recently  established.  He  continued 
in  business  in  Kansas  until  1894,  when  on  ac- 
count of  his  wife's  illness  he  retired,  since 
which  time  his  money  has  been  loaned  and 
he  has  rested  in  the  honest  enjoyment  of  the 
fruits  of  his  former  toil. 

During  the  days  of  his  early  residence 
in  Bloomington,  Mr.  Wahl  married  Miss 
Fredericka  Petzirimeir,  and  for  many  years 


she  was  to  him  a  faithful  companion  and 
helpmeet,  but  her  death  occurred  on  the 
2d  of  September,  1894.  Their  children  are 
Jacob,  who  is  now  living  in  Seattle,  Wash- 
ington; Leah,  wife  of  Ed  Pelzer,  ex-mayor 
of  Ionia,  Michigan;  Louis,  who  is  engaged 
in  business  in  Abilene,  Kansas;  Lizzie,  wife 
of  George  F.  Moore,  a  member  of  the  firm 
of  Wahl  Brothers,  of  Abilene;  and  Atwood, 
a  resident  of  Chicago. 

In  1898  Mr.  Wahl  returned  to  Bloom- 
ington, where  he  now  resides.  He  has 
never  held  office,  in  fact  has  ever  refused 
to  become  a  candidate  for  political  prefer- 
ment, desiring  rather  to  devote  his  time 
and  energies  to  his  business.  He  was  a 
charter  member  of  Uhland  Lodge,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.,  of  Bloomington,  and  contributed 
liberally  to  the  building  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  and  Lutheran  churches  here,  yet 
has  never  been  a  member  of  any  denomina- 
tion. His  hope  of  bettering  his  financial 
condition  by  emigrating  to  the  new  world 
has  been  more  than  realized.  In  this  land 
where  opportunity  for  advancement  is  of- 
fered to  all  who  have  ambition  and  energy, 
he  has  gained  most  creditable  success,  as 
the  reward  of  his  earnest,  persistent  labor 
and  honorable  business  methods,  and  is 
numbered  among  the  most  substantial  citi- 
zens of  McLean  county.  He  is  a  worthy 
representative  of  that  class  of  reliable,  en- 
terprising citizens  who  come  to  us  from  the 
fatherland,  and  his  record  is  alike  creditable 
to  his  native  and  adopted  country. 


PROF.  MELVIN  P.  LACKLAND, 
A.  M.,  B.  D.  Only  those  lives  are 
worthy  of  record  that  have  been  potential 
factors  in  the  public  progress,  in  promoting 
the  general  welfare,  or  advancing  the  edu- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


493 


cational  or  moral  interests  of  the  community. 
Professor  Lackland,  who  is  filling  the  chair 
of  mathematics  and  astronomy  in  the  Illi- 
nois Wesleyan  University,  is  not  only  one  of 
the  leading  educators  of  the  state,  but  as  a 
minister  of  the  gospel  he  has  exerted  a  wide- 
spread influence,  and  is  certainly  deserving 
of  prominent  mention  in  a  work  of  this 
character. 

A  native  of  Illinois,  Professor  Lackland 
was  born  in  Tremont,  Tazewell  county,  Oc- 
tober 12,  1 85 1,  and  comes  of  quite  an  illus- 
trious and  distinguished  family,  in  which 
were  many  prominent  doctors  and  lawyers, 
and  all  were  men  of  fine  physique.  Vir- 
ginia was  the  early  home  of  the  family  in 
this  country,  but  they  were  originally  from 
Scotland,  and  the  name  was  formerly  spelled 
Lachlan.  The  Professor's  paternal  grand- 
father, David  Lackland,  was  born  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  Natural  Bridge,  Virginia, 
and  on  coming  west  stopped  for  a  short 
time  in  Tennessee,  but  in  1831  took  up  his 
residence  in  Tazewell  county,  Illinois,  where 
as  a  pioneer  farmer  he  endured  many  hard- 
ships and  privations.  In  religious  faith  he 
was  a  Baptist. 

Colonel  William  R.  Lackland,  the  Pro- 
fessor's father,  was  born  in  1830,  during  the 
temporary  residence  of  the  family  in  Tenn- 
essee, but  was  reared  in  Tremont  township, 
Tazewell  county,  Illinois,  where  on  reach- 
ing man's  estate  he  engaged  in  farming  on 
his  own  account.  During  the  civil  war,  he 
raised  and  organized  a  company  which  was 
assigned  to  the  One  Hundred  and  Eighth 
Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  entered  the 
service  as  captain,  but  was  later  promoted 
to  major  and  afterward  to  lieutenant  colonel. 
He  participated  in  the  siege  of  Vicksburg, 
and  with  his  command  marched  into  that 
city  July  4,  1863.      He  received  most  hon- 


orable mention  from  General  A.  J.  Smith 
in  his  report  to  the  secretary  of  war  for 
leading  the  charge  on  Spanish  Fort,  where 
he  rode  at  the  head  of  his  men.  He  was 
one  of  the  strongest  men  in  his  command 
and  was  a  member  of  General  Smith's  staff. 
At  the  expiration  of  his  three  years'  term  of 
enlistment  he  returned  to  his  wife  and  six 
children,  and  resumed  farming  in  Tremont 
township,  where  he  owned  four  hundred 
and  fifty  acres  of  valuable  land,  which  he 
most  successfully  operated  until  his  death 
in  1874.  Politically  he  was  an  ardent  Re- 
publican, but  never  an  aspirant  for  office. 
In  1848  he  married  Miss  Cordelia  C.  War- 
ner, who  was  born  near  Syracuse,  New 
York,  and  when  young  was  brought  by  her 
father,  Hiram  Warner,  to  Tazewell  county, 
Illinois,  where  she  still  resides.  Of  the  nine 
children  born  to  this  union,  all  are  still  liv- 
ing with  the  exception  of  one.  The  mother 
is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  to  which  the  father  also  belonged. 
As  a  Sunday  school  superintendent,  he  took 
an  active  part  in  church  work  and  helped  to 
organize  many  mission  schoolsthroughout  his 
county.  The  Grand  Army  Post  at  Morton, 
Illinois,  has  been  named  in  his  honor.  He 
was  a  man  of  strong  intellectual  power, 
took  a  prominent  part  in  the  affairs  of  Tre- 
mont township. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  is  a  great- 
granddaughter  of  General  Warner  of  Revo- 
lutionary fame,  and  a  cousin  of  the  well- 
known  H.  H.  Warner,  of  Syracuse,  New 
York.  The  home  of  the  family  was  near 
that  city,  at  a  place  now  known  as  Warners. 

Professor  Lackland  began  his  education 
in  the  public  schools  near  his  boyhood 
home,  and  later  attended  the  high  school  at 
Tremont,  after  which  he  engaged  in  teach- 
ing   for    a    time  in   his  native  county.      In 


494 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


September,  1872,  he  entered  the  Illinois 
Wesleyan  University,  where  he  pursued  his 
studies  uninterruptedly  for  three  years.  The 
following  year,  however,  he  remained  at 
home,  as  he  had  been  appointed  adminis- 
trator of  his  father's  estate,  which  was  quite 
large,  and  his  father  had  instructed  him  how 
to  proceed.  He  successfully  settled  this 
business  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  all 
concerned.  In  the  fall  of  1876  he  returned 
to  the  university,  where  he  was  graduated 
in  June,  1878.  He  was  president  of  his 
class  and  with  the  exception  of  one  term  of 
school,  always  occupied  the  first  place  in 
mathematics.  In  September,  1879,  he 
entered  Drew  Theological  Seminary,  Madi- 
son, New  Jersey,  where  he  was  a  student 
for  one  year,  and  then  entered  the  Garrett 
Biblical  Institute,  Evanston,  Illinois,  where 
he  was  graduated  in  May,  1882.  During 
his  last  year  at  that  place,  he  preached  at 
Sibley,  Illinois,  where  he  started  with  a 
church  of  nine  members  and  at  the  end  of 
two  years  left  it  with  a  membership  of 
eighty-three,  having  met  with  most  remark- 
able success  in  his  first  pastoral  work.  In 
1 88 1,  he  was  granted  the  degree  of  A.  M. 
by  Illinois  Wesleyan  University. 

After  leaving  the  Biblical  Institute,  Pro- 
fessor Lackland  was  admitted  to  the  Central 
Illinois  Conference,  where  he  had  to  pass 
his  full  four  years  of  study  and  examination, 
the  same  as  though  he  had  not  prepared  in 
college.  He  had  charge  of  the  congrega- 
tion at  Selma  for  three  years,  and  also  met 
with  excellent  success  there.  He  not  only 
paid  off  a  church  debt  of  twelve  years  stand- 
ing, but  gave  the  people  good,  careful  re- 
ligious teaching,  so  that  in  a  few  weeks  his 
successor  in  a  revival  had  over  two  hundred 
conversions.  A  petition  was  then  sent  in  to 
the  conference  to  have  him  made  principal 


of  the  public  schools  of  Roanoke  and  also 
as  pastor  of  the  Methodist  church  there, 
where  he  remained  two  years,  teaching 
school  five  days  out  of  the  week  and  preach- 
ing twice  on  Sunday.  The  presiding  elder 
then  persuaded  him  to  change  and  give  his 
time  to  teaching.  By  his  advice  he  went  to 
Johns  Hopkins  University,  Baltimore,  Mary- 
land, spending  his  time  there  in  the  special 
study  of  mathematics.  At  the  close  of  the 
year  he  was  elected  professor  of  mathe- 
matics at  Chaddock  College,  Quincy,  Illi- 
nois, and  a  year  later  when  the  president 
resigned  he  was  made  acting  president. 
The  following  year  he  was  made  president 
of  the  college,  and  during  the  two  years  he 
served  in  that  capacity  that  institution  had 
the  largest  enrollment  it  has  ever  had,  either 
before  or  since.  Professor  Lackland  was 
then  offered  his  present  position  at  the  Illi- 
nois Wesleyan  University,  Bloomington, 
but  the  college  at  Quincy,  wishing  to  retain 
him,  offered  him  a  handsome  increase  in 
salary  and  the  degree  of  D.  D.  He,  how- 
ever, accepted  the  chair  of  mathematics 
and  astronomy  at  the  Wesleyan  University, 
which  he  has  now  so  creditably  and  accept- 
ably filled  for  the  past  seven  years.  Dur- 
ing this  time  a  good  observatory  has  been 
added  to  the  college  equipment  and  a  tele- 
scope placed  in  it, — the  gift  of  A.  C.  Behr, 
of  Chicago,  a  personal  friend  of  our  subject. 
This  has  enabled  him  to  give  extra  work  to 
that  line  of  study,  and  he  now  has  the 
largest  class  in  astronomy  ever  in  the 
college. 

Besides  his  duties  in  the  university,  Pro- 
fessor Lackland  has  lectured  or  preached  in 
nearly  every  town  within  a  radius  of  fifty 
miles  of  Bloomington,  filling  the  pulpits  not 
only  in  the  church  of  his  own  denomination 
but  also  in  Baptist,  Presbyterian   and  Con- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


495 


gregational  churches.  One  of  his  most 
popular  lectures  and  one  that  he  has  been 
called  upon  to  deliver  many  times  in  lecture 
courses  is  that  entitled  "The  Boy."  He 
has  always  taken  an  active  interest  in  the 
college  Young  Men's  Christian  Association 
work,  is  a  well  known  Sunday  school 
teacher,  and  is  now  temporarily  filling  the 
pulpits  of  the  Methodist  churches  at  Chats- 
worth  and  Weston.  Socially  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  College  Alumni  Club,  the  leading 
literary  club  of  the  city. 

On  the  I2th  of  July,  1882,  Professor 
Lackland  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Edith  P.  Tryner,  of  Bloomington,  who  at- 
tended the  high  school  with  him  in  Tre- 
mont,  and  is  a  daughter  of  George  F.  Try- 
ner, a  well  known  citizen  of  Bloomington. 
They  now  have  three  children:  William 
Tryner,  Marguerite  Warner  and  Harold  W. 
The  family  have  a  pleasant  home  at  No. 
912  North  Madison  street,  where  they  have 
resided  for  seven  years. 


GEORGE  E.  MARKER  is  one  of  the 
self-made  men  and  honored  citizens  of 
Heyworth,  who  through  his  own  unaided 
efforts  has  secured  a  handsome  competence. 
For  many  years  he  was  actively  identified 
with  the  agricultural  and  industrial  interests 
of  the  county,  but  is  now  living  retired 
surrounded  by  all  the  comforts  and  many 
of  the  luxuries  of  life,  which  have  been  se- 
cured through  his  untiring  labor  and  good 
business  ability.  Since  coming  to  Hey- 
worth he  has  invested  largely  in  real  estate, 
and  has  distinguished  himself  as  a  liberal 
and  public-spirited  citizen,  willing  to  aid 
any  enterprise  for  the  public  good. 

A  native   of  Virginia,    Mr.    Marker  was 
born    in    Frederick    county,    February    17, 


1822,  and  comes  of  good  old  Revolutionary 
stock,  his  grandfather.  Squire  Marker,  also 
a  native  of  Frederick  county,  Virginia,  hav- 
ing assisted  the  Colonies  in  throwing  off  the 
yoke  of  British  oppression  as  a  soldier  of 
the  Continental  army.  The  family  is  of 
German  origin  and  was  early  established  in 
Frederick  county.  George  Marker,  the  fa- 
ther of  our  subject,  was  born  in  the  Shen- 
andoah Valley,  about  1793,  and  through- 
out his  active  business  career  followed  the 
blacksmith's  trade  in  Frederick  county, 
where  he  also  owned  and  operated  a  farm 
for  a  time.  Later  he  was  overseer  of  a 
plantation  for  about  fifteen  years,  but  spent 
his  last  days  in  retirement  at  Middletown, 
Virginia,  where  he  died  in  1861.  His  wife, 
who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Margaret 
Stroasnider,  was  also  a  native  of  the  Old 
Dominion  and  of  German  ancestry.  She 
survived  him  for  some  time  and  died  at  the 
ripe  old  age  of  eighty-four.  To  them  were 
born  thirteen  children,  seven  sons  and  six 
daughters,  all  of  whom  grew  to  mature 
years  and  became  heads  of  families,  and 
four  sons  and  four  daughters  are  still  living. 
In  the  county  of  his  nativity,  George  E. 
Marker,  of  this  review,  was  reared  upon  a 
farm,  and  during  his  youth  he  assisted  in  its 
operation  and  in  the  work  of  his  father's 
blacksmith  shop.  There  he  was  married 
March  21,  1843,  to  Miss  Sarah  Ann  Gour- 
ley,  a  native  of  Clarke  county,  Virginia,  and 
then  removed  to  Hampshire  county,  that 
state,  where  he  operated  the  North  river 
grist  and  saw  mills  for  several  years,  owning 
the  same  for  about  twelve  years.  Selling 
his  interests  there  in  1857,  he  came  to  Mc- 
Lean county,  Illinois,  and  first  located  at 
Dimond  Grove,  but  the  following  spring  re- 
moved to  Lytleville,  where  he  worked  by 
the  day  in  a  mill  for  several  years,  and  then 


496 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


purchased  the  plant,  which  he  operated  as 
a  grist  and  saw  mill  until  1890.  During 
that  time  he  bought  several  tracts  of  timber 
land,  from  which  he  cut  the  trees  and  con- 
verted the  same  into  lumber.  He  also 
opened  up  a  good  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
seventy  acres,  which  he  still  owns.  He 
cleared  over  two  hundred  acres  of  land,  and 
in  this  way  bore  an  active  part  in  the  devel- 
opment and  upbuilding  of  the  county. 

In  1880,  Mr.  Marker  rented  his  property 
here  and  removed  to  Wellington,  Sumner 
county,  Kansas,  for  the  benefit  of  his  wife's 
health.  During  the  winter  spent  at  that 
place,  he  bought  lots  and  erected  two  houses 
thereon,  which  he  sold  the  following  spring 
on  his  return  to  McLean  county.  He  lo- 
cated in  Bloomington,  where  his  wife  died 
in  1885.  To  them  were  born  eight  chil- 
dren, of  whom  two  are  now  deceased. 
Those  living  are  Frances,  now  the  wife  of 
Henry  Smith,  of  Bloomington;  William,  a 
resident  of  Lytleville,  who  operates  the  old 
mill  and  farm  at  that  place;  Matilda,  wife 
of  Robert  Orr,  of  Bloomington;  James,  a 
resident  of  the  same  city;  Lucy,  wife  of 
Orin  Myers,  a  farmer  of  McLean  county; 
and  Mrs.  Addie  Urich,  of  Heyworth.  In 
1885,  soon  after  his  wife's  death,  Mr.  Marker 
took  up  his  residence  in  Heyworth,  where  he 
has  since  made  his  home.  Here  he  pur- 
chased several  lots,  erected  three  residences 
and  bought  three  more,  all  of  which  he  still 
owns. 

At  Normal,  Illinois,  Mr.  Marker  was 
again  married,  February  14,  1888,  his  sec- 
ond union  being  with  Miss  Nannie  Bentley, 
a  native  of  Culpeper  county,  Virginia,  and 
a  daughter  of  Jerome  and  Hannah  (Grant) 
Bentley,  the  former  born  in  Washington, 
District  of  Columbia,  the  latter  in  Virginia. 
The  father  was  reared  in  the  Old  Dominion, 


and  at  an  early  day  removed  to  Hannibal, 
Missouri,  where  he  lived  for  a  number  of 
years,  but  spent  his  last  days  in  Illinois, 
dying  in  McLean  county,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-four  years.  He  was  an  active,  bright 
and  intelligent  man  up  to  the  time  of  his 
death  and  was  a  faithful  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

Since  casting  his  first  presidential  vote 
for  James  K.  Polk,  Mr.  Marker  has  been  a 
stanch  supporter  of  the  principles  of  the 
Democratic  party  as  advocated  by  Jackson, 
and  has  never  failed  to  vote  for  all  of  its 
presidential  candidates  since  that  time. 
He  has  never  sought  office,  but  for  three 
years  most  acceptably  served  as  road  com- 
missioner in  his  township,  and  his  duties  of 
citizenship  have  always  been  most  faithfully 
performed.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  years 
he  united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  now  active 
members  of  the  church  in  Heyworth,  of 
which  he  is  a  trustee.  A  man  of  good  busi- 
ness ability  and  exemplary  habits,  his  up- 
right character  and  sterling  worth  have 
commended  him  to  the  confidence  and  high 
regard  of  all  with  whom  he  has  come  in 
contact,  and  his  friends  throughout  McLean 
county  are  many. 


JESSE  PLATT,  whose  home  is  on  section 
I,  Hudson  township,  is  recognized  as 
one  of  the  most  thorough  and  skillful  agri- 
culturists of  his  community,  who,  in  con- 
nection with  general  farming  has  given  con- 
siderable attention  to  stock  raising.  He  is 
pursuing  the  even  tenor  of  his  way  as  an 
honest  man  and  good  citizen,  furthering  the 
good  of  his  township  as  he  has  opportunity 
and  enjoying  the  respect  of  his  neighbors 
and  friends. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


497 


A  native  of  Illinois,  Mr.  Piatt  was  born 
January  13,  1830,  on  the  present  site  of  Ur- 
bana,  Champaign  county,  and  is  a  son  of 
Hezekiah  and  Elizabeth  (Hogens)  Piatt. 
The  father  was  born  in  Hunterdon  countv, 
New  Jersey,  July  24,  1802,  and  from  there 
removed  in  early  life  to  Licking  county, 
Ohio,  where  his  marriage  was  celebrated. 
In  1 829  he  came  to  Illinois,  and  after  a  short 
stay  in  Champaign  county,  took  up  his  resi- 
dence in  what  is  now  Hudson  township,  Mc- 
Lean county,  during  the  infancy  of  our  sub- 
ject. Later  he  took  up  land  in  Towanda 
township  and  afterward  in  Money  Creek 
township,  where  he  continued  to  make  his 
home  until  1849,  when  he  disposed  of  his 
property  in  this  county  and  removed  to 
Woodford  county,  Illinois.  In  1854,  he 
sold  his  farm  there  and  went  to  Fayette 
county,  Iowa,  where  he  entered  a  half-sec- 
tion of  land,  on  which  he  lived  until  called 
from  this  life,  July  4,  1875.  His  wife  had 
died  May  4,  1859.  The  paternal  grandfa- 
ther of  our  subject,  Abel. Piatt,  died  in  Ohio. 

Jesse  Piatt  is  one  of  a  family  of  eight 
children,  six  sons  and  two  daughters,  who 
reached  years  of  maturity  and  all  are  now 
living,  with  the  exception  of  one.  In  order 
of  birth  they  are  as  follows:  Abel,  a  resi- 
dent of  Gibson  City,  Illinois;  Jesse,  our  sub- 
ject; Josiah,  of  Fayette  county,  Iowa; 
Amelia,  who  died  in  childhood;  John,  who 
was  a  soldier  in  the  regular  army  and  was 
killed  by  the  Indians  in  Minnesota,  July  2, 
1863;  Milton,  who  was  in  northwestern 
Kansas  when  last  heard  from;  Enoch,  a  resi- 
dent of  Sumner  county,  Kansas;  Rebecca, 
wife  of  Charles  Shippej',  of  Bremer  county, 
Iowa;  Phcebe,  who  died  in  childhood;  Ens- 
ley,  a  resident  of  Wellington,  Kansas;  and 
Adaline,  wife  of  James  Badger,  of  Marshall 
pounty,  Illinois. 


Coming  to  McLean  during  his  infancy, 
Jesse  Piatt  spent  the  first  nineteen  years  of 
his  life  here,  and  then  accompanied  his 
parents  on  their  removal  to  Woodford  coun- 
ty. Having  to  assist  his  father  in  the  oper- 
ation of  the  farm,  he  received  only  a  very 
meagre  education  during  his  youth,  most  of 
which  was  obtained  outside  of  the  school- 
room. On  attaining  his  majority  he  re- 
turned to  this  county,  where  he  first  engaged 
in  farm  labor  by  the  day  and  month,  and 
finally  rented  land  for  several  years. 

On  the  1 8th  of  July,  i860,  Mr.  Piatt 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Jane  Hin- 
thorn,  who  was  born  in  Licking  county, 
Ohio,  December  3,  1832,  and  is  one  of  a 
family  of  twelve  children,  five  of  whom 
reached  man  and  womanhood.  In  1836 
she  was  brought  to  McLean  county,  Illinois, 
by  her  parents,  Isaac  and  Margaret  (Moats) 
Hinthorn,  and  the  farm  now  occupied  by 
Mr.  Piatt  is  a  part  of  the  original  tract  pur- 
chased by  her  father.  Politically,  he  was  a 
stanch  Democrat,  and,  religiously,  a  faith- 
ful member  of  the  Christian  church.  He 
died  here  December  15,  1848,  his  wife  Jan- 
uary 15,  1869.  Their  children  who  reached 
years  of  maturity,  were  Margaret,  who  died 
in  Ohio;  James,  who  died  in  early  manhood, 
unmarried;  Rebecca,  wife  of  Elijah  Priest, 
of  Hudson  township;  Elizabeth,  wife  of 
Martin  McCord,  of  Gridley  township;  and 
Mrs.  Piatt,  who  is  the  youngest  and  only 
survivor  of  the  family.  Five  children  were 
born  to  our  subject  and  wife,  namely:  Eliz- 
abeth E.,  at  home;  James  I.,  who  married 
Etta,  daughter  of  Stephen  Huston,  and  is 
engaged  in  farming  in  Hudson  township; 
William  E.,  who  operates  the  home  farm; 
Margaret  F.,  at  home;  and  George  E.,  who 
died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Piatt  l^egan  their  riiarried 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


life  upon  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  on  section  i,  Hudson  township,  where 
she  had  made  her  home  since  six  years  old. 
To  this  he  has  added  from  time  to  time,  as 
his  financial  resources  have  permitted,  until 
he  now  has  three  hundred  and  thirty-five 
acres  of  valuable  land,  a  part  of  which  is  on 
sections  i  and  12,  Hudson  township,  and 
the  remainder  on  section  6,  Money  Creek 
township.  He  has  met  with  excellent  suc- 
cess in  his  farming  operations,  and  for  the 
past  eight  years  has  given  special  attention 
to  the  breeding  of  red-polled  cattle. 

At  national  and  state  elections  Mr.  Piatt 
supports  the  men  and  measures  of  the 
Democratic  party,  but  at  local  elections, 
where  no  issue  is  involved,  votes  independ- 
ent of  party  ties  for  the  man  whom  he 
believes  best  qualified  to  fill  the  office. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  are  consistent  mem- 
bers of  the  Christian  church,  and  are  held 
in  high  regard  by  all  who  have  the  pleasure 
of  their  acquaintance  on  account  of  their 
exemplary  lives  and  character.  For  twenty- 
seven  long  years  Mr.  Piatt  has  served  as 
school  director  in  his  district,  and  filled  the 
office  of  county  commissioner  for  two  terms. 


GORDON  HALL  READ  and  ANNAH 
CLIFFORD  READ.  The  city  of 
Bloomington  has  numbered  among  its  citi- 
zens many  noted  persons,  some  of  whom 
have  made  for  themselves  national  reputa- 
tions and  have  been  men  of  influence  in 
governmental  affairs,  their  names  becoming 
household  words.  While  a  number  have 
been  more  widely  known,  there  has  proba- 
bly never  been  a  better  man  living  within 
its  borders  than  the  one  whose  name  heads 
this  sketch.  This,  without  doubt,  is  the 
verdict  of  the  people  generally. 


The  Read  families  trace  their  ancestry 
back  to  an  early  date  in  the  history  of  this 
country.  George  W.  Read,  the  father  of 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  the  grand- 
son of  Major  Reuben  Read,  of  Warren, 
Massachusetts,  one  of  the  "minute  men" 
in  Revolutionary  days.  Responding  to  the 
"  midnight  messenger,"  he  started  for  Bos- 
ton, April  20,  1775,  as  captam  of  a  com- 
pany of  forty-three  men.  The  historian 
says:  "  He  was  a  prominent  man  and  pos- 
sessed of  a  strong  character."  Reuben 
Read  was  the  son  of  Nathaniel  Read,  who 
settled  in  Warren,  Massachusetts.  His  fa- 
ther, Thomas  Read,  born  in  1678,  came 
from  England  and  settled  in  Sudbury,  Mas- 
sachusetts. The  family  line  is  the  same  as 
that  of  Thomas  B.  Reed,  of  Maine,  although 
he  spells  the  name  differently.  It  is  said 
the  different  spelling  came  about  by  some 
one  of  the  family  having  a  business  stamp 
made,  in  which  the  maker  of  the  stamp  in- 
advertently substituted  an  "e"  for  an  "a," 
and  the  one  for  whom  the  stamp  was  made 
using  it,  the  family  with  whom  he  was  con- 
nected adopted  that  spelling,  which  con- 
tinues to  this  day. 

Gordon  Hall  Read  was  a  native  of 
Massachusetts,  and  was  born  in  Warren, 
August  18,  1830.  He  always  had  a  warm 
attachment  for  his  boyhood  home,  and 
never  tired  of  relating  incidents  connected 
with  the  old  farm  life  among  the  Massa- 
chusetts hills.  The  trees  and  brooks  and 
shady  nooks — in  fact  everything  in  its  nat- 
ural scenery,  twined  itself  about  his  heart. 
It  was  here  the  father,  a  younger  brother 
and  sister  older  than  himself,  had  died.  It 
was  an  unpretentious  home,  and  one  bereft 
of  a  father's  care  September  27,  1840, 
when  Gordon  was  but  ten  years  of  age; 
but  it  was  a  home  where  love   dwelt,  and 


G.  H.   READ. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


501 


where  the  three  brothers  took  upon  them- 
selves the  burdens  which  fell  naturally 
to  them  by  their  father's  death.  Those 
w*re  days  of  heroic  self-denial  and  un- 
selfish devotion  to  home  interests,  with  a 
boyish  pride  and  satisfaction  in  the  thought 
that  the  little  farm  compared  favorably  in 
its  care  with  its  neighbors.  The  mother 
sought  to  lighten  the  burden  of  her  boys, 
while  they  with  true  filial  devotion  that  was 
ever  present  with  them  to  her  latest  years, 
were  thoughtful  of  her.  Later,  this  old 
country  home  in  South  Brookfield,  Massa- 
chusetts, was  sold,  and  the  family  moved 
to  the  village  of  Warren,  for  the  better 
school  privileges  which  the  academy  there 
afforded.  The  good  mother  survived  her 
husband  many  years,  departing  this  life 
February  2,  1892. 

The  early  life  of  Gordon  H.  Read  was 
spent  in  his  native  state.  Farm  life, 
school  life  in  Warren  Academy,  learning  the 
machinist's  trade,  work  at  Windsor  Locks 
and  East  Berlin,  Connecticut,  with  the 
frugal  savings  of  a  few  hundred  dollars, 
were  followed  by  a  trip  to  the  World's 
Fair,  with  its  crjstal  palace,  at  New  York, 
and  later  to  the  great  west,  when  the 
region  of  St.  Paul  and  Minneapolis  was  a 
wilderness;  from  thence  by  boat  to  St. 
Louis,  and  finally  a  selection  of  Moline, 
Illinois,  as  a  place  in  which  to  locate. 
Here  his  mother  and  brother  Lucius'  family 
joined  him.  Two  years  later,  in  1859,  they 
removed  to  Bloomington,  where  he  opened 
a  stove  and  hardware  store  on  Main  street, 
renting  the  building  on  the  sight  where,  in 
1 87 1,  the  present  store  was  built. 

Mr.  Read  was  attracted  to  Bloomington 
because  of  the  location  of  his  brother 
Charles  there,  who  was  in  the  employ  of 
the  firm  of   George  Bradner  &  Company. 


Mr.  Charles  E.  Read  was  associated  with  his 
brother  Gordon  in  his  new  business  ven- 
ture, and  in  1869,  ten  years  later,  a  part- 
nership was  formed,  the  new  firm  taking  the 
name  of  G.  H.  Read  &  Brother. 

After  Mr.  Gordon  Read's  death  his  own- 
ership in  the  firm  came  into  the  possession 
of  Mrs.  Read  and  son,  and  later  Mr.  Lucius 
Read's  son,  George  Burt,  was  admitted  into 
the  firm.  Mr.  Charles  Read  continued  a 
member  until  his  death,  February  21,  1898. 

The  business  still  continues  at  the  old 
stand  under  the  name  of  "  G.  H.  Read  & 
Brother,"  so  long  and  well  known,  the 
members  being  Mrs.  G.  H.  Read,  Harry  C. 
Read  and  George  Burt  Read. 

In  speaking  of  this  association  of  the 
brothers  in  business,  Mrs.  Read  says:  "  I  do 
not  think  that  in  all  the  years  of  business 
life  that  followed,  there  was  ever  a  hasty  or 
unkind  word  between  these  brothers.  Lucius 
was  also  in  the  store  for  several  years,  and 
the  old  companionship  of  these  brothers, 
three,  lost  no  interest  by  the  added  years." 

In  January,  1S63,  Mr.  Read  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Annah  Clifford,  a 
native  of  Loudon,  New  Hampshire,  and 
daughter  of  Jane  M.  and  Joseph  E.  Clifford. 
Her  mother  was  for  several  years  a  success- 
full  teacher.  The  Martin  and  Clifford 
families  were  both  of  old  New  England  stock. 
It  may  here  be  remarked  that  the  maternal 
grandfather  of  Mr.  Read,  Joseph  Hamilton, 
was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  Two 
children  came  to  bless  the  union  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Read.  One  son,  Clarence  Gordon 
grew  to  manhood,  but  was  called  to  the 
upper  and  better  world  February  28,  1890. 

Of  Mrs.  Read,  Mrs.  Amelia  E.  Sanford 
thus  speaks  editorially,  in  the  Illinois 
W.  C.  T.  U.  Watch-Tower:  "  Woven  into 
Illinois    white    ribbon    history,     a    shining 


502 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


thread  of  unclouded  brightness,  widely 
known  in  temperance  circles  in  state 
and  nation,  loved  and  trusted  wherever 
her  influence  has  reached,  she  stands  forth 
a  conspicuous  example  of  sterling  worth 
most  highly  honored  where  most  inti- 
mately known.  Annah  Clifford's  life  be- 
gan amid  the  inspiring  scenes  of  the  old 
Granite  state,  and  here  was  developed  the 
unswerving  adherence  to  principle  and  the 
heroic  devotion  to  duty  which  are  strong 
points  in  her  character.  Under  the  careful 
training  of  Christian  parents  she  early  ac- 
cepted Christ  as  the  rule  and  pattern  of  her 
life,  and  from  childhood  has  been  his  loyal 
follower.  Taking  great  delight  in  study, 
she  easily  acquired  rare  excellence  as  a 
student,  and  success  is  written  upon  all  the 
pages  of  her  school  life.  Teaching  was  her 
chosen  field  of  labor.  She  began  this  work 
in  her  native  state,  and,  coming  to  Illinois 
in  the  spring  of  i860,  she  followed  her 
avocation  in  McLean  county.  Gordon  H. 
Read  had  made  his  home  in  Bloomington  a 
few  years  before.  It  is  not  strange  that  the 
two  whom  we  know  as  one  in  thought  and 
purpose  should  meet,  that  they  should  con- 
sent to  wear  one  name  and  share  one  home 
and  that  their  life  paths  should  blend. 
This  was  an  ideal  marriage  and  theirs  a 
happy  home.  Out  of  it  flowed  cheerful  and 
refining  influences  and  such  an  uplift  of  hope 
and  faith  as  led  many  to  bear  life's  burdens 
more  bravely. " 

Mrs.  Read  has  been  connected  with  W. 
C.  T.  U.  work  since  the  first  local  union 
was  organized  in  Bloomington,  March  16, 
1874,  called  at  first  Woman's  Temperance 
League,  from  which  society  went  out  the 
call  for  the  first  Illinois  W.  C.  T.  U. 
convention,  which  met  in  the  old  First 
Methodist    Episcopal    phurch,    where    tjie 


state  organization  was  formed.  Mrs.  Read 
had  neglected  to  ask  the  janitor  to  ring  the 
bell  at  the  hour  for  assembling,  and  per- 
formed that  task  herself  for  the  first  and 
last  time.  From  the  crusade  days  to'the 
present,  she  has  been  very  active  in  the 
work  and  has  now  a  national  reputation  as 
a  worker  in  that  cause.  From  the  day  of 
the  organization  of  the  Illinois  W.  C.  T. 
U.,  Miss  Frances  E.  Willard  and  Mrs.  Read 
were  warm  friends.  Miss  Willard  being 
often  in  the  Read  home,  was  always  gladly 
welcomed  and  greatly  beloved  by  every 
member  of  the  family,  as  was  her  faithful 
secretary,  Anna  Gordon.  Miss  Willard 
named  the  guest  chamber  in  the  Read 
home — "Peace."  For  many  years  Mrs. 
Read  was  president  of  the  local  union,  and 
at  the  time  of  the  "  crusade  "  in  Blooming- 
ton, did  effective  work  in  helping  carry  the 
city  for  prohibition.  The  city  council  hav- 
ing promised  to  abide  by  the  decision  of  the 
people  in  relation  to  the  prohibition  of  the 
liquor  traffic,  with  many  others,  Mrs.  Read 
worked  hard  to  secure  a  majority  for  no 
license,  and  was  rejoiced  when  the  result 
was  announced  that  there  was  a  majority 
of  one  hundred  and  fifty-nine  against  license. 
To  the  shame  of  the  city  council  it  did  not 
live  up  to  its  promise.  For  five  years,  Mrs. 
Read  was  state  treasurer  of  the  W.  C.  T. 
U.,  and  for  thirteen  years  was  superin- 
tendent of  its  press  department.  For  sev- 
eral years  she  was  state  reporter  for  the 
Union  Signal,  the  organ  of  the  National  and 
World's  W.  C.  T.  U.,  and  also  edited  a 
column  in  a  local  prohibition  paper.  She 
is  an  active  worker  in  the  Second  Presby- 
terian church,  of  which  she  has  been  a 
member  for  many  years,  serving  as  the  first 
president  of  its  Woman's  Foreign  Mission- 
ary society.      In    the    Sunday-school    work 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


503 


she  has  been  no  less  active,  and  for  many 
years  has  been  an  earnest  teacher.  A 
young  lady  attending  the  Normal  University 
is  now  a  member  of  her  Bible-class  whose 
father  was  a  member  of  her  Sunday-school 
class  before  he  was  married,  nearly  a  quarter 
of  a  century  ago.  The  Christian  Endeavor 
movement  has  also  found  in  her  a  warm 
friend.  Mrs.  Read  was  the  first  president 
of  the  Star  Temperance  Union,  a  temper- 
ance society  connected  with  the  Sunday- 
schools  of  Bloomington.  She  served  as 
superintendent  of  the  Band  of  Hope. 

At  present,  she  is  local  superintendent 
of  the  press  department  of  the  Central  W. 
C.  T.  U.  She  was  appointed  on  the 
"  printing  committee,"  at  the  organization 
of  W.  C.  T.  U.  work  here  twenty-five  years 
ago  and  has  never  been  released  from  that 
service.  She  is  also  connected  with  the 
"Evangelistic,"  and  "Parlor  Meetings" 
department,  locally,  and  is  district  superin- 
tendent of  the  "Red  Letter  Day  Observ- 
ance" department  and   "  Parlor  Meetings." 

Mrs.  Read  is  interested  especially  in  be- 
half of  children  and  youth,  and  among  her 
latest  endeavors  is  an  appeal  to  the  city 
council  of  Bloomington  for  the  enactment 
of  a  "curfew  ordinance"  for  their  better 
protection. 

For  a  third  of  a  century  Gordon  H. 
Read  was  numbered  among  the  active  busi- 
ness men  of  Bloomington.  An  employer  of 
men  he  always  had  the  respect  and  good  will 
of  every  employe.  At  his  death  he  had  in  his 
employ  men  who  had  been  with  him  from 
ten  to  twenty-six  years.  He  treated  his 
men  with  the  utmost  consideration,  and 
was  interested  in  their  prosperity.  For 
some  years  he  was  in  ill-health,  and  pre- 
monitions of  what  proved  of  a  serious  na- 
ture had  come  to  him  occasionally,  but  his 


habit  of  quiet  endurance  tended  to  allay 
fears.  In  the  winter  of  1890  he  made  a 
hurried  trip  to  California,  called  there  by 
the  serious  illness  of  his  son,  Clarence,  and 
the  sad  experience  and  bereavement  that 
followed  were  a  great  strain  upon  him,  and 
a  long,  continuous  decline  was  hastened, 
although  he  attended  to  business  as  usual 
until  the  summer  of  1891,  when  he  went 
to  West  Baden  Springs,  Indiana,  and  re- 
turned to  his  home  with  great  hope  of  real 
improvement;  but  soon  a  new  complica- 
tion arose,  and  there  was  one  long  ear- 
nest effort  for  returning  health  amid  great 
suffering.  In  March,  1892,  accompanied 
by  his  ever  faithful  wife,  he  went  to  the 
Nichols  Memorial  Hospital,  at  Battle  Creek, 
Michigan,  where  he  had  treatment  under 
skillful  physicians  until  in  July  following, 
when,  by  the  physicians'  advice  he  went  to 
Massachusetts  for  a  trial  of  the  sea  air. 
Harry  was  summoned  to  join  them  there. 
After  a  stay  of  five  weeks,  and  feeling  that 
he  was  not  being  benefited,  they  returned 
to  their  home  in  Bloomington,  starting 
August  18,  the  anniversary  of  Mr.  Read's 
birth.  Three  weeks  he  lingered,  bearing 
his  suffering  in  an  uncomplaining  manner, 
feeling  that  his  time  on  earth  was  drawing 
to  a  close.  On  the  loth  of  September, 
1892,  his  spirit  was  released.  He  fell 
asleep.  Always  prepared  to  go  he  did  not 
dread  the  summons,  and  his  great  desire 
for  life  was  for  the  benefit  of  those  he 
loved,  and  as  he  said,  that  he  "might  do 
more  good  in  the  world." 

When  the  news  of  his  death  was  an- 
nounced expressions  of  sympathy  poured  in 
on  the  desolate  widow,  and  all  had  a  kind 
word  to  say  of  him  who  had  been  called  to 
his  reward.  Rev.  Dr.  Kane,  pastor  of  the 
Second  Presbyterian  church,  conducted  the 


S04 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


funeral  services,  being  assisted  by  Rev.  L. 
Taylor,  of  Wenona,  111.,  who  was  Mr. 
Read's  pastor  more  than  thirty  years  be- 
fore. In  the  course  of  his  remarks.  Rev. 
Taylor  said:  "  The  death  of  Mr.  Read  has 
touched  the  hearts  of  the  people  of  this 
city  as  but  few  deaths  could.  None  knew 
him  but  to  love,  admire  and  honor  him. 
There  are  elements  of  character  that  make 
a  man's  life  precious — the  love  and  prac- 
tice of  truth  and  righteousness  with  man, 
in  obedience  to  the  second  command;  sin- 
cere devotion  to  the  service  of  God,  mak- 
ing one's  religion  a  life  power,  omnipresent 
amid  life's  industries  and  in  the  marts  of 
business,  as  well  as  in  the  church,  during 
the  secular  days  of  the  week,  as  well  as  on 
the  Lord's  day,  these  were  the  elements  in 
the  character  of  Gordon  Read  that  made  his 
life  precious.  The  life  he  led  in  the  pres- 
ence of  his  workmen  will  make  for  peace 
and  righteousness.  Such  treatment  of  em- 
ployees, generally,  would  prevent  strikes 
and  solve  the  labor  problem.  Coupled 
with  a  quiet,  cheerful  and  loving  manner, 
was  a  courage  to  stand  by  his  convictions  of 
right  and  duty,  whoever  might  oppose.  He 
was  ever  ready  to  give  intelligent  reasons 
for  his  course  of  action.  His  strong,  un- 
swerving trust  in  God  wrought  itself  out  in 
the  support  of  moral  reforms  and  various 
religious  enterprises  of  the  day.  These  ele- 
ments of  character  adorned  his  youth. 
They  were  nourished  by  the  influence  of  a 
Christian  home  and  a  mother's  wise  instruc- 
tion. They  strengthened  in  maturing  age 
and  fitted  him  to  be  the  man  he  was.  He 
had  great  love  for  the  house  of  God,  and 
was  a  constant  attendant  upon  its  services, 
was  a  member  of  the  Sunday-school  from 
his  childhood  up.  Surely  such  a  life  is  pre- 
cious in  the  sight  of  God  and  man." 


When  a  boy,  Mr.  Read  was  very  timid 
and  often  wondered  at  the  self  assurance 
of  other  boys.  Temperance  principles  were 
instilled  in  him  from  childhood.  When 
quite  small,  he  belonged  to  a  children's 
temperance  society,  and  was  quite  proud  to 
march  in  its  processions.  The  teachings  of 
his  youth  never  forsook  him,  and  his  home 
was  always  the  headquarters  of  temperance 
men  and  women,  a  center  of  temperance 
influence  and  activity.  "Here .were  formed 
the  plans  for  the  organization  of  the  Illi- 
nois W.  T.  C.  U. ,  and  from  thence  sped 
forth  the  white-winged  messengers  that 
summoned  the  workers  to  council.  Here 
Washingtonians  and  Prohibitionists,  and  the 
cold  water  fraternity  of  every  name,  found 
comfort  and  help,  and  the  names  of  Gor- 
don H.  and  Annah  C.  Read  were  synonyms 
of  temperance  and  purity."  For  many 
years  Mr.  Read  was  treasurer  of  the  Wash- 
ingtonian  Club,  a  temperance  society  he 
helped  to  organize  in  the  interests  of  "  res- 
cue work."  He  was  one  of  its  most  ardent 
helpers. 

As  already  stated,  the  home  life  of  Gor- 
don H.  Read  and  wife  was  an  ideal  one. 
In  it  each  shone  at  his  or  her  best.  Love 
reigned  supreme.  On  one  occasion  a  visitor 
in  their  home  said  to  Mrs.  Read:  "  I  have 
been  trying  to  decide  which  of  you  has  to 
give  up  when  a  difference  of  opinion  oc- 
curs." She  answered,  "Neither  of  us." 
"  But,"  replied  the  visitor,  "  with  two  such 
positive  characters  one  has  to  yield."  To 
this  Mrs.  Read  responded,  "  I  am  not  con- 
scious of  yielding,  and  I  do  not  think  Gor- 
don is.  When  I  know  what  is  his  wish, 
that  is  what  I  want,  and  when  he  knows 
what  I  desire,  that  is  what  he  wishes. 
How  can  there  be  a  conflict  under  such  cir- 
cumstances ?  " 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


505 


In  politics,  Mr.  Read  was  a  Republican 
until  he  became  convinced  that  his  party 
would  not  espouse  the  principle  of  prohibi- 
tion of  the  liquor  trafBc,  for  which  he  had 
earnestly  worked,  and  from  thenceforth  he 
allied  himself  with  the  Prohibition  party,  as 
he  could  give  no  indorsement  to  a  "  license 
policy."  He  was  a  man  of  positive  convic- 
tions, but  there  was  a  vein  of  humor  in  his 
make-up  that  made  him  an  agreeable  com- 
panion. He  sometimes  referred  to  his  "  war 
record  "  for  the  amusement  of  his  friends, 
and  of  his  ' '  honorable  discharge  from  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,"  as  he  was 
among  those  who,  in  1862,  responded  to 
the  midnight  dispatch  from  Springfield  call- 
ing for  two  hundred  men  instantly  to  go  to 
Camp  Butler.  The  enlistment  was  for 
thirty  days,  and  a  little  after  daylight  they 
were  on  their  way.  When  the  imagined 
danger  from  the  rebel  prisoners  there  was 
past,  they  returned  on  furloughs  for  the  un- 
expired time,  and  afterward  were  dis- 
charged, hence  there  was  opportunity  for 
merriment,  in  after  years,  over  that  brief 
experience,  although  it  was  serious  business 
to  them,  when,  to  the  music  of  the  life  and 
drum,  many  of  the  leading  citizens  of 
Bloomington  kept  step  in  that  procession. 
Mr.  Read  was  always  averse  to  holding  any 
official  position,  but  consented  to  serve  as  a 
member  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Sec- 
ond Presbyterian  church  for  a  term  of  three 
years. 

From  his  boyhood  up  Mr.  Read  was  a 
great  reader,  and  his  knowledge  concerning 
the  affairs  of  the  world  was  general,  along 
every  line  of  thought  or  action,  but  he  rated 
himself  utterly  deficient  in  gifts  for  public 
speaking,  although  his  interest  and  earnest- 
ness led  him  to  take  part  occasionally  in 
temperance  or  social  meetings  by  prayer  or 


remarks.  His  life  work  is  now  over,  and 
while  in  the  eyes  of  the  world  it  may  not 
have  been  a  brilliant  one,  yet  everything 
done  was  for  the  betterment  of  mankind. 
The  poor  and  needy  always  had  in  him  a 
friend,  and  his  helping  hand  was  always  out- 
stretched. He  could  well  say  at  the  con- 
clusion of  life's  journey,  "  I  have  fought  a 
good  fight,  I  have  finished  my  course,  I  have 
kept  the  faith,  and  henceforth  there  is  laid 
up  for  me  a  crown  of  righteousness,  which 
the  Lord,  the  righteous  judge,  shall  give  me 
in  that  day."  "  Blessed  are  the  dead  which 
die  in  the  Lord,  from  henceforth;  yea,  saith 
the  Spirit,  that  they  may  rest  from  their 
labors  and  their  works  do  follow  them." 


DANIEL  McFARLAND.  This  gentle- 
man, who  spent  his  early  manhood  in 
active  business,  first  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits and  later  inmerchandising,  is  now  living 
retired  in  Bloomington,  havmg  a  good  home 
at  No.  1007  South  Madison  street.  A  man 
of  great  energy  and  more  than  ordinary 
business  capacity,  his  success  in  life  has 
been  largely  due  to  his  own  efforts  and  the 
sound  judgment  which  has  enabled  him  to 
make  wise  investments  and  take  good  ad- 
vantage of  his  resources. 

Mr.  McFarland  was  born  in  Providence, 
Rhode  Island,  November  30,  1823,  and  is  a 
son  of  Thomas  McFarland,  who  was  born 
near  Edinburg,  Scotland,  in  1800,  and 
came  alone  to  the  United  States  at  the  age 
of  fifteen  years,  his  parents  being  dead. 
He  located  at  Providence,  where  he  learned 
the  baker's  trade,  and  then  went  into  busi- 
ness in  that  line  for  himself.  There  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Martha  Cory, 
a  daughter  of  Bradford  Cory,  who  belonged 
to   a  prominent  old  New  England  family, 


so6 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


tracing  their  lineage  back  to  the  Landing  of 
the  Pilgrims  at  Plymouth  Rock.  They 
were  descendants  of  Governor  Bradford,  of 
Massachusetts.  Our  subject  is  one  of  a 
family  of  eight  children,  all  born  in  Provi- 
dence, where  the  father  continued  to  make 
his  home  until  1838,  when  he  sold  his  prop- 
erty there  and  came  to  McLean  county, 
Illinois,  settling  in  what  was  then  Mt.  Hope 
towftship,  but  is  now  McLean.  The  fam- 
ily went  from  Providence  to  Stonington, 
Connecticut,  by  railroad,  to  New  York  by 
canal  boat;  to  Philadelphia  by  railroad, 
and  to  Pittsburg  by  the  old  canal  through 
the  mountains.  On  their  arrival  in  Pitts- 
burg they  found  the  Ohio  river  very  low,  and 
the  father  and  a  friend  purchased  a  canal 
boat  with  the  intention  of  floating  down  the 
river,  but  owing  to  a  sudden  rise  in  that 
stream  they  boarded  a  steamer,  on  which 
they  would  travel  four  or  five  miles  in  the 
night,  while  they  explored  the  country 
along  the  bank  in  the  day  time.  It  was 
just  five  weeks  from  the  time  they  left  Prov- 
idence that  they  arrived  in  St.  Louis. 
Finding  the  Illinois  river  too  low  to  navi- 
gate, they  hired  a  stage  and  proceeded  on 
their  journey,  reaching  their  destination 
four  or  five  days  later.  The  prairies  were 
all  blackened  by  fire,  and  so  sparsely  was 
country  settled  at  that  time  that  only  five 
houses  could  be  seen  from  their  place.  The 
father  purchased  a  half-section  of  land  in 
Mt.  Hope  township,  and  in  those  early  days 
the  family  experienced  the  usual  hardships 
of  pioneer  life.  All  produce  raised  on  the 
farm  was  then  hauled  to  the  river.  To  the 
improvement  and  cultivation  of  his  land 
the  father  devoted  his  energies  for  many 
years  with  good  success,  making  a  fine 
home,  but  spent  the  last  two  years  of  his 
life  in  retirement  at  Atlanta,  where  he   died 


in  1869.  His  wife  had  passed  away  the 
year  previous.  Both  were  consistent  mem- 
bers of  the  Congregational  church,  in  which 
he  served  as  deacon,  and  he  affiliated  with 
the  Republican  party. 

Daniel  McFarland,  of  this  review,  re- 
ceived a  good  practical  education  in  the 
schools  of  Providence,  Rhode  Island, 
and  after  coming  to  this  state  assisted  his 
father  in  his  farming  operations  until  twen- 
ty-eight years  of  age.  In  1850  was  cele- 
brated his  marriage  with  Miss  Amanda 
Sweatland,  who  died  leaving  three  children, 
namely:  Howard,  a  resident  of  McLean, 
who  married  Flora  Kisey  and  has  three 
children;  Clara,  wife  of  George  W.  Church, 
who  lives  near  McLean  and  by  whom  she 
has  three  children;  and  Ella,  wife  of  Clark 
Snedeker,  now  of  Nebraska,  by  whom  she 
has  five  children.  On  the  first  of  January, 
1862,  Mr.  McFarland  was  again  married, 
his  second  union  being  with  Mrs.  Maria 
Briggs,  a  native  of  Taunton,  Massachusetts, 
and  a  daughter  of  Ansel  and  Louisa  (Wilber) 
Howard.  She  lost  her  mother  when  only 
four  years  old.  Her  father,  who  was  born 
in  Bridgewater,  Massachusetts,  June  24, 
1803,  was  a  machinist  by  trade  and  had  a 
car  shop  in  Taunton,  where  he  built  cars  for 
the  Taunton  &  New  Bedford  railroad.  At 
length  he  was  forced  to  retire  from  that 
business  on  account  of  blindness  and  made 
his  home  with  a  son  in  McLean,  Illinois. 
In  1852,  Mrs.  McFarland  removed  to  Mc- 
Lean with  her  first  husband,  Dr.  Briggs, 
who  was  killed  by  lightning  in  1857.  By 
that  union  she  had  two  children,  both  living. 
Those  living  are  Louisa,  wife  of  M.  Walt- 
man,  of  Glen  Elder,  Kansas,  by  whom  she 
has  seven  children;  and  Mary  Lizzie,  wife 
of  John  Florea,  who  lives  near  Republic 
City,  Nebraska,  and  by  whom  she  has  three 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


50; 


children.  By  his  second  marriage,  Mr.  Mc- 
Farland  has  two  sons:  Thomas,  a  resident 
of  McLean,  who  married  Nellie  Stones  and 
has  two  children;  and  Albert  C,  superin- 
tendent of  the  Corn  Belt  Printing  &  Station- 
ery Company  of  Bloomington. 

After  his  first  marriage,  Mr.  McFarland 
bought  a  part  of  his  father's  farm  in  Mt. 
Hope  township,  a  mile  and  a  half  from  Mc- 
Lean, where  he  continued  to  engage  in  gen- 
eral farming  until  1887,  making  somewhat 
of  a  specialty  of  small  fruit,  of  which  he 
had  a  large  variety  upon  his  place,  and  he 
was  the  only  one  in  his  locality  to  exten- 
sively engage  in  that  business.  After  he  be- 
came the  owner  of  the  entire  quarter-sec- 
tion of  land  taken  up  by  his  father  and  for 
a  few  years  he  served  as  assessor  of  his 
township,  but  was  never  an  aspirant  for  of- 
ficial honors.  After  selling  his  farm  he 
moved  to  McLean  and  embarked  in  the  gro- 
cery business,  which  he  successfully  carried 
on  for  ten  years.  On  disposing  of  his  store 
two  years  ago,  he  came  to  Bloomington  and 
purchased  his  present  home,  where  he  is 
now  living  retired,  enjoying  a  well-earned 
rest.  He  and  his  wife  still  hold  member- 
ship in  the  Congregational  church  of  Mc- 
Lean, where  she  always  took  an  active  part 
in  Sunday-school  work.  Those  who  know 
them  best  are  numbered  among  their  warm- 
est friends,  and  no  citizens  in  the  county 
are  more  honored  or  highly  esteemed. 


G  LEWIS  CASEY  is  one  of  the  most 
enterprising  merchants  of  Blooming- 
ton, and  although  a  young  man,  takes  pre- 
cedence of  many  whose  years  far  outnum- 
ber his  own,  having  gained  a  position  of 
marked  prestige  by  well  directed  effort,  un- 
abating   energy   and   a   laudable   ambition, 


guided  by  sound  judgment  and  discretion. 
His  course  has  ever  been  characterized  by 
just  regard  for  the  ethics  of  commercial 
life,  and  his  reputation  in  business  circles  is 
unassailable.  He  is  quick  of  apprehension, 
and  intricate  commercial  interests  he  com- 
prehends in  a  moment.  He  is  a  typical 
representative  of  the  progressive  spirit  of 
the  west,  and  by  the  utilization  of  the  op- 
portunities which  have  come  to  him  he  has 
attained  a  prominence  which  indicates  his 
merit  and  ability. 

Mr.  Casey  is  one  of  McLean  county's 
native  sons,  his  birth  having  occurred  in 
Chenoa,  January  29,  1868,  his  parents  be- 
ing Stephen  and  Sarah  G.  (Lyons)  Casey, 
both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Ohio  and 
came  to  Illinois  about  1864.  The  father 
engaged  in  contracting  and  building  through- 
out his  business  career.  He  learned  his 
trade  in  Ohio  when  seventeen  years  of  age, 
followed  it  in  the  Buckeye  state  until  his 
removal  to  Illinois,  and  was  identified  with 
the  building  interests  of  Chenoa  until  1880, 
when  he  removed  to  Bloomington.  Many 
buildings  of  the  latter  city  stand  as  monu- 
ments of  his  skill  and  handiwork,  and  he 
was  numbered  among  the  leading  contract- 
ors, employing  as  high  as  twenty-five  work- 
men. At  length  he  put  aside  business 
cares,  retiring  to  private  life.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Casey  and  a  sister  of  our  subject  were 
among  the  first  members  of  the  Christian 
Science  church  in  Bloomington,  and  have 
been  largely  instrumental  in  promoting  its 
growth  and  interests. 

In  the  public  schools  of  his  native  town 
G.  Lewis  Casey  began  his  education,  which 
was  continued  in  the  Bloomington  schools. 
He  obtained  a  good  practical  knowledge, 
and  then  entered  upon  his  business  career 
as  a  salesman  in  the  New  York  dry-goods 


5o8 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


store  in  Bloomington,  where  he  remained  a 
short  time.  He  then  went  to  Peoria  and 
clerked  for  two  different  firms  for  several 
years.  He  then  went  to  Shipper  &  Block. 
After  clerking  for  two  years  he  was  made 
floor-walker,  and  later  he  became  trimmer. 
At  length  he  resigned  the  latter  position, 
and  in  1896  established  his  present  business 
under  the  name  of  the  Blooming  Cash  Tea 
store,  of  which  he  is  now  sole  proprietor. 
He  located  first  at  No.  418  North  Main 
street,  but  as  soon  as  the  Hoblit  building 
was  completed  he  removed  to  the  new  block, 
being  the  first  tenant  at  the  large  new  store. 
No.  526  North  Main  street.  His  brother 
was  associated  with  him  in  business  for  a 
short  time,  but  in  January,  1899,  Mr.  Casey 
purchased  his  interest,  and  has  since  con- 
ducted the  business  alone.  He  carries  a 
large  and  complete  line  of  coffees,  teas  and 
spices,  and  has  one  of  the  leading  stores  of 
the  kind  in  central  Illinois.  He  has  built 
up  a  large  and  constantly  growing  trade, 
selling  five  thousand  pounds  of  coffee  per 
month,  while  his  sales  in  teas  and  spices  are 
proportionately  great.  His  patronage  has 
reached  such  dimensions  that  he  now  em- 
ploys a  number  of  men  in  the  store  and  has 
four  wagons  to  deliver  the  goods.  The 
commodities  which  he  handles  are  of  an  ex- 
cellent (juality,  his  prices  are  moderate,  and 
his  business  methods  strictly  honorable,  so 
that  he  has  built  up  a  very  large  trade,  and 
well  deserves  the  liberal  income  which  it 
brings  to  him. 

On  the  22d  of  November,  1892,  Mr. 
Casey  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Maude 
King,  a  daughter  of  J.  F.  King,  of  Peoria, 
one  of  the  best  known  contractors  of  that 
city  and  one  of  its  oldest  settlers.  Her 
grandfather,  Samuel  King,  went  to  that  city 
when  Indians  still  lived  in  the  nci;/hborhot)d. 


He  married  Josaina  McComsey,  who  was 
born  in  Hamilton  county,  Ohio,  near  Cin- 
cinnati, in  1806.  Her  people  were  well 
known  to  the  pioneers  of  southern  Ohio 
and  Kentucky,  and  the  little  daughter  was 
often  trotted  on  the  knee  of  Simon  Kenton, 
one  of  the  famous  pioneers  and  Indian 
fighters  of  the  latter  state.  She  afterwards 
removed  with  her  parents  to  Urbana,  Ohio, 
where  she  became  the  wife  of  Samuel  B. 
King,  and  with  him  went  to  Peoria  in  1831, 
when  that  town  contained  but  twelve  fami- 
lies. They  first  settled  at  what  was  known 
as  Little  Detroit,  a  district  now  in  the  upper 
part  of  the  city,  which  was  named  for  the 
Indian,  Little  Detroit,  who  signed  the  treaty 
of  peace  there.  In  the  spring  of  1832. 
during  the  Black  Hawk  war,  when  it  was 
reported  that  the  chief  was  making  his  way 
toward  Peoria,  Mrs.  King  and  some  other 
women  of  the  settlement  were  rowed  across 
the  river  and  left  to  take  care  of  themselves, 
while  the  men  remained  to  defend  the  town. 
All  day  Sunday  Mr.  King  and  other  men 
worked,  building  Fort  Clark.  At  length 
when  it  was  known  that  they  need  fear 
nothing  from  the  redmen,  he  went  down 
the  river  to  Pekin.  swam  across  and  spent 
two  weeks  in  traveling  over  the  country  in 
search  of  his  wife,  who  with  her  little  child 
had  wandered  as  far  east  as  the  Dillon  set- 
tlement, a  distance  of  thirty  miles,  subsist- 
ing on  wild  fruits  and  roots  until  she  reached 
a  pioneer  home  in  which  she  could  obtain 
shelter. 

Mrs.  Casey  spent  her  girlhood  days  in 
the  locality  in  which  her  grandparents  had 
settled  as  pioneers.  By  her  marriage  she 
has  become  the  mother  of  an  mteresting 
little  daughter,  Helen  Lucile.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  King  are  members  of  the  Christian 
church,  and  their  many  excellent  qualities 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


509 


have  gained  them  the  entree  into  the  best 
homes  of  Bloomington.  They  have  many 
warm  friends  in  the  citj'  and  are  held  in  the 
highest  regard  by  ail.  In  all  matters  per- 
taining to  the  welfare  and  upbuilding  of  the 
city  Mr.  Casey  takes  a  deep  interest  and 
lends  his  support  and  co-operation  to  all 
movements  for  the  public  good.  In  all 
probability  many  years  of  usefulness  in 
business  circles  j'et  lie  before  him,  but  he 
has  already  attained  a  success  that  renders 
his  example  well  worthy  of  emulation. 


CHESTER  R.  EWINS,  who  is  now 
serving  his  second  term  as  supervisor 
of  Danvers  township,  is  one  of  the  young  and 
enterprising  farmers  of  McLean  county,  who, 
in  connection  with  his  farming,  for  some 
years  has  been  engaged  in  buying  and  selling 
stock,  in  which  line  he  has  met  with  un- 
qualified success.  He  is  a  native  of  the 
township,  born  April  2,  1866,  and  is  the  son 
of  John  A.  and  Melinda  T.  (Franks)  Ewins, 
of  whom  mention  is  made  elsewhere  in  this 
volume. 

The  boyhood  and  youth  of  our  subject 
were  spent  on  the  home  farm,  and  in  the 
home  school,  and  in  the  school  of  the  village 
of  Danvers,  he  received  his  education.  At 
the  age  of  twenty  he  left  school  and  renting 
three  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  land  of 
his  father,  he  began  its  cultivation.  This 
land  he  continued  to  rent  until  his  father's 
death,  and  in  August,  1895,  he  purchased 
the  interest  of  the  other  heirs,  and  is  now 
the  owner  of  three  hundred  and  eighty  acres 
of  very  valuable  land,  one  of  the  best  farms 
in  Danvers  township,  and  which  is  kept  un- 
der a  high  state  of  cultivation.  He  is  also 
the  owner  of  eighty  acres  in  Tazewell 
county.     The    Rock    Creek    Fair    Grounds 


are  situated  on  his  farm   in   Danvers  town- 
ship. 

While  always  giving  his  personal  atten- 
tion to  the  cultivation  of  his  farm,  Mr. 
Ewins  has  engaged  in  other  lines  of  business 
with  profit  to  himself  and  the  good  of  the 
community.  In  the  spring  of  1889  he  pur- 
chased the  meat  market  of  Mr.  Wagenbaugh, 
of  Danvers,  and  for  two  years  he  ran  the 
business  in  partnership  with  Louis  Buescher, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Buescher  &  Ewins. 
In  1 89 1  he  purchased  his  partner's  interest 
and  continued  the  business  alone  until  the 
spring  of  1899  when  he  sold  it  to  August 
Habecker.  The  meat  market  was  run  as  an 
adjunct  to  the  stock  business,  which  was 
commenced  about  the  same  time.  In  the 
latter  line  he  has  purchased  largely  in  Dan- 
vers and  surrounding  country,  and  being  an 
excellent  judge  of  stock  he  has  succeeded 
where  many  others  have  failed.  The  farm- 
ing community  have  confidence  in  him  and 
trust  him  as  regards  prices,  knowing  that 
they  will  receive  all  the  market  will  allow. 

On  the  5th  of  September,  1888,  Mr. 
Ewins  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Etta  Barrett,  who  was  born  July  10,  1868, 
in  McLean  county,  and  daughter  of  John 
and  Mollie  Barrett,  the  former  a  native  of 
Indiana,  and  the  latter  of  Ohio.  By  this 
union  were  two  children:  Lester  B.,  born 
July  23,  1889;  and  Glenn  E. ,  October  23, 
1892.  The  mother  of  these  children  passed 
away  November  10,  1896,  and  on  the  iith 
of  November,  1897,  for  his  second  wife  Mr. 
Ewins  married  Miss  Ada  Wright,  also  a  na- 
tive of  McLean  county,  born  February  15, 
1873,  and  daughter  of  A.  S.  and  Martha 
Wright,  natives  of  Ohio,  but  who  now  re- 
side in  Kansas. 

Mr.  Ewins  has  always  taken  an  active 
interest  in  political  affairs,  and  has  been  a 


Sio 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Republican  from  his  youth  up,  the  princi- 
ples of  the  party  being  instilled  in  him  by 
his  father  and  confirmed  by  his  reading  and 
observation  in  mature  years.  For  three 
consecutive  years  he  served  as  assessor  of 
his  township,  and  was  school  director  for 
four  years.  In  1897  he  was  nominated  and 
elected  supervisor  of  his  township,  and  in 
the  spring  of  1899  he  was  re-elected  to  the 
same  position.  He  has  made  a  valuable 
member  of  the  board,  and  has  served  on 
some  of  the  most  important  committees. 
He  takes  kindly  to  the  office  which  was  so 
long  and  ably  filled  by  his  father,  and  looks 
closely  after  the  interests  of  the  people  of 
his  township  and  the  county  in  general. 
Religiously  he  is  identified  with  the  Cum- 
berland Presbyterian  church  of  Danvers, 
and  his  wife  is  also  a  member  of  the  same 
body.  Both  are  active  in  the  work  of  the 
church,  and  have  the  interest  of  the  cause 
at  heart.  Socially  they  are  held  in  high  es- 
teem. 


GEORGE  ARMBRUSTER,  Jr.,  a  well- 
known  grocer  of  Bloomington,  is  ac- 
knowledged to  be  one  of  the  most  wide- 
awake and  enterprising  business  men  of  the 
city.  His  ability,  industry  and  upright  meth- 
ods have  gained  for  him  an  enviable  reputa- 
tion, and  his  popularity  is  established  on  a 
firm  basis — that  of  his  own  well-tested  merit. 
A  native  of  Bloomington,  Mr.  Armbrus- 
ter  was  born  August  27,  i860,  and  is  a  son 
of  George  and  Catherine  (Wool)  Armbrus- 
ter,  natives  of  Germany  who  came  to  Bloom- 
ington when  young  and  were  married  in  this 
city,  where  they  still  continue  to  make  their 
home.  For  a  time  the  father  was  employed 
as  yardmaster  by  the  Illinois  Central  Rail- 
road Company;  later  was  with  a  'bus  line; 


but  for  the  past  forty  years  has  driven  a  bag- 
gage and  mail  wagon.  Both  parents  hold 
membership  in  the  German  Catholic  church. 
Of  their  nine  children,  seven  have  lived  to 
reach  man  and  womanhood. 

Our  subject  was  educated  in  the  German 
and  city  schools  of  Bloomington,  and  thus 
acquired  a  good  knowledge  of  both  English 
and  German.  Learning  the  trade  of  a 
blacksmith  with  Louis  Matern,  he  followed 
that  occupation  for  a  number  of  years,  and 
for  six  and  a  half  years  he  was  a  member  of 
the  No.  2  fire  department,  during  which 
time  there  were  a  number  of  very  destructive 
fires,  including  the  Bloomington  Store,  elec- 
tric light  plant,  and  the  buildings  of  Boyce 
&  Sons,  Johnson  &  Company,  and  Barnes. 
On  resigning  his  position  with  the  fire  de- 
partment on  the  1st  of  July,  1894,  Mr. 
Armbruster  opened  a  grocery  store  at  the 
corner  of  Park  and  Empire  streets,  buying 
an  old-time  grocery  and  fitting  it  up  with  a 
new  and  well-selected  stock.  From  the  be- 
ginning his  trade  has  rapidly  increased  until 
it  has  assumed  extensive  proportions. 

In  May,  1894,  Mr.  Armbruster  married 
Miss  Helen  Schueth,  of  Bloomington,  and 
to  them  have  been  born  two  children,  Flora 
and  Francis.  The  parents  are  both  mem- 
bers of  the  German  Catholic  church,  and 
are  held  in  high  regard  by  all  who  know 
them. 


JOHN  L.  SCOTT,  who  is  now  living  re- 
tired at  his  pleasant  home  just  outside 
the  corporate  limits  of  Heyworth,  has 
achieved  a  comfortable  competence  by  his 
own  unaided  exertions,  and  is,  in  fact,  a 
self-made  man,  starting  out  in  life  with 
nothing  but  youth  in  his  favor,  and  his  en- 
dowments of  fine  health,  a  vigorous  muscle. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


5" 


and  a  clear,  cool  brain.  After  all,  a  man 
possessing  these  need  fear  nothing;  with  a 
determination  to  succeed,  success  is  his  al- 
most from  the  start,  although  it  may  be  that 
years  of  patient  waiting  and  hard  toil  are 
necessary  before  his  endeavors  are  crowned 
with  the  full  measure  of  success. 

A  native  of  Ohio,  Mr.  Scott  was  born 
near  Urbana,  Champaign  county,  January 
26,  1836,  and  is  a  son  of  Zachariah  Scott, 
whose  birth  occurred  in  Fleming  county, 
Kentucky,  in  1800.  The  grandfather,  James 
Scott,  was  born  in  Virginia,  while  his  father 
was  a  native  of  Scotland,  and  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  the  Old  Dominion.  At  an 
earlj'  day  James  Scott  left  Virginia  and  re- 
moved to  Kentucky,  becoming  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  Fleming  county.  In  1808,  he 
went  to  Champaign  county,  Ohio,  where  in 
the  midst  of  unbroken  forest  he  cleared  and 
developed  a  farm.  The  father  of  our  sub- 
ject there  grew  to  manhood  and  married 
Miss  Maria  Lake,  a  native  of  Virginia,  and 
a  daughter  of  Captain  Thomas  Lake,  who 
was  lost  at  sea.  After  his  death  the  family 
removed  to  Ohio.  After  a  short  marriage 
life,  Mrs.  Scott  died,  and  the  father  of  our 
subject  then  wedded  her  sister,  Miss  Mary 
P.  Lake,  who  became  the  mother  of  John 
L.  After  farming  for  some  years  in  Ohio, 
Mr.  Scott  brought  his  family  to  this  state  in 
1854  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Randolph 
township,  McLean  county,  where  he  spent 
his  last  years,  dying  March  18,  1861.  His 
second  wife  is  still  living,  a  hale  old  lady  of 
eighty-four  years,  and  makes  her  home  with 
a  daughter  in  Heyworth,  and  yet  does  all 
her  own  housework.  To  them  were  born 
thirteen  children,  of  whom  twelve,  five  sons 
and  seven  daughters,  grew  to  man  and 
womanhood,  but  two  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters are  now  deceased. 


John  L.  Scott  was  a  young  man  of 
seventeen  years  when  he  came  with  his  par- 
ents to  this  state,  and  his  early  education, 
acquired  in  the  common  schools  of  Ohio 
and  McLean  county,  was  supplemented  by 
five  months  of  study  in  the  Wesleyan  Uni- 
versity, at  Bloomington.  He  remained 
with  his  father  until  twenty-two  years  of 
age  and  then  operated  a  rented  farm  for 
three  years.  In  this  county  he  was  mar- 
ride,  October  17,  1 861,  to  Miss  Catherine 
Orendorff,  who  was  born  here.  Her  father, 
Thomas  Orendorff,  a  native  of  North  Caro- 
lina, came  to  McLean  county  when  a  young 
man  and  was  married  in  Blooming  Grove  to 
Miss  Mary  Malinda  Walker,  also  a  native 
of  North  Carolina,  who  when  a  child  had 
come  to  this  county  with  her  father,  Will- 
iam Walker,  one  of  its  pioneers. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Scott  began  their  domestic 
life  upon  a  rented  farm  near  Heyworth,  but 
in  1 868,  having  traded  for  some  land  in 
Miami  county,  Kansas,  they  removed  thither, 
where  he  raised  two  crops.  In  1870  they 
removed  to  this  county  and  finally  sold  their 
land  in  the  Suniiower  state.  In  1882,  Mr. 
Scott  bought  eighty  acres  of  partially  im- 
proved land  in  Bloomington  township,  and 
later  added  to  it  until  he  had  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  fine  farming  land,  on 
which  he  erected  a  large  and  comfortable 
residence,  good  barns  and  other  outbuild- 
ings, and  planted  an  orchard  and  a  grove  of 
forest  trees.  This  valuable  and  well  im- 
proved farm  was  pleasantly  situated  within 
six  miles  of  Bloomington.  Selling  it  in  1895, 
he  purchased  one  thousand  acres  of  land  in 
Pike  county,  Illinois,  which  was  all  under 
fence,  and  partially  improved.  He  later 
exchanged  that  for  a  half  section  of  land 
within  four  miles  of  Hastings,  Nebraska. 
Since  1896  he  has  made  his  home  near  Hey- 


512 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


worth,  where  he  owns  five  acres  adjoining 
the  village,  and  is  now  practically  living  re- 
tired from  active  labor.  Here  he  has  a 
commodious  and  substantial  residence,  one 
of  the  best  in  Randolph  township,  and 
everything  about  the  place  testifies  to  the 
enterprising  and  progressive  spirit  of  the 
owner,  who  is  acknowledged  to  be  one  of 
the  most  thorough  and  skillful  farmers  of 
his  community. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Scott  have  been  born 
five  children,  but  two  died  in  infancy.  The 
others  are  as  follows:  Frank  O.,  a  busi- 
ness man  of  Heyworth,  who  is  married  and 
has  one  daughter,  Leta;  Charles  O.,  a  resi- 
dent of  Bloomington,  who  is  married  and 
has  two  children,  Nina  and  Vesta,  and  Ar- 
thur, in  business  with  his  oldest  brother  in 
Heyworth,  who  is  married  and  has  two 
children,  Marie  and  Olive.  They  have  all 
been  well  educated  and  are  now  filling  use- 
ful and  honorable  positions  in  life. 

In  his  political  affiliations  Mr.  Scott  is  a 
stalwart  Democrat,  and  cast  his  first  presi- 
dential vote  for  Stephen  A.  Douglas.  He 
has  the  respect  and  confidence  of  his  friends 
and  neighbors,  and  is  widely  and  favorably 
known  throughout  McLean  county,  where 
he  has  now  made  his  home  for  over  forty- 
five  years,  and  with  whose  development  and 
prosperity  he  has  been  prominently  iden- 
tified. 


GEORGE  BUFFHAM.  The  life  history 
of  this  gentleman,  now  one  of  the 
representative  business  men  of  Blooming- 
ton,  has  been  somewhat  varied  through  his 
connection  with  the  development  of  the 
west,  his  naval  service  during  the  war  of 
the  rebellion  and  his  activity  in  the  affairs 
of  conimercc.      He  is  a  self-made  man  who 


without  any  extraordinary  family  or  pecun- 
iary advantages  at  the  commencement  of 
life  has  battled  earnestly  and  energetically, 
and  by  indomitable  courage  and  integrity 
has  achieved  both  character  and  fortune. 
By  sheer  force  of  will  and  untiring  effort 
he  has  worked  his  way  upward  and  now  oc- 
cupies a  leading  position  among  the  hon- 
ored and  successful  business  men  of  Mc- 
Lean county. 

A  native  of  Rochdale,  England,  he  was 
born  on  the  i8th  of  November,  1840,  a  son 
of  William  and  Eliza  (Kirkpatrick)  Buff- 
ham.  His  father  was  born  in  London  and 
there  learned  the  painter's  trade.  He  re- 
moved to  Rochdale  before  his  marriage  to 
Miss  Kirkpatrick,  who  was  born  in  York, 
England,  of  Scotch  parentage.  In  1850  he 
crossed  the  Atlantic  to  the  United  States, 
accompanied  by  his  wife  and  si.\  children, 
and  in  the  fall  of  that  year  located  in  Ke- 
nosha, Wisconsin.  The  following  year  he 
removed  to  a  farm  in  Milburn,  Warren 
township,  Lake  county,  Illinois,  forty  miles 
north  of  Chicago,  purchasing  the  land  on 
which  he  made  his  home  until  1869,  when 
he  sold  out  and  took  up  his  residence  in 
Racine,  Wisconsin.  He  had  operated  his 
fields  through  the  assistance  of  hired  men, 
while  he  had  taken  up  the  profession  of  an 
optician,  following  it  throughout  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life.  He  manufactured  mi- 
croscopes and  telescopes,  which  were  sold 
throughout  the  country,  bringing  him  a 
wide  reputation  as  a  dealer  in  optical  in- 
struments. He  died  in  1872,  and  his  wife 
departed  this  life  in  Racine,  in  June,  1897. 
In  their  native  land  they  had  held  mem- 
bership in  the  Baptist  church,  but  after 
coming  to  the  United  States  joined  the 
Presbyterian  church. 

In  the  old  time  district   schools  George 


THE    BIOGR.\PHICAL   RECORD. 


513 


Buffham  was  educated,  and  his  boyhood 
days  were  spent  in  the  usual  manner  of 
farmer  lads  of  the  period.  He  was  twenty- 
one  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  the  inaug- 
uration of  the  civil  war,  and  in  1862  he 
joined  Burnsides'  coast  guards  in  the  naval 
service.  After  three  months,  however,  he 
was  discharged  on  account  of  disability,  his 
only  active  service  having  been  the  guard- 
ing of  prisoners  on  the  transports  from  Port 
Royal  to  Governor's  Island.  From  New 
York  he  returned  home,  and  in  1864  joined 
Company  F,  Thirty-ninth  Wisconsin  Vol- 
unteers, at  Racine,  under  the  one-hundred- 
days  call.  He  went  to  Memphis,  doing 
picket  duty  there  most  of  the  time,  and,  with 
others,  was  detailed  on  picket  boats  to  guard 
the  Mississippi  river,  running  between 
Helena  and  Memphis.  He  underwent  some 
trying  e.xperiences,  and  was  on  the  picket 
line  at  Memphis  when  Forest  made  his  raid 
on  them.  His  time  expiring,  he  returned 
to  Milwaukee  in  October,  1864,  and  was 
mustered  out. 

Mr.  Buffham  spent  the  following  winter 
in  Little  Rock,  Arkansas,  as  chief  forage 
master  of  the  cavalry  division  of  the  Seventh 
Army  Corps,  and  had  charge  of  and  issued 
the  forage  to  the  division,  being  under  the 
direct  command  of  Charles  F.  Minhold, 
quartermaster  and  a  member  of  the  Third 
Regular  Cavalry.  Mr.  Buffham  remained 
at  Little  Rock  until  June  i,  1865,  and  then 
again  visited  his  home,  after  which  he  went 
to  Colorado.  From  the  Missouri  river  he 
proceeded  westward  with  mule  teams,  tak- 
ing a  stamp  mill  from  Atchison  to  Central 
City,  two  months  being  required  to  make 
the  trip  on  account  of  the  heavy  loads.  He 
afterward  went  to  Fort  Lyon,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  putting  up  hay  for  the  government 
jjntil  winter,  when   he   removed    to   Canon 


City,  which  place  he  made  his  headquarters 
for  a  year  and  a  half.  During  that  time  he 
traveled  quite  extensively,  spending  some 
time  in  prospecting.  In  1867  he  went  to 
Breckinridge,  Colorado,  and  spent  the  sum- 
mer in  the  placer  gold  fields,  after  which  he 
returned  by  stage  to  Julesburg,  Nebraska, 
and  thence  by  rail  to  his  home.  Later  he 
journeyed  southward  to  Tennessee,  Missis- 
sippi and  Arkansas,  spent  the  winter  in  Vin- 
ton, Iowa,  and  afterward  went  to  Lawrence, 
Kansas,  with  the  expectation  of  going  to 
Colorado.  Deciding  otherwise,  however, 
he  went,  instead,  to  Rochester,  Minnesota, 
and  in  the  autumn  went  to  the  lumber 
woods  at  Lake  Pepin.  The  following  spring 
and  summer  were  spent  at  home,  and  in  the 
fall  he  began  working  as  fireman  on  the 
railroad,  running  between  Savanna  and 
Rock  Island,  Illinois.  He  was  afterward 
located  at  Hannibal,  Missouri,  and  Quincy, 
Illinois,  and  in  1871  came  to  Bloomington. 

His  brother  was  then  engaged  in  the 
paint  business  here,  and  Mr.  Buffham  en- 
tered his  employ,  for  in  his  youth  he  had 
learned  the  trade  and  was  an  excellent 
workman.  He  spent  the  year  1880  in  St. 
Paul,  but  with  that  exception  has  been  con- 
nected with  the  painting  and  decorating 
business  in  this  city  for  the  past  twenty- 
eight  years.  After  his  brother's  death  he 
purchased  the  business  in  1896,  and  has  the 
leading  painting  and  decorating  house  in 
Bloomington,  furnishing  employment  to  a 
large  force  of  workmen  during  the  busy 
season.  He  lives  faithfully  up  to  the  terms 
of  a  contract,  and  the  excellent  work  done 
by  his  representatives,  combined  with  his 
honorable  business  methods,  insures  him  a 
liberal  patronage. 

Mr.  Buffham  has  been  twice  married. 
He  first  wedded  Anna  Hauffe,  of  Blooming- 


514 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


ton,  who  died,  leaving  two  children:  Ehner, 
who  possesses  marked  histrionic  power  and 
is  now  traveling  with  John  D'Vorak,  a  suc- 
cessful actor;  and  George  Clarence,  who 
was  a  member  of  Troop  B,  First  Illinois 
Cavalry,  in  the  late  Spanish-American  war, 
and  died  at  Lookout  Mountain  August  21, 
1898.  Mr.  Buffham  was  again  married 
January  1,  1893,  his  second  union  being 
with  Miss  Tillie  Hartry,  of  Bloomington, 
who  was  born  in  1855,  a  daughter  of  Edwin 
Hartry,  an  old  and  well  known  business 
man  of  this  city.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Buffham 
reside  at  No.  705  South  Main  street,  where 
they  have  a  very  pleasant  home.  Our  sub- 
ject has  earned  for  himself  a  reputation  as 
a  careful  man  of  business,  notably  prompt 
and  reliable  in  his  dealing,  and  thereby  en- 
joys uniform  confidence  and  respect. 


GEORGE  W.  PRIEST  has  throughout 
his  active  business  life  been  promi- 
nently identified  with  the  agricultural  inter- 
ests of  McLean  county,  and  is  now  the 
owner  of  four  hundred  and  si.xty  acres  of 
rich  and  valuable  land  on  sections  1  i  and  12, 
Hudson  township,  and  6  and  7,  Money 
Creek  township.  He  is  a  man  of  keen  per- 
ception, of  great  sagacity  and  unbounded 
enterprise,  and  in  all  his  undertakings  has 
been  remarkably  successful. 

A  native  of  this  county,  he  was  born  on 
his  father's  farm  on  section  i,  Hudson  town- 
ship, September  21,  1S46,  a  son  of  Elijah 
and  Rebecca  (Hinthorn)  Priest.  His  pa- 
ternal grandfather  was  James  Priest,  who 
was  born  at  Gaines  Cross  Roads,  Virginia, 
on  the  farm  where  the  battle  of  that  name 
was  fought  during  the  civil  war,  his  father 
owning  the  place  at  the  time  of  his  birth. 
Our  subject's   father  was  born   in    Muskin- 


gum county,  Ohio,  September  10,  181 2, 
and  from  there  he  came  to  McLean  county, 
Illinois,  in  September,  1835,  at  which  time 
there  was  but  one  frame  house  standing  on 
the  present  site  of  the  city  of  Bloomington. 
Most  of  this  region  was  still  in  its  primitive 
condition,  and  in  the  work  of  development 
and  improvement  he  bore  an  active  and 
prominent  part.  He  first  purchased  a  tract 
of  twenty  acres  on  section  i,  Hudson  town- 
ship, of  a  Mr.  Hall,  one  of  the  Hudson  col- 
onists, and  forty  acres  from  one  who  had 
entered  it  from  the  government.  After  re- 
siding upon  that  place  for  some  six  or  seven 
years,  he  bought  the  farm  now  owned  and 
occupied  by  our  subject  on  section  12,  Hud- 
son township,  where  he  made  his  home  un- 
til his  death,  which  occurred  November  2, 
1890.  He  was  quite  extensively  and  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  general  farming  and 
stock-raising  and  acquired  a  handsome  prop- 
erty, owning  at  one  time  nine  hundred  acres 
of  valuable  land  which  he  placed  under  a 
high  state  of  cultivation.  Although  he  had 
no  educational  advantages  in  his  youth,  he 
made  the  most  of  his  opportunities  in  life, 
and  became  a  prominent  and  influential  citi- 
zen, as  well  as  one  of  the  most  prosperous 
men  of  his  community.  He  held  a  number 
of  local  offices,  including  those  of  highway 
commissioner  and  school  director;  was  an 
ardent  Democrat  in  politics;  and  an  earnest 
and  consistent  member  of  the  Christian 
church.  In  his  family  were  three  children, 
namely:  James  S. ;  Sarah,  deceased  wife  of 
William  H.  Walston;  and  George  W. ,  our 
subject. 

The  early  life  of  George  W.  Priest  was 
passed  in  much  the  usual  manner  of  farmer 
boys  of  his  day  in  this  state,  and  he  grew  to 
manhood  upon  his  present  farm,  where  he 
has  resided  since  he  W4S  one  year  old.      He 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


515 


worked  with  his  father  and  brother  until  the 
former's  death,  when  the  property  was  di- 
vided. He  now  leases  the  greater  part  of 
his  land,  though  he  keeps  considerable 
for  the  use  of  his  stock,  being  engaged  quite 
extensivel}'  in  the  stock  raising  industry. 
His  specialty  is  black  Angus  cattle  and  each 
year  he  usually  feeds  some  stock  for  market. 

On  the  1 2th  of  March,  1896,  Mr.  Priest 
led  to  the  marriage  altar  Miss  Ellen  Priest, 
a  distant  relative  and  a  daughter  of  Josiah 
and  Sarah  (Fleming)  Priest,  natives  of  Ohio. 
She  was  born  and  reared  in  Iroquois  county, 
Illinois,  and  is  the  eldest  in  a  family  of  five 
children,  the  others  being  Ehvood,  who 
is  married  and  resides  in  Newton  county, 
Indiana;  Charles,  who  lives  on  the  home 
farm  in  Iroquois  county;  Melissa,  wife  of 
Lee  Buswell,  of  Newton  county,  Indiana; 
and  Mattie,  at  home. 

The  Democratic  party  finds  in  Mr. 
Priest  a  stanch  supporter  of  its  principles, 
and  for  ten  years  he  has  most  capably 
served  as  school  director  in  his  district.  He 
is  a  progressive  and  public  spirited  man, 
who  takes  a  deep  interest  in  the  welfare  of 
the  community  and  gives  his  support  to  ev- 
ery enterprise  for  the  public  good.  He  is 
both  widely  and  favorably  known  and  has  a 
host  of  friends  throughout  the  county. 


CHARLES  J.  McELWAIN,  one  of  the 
leading  and  prominent  decorators  and 
painters  of  Bloomington,  and  the  oldest,  in 
point  of  business,  in  the  city,  was  born 
near  Salem,  Illinois,  June  10,  1842,  and  is 
a  son  of  Rufus  P.  and  Martha  (Jennings) 
McElwain.  The  father  was  born  in  New 
York  City  soon  after  his  parents  landed  on 
their  emigration  from  Scotland  to  America. 
They    located  in  Ohio,   where    he    grew  to 


manhood  and  learned  the  carpenter  trade. 
When  about  twenty-one  years  of  age,  he 
came  to  Salem,  Illinois,  where  he  worked 
at  his  trade  for  a  short  time,  but  after  his 
marriage  he  opened  a  general  store  at  that 
place,  and  successfully  conducted  the  same 
for  many  years,  finally  selling  out  about 
1880.  He  died  July  12,  1888.  The  wife 
and  mother  died  in  1862,  leaving  five  chil- 
dren. She  was  born  east  of  Centralia, 
Illinois,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Israel  Jen- 
nings, who  was  from  Kentucky.  The  father 
of  our  subject  was  an  earnest  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  to  which 
the  mother  also  belonged. 

Charles  J.  McElwain  acquired  a  good 
practical  education  in  the  common  schools 
of  Salem,  and  gained  an  excellent  knowl- 
edge of  business  methods  in  his  father's 
store.  Leaving  home  in  1861,  Mr.  Mcll- 
wain  was  employed  as  a  clerk  for  several 
years,  after  which  he  learned  the  painter's 
trade  at  Aurora.  After  completing  his  ap- 
prenticeship he  worked  as  a  journeyman  at 
different  places  until  the  fall  of  1872,  when 
he  came  to  Bloomington.  Two  years  later 
he  started  in  business  for  himself  as  a  con- 
tractor, and  the  first  year  or  two  employed 
only  two  men,  but  as  the  excellence  of  his 
work  became  known,  his  trade  steadily  in- 
creased, and  during  the  busy  season  he  now 
employs  ten  men.  He  has  done  the  paint- 
ing on  many  of  the  prominent  business 
houses  of  the  city,  as  well  as  residences, 
and  also  painted  the  Baptist  church  of 
Bloomington. 

On  the  17th  of  February,  1870,  Mr.  Mc- 
Elwain marriedMiss  Elizabeth  Oness,  who 
was  born  in  England,  but  when  a  child  of 
seven  was  brought  to  this  country  by  her 
parents,  John  and  Harriett  Oness.  They 
have  no  children  of  their  own  but  have  an 


5i6 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


adopted  child,  Frederick,  who  is  now  thir- 
teen years  of  age  and  is  the  son  of  Mrs.  Mc- 
Elwain's  brother.  Our  subject  and  his  wife 
are  both  members  of  Grace  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church  and  are  highly  respected  by  all 
who  have  the  pleasure  of  their  acquaint- 
ance. It  is  through  his  own  well-directed 
efforts,  that  Mr.  McElwain  has  met  with 
success  in  life.  He  never  acts  except  from 
honest  motives  and  in  all  his  varied  relations 
in  business  affairs  and  social  life,  he  has 
maintained  a  character  and  standing  that 
has  impressed  all  with  his  sincere  and  man- 
ly purpose  to  do  by  others  as  he  would  have 
others  do  by  him. 


JOHN  E.  WAKEFIELD,  now  living  re- 
tired upon  h's  fine  farm  adjoining  the 
village  of  Heyworth,  is  one  of  Randolph 
township's  best  citizens,  belonging  to  the 
class  whose  influence  can  be  relied  upon  in 
support  of  any  measure  which  tends  to  the 
elevation  and  advancement  of  the  com- 
munity. He  is  a  representative  of  an  old 
and  honored  family  of  this  county,  and  his 
character  and  career  show  that  he  possesses 
the  sterling  qualities  of  pioneer  stock. 

The  Wakefield  family  is  of  Irish  origin 
and  was  founded  in  Pennsylvania  at  an  early 
day  in  the  history  of  this  country.  Andrew 
Wakefield,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
was  a  native  of  that  state  and  one  of  the 
first  settlers  of  Hamilton  county,  Ohio,  lo- 
cating there  when  the  state  was  a  vast 
wilderness  and  Cincinnati  was  but  a  small 
village.  Campbell  Wakefield,  our  subject's 
father,  was  born  in  North  Bend,  Hamilton 
county,  in  1804,  and  after  reaching  man's 
estate  he  was  married  there  to  Miss  Margaret 
Elder,  a  native  of  Franklin  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, who  went  to  Ohio  when  a  ygung 


lady.  Her  father,  John  Elder,  was  a 
pioneer  of  Hamilton  county,  Ohio,  but  later 
returned  to  Pennsylvania,  where  his  death 
occurred. 

For  some  years  Campbell  Wakefield  fol- 
lowed farming  in  Ohio,  and  in  1835  moved 
west  with  his  family  to  Illinois,  locating  in 
what  is  now  McLean  county,  on  the  same 
section  of  Randolph  township  where  our  sub- 
ject now  resides.  They  were  accompanied 
by  three  other  families  from  Ohio,  who  drove 
across  the  country  with  teams.  This  county 
was  then  an  almost  unbroken  wilderness, 
and  Mr.  Wakefield  bought  two  small  claims 
of  about  one  hundred  acres  in  Randolph 
township,  which  he  entered  when  the  land 
came  into  market.  Later  at  different  times, 
he  entered  other  tracts  and  became  the 
owner  of  several  hundred  acres.  A  portion 
of  this  he  improved  and  cultivated,  making 
a  nice  farm,  on  which  he  spent  his  remain- 
ing days.  He  was  one  of  the  most  enter- 
prising and  public-spirited  men  of  his  com- 
munity and  gave  his  support  to  every  enter- 
prise for  the  public  good.  When  the  Illi- 
nois Central  Railroad  was  built  through  the 
county,  he  gave  the  undivided  half  of  forty 
acres  for  the  town,  depot  and  side  tracks  of 
the  road  ajid  lived  to  see  quite  a  flourishing 
village — Heyworth — built  upon  his  farm. 
He  was  one  of  the  most  prominent  and  in- 
fluential citizens  of  the  community  and  was 
honored  with  a  number  of  local  offices.  He 
died  June  5.  18S7,  at  the  ripe  old  age  of 
eighty-three  years,  his  wife  in  April  — ,1891, 
at  the  age  of  eighty-si.\  years,  and  both  were 
buried  in  Heyworth  cemetery,  where  a  neat 
and  substantial  monument  marks  their  Inst 
resting  place. 

John  E.  Wakefield,  the  only  child  of 
this  worthy  couple,  was  born  in  North  Bend, 
HamiUon  county,  Ohio,  May  10,  1S28,  and 


JOHN'    F.   WAKEFIELD. 


UBil'.RY 
OF  THE 

.iVCRClTV  ci-  : 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


519 


was  a  lad  of  seven  years  when  he  was 
brought  by  them  to  this  county.  During 
his  boyhood  and  youth  he  assisted  his  fa- 
ther in  the  development  of  the  home  farm 
and  attended  the  public  schools  of  the 
neighborhood,  completing  his  education, 
however,  at  the  Bloomington  high  school. 
On  attaining  his  majority  he  took  charge  of 
a  portion  of  the  farm  and  business,  and  later 
cared  for  his  parents  during  their  declining 
years.  After  his  father's  death  he  succeed- 
ed to  the  estate. 

Returning  to  Ohio,  Mr.  Wakefield  was 
married  in  Clermont  county,  September  14, 
1852,  to  Miss  Catherine  Turner,  who  was 
born  in  Indiana  county,  Pennsylvania,  but 
was  reared  in  Clermont  county,  Ohio.  Her 
father,  James  Turner,  was  a  native  of  Wash- 
ington county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  grew 
to  manhood  and  was  married  in  Indiana 
county  to  Miss  Margaret  McKinnie,  a  native 
of  Franklin  county,  that  state  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  James  McKinnie.  The  wedding 
journey  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wakefield  was 
made  by  team  from  Ohio  to  their  future 
home  in  McLean  county,  where  they  ar- 
rived about  the  ist  of  October.  To  them 
have  been  born  twelve  children,  of  whom 
two  died  in  childhood  and  nine  are  still  liv- 
ing. In  order  of  birth  they  are  as  follows: 
Margaret  Belle  married  F.  H.  Hill  and  died 
in  1890,  leaving  four  children;  Alice  is  the 
wife  of  Newton  J.  Battershell,  of  Heyworth; 
James  Campbell  is  a  prominent  citizen  of 
Heyworth;  WilHe  died  at  the  age  of  five 
years;  Porter  T.  is  a  stock  raiser,  dealer 
and  farmer  living  near  Bowling  Green,  Mis- 
souri; Minnie  is  the  wife  of  Bruce  A.  Stew- 
art, a  farmer  of  McLean  county;  Frank  L. 
is  a  physician  of  Heyworth;  Jennie  B.  is 
the  wife  of  Frank  C.  Gault,  of  Chicago; 
Mary  is  the  wife  of    Dr.   Joseph  Noble,  a 


physician  of  McLean;  Herbert  L.  is  a  farm- 
er of  McLean  county;  and  Andrew  McCoy 
is  at  home  with  his  parents. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Wakefield  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  of  land  three-quarters 
of  a  mile  east  of  his  present  home,  and  a 
year  later  bought  land  adjoining  the  old 
Noble  farm,  where  he  operated  for  several 
years,  returning  to  the  old  Wakefield  home- 
stead in  1887.  In  partnership  with  others, 
he  has  owned  and  operated  about  twelve 
hundred  acres  of  rich  and  arable  land,  well- 
improved  with  good  buildings,  and  has  also 
given  considerable  attention  to  raising  and 
feeding  cattle,  sheep  and  hogs.  He  is  one 
of  the  most  enterprising,  energetic  and  suc- 
cessful agriculturists  of  his  community. 

Mr.  Wakefield  is  an  old  Jacksonian 
Democrat  who,  on  national  issues,  alwaj:s 
supports  that  party,  and  cast  his  first  presi- 
dential vote  for  Franklin  Pearce.  At  local 
elections,  however,  he  endeavors  to  support 
the  man  best  qualified  for  the  office,  regard- 
less of  party  ties.  He  is  a  friend  of  educa- 
tion and  our  public  schools,  and  for  twenty- 
one  years  was  an  efficient  member  of  the 
school  board  and  president  of  his  district. 
In  1852,  he  and  his  estimable  wife  united 
with  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Heyworth, 
of  which  his  parents  were  original  members, 
and  he  has  served  as  deacon  for  some  years, 
while  Mrs.  Wakefield  also  takes  an  active 
part  in  church  work.  For  si.xty-four  long 
years  he  has  watched  with  interest  the  de- 
velopment and  upbuilding  of  the  county,  has 
seen  the  deer  and  wolves  disappear,  the 
railroads,  telegraph  and  telephone  intro- 
duced, and  hamlets  grow  into  thriving  vil- 
lages and  towns.  In  the  work  of  progress 
and  advancement  he  has  ever  bore  his  part, 
and  on  the  rolls  of  the  county's  most  hon- 
ored  pioneers  bis    name   should   be  found 


520 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


among  the  foremost.  Upright  and  honor- 
able in  all  the  relations  of  life,  he  is  always 
mentioned  as  one  of  the  invaluable  and 
useful  citizens  of  the  community. 


JOHN  P.  RISSER,  residing  on  section  3, 
Danvers  township,  has  a  fine  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  si.xty  acres,  all  of  which  is 
under  cultivation  save  ten  acres,  which  is  in 
timber.  He  was  born  in  Delaware  county, 
Indiana,  March  13,  1854,  and  is  the  son  of 
Christian  and  Barbara  (Zimmerman)  Risser, 
the  former  a  native  of  Alsace,  France,  and 
the  latter  of  Baden,  Germany. 

When  a  young  man  of  twenty  years. 
Christian  Risser  left  his  native  land  for  the 
United  States,  and  for  ten  years  after  his 
arrival  made  his  home  in  Butler  county, 
Ohio,  where  he  worked  for  various  parties, 
principally  at  farm  work,  by  the  month.  He 
then  went  to  Delaware  county,  Indiana, 
where  he  met  and  married  Barbara  Zimmer- 
man, by  which  union  thirteen  children  were 
born — John,  Anna,  Joseph,  Christian.  Fan- 
nie, Barbara.  Jacob,  Samuel,  David.  Lena, 
Benjamin,  Peter  and  Andrew.  Of  these 
Joseph  and  Andrew  are  deceased. 

Christian  Risser  is  the  son  of  Captain 
John  Risser,  an  officer  in  the  French  army 
under  the  great  Napoleon.  His  father  was 
driven  into  Switzerland  by  the  Catholics. 
Christian  Risser  remained  in  Indiana  about 
ten  years  engaged  in  farming.  In  1858  he 
came  to  Illinois  and  located  in  Woodford 
county,  where  he  purchased  land  and  en- 
gaged in  farming  and  stock-raising.  He  is 
now  living  retired  in  the  city  of  Eureka,  and 
is  the  owner  of  three  hundred  and  thirty 
acres  of  land  in  Woodford  county,  six  acres 
in  the  corporate  limits  of  Eureka,  ^pd  gne 


hundred  and  seventy  acres  in  Arkansas,  all 
but  ten  acres  of  which  is  in  cotton  lands. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  four  years 
old  when  the  family  located  in  Woodford 
county,  and  in  the  public  schools  of  that 
county  he  received  his  education,  both  in 
the  German  and  English  languages.  He  re- 
mained with  his  parents  until  he  reached 
his  majority,  and  for  five  years  after  he  culti- 
vated a  part  of  his  father's  land,  and  also 
ran  a  thresher  and  corn-sheller  during  the 
season. 

In  February,  1879,  Mr.  Risser  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Phebe  Miller,  a  native 
of  McLean  county,  born  May  8,  i860,  and 
daughter  of  Jacob  Miller,  a  native  of  Baden, 
Germany.  By  this  union  three  children 
have  been  born:  Leonora  B.,  born  in  March, 
1881;  Ella  M.,  in  August,  1882;  and  Elmer 
B.,  December  28,  1886.  All  are  yet  re- 
maining at  home,  the  latter  at  present  being 
a  student  in  the  district  school  in  Danvers 
township. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Risser  remained 
in  Woodford  county  for  six  years,  engaged 
in  farming  on  one  hundred  and  ten  acres  of 
land  in  Montgomery  township.  He  then 
moved  to  Mackinaw,  Tazewell  county,  Illi- 
nois, where  he  engaged  in  the  agricultural 
implement  business  for  two  years.  In  1887 
he  moved  to  the  village  of  Danvers,  and  in 
partnership  with  J.  A.  Ewins  engaged  in 
the  same  line  of  business.  This  continued 
until  1893,  when  he  sold  his  interest  to  Mr. 
Ewins  and  Christian  Straubhar  and  pur- 
chased the  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  where  he  now  resides.  In  connection 
with  his  farming,  in  1898,  he  took  up  the 
business  of  manufacturing  incubators,  in 
which  line  he  is  meeting  with  gratifying 
success.  He  is  a  practical  farmer,  one  who 
thoroughly  understands  his  business,  and  ir^ 


THE   BIOGR.\PHICAL   RECORD. 


521 


connection  with  stock-raising  he  cannot  fail 
of  that  success  which  his  industry  and  enter- 
prise warrants. 

In  politics  Mr.  Risser  is  a  Democrat, 
and  while  residing  in  the  village  of  Danvers 
was  usually  a  member  of  the  town  board. 
He  was  also  a  member  of  the  school  board 
for  three  years.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Mennonite  church,  as  is  also  his  wife. 


JOHN  ANDERSON,  car  inspector  in  the 
Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad  shops  at 
Bloomington,  and  one  of  its  most  promi- 
nent Swedish-American  citizens,  was  born 
on  the  8th  of  November,  1843,  in  the  ex- 
treme northern  part  of  Sweden,  a  son  of 
Andrew  and  Marian  (Johnson)  Anderson, 
who  are  still  living  in  that  country.  The 
father  was  a  farmer  throughout  his  active 
business  life,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  are 
faithful  members  of  the  Lutheran  church. 
Our  subject  was  educated  in  the  Lu- 
theran schools  of  his  native  land,  which  he 
attended  about  three  months  out  of  the 
year.  When  about  thirteen  years  of  age 
he  removed  with  his  parents  to  Mariastadt, 
in  central  Sweden,  and  continued  to  assist 
his  father  in  his  farming  operations  there 
until  his  emigration  to  America.  In  1866, 
at  the  age  of  twenty-three  years,  he  bade 
good-bye  to  his  parents,  friends  and  native 
land  and  sailed  for  the  new  world.  Before 
coming  to  Illinois  he  spent  some  time  in 
three  or  four  states  working  as  a  farm  hand, 
and  later  was  in  the  employ  of  one  farmer 
in  Macoupin  county,  Illinois,  for  five  years, 
during  which  time  he  became  thoroughly 
familiar  with  our  language.  In  1873  he  re- 
turned to  Sweden  and  remained  there  until 
1880,  being  employed  as  a  clerk  in  a  large 
co-operative    store,   of    which    his    brother 


was  manager.  The  company  also  dealt  in 
grain. 

In  1880  Mr.  Anderson  again  landed  on 
the  shores  of  the  United  States,  and  this 
time  he  located  in  Bloomington,  Illinois, 
since  which  time  he  has  been  outside  of  the 
corporation  but  twice.  Entering  the  em- 
ploy of  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad  Com- 
pany, he  first  worked  at  building  and  re- 
pairing trucks  for  two  years;  then  did  night 
work,  at  which  time  he  was  his  own  boss; 
and  was  subsequently  made  car  inspector, 
which  business  he  has  since  so  creditably 
and  acceptably  filled.  He  is  now  one  of 
the  oldest  men  in  point  of  service  in  his  de- 
partment and  one  of  the  most  highly  es- 
teemed, both  by  employers  and  employes. 

In  1883  Mr.  Anderson  married  Mrs. 
Charlotte  Peterson,  who  was  born  and 
reared  in  Sweden,  and  by  her  former  mar- 
riage has  two  children,  Eleanora  and  El- 
mer. The  children  born  to  our  subject  are 
Oscar  E. ,  now  fourteen  years  of  age;  Fred- 
erick, thirteen;  Chester,  nine;  and  Mary, 
six.  Besides  his  pleasant  home  at  No.  106 
Stevenson  street,  Mr.  Anderson  owns  a 
house  at  No.  125,  the  same  street,  which 
he  rents.  He  is  one  of  the  best  known  and 
most  prominent  men  in  Swedish  circles  in 
the  city,  and  he  is  held  in  high  regard  by 
all  who  have  the  pleasure  of  his  ac- 
quaintance. 


JOHN  H.  BRIGHT,  the  well  known  and 
<J  capable  superintendent  of  the  Manufac- 
tured Ice  and  Cold  Storage  Company,  of 
Bloomington,  was  born  in  Danville,  Ken- 
tucky, December  12,  1864.  His  father, 
William  M.  Bright,  was  born  in  Lincoln 
county,  Kentucky,  October  23,  1835,  a  son 
of  John  and  Elizabeth   (Morrison)  Bright, 


522 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


who  spent  their  entire  lives  in  that  state. 
In  their  family  were  nine  children.  Reared 
upon  the  home  farm  in  his  native  state  Will- 
iam M.  Bright  began  his  education  in  the 
common  schools  of  the  neighborhood  and 
later  attended  an  academy  at  Stamford, 
Kentucky,  completing  the  course  in  1857, 
in  which  year  he  first  came  to  Illinois  with 
his  brother-in-law,  James  Givens.  Together 
they  purchased  section  2,  Normal  township, 
McLean  county,  which  they  continued  to 
hold  until  1865.  Returning  to  Kentucky 
Mr.  Bright  did  not  locate  here  until  1861, 
and  five  years  later  he  took  up  his  residence 
in  Normal,  where  he  owns  one  hundred 
acres  of  land.  He  gave  his  attention  prin- 
cipally to  the  raising  of  small  fruit  until 
1882,  when  he  imported  four  French  draft 
mares,  and  for  a  time  engaged  in  horse 
breeding.  Previously  he  had  gained  quite 
a  reputation  as  a  breeder  of  Kentucky  sad- 
dlers. In  1864  he  was  married  near  Dan- 
ville, Kentucky,  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Bruce, 
who  was  born  there  November  2,  1842,  a 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Mary  E.  (Pope) 
Bruce.  Seven  children  were  born  of  this 
union,  but  one  son  died  at  the  age  of  five 
years.  Those  living  are:  John  H.,  James 
G.,  Mary  E.,  Bruce,  Fannie  M.  and  Reu- 
ben S. 

During  his  infancy,  John  H.  Bright,  our 
subject,  was  brought  by  his  parents  to  Mc- 
Lean county,  and  he  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  Normal  and  the  State 
Normal  University,  completing  a  three 
years'  course  in  1888.  He  remained  on  the 
home  farm  with  his  father  until  he  was 
married.  May  4,  1888,  to  Miss  Mary  E. 
Irvin,  of  Normal,  a  daughter  of  Joseph 
Irvin.  He  then  removed  to  Pomona,  Los 
Angeles  county,  California,  and  was  with 
the  Pomona  Wine  Company  for  two  years, 


rising  to  the  position  of  foreman  of  a  de- 
partment in  that  time.  On  account  of  the 
failing  of  his  wife's  parents,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Bright  returned  to  Bioomington  at  the  end 
of  that  time,  and  as  W^illiam  Irvin  was  then 
superintendent  of  the  street  rraiload  com- 
pany of  this  city,  our  subject  entered  the 
employ  of  the  same,  with  which  he  was 
connected  until  June  i,  1891.  He  was  then 
offered  his  present  position  by  John  T.  Lil- 
lard,  president  of  the  Manufactured  Ice  & 
Cold  Storage  Company,  and  for  the  past 
eight  years  has  efficiently  and  satisfactorily 
served  as  superintendent  of  the  same.  The 
plant  has  a  capacity  of  twenty-five  tons  of 
ice  per  day  and  the  company  finds  a  ready 
sale  for  all  they  can  manufacture.  Here 
employment  is  furnished  sixteen  or  eighteen 
men  when  running  a  full  force,  and  of  these 
Mr.  Bright  has  charge. 

Our  subject  and  his  wife  have  an  inter- 
esting family  of  three  children,  namely: 
Zua,  William  M.  and  Marie.  The  parents 
both  hold  membership  in  the  Christian 
church  of  Normal,  and  are  held  in  high  re- 
spect and  esteem  by  a  large  circle  of  friends 
and  acquaintances.  Politically,  Mr.  Bright 
is  identified  with  the  Democracy,  and  so- 
cially is  a  member  of  Etna  Lodge,  No.  107, 
K.  P.,  of  Pomona,  California. 


PHILIP  W.  RHODECAP,  deceased, 
was  a  well-known  citizen  of  Danvers 
township,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  and 
stock  raising  for  many  years.  He  was  a 
native  of  Virginia,  and  was  born  June  12, 
1 82 1.  In  early  childhood  he  moved  with 
his  parents  to  Indiana,  where  his  boyhood 
and  youth  were  spent,  and  in  the  common 
schools  of  that  state  he  received  his  educa- 
tion.     He   learned   the   carpenter'?   trade, 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


S23 


which  he  followed  for  a  time,  and  about 
1839,  came  to  McLean  county,  and  made 
his  home  with  his  uncle,  Mahlon  Wilson, 
with  whom  he  remained  until  his  marriage, 
July  6,  1843,  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Ludwick,  a 
native  of  Ohio,  born  March  23,  1S25.  They 
became  the  parents  of  eight  children:  Can- 
dace  C,  who  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-two 
years,  was  the  wife  of  A.  L.  Bourquin. 
She  was  the  mother  of  four  children.  Mary 
B.  is  the  wife  of  Andrew  Cook,  of  Danvers, 
and  they  have  five  children.  Edward  R. 
died  at  the  age  of  three  years.  James  F.  is 
now  living  in  Mississippi.  Louvina  is  mak- 
ing her  home  in  Woodruff,  Illinois.  Henry 
M.  died  in  childhood,  as  also  William  C. 
and  George  S. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Rhodecap  moved 
to  Peoria,  Illinois,  where  he  resumed  work 
at  his  trade,  but  only  remained  there,  how- 
ever, a  comparativelj"  short  time,  and  re- 
turning made  his  home  in  Danvers  town- 
ship until  his  death,  January  2,  1899.  His 
wife  died  many  years  previous,  September 
13,  1869.  He  was  quite  a  prominent 
Democrat  of  his  township,  and  for  very  many 
years  served  as  constable,  and  for  twelve 
years  was  a  justice  of  the  peace.  An  act- 
ive and  influential  member  of  the  Cumber- 
land Presbyterian  ehurch,  he  took  great  in- 
terest in  its  work,  serving  his  church  as  an 
elder  for  many  years.  He  also  took  great 
interest  in  the  Sunday  school  work,  and 
was  a  teacher  for  many  years.  A  true 
Christian  man,  he  died  as  he  lived,  full  of 
faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 


SCOTT  TRIMMER,  an  energetic  and 
successful  farmer  residing  on  section  13, 
Hudson  township,  was  born  in  that  town- 
ship June  13,  1S47,  and  is  a  representative 


of  one  of  the  old  and  honored  families  of 
McLean  county,  his  parents  being  John  and 
Rebecca  (Hinthorn)  Trimmer.  The  father 
was  born  on  the  i6th  of  May,  1823,  in 
Hunterdon  county.  New  Jersey,  of  which 
state  the  grandfather,  John  Trimmer,  Sr. , 
was  also  a  native.  In  1826  the  latter 
brought  his  family  to  Illinois  and  was  one 
of  the  first  to  locate  in  McLean  county. 
For  a  year  or  two  he  made  his  home  in 
what  is  now  Towanda  township,  and  then 
removed  to  Money  Creek  township,  where 
he  resided  until  his  death. 

Being  only  three  years  old  when  brought 
to  this  county,  John  Trimmer,  Jr.,  here 
grew  to  manhood,  and  in  Money  Creek 
township,  he  was  married,  July  2,  1846,  by 
Rev.  James  Bishop,  to  Miss  Rebecca  Hin- 
thorn. After  his  marriage  he  located  on 
section  24,  Hudson  township,  where  he 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  engaged  in 
agricultural  pursuits,  dying  there  August  10, 
1882.  His  wife,  who  still  survives  him, 
now  makes  her  home  in  Normal.  Of  the 
children  born  to  them  our  subject  is  the 
oldest:  Jay,  born  March  17,  1S49,  is  a  resi- 
dent of  Gibson  City;  George,  born  March 
28,  1851,  died  April  20,  1863;  Samuel,  born 
June  I,  1853,  is  a  resident  of  Seneca,  Kan- 
sas; Stephen,  born  August  i,  1855,  died 
August  20,  1892;  Amanda  E.,  born  March 
10,  i860,  died  April  28,  1863;  Daniel  T., 
November  27,  1865,  lives  in  Exeter,  Ne- 
braska; and  Etta,  born  September  8,  1S67, 
is  the  wife  of  Albert  Thomas,  of  Pleasant 
Hill,  Illinois. 

Upon  the  home  farm  Scott  Trimmer 
grew  to  manhood,  and  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools.  He  was  married  Novem- 
ber 20,  1873,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being 
Miss  Catherine  A.  Forney,  who  was  born  in 
Somerset    county,    Pennsylvania,    June    4, 


524 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


1849,  a  daughter  of  Michael  and  Rachel 
(Horner)  Forney,  also  natives  of  the  Key- 
stone state,  in  whose  family  were  ten  chil- 
dren. Although  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Trimmer 
have  no  children  of  their  own,  out  of  the 
kindness  of  their  hearts  they  have  given  a 
home  to  five,  including  Pearl  C.  and  Enos 
P.,  who  are  still  with  them. 

Before  his  marriage  Mr.  Trimmer  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of 
land  where  he  now  lives,  and  has  since 
added  to  it  until  he  has  a  fine  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  ninety  acres  on  section  13, 
Hudson  township,  and  also  has  an  additional 
tract  of  twelve  acres  on  section  18,  Money 
Creek  township.  He  has  made  most  of  the 
improvements  upon  his  place,  and  in  con- 
nection with  general  farming  he  carries  on 
stock-raising  and  feeding  to  a  considerable 
e.xtent,  keeping  a  good  grade  of  all  kinds  of 
stock.  For  the  success  that  he  has  achieved 
in  life  he  deserves  great  credit,  for  he  has 
gained  a  comfortable  home  and  competence 
by  his  own  good  management  and  the  assist- 
ance of  his  estimable  wife.  She  is  a  con- 
sistent member  of  the  German  Baptist 
church.  In  politics  Mr.  Trimmer  is  a  Re- 
publican, and  has  served  for  five  years  as 
school  director  in  his  district. 


FRED  HARTLEY,  who  is  now  living  a 
retired  life  in  the  city  of  Bloomington, 
was  born  in  the  city  of  Santiago,  Chili,  South 
America,  January  1 1,  1833,  and  is  the  son  of 
William  and  Doloris  (Conde)  Hartley.  The 
former  was  born  in  Yorkshire,  England, 
January  4,  1804,  and  when  a  young  man  left 
his  native  country,  going  to  South  America 
and  locating  in  Santiago,  where  he  engaged 
in  the  hardware  business.  He  there  married 
Doloris  Conde,   who  was  of  Spanish  origin. 


About  two  months  after  the  birth  of  our 
subject,  he  moved  with  his  family  to  Valpa- 
raiso, where  he  was  in  business  for  about 
nine  years.  He  then  visited  his  native  land, 
and  on  his  return  sent  our  subject  to  Eng- 
land to  be  educated.  Making  his  home 
with  an  uncle,  a  brother  of  his  father,  who 
was  residing  in  Halifax,  Yorkshire,  he  at- 
tended school  at  Walton-on-the-Hill,  which 
was  about  three  miles  from  Liverpool. 
The  Hartley  family  was  an  old  and  well 
known  family  in  Yorkshire,  where  many  of 
its  members  were  engaged  in  merchadizing 
and  manufacturing. 

Young  Hartley  attended  school  at  Wal- 
ton-on-the-  Hill,  for  about  three  years,  when 
his  father  and  family  came  to  England  and 
made  their  home  in  Liverpool.  Meeting 
his  parents  in  that  city,  he  remained  with 
them  and  there  continued  his  studies  until 
he  was  sixteen  years  old.  The  family  came 
to  the  United  States  and  located  in  Alton, 
Illinois.  There  the  death  of  the  mother 
occurred,  and  soon  after  the  father  removed 
to  St.  Louis,  and  later  returned  to  Valpa- 
raiso, South  America,  but  subsequently 
moved  to  San  Francisco,  California,  where 
he  died  in  November,  1865,  leaving  one 
daughter,  Mrs.  Lovinga,  living  in  Bloom- 
ington, and  one  daughter,  Mrs.  Dimmock, 
in  St.  Louis.  The  husband  of  the  latter  is 
on  the  staff  of  the  St.  Louis  Republican. 
Two  children  died  in  Valparaiso. 

While  residing  at  Alton,  our  subject 
learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  at  which  he 
worked  in  that  city  for  nearly  nine  years. 
He  married  in  Alton,  September  17,  1854, 
Miss  Mary  Katherine  Wilson  of  that  city. 
By  this  union  five  children  were  born: 
Bernard  H,  is  now  living  in  St.  Louis,  Mis- 
souri. Fannie  is  the  wife  of  A.  G.  Haw- 
ley,  of  Houston,  Texas,  and   they  have  one 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


525 


daughter,  Edna.  Cora  is  the  wife  of  E.  L. 
Hawiey,  of  Rochester,  New  York,  Doloris, 
who  is  a  twin  sister  of  Cora,  married  Will- 
iam T.  Hemstead,  by  whom  she  has  five 
sons,  Robert,  Albert,  Bernard,  Harry  and 
Earle.  They  reside  in  Bloomington.  Ivis 
married  Claude  VanVelzer,  and  they  have 
one  son,  Clarence.  They  also  make  their 
home  in  Bloomington. 

In  1857,  Mr.  Hartley  came  to  Bloom- 
ington, and  for  a  short  time  worked  at  his 
trade,  and  was  then  for  thirteen  years  man- 
ager of  a  livery  stable.  He  then  resumed 
his  trade,  but  had  been  at  work  compara- 
tively a  short  time  when  he  fell  from  a 
building  on  the  square,  and  the  next  day 
read  his  obituary  notice  in  the  paper.  After 
his  recovery,  he  was  employed  on  the  police 
force  of  the  city  for  a  time,  and  then  en- 
gaged in  teaming.  In  1886  he  gave  out 
physically,  and  it  was  predicted  that  he 
never  would  be  any  better.  He  has  since 
served  as  tax  collector  of  the  city  for  three 
terms,  but  is  living  practically  a  retired  life. 
Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  Evergreen 
City  Lodge,  No.  265,  I.  O.  O.  P.,  of  which 
he  has  been  permanent  secretary  for  fif- 
teen years.  From  the  organization  of  the 
party  in  this  state,  he  has  been  a  consistent 
Republican.  Socially  he  is  held  in  high  es- 
teem. 


LOUIS  E.  SKAGGS,  an  enterprising 
farmer  residing  on  section  35,  Danvers 
township,  is  a  native  of  McLean  county, 
and  was  born  about  one  mile  from  his  pres- 
ent residence,  August  i8,  1859.  He  is  a 
son  of  Dr.  J.  M.  and  Sarah  A.  (Young) 
Skaggs,  both  of  whom  are  natives  of  West 
Virginia.  The  paternal  grandparents,  John 
and    Sarah  (Campbell)    Skaggs,   were  also 


natives  of  West  Virginia.  Robert  Camp- 
bell, the  father  of  Sarah  Campbell,  was  a 
native  of  Ireland,  who  came  to  the  United 
States  when  a  young  man,  starting  in  life  as 
a  day  laborer,  and  dying  worth  four  hun- 
dred thousand  dollars.  The  Skaggs  are  of 
Welsh  descent  and  were  early  settlers  of 
West  Virginia.  John  Skaggs,  the  paternal 
grandfather,  died  at  the  age  of  ninety- 
seven  years.  His  wife  lived  to  be  eighty 
years  old.  Of  their  family  of  nine  chil- 
dren, but  two  now  survive,  Dr.  J.  M.  and 
Mary  C. ,  wife  of  James  Minner,  of  Browne 
county,  Kansas. 

Dr.  J.  M.  Skaggs  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  of  West  Virginia,  and  re- 
mained at  home  assisting  in  farm  work 
until  twenty-two  years  of  age,  when  he 
studied  chemistry,  and  practiced  for  a  time 
in  his  native  county.  In  185 1  he  married 
Sarah  A.  Young,  daughter  of  James  Young, 
of  West  Virginia,  and  by  this  union  there 
were  eight  children:  Elizabeth,  who  mar- 
ried Henry  L.  Bell,  but  died  at  the  age  of 
twenty-eight  years;  Andrew,  H.,  who  died 
when  twenty-three  years  old:  Amanda  S., 
who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-four  years  old ; 
Louis  E.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Or- 
lando P,  a  farmer  of  Danvers  township; 
Sarah  E. ,  who  married  Samuel  Willerton, 
of  Danvers  township;  Martha  C,  who  mar- 
ried C.  S.  Jarrett,  of  Dale  township;  and 
John  F.,  of  Danvers  township.  In  1875 
the  mother  of  these  children  died,  and  for 
his  second  wife  the  Doctor  married  Eliza- 
beth Little,  a  native  of  Ohio. 

After  coming  to  McLean  county,  in 
1857,  Dr.  Skaggs  purchased  one  hundred 
and  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Danvers  township, 
and  as  his  means  increased,  added  to  his 
possessions,  until  he  has  now  some  nine 
hundred  and  fifty  acres.      In  July,  1895,  he 


526 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


moved  to  the  village  of  Danvers,  and  is  now 
living  a  retired  life.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Democrat,  and  religiously  a  Baptist.  He 
has  served  as  deacon  in  the  church  for  over 
fort}'  years,  and  has  been  quite  active  in 
Sunday-school  work,  and  is  now  superin- 
tendent of  the  Baptist  Sunday-school. 


LOUIS  E.  SKAGGS,  an  enterprising 
farmer,  residing  on  section  35,  Danvers 
township,  is  a  native  of  McLean  county, 
and  was  born  about  one  mile  from  his  pres- 
ent residence,  August  18,  1859.  He  is  a 
son  of  Dr.  J.  M.  and  Sarah  A.  (Young) 
Skaggs,  of  whom  mention  is  made  else- 
where in  this  volume.  In  the  district 
schools  of  Danvers  township  he  received 
his  primary  education,  which  was  supple- 
mented by  a  three-years'  course  at  Denni- 
son  University,  Granville,  Ohio.  On  com- 
pleting his  course  at  the  university,  he  spent 
one  year  in  traveling  through  the  west,  vis- 
iting Utah,  Colorado,  Oregon,  California 
and  Washington,  but  spending  most  of  his 
time  in  Fresno,  California. 

After  his  return  home  Mr.  Skaggs  was 
married  April  7,  1881,  to  Miss  Charity 
Vance,  who  was  born  in  Woodford  county, 
Illinois,  December  19,  1859,  and  daughter 
of  Peter  H.  Vance,  a  sketch  of  whom  ap- 
pears on  another  page  of  this  work.  After 
his  marriage,  he  commenced  farming  in 
Danvers  township,  renting  eighty  acres  of 
land  from  his  father  for  a  couple  years. 
He  then  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  David  Stephenson,  of  Danvers, 
Illinois,  to  which  he  immediately  removed, 
and  where  he  has  since  continued  to  reside, 
engaged  in  stock-raising  and  farming.  For 
three  years,  however,  he  was  engaged  in 
buying  and  shipping  stock,  in  which  line  he 


met  with  a  reasonable  degree  of  success. 
Since  abandoning  the  latter  business,  he 
has  given  special  attention  to  stock-raising, 
and  feeds  and  ships  the  stock  to  Chicago 
each  year. 

Mr.  Skaggs  has  given  considerable  at- 
tention to  local  politics,  and  gives  his  sup- 
port to  the  Republican  party,  his  first  presi- 
dential vote  being  cast  for  James  A.  Gar- 
field. He  has  served  as  township  school 
trustee  for  fifteen  consecutive  years,  and  has 
also  held  the  office  of  commissioner  of  high- 
ways for  twelve  years.  He  is  still  serving  in 
the  latter  office,  and  has  made  something  of 
a  specialty  of  good  roads.  As  an  evidence 
of  their  confidence  and  trust  in  his  good 
judgment,  he  has  been  elected  and  served 
six  years  as  president  of  the  Highway  Com- 
missioners Association  of  McLean  county. 
He  was  appointed  a  delegate  by  Governar 
Tanner  to  the  International  Farmers'  Con- 
gress of  North  America,  at  Fort  Worth, 
Texas,  in  which  were  delegates  from  Canada 
and  the  South  American  countries,  as  well 
as  the  United  States.  In  that  congress  he 
took  an  active  part,  and  was  greatly  bene- 
fited by  attendance  and  exchange  of  ideas  on 
the  part  of  those  in  attendance.  Mr.  Skaggs 
is  also  president  of  the  McLean  County 
Farmers'  Institute,  in  which  he  is  also  quite 
active,  and  one  of  its  most  influential  mem- 
bers. Religiously  he  is  identified  with  the 
Baptist  church  of  Danvers,  of  which  his 
wife  is  also  a  member. 

While  comparatively  a  young  man,  Mr. 
Skaggs  has  shown  himself  thoroughly  enter- 
prising, ready  to  take  hold  and  advocate 
anything  that  will  best  advance  the  interests 
of  the  farming  community.  He  is  a  farmer 
from  choice,  having  a  love  for  his  calling, 
and  believes  there  is  nothing  too  good  for 
those  following  such  an  honorable  life.     An 


THE    BIOGR.\PHICAL   RECORD. 


527 


educated  farmer,  one  who  is  thoroughly 
posted  on  the  various  issues  of  the  day,  can 
exert  an  influence  as  great  as  one  in  any 
other  calling  or  profession,  and  he  believes 
in  the  farmer  securing  his  just  rights.  He 
is  well  known  throughout  the  county  and 
state,  and  is  justly  regarded  as  one  of  the 
rising  men. 


GEORGE  W.  FREEMAN,  who  is  now 
living  a  retired  life  in  the  city  of  Bloom- 
ington,  was  for  many  years  one  of  the  best 
known  farmers  of  McLean  county.  He 
was  born  in  the  city  of  Oswego,  New  York, 
December  27,  1827,  and  is  the  son  of 
Moores  and  Orinda  (Janes)  Freeman,  and 
the  grandson  of  Thomas  Freeman,  who  was 
a  Revolutionary  patriot,  of  whom  many 
reminiscences  have  been  handed  down.  Of 
his  grandfather  our  subject  himself  writes: 

"Our  grandfather,  Thomas  Freeman, 
of  Woodbridge  township.  County  of  Middle- 
sex, State  of  New  Jersey,  was  a  Revolu- 
tionary patriot.  He  was  scout  for  Wash- 
ington while  at  Valley  Forge  and  Scotch 
Plains.  While  he  was  from  home  the 
British  and  Hessian  soldiers  often  pillaged 
his  house,  and  my  uncle,  John  Freeman, 
the  eldest  of  the  family,  often  told  me  he 
well  remembered  the  red-coated  soldiers 
driving  away  all  their  cattle  to  their  boats 
on  the  Raritan  river  for  the  use  of  the  Brit- 
ish army  on  Staten  Island.  Our  grand- 
father was  twice  a  prisoner  under  the  no- 
torious Cunningham  and  confined  in  the  old 
Sugar  House,  now  covered  by  the  Brooklyn 
bridge,  ih  New  York  city.  While  there  he 
was  often  obliged  to  knock  down  his  own 
neighbor  for  attempting  to  steal  his  rations, 

"Our  grandfather  was  a  waterman  and 
ran  a  market  shop  which    he   owned  before 


and  after  the  revolution,  consequently  he 
was  a  strong,  athletic  man.  When  he  was 
exchanged  and  came  home  from  the  prison 
he  was  so  covered  with  lice  that  he  would 
not  go  into  his  house  until  he  had  washed 
himself.  This  he  did  out  in  the  bushes 
near  his  residence,  and  obtained  fresh  cloth- 
ing, which  was  brought  to  him  by  his  faith- 
ful old  slave,  Sukey.  While  he  was  at 
home  this  time  he  slept  for  six  weeks  in  an 
out-door  cellar.  His  Tory  neighbors  would 
see  him  about  his  place  in  the  day  time  and 
inform  the  British,  who  would  come  and 
ransack  his  house  and  carry  away  provi- 
sions and  abuse  our  grandmother  because 
they  could  not  find  him. 

"But  by  and  by  he  became  careless 
about  his  safety,  and  the  third  night  he 
slept  in  his  house  he  was  taken  prisoner  and 
sent  on  board  the  prison-ship  near  Wall- 
about,  in  New  York  harbor.  It  was  a  ter- 
rible old  hulk,  and  he  suffered  greatly. 

' '  Before  he  had  been  there  two  weeks,  he 
escaped  one  night  by  swimming  away, 
reaching  Long  Island  and  traveling  nights 
and  lying  concealed  in  the  daytime.  He 
managed  to  cross  to  Staten  Island  and 
thence  to  Perth  Amboy,  reaching  his  home 
in  the  night.  Concealing  himself  in  the 
daytime,  he  managed  to  escape  the  vigilant 
eyes  of  his  tory  neighbors  until  peace  was 
declared. 

"  During  this  time  his  house  was  raided 
by  soldiers  under  a  Hessian  officer  in  search 
of  forage  and  plunder.  He  was  in  bed 
with  our  grandmother  when  the  house  was 
raided.  He  slipped  out  of  bed  catching 
his  small  clothes  and  hid  behind  a  door 
which  opened  near  the  head  of  the  bed. 
The  brutal  officer  routed  out  our  grand- 
mother and  asked  for  her  husband.  She 
said    he  was  away  from    home,   but  as  his 


S28 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


tory  neighbors  had  seen  him  around  that 
day,  the  officer  would  not  believe  her.  He 
felt  in  the  bed  and  found  two  warm  places 
and  then  in  broken  English  upbraided  her 
and  said  she  lied. 

"And  so  she  did  lie,  but  I  guess  she  was 
forgiven  for  that  sin  under  the  circum- 
stances. Grandfather  was  a  great  partisan 
and  so  active  they  were  determined  to  cap- 
ture him.  Even  after  all  the  soldiers  had 
left  with  their  plunder  this  officer  remained, 
as  he  had  been  ordered  to  capture  him,  and 
once  more  coming  into  the  bedroom  and 
feeling  in  the  bed,  he  muttered  quite  an 
oath  in  Dutch  and  took  hold  of  the  door 
and  there  saw  grandfather  in  his  shirt  with 
his  clothes  in  his  hands.  He  drew  his 
sword  and  said,  'You  are  my  prisoner.' 
He  commanded  him  to  come  along  with  him 
at  once.  He  was  obliged  to  obey  by  force 
of  arms  and  had  to  put  on  his  small  clothes 
as  he  went  along,  grandmother  crying  and 
begging  his  captor  for  a  little  mercy.  This 
diversion  enabled  him  to  put  on  his  cloth- 
ing and  was  prodded  by  the  officer  with  his 
sword  and  made  to  march  before  him 
towards  his  troop,  who  were  quite  a  distance 
in  advance  and  nearly  out  of  sight. 

"  As  grandfather  had  been  three  times  a 
prisoner  and  knew  all  the  horrors  of  prison 
life  under  the  13ritish,  he  was  determined 
not  to  go  there  again  if  he  could  avoid  it. 

"  As  he  was  being  prodded  by  the  officer's 
sword  to  hasten  his  tardy  steps,  he  passed 
by  an  old  woodshed  with  the  stakes  in  it. 
He  seized  one  of  them,  and  turning,  stood 
on  the  defensive.  The  officer  endeavored 
to  cut  him  down  with  his  sword,  but  our 
grandfather  was  a  sailor  and  knew  how  to 
handle  a  handspike  or  cudgel,  and  he  warded 
off  the  blows  of  the  officer's  sword  as  best 
he  could,  saying  the  light  horse  that  Wash- 


ington sent  out  of  his  camp  every  morning 
to  pick  up  any  stragglers  from  the  British 
army,  would  soon  be  along.  After  skir- 
mishing some  time,  with  grandmother 
wringing  her  hands  and  crying,  our  grand- 
father said  to  the  officer:  '  There  they  come 
now.'  This  caused  the  officer  to  turn  his 
head,  when  grandfather,  finding  him  off  his 
guard,  hit  him  on  his  head  and  felled  him 
insensible  to  the  ground. 

"  Then  grandfather  took  off  his  garters 
and  bound  the  officer's  hands  behind  him, 
took  the  officer's  sword,  and  stood  guard 
over  him  till  he  recovered  consciousness. 
Then  he  made  the  officer  march  before  him 
to  the  house  and  kept  him  there  until  the 
light  horse  cavalry  came  along  and  took  the 
prisoner  to  Washington's  camp. 

"  At  one  time,  our  grandfather,  with  an- 
other patriot,  was  sent  by  Washington  as  a 
spy  to  the  British  fleet  in  New  York  harbor 
to  ascertain  when  they  intended  to  attack 
Amboy.  They  pretended  to  be  tories, 
loaded  a  rowboat  with  a  few  sheep  they  had 
killed,  and  wanted  to  trade  them  off.  They 
had  their  stories  well  rehearsed  before  they 
entered  on  the  expedition.  When  they 
came  within  hailing  distance,  they  were 
ordered  to  come  to  the  vessel's  side,  and 
his  neighbor  was  ordered  below  and  ex- 
amined by  the  officers  in  charge  of  the  ship. 
After  he  came  up,  he  was  also  put  under 
guard,  and  our  grandfather  was  taken  below 
and  examined. 

"The  examination  was  satisfactory  and 
they  accomplished  their  mission,  which  was 
to  ascertain  the  time  the  British  were  going 
to  attack  Amboy.  They  returned  to  Wash- 
ington and  reported,  but  as  his  troops  were 
so  few  he  was  not  able  to  protect  Amboy, 
and  it  was  raided  at  the  time  they  said  it 
would    be  and   nearly   destroyed.      Several 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


529 


years  after  peace  was  declared,  grandfather 
was  in  New  York,  near  the  old  F"ly  market, 
when  a  foreigner  rushed  up  to  him,  hugged 
him,  and  said  in  broken  English:  "You 
saved  my  life  when  you  might  have  killed 
me  with  my  own  sword."  He  also  made 
many  demonstrations  of  gratitude.  This 
man  was  the  same  Hessian  officer  who  was 
his  prisoner  during  the  war.  These,  in  brief, 
are  some  of  the  traditions  handed  down  to 
me  by  my  father  and  his  eldest  brother. 
Uncle  John  Freeman,  who  died  in  his 
eighty-ninth  year  and  was  buried  in  Wood- 
bridge  churchyard,  where  lie  five  genera- 
tions of  the  Freeman  family,  whose  an- 
cestors came  from  England  prior  to  Queen 
Anne's  war  and  settled  in  Woodbridge,  New 
Jersey  and  vicinity." 

Moores  Freeman  w-as  born  in  New 
Jersey,  near  Perth  Amboy,  March  25, 
1795,  and  with  his  father,  Thomas  Free- 
man, of  whom  mention  has  been  made, 
moved  to  Herkimer  county.  New  York, 
near  Richfield  Springs,  his  father  there  en- 
gaging in  business  and  in  trading.  In  that 
county  he  grew  to  manhood  and  married. 
His  wife  dying,  he  later  was  married,  near 
Syracuse,  to  Miss  Orinda  Janes,  who  was  a 
relative  to  Bishop  Janes.  She  was  born 
January  5,  1799.  They  later  moved  to 
Oswego,  New  York,  where  he  engaged  in 
contracting  and  building.  From  Oswego 
he  moved  with  his  family  to  Wolcott, 
Wayne  county,  New  York,  and  continued 
contracting,  and  there  his  death  occurred 
in  August,  1838.  He  was  an  earnest  and 
devoted  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  and  died  in  the  faith.  His  wife 
survived  him  many  years,  later  removing 
to  Illinois,  where  her  death  occurred  in 
i860.  They  were  the  parents  of  six 
children. 


Mrs.  Orinda  ( Janes )  Freeman  was 
the  daughter  of  Timothy  Janes,  who  was  a 
native  of  Massachusetts,  but  was  educated 
in  Connecticut,  and  later  moved  to  Ver- 
mont, where  she,  an  only  child,  was  born. 
From  Vermont  he  moved  to  New  York  and 
located  near  Syracuse,  where  he  engaged  in 
contracting  in  partnership  with  his  future 
son-in-law,  the  father  of  our  subject.  They 
had  large  contracts  for  putting  in  locks  in 
the  Erie  canal,  and  followed  the  canal 
west. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  four 
years  old  when  his  parents  moved  to  Wol- 
cott, New  York,  and  in  that  village  he  re- 
ceived his  primary  education.  His  father 
died  before  he  was  eleven  years  old.  He 
early  began  life  for  himself,  working  in 
various  places  and  at  different  kinds  of  em- 
ployment. For  a  time  he  was  at  Clyde, 
New  York,  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
carriage  laces,  which  soon  went  out  of 
style.  Starting  west,  with  a  view  of  better- 
ing his  condition  in  life,  he  stopped  at 
Findlay,  Ohio,  in  184S,  and  there  found 
employment  at  railroading. 

On  the  14th  of  November,  1850,  Mr. 
Freeman  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Martha  Anderson,  daughter  of  Samuel  An- 
derson, a  farmer  near  Findlay,  Ohio,  who 
was  born  in  the  north  of  Ireland,  of  Scottish 
parents,  and  who  ran  away  from  his  native 
country  when  seventeen  years  old  on  account 
of  the  rebellion  then  in  progress,  coming 
direct  to  the  United  States.  By  this  union 
eight  children  were  born,  as  follows:  Doug- 
las E.,  now  a  farmer  of  Funk's  Grove  town- 
ship, who  is  married  and  has  one  son; 
Josephine,  now  Mrs.  LaBarr,  residing  near 
Wichita,  Kansas,  and  who  is  the  mother  of 
three  sons;  John  A.,  a  farmer  and  large 
stock    raiser    of    DeWitt    county,    Illinois; 


530 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Schuyler  B.,  who  resides  on  our  subject's 
farm  in  Bureau  county,  and  who  is  married 
and  has  three  daughters;  George  M.,  mar- 
ried, and  with  his  wife  and  three  children 
living  in  Bloomingtan;  Owen  C,  living  in 
Waukegan,  Illinois;  Calvin  A.,  living  on  the 
home  farm,  and  who  is  married  and  has  four 
children;  and  Fred  V.,  living  in  Chicago, 
and  who  is  a  railroad  man. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Freeman  re- 
mained in  Findlay,  Ohio,  until  1S53,  when 
he  went  by  the  overland  route  to  California, 
obtaining  his  outfit  at  St.  Joseph,  Missouri. 
When  about  one-third  of  the  distance  had 
been  covered,  he  sold  his  outfit,  and  in  com- 
pany with  Mr.  Buckley,  an  ex-sherifi  of 
Hancock  county,  Ohio,  spent  many  days  in 
hunting,  bringing  up  at  some  camp  of 
emigrants  at  night.  He  left  Findlay  March 
5,  1853,  and  St.  Joseph  May  3,  and  arrived 
at  their  destination  September  16  of  the 
same  year.  He  first  stopped  on  Feather 
river,  at  the  foot  of  the  mountains,  and  near 
Marysville,  and  at  once  engaged  in  mining, 
at  which  he  made  considerable  money, 
though  he  lost  some  in  looking  for  better 
places.  He  remained  in  California  until 
July,  1855,  when  he  returned  home  by  way 
of  the  Isthmus  of  Panama  and  New  York, 
but  on  the  way  visited  South  America. 

Soon  after  his  arrival  at  Findlay,  he 
made  up  his  mind  to  come  to  Illinois  and 
make  this  his  future  home.  Selling  his 
property  in  Findlay,  he  came  to  McLean 
county  and  settled  in  Randolph  Grove,  Ran- 
dolph township,  where,  after  renting  for  one 
year,  he  purchased  some  unimproved  land 
and  began  his  prosperous  career,  engaging 
in  general  farming  and  stock-raising.  He 
went  through  the  panic  of  1857,  when  corn 
only  brought  ten  cents  a  bushel,  wheat 
thirty  cents,  and  all  kinds  of  farm  produce 


was  in  the  same  proportion.  He  pulled 
through  and  then  went  on  to  marked  suc- 
cess, and  at  different  times  has  owned  a 
good  deal  of  land  in  the  township.  His 
home  farm  in  that  township  consisted  of  two 
hundred  and  fifty-five  acres,  in  addition  to 
which  he  owns  a  half  section  in  Bureau 
county,  Illinois,  which  is  under  the  highest 
state  of  cultivation  and  well  stocked. 

Mr.  Freeman  remained  on  his  farm  in 
Randolph  township  until  1880,  when,  on 
account  of  impaired  heath,  he  rented  the 
same  and  moved  to  Bloomington,  where  he 
now  resides.  Since  coming  to  the  city  he 
has  invested  somewhat  in  real  estate,  and 
has  owned  a  number  of  dwelling  houses  and 
other  property.  Wishing  something  to  do, 
he  at  one  time  engaged  in  the  grocery  busi- 
ness, but  not  being  congenial  to  him,  he 
sold  out,  and  with  the  exception  of  looking 
after  his  farms  and  other  property,  has  lived 
a  retired  life. 

Politically,  Mr.  Freeman  is  a  Democrat, 
and  while  never  an  office  seeker  has  held  a 
number  of  local  positions.  While  residing 
in  Randolph  township,  he  served  several 
terms  as  a  member  of  the  board  of  super- 
visors, and  was  township  collector  for  some 
years.  During  the  civil  war,  he  offered  his 
services  to  his  country,  but  on  examination 
was  rejected,  on  account  of  his  health.  He 
has  always  borne  a  good  name  among  his 
neighbors,  and  has  ever  had  their  confidence. 
This  was  shown  in  his  selection  as  conserva- 
tor for  two  large  estates,  and  also  in  his  ap- 
pointment as  administrator  of  several  es- 
tates. It  is  needless  to  say  the  duties  de- 
volving upon  him  in  these  various  positions 
were  honestly  and  conscientiously  dis- 
charged. While  residing  on  the  farm,  he 
was  a  member  of  the  Randolph  Grove  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church,  in  which  he  served 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


531 


as  steward  and  trustee  the  greater  part  of 
the  time,  and  also  as  superintendent  of  the 
Sunday-school  for  a  time.  He  is  now  a 
member  of  the  Grace  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  Bloomington,  in  which  he  has  served 
as  steward  and  trustee,  and  is  now  serving 
in  the  latter  office.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  building  committee  in  the  erection  of 
the  present  fine  church,  which  is  one  of  the 
finest  in  the  countr}'.  He  is  a  man  of  good 
business  ability,  and  while  conservative,  be- 
lieves in  doing  everything  well.  Mrs.  Free- 
man is  also  a  member  and  worker  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  both  are 
held  in  the  verj-  highest  esteem,  being  true 
and  faithful  in  whatever  position  called  on 
to  fill. 


HCLARENXE  BALDRIDGE,  the  pres- 
ent efficient  and  popular  supervisor  of 
White  Oak  township,  is  a  prominent  busi- 
ness man  of  Carlock,  where  as  a  member 
of  the  firm  of  O'Hara,  Baldridge  &  Com- 
pany, he  is  quite  extensively  engaged  in 
dealing  in  grain  and  coal.  In  business  af- 
fairs he  is  energetic,  prompt  and  notably 
reliable,  and  his  success  is  due  to  his  untir- 
ing labop  and  perseverance,  directed  by  an 
evenly  balanced  mind  and  honorable  busi- 
ness principles. 

Mr.  Baldridge  is  one  of  McLean  county's 
honored  sons,  and  a  worthy  representative 
of  one  of  her  most  prominent  pioneer  fami- 
lies. He  was  born  November  24,  1868,  in 
White  Oak  township,  on  the  farm  belong- 
ing to  his  grandlather,  William  Baldridge. 
His  parents,  William  J.  and  Caroline 
(Wright)  Baldridge,  were  both  natives  of 
Adams  county,  Ohio,  the  former  born  Oc- 
tober 13,  1839,  the  latter  February  6,  1849. 
Our  subject's  paternal    grandfather  was  a 


native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  in  early  life  re- 
moved to  Ohio,  where  he  made  his  home 
until  coming  to  McLean  county,  Illinois,  in 
1852.  Here  he  continued  the  occupation 
of  farming,  to  which  he  had  devoted  his 
whole  life,  and  died  upon  his  farm  in  White 
Oak  township,  March  15,  1899,  honored 
and  respected  by  all  who  knew  him.  His 
wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Margaret 
Kane,  died  in  1867.  All  of  their  children 
are  still  living,  the  youngest  being  now  fifty- 
six  years  of  age.  In  order  of  birth  they  are 
as  follows:  Mary  J.,  widow  of  William 
Ramsey,  of  White  Oak  township;  Samuel, 
who  is  now  living  retired  in  Monmouth,  Illi- 
nois; Martha  A.,  who  first  married  Robert 
Patterson,  and  after  his  death  wedded  Allan 
Hart,  also  deceased;  James  W. ,  a  ranch- 
man, of  Davenport.  Texas;  William  J., 
father  of  our  subject;  and  George  T.,  a 
farmer  of  White  Oak  township. 

William  J.  Baldridge,  our  subject's  fa- 
ther, came  with  his. parents  to  this  county 
during  his  youth,  and  after  reaching  man's 
estate  engaged  in  farming  here  until  his 
election  to  the  office  of  county  treasurer  in 
1S94,  when  he  removed  to  Bloomington. 
Since  his  retirement  from  that  office  he  has 
engaged  in  the  real-estate  and  loan  business 
in  the  city.  He  has  been  a  recognized 
leader  in  public  affairs,  and  is  a  man  widely 
and  favorably  known  throughout  the  coun- 
ty. His  wife,  who  was  a  daughter  of  Sam- 
uel and  Mary  (Bayless)  Wright,  of  Adams 
county.  Ohio,  died  March  27,  1897.  Our 
subject  is  the  oldest  of  the  nine  children 
born  of  this  union,  six  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters, the  others  being  Myrta,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  twelve  years;  Lucia  I.,  now  the 
wife  of  Emery  Carlock,  of  the  village  of 
Carlock;  Mary  M.  and  William  C. ,  both  at 
home  with  their  father;  Martha  E,  ^vhodied 


532 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


at  the  age  of  a  year  and  a  half;  Margaret, 
at  home;  Edith,  who  died  at  the  age  of  six 
months;  and  John  C. 

H.  Clarence  Baldridge  was  reared  upon 
the  home  farm  on  section  23,  White  Oak 
township,  assisting  his  father  in  its  opera- 
tion and  attending  the  common  schools  of 
the  locality.  For  a  year  and  a  half  he  was 
also  a  student  at  Illinois  Wesleyan  Univer- 
sity, Bloomington,  and  took  a  commercial 
course  at  the  Business  College.  On  start- 
ing out  in  life  for  himself  he  engaged  in 
farming  upon  his  grandfather's  place  for  a 
number  of  years,  in  the  meanwhile  teaching 
school  through  the  winter  months  for  about 
six  years.  During  the  last  two  years  he 
operated  both  his  father's  and  grandfather's 
farms,  making  a  half-section  of  land,  and  as 
an  agriculturist  he  met  with  excellent  suc- 
cess. He  became  largely  interested  in  the 
stock  business,  feeding  cattle  each  year,  but 
his  specialty  was  the  breeding  of  draft  horses, 
of  which  he  had  one  of  the  finest  herds  in 
the  county,  when  he  disposed  of  the  busi- 
ness. In  November,  1896,  he  bought  an 
interest  in  the  firm  of  O'Hara  Brothers,  but 
the  following  winter  was  devoted  to  school 
teaching,  and  he  did  not  remove  to  Carlock 
until  September,  1897,  since  which  time  he 
has  given  his  attention  exclusively  to  the 
grain  and  coal  business.  The  firm  are  the 
only  dealers  in  grain  at  that  place  and  an- 
nually ship  about  two  hundred  car  loads. 

On  the  1st  of  February,  1893,  Mr.  Bald- 
ridge was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Cora 
A.  McCreight,  who  was  born  in  Adams 
county,  Ohio,  January  18,  1872,  and  came 
to  this  county  in  1885  with  her  parents,  Jo- 
seph H.  and  Louisa  (Dodds)  McCreight. 
Our  subject  and  his  wife  have  two  children: 
Marion  C.  and  Lela  G. 

As  a  Republican,    Mr.    Baldridge  takes 


quite  an  active  and  prominent  part  in  local 
politics,  and  immediately  after  coming  to 
Carlock  was  placed  on  the  township  cen- 
tral committee.  In  April,  1899,  he  was 
elected  to  the  office  whioh  he  is  now  so  ca- 
pably filling,  that  of  supervisor  of  his  town- 
ship, and  since  1897  has  also  served  as 
township  trustee  in  a  most  acceptable  man- 
ner. In  his  church  relations  he  is  a  member 
of  the  United  Presbyterian  church  of  Car- 
lock,  of  which  body  his  wife  is  also  a  mem- 
ber. 


PERRY  R.  GRIFFITH,  one  of  the  old- 
est and  most  popular  dentists  of 
Bloomington,  was  born  in  that  city,  Octo- 
ber 15,  1859,  a  son  of  John  W.  and  Mary 
J.  (Neff)  Griffith,  who  are  still  numbered 
among  its  honored  and  highly  respected  cit- 
izens. His  paternal  grandparents  were 
Charles  S.  and  Cynthia  (Priest)  Griffith, 
natives  of  Wales  and  France,  respectively, 
and  early  settlers  of  Ohio.  The  father  of 
our  subject  was  born  in  Ohio  but  was 
reared  by  an  uncle  in  St.  John's,  Louisiana, 
his  father  having  been  killed  when  he  was 
only  three  years  old.  He  was  educated  in 
the  south  and  remained  there  until  eighteen 
years  of  age,  when  he  returned  to  Ohio  on 
account  of  his  views  on  the  slavery  ques- 
tion. For  some  years  he  successfully  con- 
ducted a  pork-packing  establishment  in  Cin- 
cinnati, but  November  17,  1848,  came  to 
Bloomington  and  purchased  a  farm  in 
Money  Creek  township,  McLean  county, 
where  he  operated  for  a  few  years.  He 
then  located  in  the  city,  and  was  employad 
as  a  grain  buyer  for  Phillips,  Denman  & 
Company,  traveling  over  the  surrounding 
country  in  their  interests  as  far  north  as 
Joliet  and  buying  large  quantities  of  grain. 


1 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


533 


He  contracted  for  them  and  other  parties 
for  a  number  of  years,  but  for  the  past  few 
years  has  conducted  a  meat  market  in 
Bloomington.  In  early  manhood  he  wedded 
Miss  Mary  J.  Neff,  of  Bloomington,  a 
daughter  of  James  and  Sarah  Ann  (Ham- 
mitt)  Neff,  the  former  of  German,  and  the 
latter  of  Welsh  descent.  They  moved  here 
by  wagon  from  2anesville,  Ohio,  at  an 
early  day,  when  the  south  side  of  the  city 
was  still  covered  with  timber.  He  pur- 
chased a  farm  two  and  a  half  miles  south 
of  Bloomington,  but  died  soon  after  locat- 
ing thereon.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Griffith 
are  members  of  the  First  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church,  and  are  held  in  high  regard 
by  all  who  know  them.  The  Doctor  is  the 
only  one  of  their  four  children  now  living. 
Isaac  Griffith,  the  great-great-grandfather 
of  our  subject,  served  in  the  Revolutionary 
war,  and  also  in  the  war  of  1812.  In  the 
latter  war  he  had  three  sons  serving  with 
him.  His  son,  John  Wesley  Griffith,  was 
the  father  of  Charles  S.  Griffith. 

In  the  public  and  high  schools  of  Bloom- 
ington, Dr.  Griffith  obtained  a  good  prac- 
tical education,  and  after  leaving  school  en- 
tered the  office  of  Dr.  Campbell,  in  1878, 
as  a  student  of  dentistry.  He  received  his 
license  in  1881,  but  remained  in  the  office 
of  Dr.  Campbell  as  an  assistant  for  five 
years,  and  then  opened  an  office  of  his  own 
at  Leroy,  this  county,  where  his  preceptor 
also  made  his  start.  Dr.  Griffith  practical- 
ly had  the  entire  trade  of  the  town,  and  us- 
ing that  as  a  stepping-stone,  he  returned  to 
Bloomington,  in  June,  1889,  and  opened  an 
office  in  the  Parke  building,  where  he  re- 
mained for  some  years,  doing  a  large  and 
profitable  business.  In  the  fall  of  1893,  he 
removed  to  the  Eddy  building,  being  one  of 
its  first  and   a  permanent  tenant.      He  is 


justly  numbered  among  the  leading  mem- 
bers of  the  dental  profession  in  the  city  and 
enjo\s  an  extensive  and  lucrative  practice 
to  which  his  skill  and  ability  justly  entitle 
him.  Besides  his  own  comfortable  resi- 
dence, he  owns  another  house  on  South 
West  street. 

On  the  19th  of  April,  1887,  Dr.  Griffith 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Bettie  J. 
Henderson,  of  Bloomington,  a  daughter  of 
Matthew  Henderson,  who  is  mentioned  more 
fully  in  the  sketch  of  J.  F.  Henderson  on 
another  page  of  this  volume.  They  now 
have  two  children  :  Lucy  and  Paul.  The 
Doctor  attends  and  supports  the  First  Pres- 
byterian church,  of  which  his  wife  is  a  mem- 
ber, and  he  belongs  to  Jesse  Fell  Lodge, 
K.  P.  He  is  quite  prominent  in  profession- 
al and  social  circles  and  he  has  a  host  of 
warm  and  admiring  friends  in  his  native 
city. 


LEWIS  P.  WALLBERG.  No  better 
illustration  of  the  characteristic  energy 
and  enterprise  of  the  typical  Swedish- 
American  citizen  can  be  found  than  that 
afforded  by  the  career  of  this  gentleman, 
who  is  now  successfully  engaged  in  conduct- 
ing a  grocery  and  meat  market  at  the  cor- 
ner of  McGowen  and  West  Olive  streets, 
Bloomington.  Coming  to  this  country  with 
no  capital  except  his  abilities  he  has  made 
his  way  to  success  through  wisely  directed 
efforts,  and  he  can  now  look  back  with 
satisfaction  upon  past  struggles. 

Mr.  Wallberg  was  born  in  Laholm. 
Sweden,  March  30,  1843,  a  son  of  Peter 
and  Bettie  (Lindblod)  Wallberg,  who  spent 
their  entire  lives  in  that  country.  Our  sub- 
ject grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  land  and 
was  educated    in   Lutheran   schools.      His 


534 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


first  work  was  upon  the  home  farm,  and  he 
was  later  employed  in  the  steeleries  nearby. 
Subsequently  he  embarked  in  the  cattle 
business  with  headquarters  at  Holmstad, 
and  did  a  large  and  profitable  business  in 
buying  and  shipping  stock. 

Disposing  of  his  interests  in  Sweden, 
Mr.  Wallberg  emigrated  to  America  in  1880, 
and  came  direct  to  McLean  county,  Illinois, 
where  he  first  found  work  as  a  section  hand 
on  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad,  remaining 
there  until  he  became  somewhat  familiar 
with  the  English  language.  For  three  years 
he  worked  in  the  McLean  County  Coal 
Shaft,  when  that  was  a  paying  business, 
and  he  commanded  good  wages.  His  next 
position  was  in  the  grocery  store  of  W. 
Stevenson  &  Son,  in  Bloomington,  and  dur- 
ing the  five  years  he  remained  with  that 
firm  he  acquired  an  excellent  knowledge  of 
the  business.  Having  saved  some  money, 
he  embarked  in  the  grocery  trade  on  his 
own  account,  opening  a  small  store  at  No. 
1409  West  Olive  street.  As  his  business 
increased  he  enlarged  his  stock,  and  at  the 
end  of  three  years  he  was  able  to  purchase 
a  lot  at  the  corner  of  McGowen  and  West 
Olive  street,  on  which  he  erected  a  two-story 
brick  building  and  also  another  only  one  story 
in  height.  He  now  occupies  the  ground  floor 
of  both  buildings  with  his  grocery  and  meat 
market.  He  carries  a  large  and  well  se- 
lected stock  of  staple  and  fancy  groceries 
and  choice  meats,  and  enjoys  an  extensive 
and  lucrative  patronage.  Prosperity  has 
surely  smiled  upon  his  well-directed  efforts, 
for  he  now  owns  besides  his  business  blocks 
other  real  estate  on  Olive  and  Purple  streets, 
a  house  and  farm  in  the  country  and  a  num- 
ber of  residences  in  the  city.  In  his  busi- 
ness he  gives  employment  to  four  persons. 

On  the    13th   of    December,    1884,  Mr. 


Wallberg  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Carrie  Gronquist,  of  Bloomington,  who  was 
born  in  Ockeobo,  Sweden,  and  came  alone 
to  the  new  world  on  the  same  vessel  as  her 
future  husband.  To  them  have  been  born 
two  children:  Grace  Blanch  Mabel  and 
Florence  Matilda.  They  hold  membership 
in  the  Swedish  Lutheran  church  and  occupy 
an  enviable  place  in  the  esteem  of  all  who 
know  them.  Mr.  Wallberg  takes  quite  a 
prominent  part  in  Sunday  school  work,  but 
has  always  kept  out  of  politics.  For  the 
success  that  he  has  achieved  here  he  de- 
serves great  credit,  for  he  was  not  only  a 
stranger  in  a  strange  land,  but  had  no  knowl- 
edge of  the  English  language.  He  pos- 
sessed, however,  good  business  ability, 
sound  judgment  and  a  determination  to 
succeed. 


SAMUEL  WOODRUFF  BAKER,  de- 
ceased, was  for  years  one  of  the  well- 
known  farmers  and  business  men  of  the 
western  part  of  McLean  county.  He  was 
born  in  Westfield,  Union  county.  New  Jer- 
sey, May  II,  1830,  and  his  early  life  was 
spent  in  farm  labor,  and  his  education  se- 
cured in  the  common  schools.  He  was 
the  son  of  Thomas  and  Mary  (Woodruff) 
Baker,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  New 
Jersey,  and  the  parents  of  five  children. 
Charlotte  is  now  the  wife  of  John  Valentine, 
and  they  reside  in  Newark,  New  Jersey.  Sam- 
uel W.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  sec- 
ond in  order  of  birth.  Mary  L.  is  the  wife 
of  William  H.  Crisp,  and  they  reside  in 
Trenton,  New  Jersey.  George  W.  married 
Adella  Simpson,  and  their  home  is  in  Eliza- 
beth, New  Jersey.  William  A.  married 
Theresa  Crisp,  now  deceased,  and  his  home 
is  in  Linden,  New  Jersey,  on  the  old  family 


SAMUEL   W.    BAKER. 


OF  THE 
.    .'r.-pv  Of  ILUKOIt 


THE   BIOGIL^PHICAL   RECORD. 


537 


homestead.  Both  parents  are  deceased, 
dying  in  their  native  state,  while  their  re- 
mains were  interred  in  Evergreen  cemetery, 
Elizabeth,  New  Jersey. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  continued  on 
the  home  farm  until  he  was  sixteen  years 
old,  and  then  went  to  New  York  City  to 
learn  the  mason's  trade,  at  which  he  served 
a  four-years'  apprenticeship.  On  the  i6th 
of  March,  1S53,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Elizabeth  Cory,  who  was  born  in 
New  York  City,  October  7,  1834,  and 
daughter  of  Aaron  and  Betsey  (Parker) 
Cory.  They  were  both  natives  of  Scotch 
Plains,  New  Jersey.  They  were  the  parents 
of  nine  children,  of  whom  Mrs.  Baker  was 
sixth  in  order  of  birth.  Of  this  number  three 
sons  are  yet  living:  Noah,  of  Delphi,  Indi- 
ana, who  married  Mary  F.  R.  Jackson,  but 
who  is  now  deceased;  Henry  C.  who  mar- 
ried Alice  Sutton,  now  deceased,  of  Holly 
Springs.  Mississippi,  and  is  now  living  in  St. 
Louis,  Missouri;  and  Aaron  P.,  ot  Danvers, 
who  married  Emma  B.  Martin,  of  Delphi, 
Indiana.  In  early  life,  Aaron  Cory,  the 
father  engaged  in  the  safe  business,  but 
later  engaged  in  farming. 

To  our  subject  and  wife  five  children 
were  bom,  of  whom  two  died  in  infancy. 
Aaron  T.  died  at  the  age  of  ten  months. 
George  H.  was  seven  months  old  at  the  time 
of  his  death.  Mary  E.  married  Thomas 
A.  Clark,  of  Elizabeth,  New  Jersey,  who 
died  November  15,  1S97,  at  the  age  of  thir- 
ty-one years,  and  whose  death  was  mourned 
by  many  friends. 

In  i860,  Mr.  Baker  decided  on  coming 
to  Illinois,  and  with  his  family  located  in  the 
village  of  Danvers,  McLean  county,  where 
he  followed  his  trade  until  1869,  when  he 
purchased  a  grocery  and  hardware  store  and 
carried  on  the   business   until    1876.       He 


then  purchased  the  lumber  business  of  J.  M. 
Fordyce  and  carried  that  on  for  many  years. 
Later  he  purchased  a  tile  factory  west  of 
Danvers,  and  quite  a  settlement  grew  up 
around  it.  The  railroad  company  also  es- 
tablished a  coaling  station  there,  and  named 
the  station  Baker's  Siding.  Mr.  Baker  had 
surveyed  and  platted  a  portion  of  his  land 
which  was  named  Woodruff,  his  second 
Christian  name.  The  post  office,  which 
was  secured  about  this  time,  was  called 
Woodruff. 

Mr.  Baker  came  to  McLean  county  in 
moderate  circumstances,  but  was  industrious 
and  energetic,  and  was  determined  to  suc- 
ceed. Every  business  enterprise  in  which 
he  engaged  proved  profitable,  and  after  his 
removal  to  the  country,  he  erected  what 
was  probably  the  finest  farm  residence  in 
the  township.  He  gave  much  of  his  atten- 
tion to  the  raising  of  a  high  grade  of  stock, 
and  in  this  line  met  with  his  usual  success. 
He  was  a  man  of  genial  disposition,  always 
read}-  to  accommodate  a  friend  or  neighbor, 
and  for  this  reason  he  made  many  close 
personal  friends.  His  death,  which  oc- 
curred on  Wednesday,  May  15,  1895,  was 
a  sad  loss  to  the  community  in  which  he  had 
so  long  resided.  The  funeral  services  were 
held  at  the  family  residence  on  Friday  after 
his  decease,  and  were  conducted  by  Rev. 
B.  F.  Lawrence,  assisted  by  Rev.  C.  E. 
Watson.  A  quartette  rendered  the  musical 
portion  of  the  service,  using  some  of  the 
favorite  hymns  of  the  deceased.  A  very 
large  concourse  of  people  followed  the  re- 
mains to  the  beautiful  Park  Lawn  cemetery, 
at  Danvers,  where  they  were  laid  to  rest. 

Mr.  Baker  was  never  an  office  seeker, 
and  always  preferred  to  give  his  time  and 
attention  to  his  business  enterprises.  For 
five  terms,  however,  he  served  as  township 


538 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


trustee,  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  concerned. 
In  politics  he  was  a  Prohibitionist.  As  a 
citizen,  he  was  always  ready  to  aid  any  en- 
terprise of  value  to  his  adopted  town  and 
county,  giving  of  his  time  and  means  to 
further  all  its  interests.  He  was  a  good 
man,  and  his  friends  were  stanch  and  true, 
and  he  was  stanch  and  true  to  them.  His 
wife  is  yet  living  on  the  farm  where  the  last 
years  of  his  life  were  spent,  years  of  happi- 
ness with  bright  prospects  for  the  future. 
She,  too,  has  niany  friends,  who  esteem  her 
for  her  good  qualities  of  head  and  heart. 


JOHN  W.  COOK,  A.  M.,  LL.  D.,  was 
born  April  20,  1844,  in  Oneida  county. 
New  York.  His  parents  were  Harry  De 
Witt  and  Joanna  (Hall)  Cook.  The  father 
served  in  the  civil  war  and  was  made  colonel 
of  cavalry  by  brevet.  He  died  at  his  home 
in  Normal,  Illinois,  in  1873;  the  mother 
still  lives  in  Normal.  Besides  the  subject 
of  our  sketch  there  were  three  other  chil- 
dren in  the  family:  Frank  L. ,  an  eminent 
lawyer,  lately  deceased;  Adella,  wife  of 
Judge  Alfred  A.  Sample;  and  Ida,  wife  of 
Frank  W.  Gove.  In  1S51  the  family  moved 
from  New  York  state  to  McLean  county, 
Illinois,  settling  at  what  was  called  "  Oneida 
Crossing,"  about  ten  miles  north  of  Bloom- 
ington.  Here  the  boy,  John  W. ,  received 
his  first  school  training  in  a  log  school- 
house.  The  family  removed  to  Kappa  in 
1853,  and  there  he  spent  the  remaining 
years  of  his  boyhood.  In  winter  he  attend- 
ed school;  in  summer  he  worked  on  a  farm, 
clerked  in  a  store,  assisted  his  father  as 
station  agent  for  the  Illinois  Central  Rail- 
road, etc.  Sometimes  he  worked  at  farm- 
ing for  eight  or  ten  dollars  a  month.     In 


this  way  he  learned  the  value  of  work,  and 
gained  a  varied  experience  which  was  very 
helpful  in  preparing  him  to  adapt  himself 
to  men  and  to  circumstances  in  later  years. 
In  the  fall  of  1862  Mr.  Cook  entered  the 
normal  department  of  the  State  Normal 
University.  His  course  as  a  student  was 
one  of  honor  and  success,  and  he  graduated 
in  1865.  For  one  year  he  was  principal  of 
schools  in  Brimfield,  Peoria  county,  and  in 
the  fall  of  1866  he  was  called  back  to 
Normal  to  take  charge  of  the  grammar  de- 
partment of  the  Model  School.  In  1868  he 
was  chosen  to  fill  the  place  of  Professor 
Hewett  in  the  Normal  faculty  during  his 
leave  of  absence  for  one  year. 

On  the  return  of  Professor  Hewett  in 
1869,  the  board  appointed  Mr.  Cook  pro- 
fessor of  reading  and  elocution.  This  posi- 
tion he  held  until  1876,  when  he  took 
charge  of  the  work  in  mathematics  and 
physics.  He  continued  in  this  position  till 
1890,  when,  on  the  resignation  of  President 
Hewett,  he  was  appointed  head  of  the  in- 
stitution. During  his  administration  the 
institution  has  enjoyed  great  prosperity,  the 
work  and  its  appliances  have  been  enlarged 
in  all  directions,  and  two  beautiful  new 
buildings,  one  for  the  training  school  and 
the  other  for  gymnasium  and  library,  have 
been  erected. 

In  the  spring  of  1899  President  Cook 
resigned  his  position,  after  having  been  an 
instructor  in  the  institution  for  thirty-three 
consecutive  years.  His  resignation  took 
effect  July  i,  1899,  when  he  assumed 
charge  of  the  new  State  Normal  School  at 
DeKalb,  Illinois. 

In  1S67  President  Cook  was  married  to 
Miss  Lydia  F.  Spofford,  of  Andover,  Mas- 
sachusetts. She  is  a  sister  of  the  wife  of 
General  Charles    E.  Hovey,   first  principal 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


539 


of  the  Normal  University,  and  of  the  wife 
of  Aaron  Gove,  superintendent  of  schools 
in  Denver  for  the  last  twenty-five  years. 
President  and  Mrs.  Cook  have  two  children, 
Miss  Agnes  S.,  born  in  1873,  now  an  in- 
structor in  the  University  of  Illinois,  and 
John  L. ,  born  in  1874,  and  now  a  student 
and  teacher  of  music  in  Chicago.  Presi- 
dent Cook  has  been  a  member  of  the  Uni- 
tarian church  in  Bloomington  for  many 
years.  He  has  always  been  an  active  and 
earnest  member  of  the  Republican  party  in 
politics,  but  never  has  taken  a  prominent 
place  as  a  partisan  politician. 

President  Cook  has  won  a  high  place 
among  the  educators  of  the  nation.  His 
clearness,  ability  and  force  as  an  instructor, 
his  skill  as  an  administrator  of  school  af- 
fairs, and  his  power  as  a  writer  and  lecturer 
on  educational  topics,  have  combined  to 
give  him  a  prominence  and  reputation 
which  few  reach.  For  several  years  he 
was  editor  and  co-proprietor  of  the  Illinois 
Schoolmaster,  a  teacher's  journal  of  high 
standing.  He  has  been  too  busy  to  write 
many  books;  but,  in  connection  with  Miss 
Cropsey,  of  Indiana,  he  prepared  a  popular 
series  of  school  arithmetics,  which  Silver, 
Burdett  &  Co.,  of  Boston,  publish. 

From  boyhood  Dr.  Cook  has  always 
been  a  hard  worker;  and  he  has  had  the 
wisdom  so  to  plan  and  conduct  his  work  as 
to  make  it  highly  effective.  It  is  one  of  his 
characteristics  "to  bring  things  to  pass." 
His  clear  head,  his  manlj-  vigor,  his  equable 
temper,  and  his  companionable  qualities, 
have  given  him  an  enviable  place,  not  only 
with  educators  and  students,  but  with  pro- 
fessional men  of  all  classes  and  with  the 
people  generally.  His  departure  from  his 
present  honorable  position,  which  he  has 
filled  so  long  and  so  well,  will  be  deeply  re- 


gretted by  hundreds  in  Normal  and  Bloom- 
ington, and  in  all  other  parts  of  McLean 
county. 


SAMUEL  H.  DIMMETT,  who  is  now 
living  a  retired  life  in  the  city  of  Bloom- 
ington, was  for  many  years  connected  with 
the  agricultural  interests  of  McLean  county, 
and  through  his  well  directed  labors  won 
the  competence  that  now  enables  him  to 
put  aside  business  cares.  He  was  born  in 
North  Fairfield  township,  Huron  county, 
Ohio,  March  6,  183 1,  a  son  of  John  and 
Angeline  Dimmett.  The  family  was  founded 
in  America  during  the  early  part  of  the 
Revolutionary  war,  by  ancestors  who  lo- 
cated in  Boston,  Massachusetts.  The 
mother  of  our  subject  died  when  he  was 
only  nine  years  of  age,  leaving  three  chil- 
dren. The  father,  a  native  of  Virginia,  had 
located  in  Ohio  when  a  young  man,  and 
there  in  the  midst  of  the  forest  developed  a 
good  farm.  Clearing  away  the  timber,  he 
plowed  and  planted  his  land,  and  in  course 
of  time  had  a  valuable  property,  upon  which 
he  spent  his  remaining  days. 

Mr.  Dimmett,  whose  name  introduces 
this  review,  acquired  his  education  in  a  log 
school-house  near  his  father's  home,  and 
assisted  in  the  work  of  the  farm  until  twen- 
ty-one years  of  age,  when  he  started  out  in 
life  for  himself.  He  chose  as  a  companion 
and  helpmeet  on  life's  journey  Miss  Ange- 
line Perritt,  whose  father  had  brought  his 
family  from  England  to  America  during  her 
early  girlhood.  Mr.  Dimmett  rented  a  farm 
in  Ohio  until  his  removal  to  Oldtown  town- 
ship, McLean  county,  where  he  purchased 
a  tract  of  land,  and  to  its  development  and 
improvement  devoted  his  energies  for  a 
number  of  years.     He  was  a  practical,  pro- 


540 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


gressive  and  enterprising  farmer,  and  his 
well  tilled  fields,  substantial  buildings,  good 
machinery  and  modern  improvements  all  in- 
dicated his  careful  supervision.  He  con- 
tinued the  labor  of  plowing,  planting  and 
harvesting  until  1873,  when  he  came  to 
Bloomington,  where  he  has  since  practically 
lived  retired. 

At  all  times  he  has  been  deeply  inter- 
ested in  the  growth  and  progress  of  the  city, 
and  has  given  his  aid  and  support  in  the 
furtherance  of  many  movements  calculated 
for  the  public  good.  He  was  for  some  time 
a  foreman  for  the  city,  and  in  1880  and  1881 
served  as  street  commissioner,  during  which 
time  Center  street  was  paved  with  the  first 
brick  pavement  laid  in  Bloomington,  and 
Grove  street  was  macadamized.  In  his  po- 
litical affiliations  Mr.  Dimmett  is  a  Repub- 
lican, and,  keeping  well  informed  on  the 
issues  of  the  day,  is  able  to  give  an  intelli- 
gent and  effective  support  to  the  party. 
His  wife  is  still  living,  and  they  have  one 
son,  Arthur  B. ,  now  a  prominent  business 
man  of  Bloomington.  Their  home  is  pleas- 
antly located  at  No.  706  East  Market  street, 
and  there  their  many  friends  enjoy  the  hos- 
pitality which  they  so  freely  extend. 

Arthur  B.  Dimmett,  son  of  Samuel 
Dimmett,  now  occupies  a  commanding  po- 
sition in  commercial  circles  in  his  adopted 
city,  has  gained  this  by  enterprise,  capable 
management  and  genuine  merit.  Almost 
his  entire  life  has  been  passed  in  McLean 
county  and  his  career  is  that  of  a  man  who 
through  the  various  stages  of  life  has  been 
true  to  manly  principles  and  high  ideals,  yet 
withal  is  practical  and  diligent.  He  was 
born  April  2,  1853,  in  the  old  log  house  in 
North  Fairfield  township,  Huron  county, 
Ohio,  on  the  same  farm  where  occurred  the 
birth  of  his  father,  and  was  only  four  years 


of  age  when  brought  by  his  parents  to  Illi- 
nois. Reared  on  the  farm  in  Oldtown  town- 
ship, he  attended  the  public  schools  of  the 
neighborhood  for  a  time,  then  entered  the 
Wesleyan  Preparatory  School  and  in  1873 
began  the  regular  college  work.  On  complet- 
ing his  education  he  served  an  apprentice- 
ship at  the  tinner's  trade  under  H.  H.  Hew- 
ett  of  this  city,  and  continued  in  his  employ 
until  Mr.  Hewett  sold  out,  when  Mr.  Dim- 
mett began  business  for  himself  at  No.  224 
E.  Front  street  with  a  stock  of  goods  that  he 
could  have  carried  in  three  bushel  baskets, 
with  the  exception  of  his  tools.  He  contin- 
ued tinning,  roofing  and  all  allied  industries 
and  as  opportunity  offered  added  a  stock  of 
hardware,  his  first  purchase  in  that  line, 
however,  amounting  to  only  sixty  dollars. 
He  has  since  continuously  added  to  his  stock 
until  he  now  has  a  large  and  well  appointed 
store,  well  supplied  with  everything  in  the 
line  of  tin  and  hardware.  When  he  started 
out  upon  his  business  career,  he  was  coun- 
seled by  Peter  Whitmer,  an  old  business 
man,  "  not  to  buy  a  dollar's  worth  of  stock 
unless  he  knew  where  to  get  the  dollar  to  pay 
for  it."  This  advice  he  has  always  followed, 
and  has  never  had  a  draft  drawn  upon  him 
in  all  his  business  career.  His  honorable 
course  has  awakened  the  highest  commen- 
dation and  has  secured  him  a  liberal  and 
well  deserved  patronage.  In  connection 
with  the  sale  of  his  stock  in  the  store  he  has 
a  large  business  in  tinning,  roofing  and  all 
kinds  of  job  work,  while  his  hardware  and 
tinware  fill  the  store  room  at  No.  224  East 
Front  street  and  a  commodious  storeroom 
elsewhere. 

Mr.  Dimmett  is  a  valued  member  of 
Remembrance  Lodge,  No.  Tj,  I.  O.  O.  F., 
and  is  past  grand.  His  name  also  appears 
on  the  membership  roll  pf  Damon  Lodge, 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


541 


K.  P.,  of  which  he  is  past  chancellor,  and 
in  the  Independent  Order  of  Foresters  he 
is  past  chief  ranger  and  has  represented  his 
local  lodge  in  the  grand  lodge  for  seven 
years.  He  is  popular  with  his  brethren  of 
these  organizations,  and  his  social  qualities 
are  such  as  to  gain  him  high  regard.  A 
long  and  active  business  career  well  entitles 
him  to  prominence  in  commercial  circles. 
He  has  been  the  architect  of  his  own  for- 
tune and  has  builded  wisely  and  well.  He 
is  a  man  of  good  judgment,  possessing  ex- 
cellent executive  and  business  ability,  com- 
bined with  resistless  energy  and  resolute 
purpose.  He  has  the  confidence  of  the 
business  public  and  the  warm  regard  of  a 
host  of  personal  friends. 


HUGH  ROBB.  In  the  busy  community 
located  in  the  thriving  little  city  of 
Heyworth,  we  find  several  energetic  and 
thorough-going  business  men  who  have  at- 
tained success  through  their  own  tact,  good 
judgment  and  perseverance.  Among  this 
number  is  the  gentleman  whose  name  heads 
this  biographical  notice,  and  who  at  the  pres- 
ent time  is  a  representative  of  the  drug  trade 
of  this  place. 

Mr.  Robb  was  born  in  Waynesville,  De 
Witt  county,  Illinois,  September  3,  1846, 
and  is  a  son  of  James  R.  Robb,  whose  birth 
occurred  in  Tennessee  in  18 14.  The  grand- 
father, John  Robb,  who  was  of  Irish  par- 
entage, removed  from  North  Carolina  to 
Tennessee  at  an  early  day,  and  in  1830 
came  to  Illinois,  being  one  of  the  first  set- 
tlers of  De  Witt  county.  He  took  up  a 
claim  near  Waynesville  and  there  opened 
up  and  developed  a  farm.  James  R.  Robb, 
father  of  our  subject,  was  a  youth  of  about 
sixteen  years  when  he  came  with  his  father 


to  De  Witt  county,  and  he  bore  an  active 
part  in  the  improvement  and  cultivation  of 
the  home  farm.  There  he  married  Nancy 
Cantrall,  a  native  of  Champaign  county, 
Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of  Joshua  Cantrall, 
who  was  of  Scotch  descent  and  an  early  set- 
tler of  De  Witt  county,  Illinois,  having  lo- 
cated there  about  1833.  Mr.  Robb  had  also 
entered  land  near  Waynesville,  and,  in  con- 
nection with  its  operation,  he  engaged  in 
freighting  in  early  days,  hauling  bacon  and 
farm  produce  to  Chicago  with  o.x  teams  and 
bringing  back  merchandise  for  the  pioneers. 
He  improved  a  nice  farm,  but  was  called 
away  in  the  midst  of  his  usefulness,  dying 
in  1847,  at  the  early  age  of  thirty-three 
years.  His  wife  survived  him  many  years, 
and  spent  her  last  days  in  Heyworth,  where 
she  died  in  1895.  Of  the  three  sons  born 
to  this  worthy  couple  our  subject  is  the 
youngest  and  only  survivor.  Joshua,  the 
oldest,  enlisted  in  April,  1861,  at  the  presi- 
dent's first  call  for  troops  to  assist  in  putting 
down  the  rebellion,  becoming  a  member  of 
Company  E,  Twentieth  Illinois  Volunteer 
Infantry.  He  died  in  1862,  from  the  effects 
of  his  service,  while  home  on  a  sick  fur- 
lough. Marion,  the  second  son,  enlisted  in 
August,  1862,  in  Company  D,  One  Hundred 
and  Seventh  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry, 
and  remained  in  the  service  until  hostilities 
ceased.  After  his  discharge  he  returned  to 
the  home  farm,  but  later  removed  to  Hills- 
boro,  Montgomery  county,  Illinois,  where 
he  died  in  1886. 

Hugh  Robb  was  given  the  advantages  of 
a  common-school  education  during  his 
youth,  and  for  a  time  was  also  a  student  in 
a  private  school  at  Waynesville.  After 
completing  his  studies  he  returned  to  the 
home  farm,  which  he  successfully  carried 
on  from  the  age  of  sixteen  years,  in  1862, 


54^ 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


until  1871,  when  he  came  to  Hey  worth. 
He  first  embarked  in  the  manufacture  of 
lumber,  owning  an  interest  in  a  sawmill 
which  he  operated  for  one  year,  and  then 
opened  a  grocery  store,  having  purchased 
an  entirely  new  stock.  For  seven  years  he 
successfully  engaged  in  that  business  and 
about  a  year  after  selling  out  entered  a 
drug  store,  where  he  soon  became  thorough- 
ly familiar  with  the  drug  business.  Later 
he  was  out  of  business  for  a  few  years,  and 
after  spending  a  short  time  as  clerk  in  a 
grocery  store,  he  again  entered  a  drug 
house,  with  which  he  was  connected  for 
four  years.  In  1888  he  started  a  new  drug 
store  of  his  own  on  the  west  side  of  Hey- 
worth,  in  the  same  block  where  he  still 
carries  on  operations,  and  put  in  a  full  stock 
of  drugs,  medicines,  paints,  oils,  etc.,  and 
by  fair  dealing  and  carrying  only  first-class 
goods,  he  has  succeeded  in  building  up  an 
excellent  trade  which  he  still  enjoys. 

On  the  26th  of  February,  1880,  at  Hey- 
worth,  Mr.  Robb  married  Miss  Josie 
Scroggy,  a  native  of  Frankfort,  Clinton 
county,  Indiana,  and  a  daughter  of  Joseph 
Scroggy,  who  died  at  that  place.  Later 
she  made  her  home  with  her  uncle.  Dr.  D. 
H.  McFarland,  in  Heyworth.  She  was 
educated  principally  in  the  Hanover  Acade- 
my of  Hanover,  Indiana,  aud  the  Heyworth 
high  school.  Of  the  two  children  born  to 
our  subject  and  his  wife,  Earl  died  at  the 
age  of  six  years,  and  James  H.  Lanier  is  at- 
tending the  home  school. 

Mr.  Robb  is  a  fluent  and  able  writer, 
and  for  eight  years  was  local  editor  of  the 
Heyworth  Standard,  then  published  at 
Bloomington,  and  now  for  about  nine  years 
has  been  the  Heyworth  correspondent  of 
the  Pantagraph  of  Bloomington.  Since 
casting  his  first  presidential  vote  for   Gen- 


eral U.  S.  Grant,  in  iS68,  he  has  affiliated 
with  the  Republican  party,  and  has  taken 
quite  an  active  and  prominent  part  in  local 
politics.  He  has  been  a  delegate  to  several 
county  conventions  of  his  party,  and  has 
most  capably  filled  the  office  of  town- 
ship clerk  several  years,  and  has  also  been 
a  member  of  the  village  board  two  terms. 
He  and  his  wife  are  prominent  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Heyworth, 
in  which  he  has  served  as  deacon  for 
a  number  of  years.  Socially  he  is  one 
of  the  most  popular  members  of  the  Odd 
Fellows  Lodge,  of  which  he  is  past  grand, 
and  has  filled  all  the  chairs  in  both 
the  subordinate  lodge  and  encampment, 
being  past  patriarch  of  the  latter,  and  for 
thirteen  years  served  as  permanent  secre- 
tary in  the  subordinate  lodge.  He  has  rep- 
resented both  branches  in  the  grand  lodge, 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Daughters  of  Re- 
becca, in  which  he  is  serving  as  financial 
secretary.  He  has  served  as  past  chancel- 
lor and  has  filled  all  the  offices  in  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  Lodge,  and  he  is  now 
master  of  finance,  in  which  capacity  he  has 
served  altogether  for  five  years.  Both  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Robb  belong  to  the  District  Court 
of  Honor  and  socially  are  very  prominent 
in  their  community. 


WINTON  CARLOCK.  The  subject  of 
this  review  is  one  whose  history 
touches  the  pioneer  epoch  in  the  annals  of 
McLean  county,  and  whose  days  have  been 
an  integral  part  of  that  indissoluble  chain 
which  linked  the  early,  formative  period 
with  that  of  latter-day  progress  and  pros- 
perity. He  has  not  only  been  a  prominent 
factor  in  the  development  of  the  county, 
but    has   also    materially  aided   in   the   ad- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


S43 


vancement  of  all  social,  educational  and 
moral  interests. 

Mr.  Carlock  was  born  April  2S,  18 19, 
near  Livingston,  the  county  seat  of  Over- 
ton county,  Tennessee,  a  son  of  Reuben 
and  Amy  (Jones)  Carlock,  also  natives  of 
that  state.  His  paternal  grandfather  was 
Abraham  Carlock,  who  came  to  Illinois  in 
territorial  days  and  located  near  Springfield 
and  afterward  moved  to  Lewiston,  in  what 
is  now  Fulton  county.  His  children  were 
Isaac,  Reuben,  George,  Abraham  W., 
Jacob  and  William.  The  last  named  is  the 
only  one  now  living,  his  home  being  in 
Lewiston,  Illinois.  When  the  family  came 
to  this  state  Isaac  and  Reuben,  the  father 
of  our  subject,  remained  in  Tennessee,  and 
it  was  about  1822  that  Isaac  came  to  Illi- 
nois and  took  up  his  residence  in  Sangamon 
county. 

Reuben  Carlock,  however,  remained  in 
his  native  state  until  1827,  which  year 
witnessed  his  arrival  in  McLean  county. 
He  located  in  what  is  now  Dry  Grove  town- 
ship, on  the  south  side  of  Dry  Grove  tim- 
ber, it  being  at  that  time  a  part  of  Tazewell 
county.  His  was  the  fifth  family  to  locate 
there,  while  at  Twin  Grove  there  were  also 
five;  at  Stouts  Grove  seven;  at  Browns 
Grove  three  and  at  Keg  or  Blooming  Grove 
there  were  about  thirteen  families,  which 
comprised  the  entire  settlement  of  this 
section.  When  the  land  came  into  market, 
in  1829,  the  father  of  our  subject  secured 
eighty  acres  and  later  eighty  acres  more  in 
Dry  Grove  township,  but  in  1834  he  sold 
his  property  there  and  removed  to  White 
Oak  township,  where  he  acquired  about  six 
hundred  and  forty  acres.  His  life  was 
principally  devoted  to  farming  and  stock 
raising.  In  1849,  '"  company  with  his 
brother  George  O.,   he  crossed  the  plains 


to  California,  where  he  engaged  in  mining 
for  a  year  and  a  half  and  then  returned  to 
his  home  in  Illinois,  by  way  of  the  Isthmus 
of  Panama,  New  Orleans  and  the  Mississipp 
river.  He  was  a  man  of  moderate  informa- 
tion but  superior  intelligence  and  was  well 
informed,  being  specially  proficient  in 
mathematics.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  poli- 
tics and  being  one  of  the  prominent  and 
influential  citizens  of  his  community,  he 
was  called  upon  to  fill  a  number  of  local 
offices,  including  those  of  township  assessor 
and  overseer  of  the  poor.  He  was  a  soldier 
of  the  war  of  18 12  and  also  a  ranger  in  the 
Black  Hawk  war.  In  religious  affairs  he 
was  also  quite  active  and  was  a  prominent 
member  of  the  Christian  church,  which  he 
assisted  in  organizing  in  the  county.  He 
was  born  October  13,  1795,  and  died  April 
17,  1854,  while  his  wife,  who  was  born 
June  13,  1797,  passed  away  April  17,  1891. 
Three  of  the  children  born  to  them  died  in 
infancy,  the  others  being  as  follows:  John 
J.,  now  a  resident  of  New  Paynesville, 
Minnesota;  Winton,  our  subject;  Mahala, 
widow  of  R.  C.  Brown,  of  White  Oak 
township;  and  Mahila,  widow  of  James  W. 
Brown,  of  White  Oak  township. 

Winton  Carlock  was  eight  years  of  age 
when  brought  by  his  parents  to  McLean 
county,  the  journey  being  made  with  a  one- 
horse  team  and  an  ox  team.  They  crossed 
the  Ohio  river  at  Ford's  Ferry  and  were 
four  weeks  upon  the  road,  reaching  their 
destination  during  the  second  week  of  Octo- 
ber, 1827.  The  first  night  they  spent  in 
their  new  cabin  the  snow  fell  a  foot  deep. 
Reared  amid  scenes  very  common  to  front- 
ier life,  our  subject  spent  the  greater  part  of 
his  boyhood  and  youth  in  assisting  the  early 
settlers  in  erecting  their  cabins  and  barns. 
He  remained  with  his  parents  until  his  mar- 


S44 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


riage,  but  in  the  meantime  had  entered  gov- 
ernment land  when  but  a  boy  and  made 
some  improvements  upon  the  place.  He 
still  has  in  his  possession  the  original  patents 
to  this  tract  of  forty  acres  given  at  Danville, 
Illinois,  September  i6,  1835,  and  signed  by 
President  Jackson.  It  was  the  southwest 
quarter  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section 
19,  township  25,  north  of  range  i  east  in  the 
district  of  lands  subject  to  sale  at  Danville. 
At  the  time  of  his  marriage,  however,  he 
owned  sixty  acres  in  township  25,  range  i 
east  where  he  began  his  domestic  life  in  a 
frame  house  he  had  erected  thereon.  He 
remained  there  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits until  the  spring  of  1882,  when  he 
rented  his  farm  and  removed  to  Hudson, 
where  he  was  interested  in  the  real-estate 
business,  buying  and  selling  town  property 
for  ten  years.  On  disposing  of  his  interests 
there  in  1892  he  removed  to  Carlock,  where 
he  is  now  living  retired  from  the  cares  and 
responsibilities  of  business  life.  While  car- 
rying on  farming,  he  also  fed  and  handled 
stock  quite  extensively,  and  on  retiring 
from  that  occupation  had  a  fine  herd  of 
short-horn  cattle.  He  has  met  with  excel- 
lent success  in  his  undertakings  and  at  one 
time  owned  six  hundred  and  forty  acres, 
which  he  has  divided  among  his  children, 
only  retaining  a  tract  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres. 

Mr.  Carlock  was  first  married,  July  14, 
1842,  to  Miss  Lydia  Gaddis,  who  was  born 
in  North  Carolina,  December  18,  1820,  but 
when  only  two  years  old  was  taken  to  Indiana 
by  her  parents,  James  and  Piety  (Tucker) 
Gaddis.  After  the  death  of  the  father, 
which  occurred  in  that  state,  the  family  came 
to  Illinois.  Mrs.  Carlock  departed  this  life 
April  20,  1869.  By  her  marriage  to  our 
subject    she    became    the    mother    of  eight 


children,  namely:  James  W.,  born  June  8, 
1843,  is  now  proprietor  of  the  Beacon  Hill 
House,  a  tourist  resort  at  Excelsior,  Minne- 
sota; Reuben  A.,  born  November  25,  1844, 
is  engaged  in  the  lumber  business  in  Car- 
lock;  John  v.,  born  December  22,  1846,  is 
in  the  hardware  business  at  Carlock;  Phillip 
M.,  born  April  4, 1850,  died  January  27, 1884, 
leaving  four  children;  Silas  G.,  born  July  22, 
1852,  died  August  10,  1853;  George  W., 
born  June  18,  1854,  died  July  7,  1S79;  Al- 
vin  W.,  born  November  10,  1855,  died  Feb- 
ruary 19,  1 89 1,  leaving  two  sons;  and  Ar- 
media  C,  born  August  15,  1868,  is  the  wife 
of  D.  E.  Denman,  of  White  Oak  township. 
On  the  30th  of  November,  1871,  Mr.  Car- 
lock  wedded  Mrs.  Sarah  A.  Murphy,  /nr 
Hill,  who  was  born  in  Mulberry,  Worcester 
county,  Massachusetts,  October  11,  1833,  a 
daughter  of  George  and  Mary  (Falthen)  Hill. 
In  her  native  state  she  married  Andrew  Mur- 
phy, and  in  1865  they  removed  to  Illinois, 
locating  at  El  Paso. 

Since  attaining  his  majority,  Mr.  Car- 
lock  has  been  unwavering  in  his  support  of 
the  Democratic  party  and  its  principles. 
He  has  been  honored  with  a  number  of  local 
offices  of  trust  and  responsibility,  serving  as 
justice  of  the  peace  twenty  years,  as  com- 
missioner of  highways,  overseer  of  roads, 
and  as  supervisor  in  Woodford  county  for  a 
number  of  terms.  These  positions  were  all 
accepted  as  a  gift  from  the  people,  as  he 
never  sought  office  of  any  kind.  Through- 
out life  he  has  been  a  consistent  and  active 
member  of  the  Christian  church,  and  on  the 
13th  of  August,  1836,  aided  in  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  Christain  church,  in  company 
with  James  Palmer,  William  Davenport  and 
James  Robinson,  all  pioneer  Christian 
preachers.  For  thirty  years  he  has  served 
as  elder  of  the  church  and  has  borne  an  act- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


545 


ive  and  prominent  part  in  all  church  work. 
He  contributed  liberally  to  the  erection  of 
the  house  of  worship  in  Carlock,  and  has 
always  given  freely  of  his  means  to  the  sup- 
port of  the  church.  He  has  also  taken  an 
active  interest  in  educational  affairs,  has  as- 
sisted in  the  erection  of  three  school  houses 
in  Woodford  county  and  the  same  number 
in  this  county,  and  served  as  school  direc- 
tor for  a  number  of  years. 

In  early  life  Mr.  Carlock  was  quite  a 
hunter  and  sportsman,  and  was  considered 
the  best  shot  in  White  Oak  Grove,  especial- 
ly at  running  range.  He  has  killed  be- 
tween two  and  three  hundred  deer  in  this 
region,  shooting  as  many  as  four  in  one  day, 
and  he  has  been  on  a  number  of  hunting 
trips  through  Minnesota  and  the  northwest, 
during  the  last  of  which,  in  1866,  he  killed 
five  deer.  He  has  in  his  possession  a  num- 
ber of  interesting  relics,  including  a  twenty 
shilling  Continental  bill,  issued  in  North 
Carolina  in  1760,  also  an  old  receipt  for  a 
fine  paid  in  1782  by  his  grandfather,  Isaac 
Jones,  who  was  a  Quaker  and  would  not 
attend  general  muster.  He  has  the  record 
and  poll  list  of  the  first  election  held  in 
Panther  Creek  township,  McLean  county, 
November  7,  1835,  which  contains  the  fol- 
lowing names:  Orman  Robertson,  Thomas 
Brown.  Ruben  Carlock.  Silas  Garrison, 
Abraham  Carlock,  Eli  Patrick,  John  W. 
Brown,  James  Phillips,  Lewis  Stephens, 
Samuel  Kirkpatrick,  Allen  Patrick.  The 
judges  were  Abraham  Carlock,  Eli  Patrick 
and  John  W.  Brown,  and  the  clerks  Thomas 
Brown  and  Ruben  Carlock.  As  an  honored 
pioneer  and  representative  man  of  his  com- 
munity, Mr.  Carlock  is  worthy  the  high 
regard  in  which  he  is  uniformly  held,  and  is 
deserving  of  prominent  mention  in  the 
history  of  his  adopted  country. 


ALEXANDER  G.  ERICKSON.  proprie- 
tor of  a  grocery  and  meat  market  in 
Stevensonville,  a  part  of  Bloomington,  and 
a  very  prominent  man  in  business  circles 
and  labor  organizations,  was  born  in  Okar- 
shamm,  Kalmarlan,  Smoland.  Sweden,  July 
7,  1863,  a  son  of  John  P.  and  Christina 
(Carlson)  Erickson.  The  father  was  born 
in  the  same  place.  May  25,  1839,  the 
mother  in  Mollele,  Hamersabo,  September 
30,  1839,  and  they  were  married  Decem- 
ber 31,  1862.  In  his  native  land  the  father 
followed  farming  for  many  years,  and  then 
came  alone  to  the  United  States,  landing 
in  New  York,  June  24,  1868.  After  work- 
ing at  farming  in  Henry  county,  Illinois,  for 
one  year,  he  went  tor  his  family,  then  con- 
sisting of  wife  and  two  children,  our  subject 
and  Sophia,  now  Mrs.  Erickson,  of  Bloom- 
ington. After  living  for  about  three  years 
near  Kewanee,  the  father  came  to  Bloom- 
ington, in  1 87 1,  and  found  employment  in 
the  McLean  county  coal  mines  when  wages 
were  high.  There  he  continued  to  work 
until  1897,  being  one  of  the  oldest  in  point 
of  service  as  well  as  one  of  the  oldest  men 
in  the  mines.  When  he  purchased  his 
present  residence  at  1 106  West  Olive 
street,  twenty  years  ago,  it  was  the  last 
house  on  the  street,  but  that  section  of  the 
city  is  now  built  up  far  beyond  him. 
Politically  he  is  identified  with  the  Repub- 
lican party,  and  religiously  he  and  his  wife 
united  with  the  Swedish  Lutheran  church 
many  years  ago.  They  are  well  known 
and  highly  respected.  After  coming  to  this 
country  the  family  circle  was  increased  by 
the  birth  of  three  other  children:  Charles 
Albert,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-four 
years;  Emil,  who  is  now  clerking  for  our 
subject;  and  Oscar,  who  is  with  the  Mc- 
Lean County  Coal  Company. 


54^ 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Mr.  Erickson,  whose  name  introduces 
this  sketch,  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  Bloomington,  and  when  not  quite  four- 
teen years  of  age  began  life  for  himself  by 
working  in  the  coal  mines,  where  he  was 
employed  for  eight  years.  In  1884  he  ac- 
cepted a  position  as  clerk  in  the  grocery 
store  of  C.  F.  Koch,  now  mayor  of  Bloom- 
ingtoM,  and  there  obtained  his  first  ideas  of 
business.  He  remained  with  him  until  ap- 
pointed mail  carrier  by  Postmaster  J.  S. 
Neville,  in  1889,  and  held  that  position 
during  the  postmaster's  term.  Later  he 
received  the  appointment  of  check  weigh- 
man  from  the  Coal  Miners  Union,  his  duties 
being  to  look  after  the  interests  of  the 
miners.  After  filling  that  office  for  three 
months  he  entered  the  store  which  his 
brother  Charles  had  opened  at  his  present 
location  and  remained  with  him  until  the 
latter's  death,  which  occurred  July  26,  1895. 
With  his  father  our  subject  then  purchased 
the  stock  and  store,  and  has  since  been 
active  manager,  though  his  father  is  still 
interested  in  the  business.  Under  his  able 
and  judicious  management  trade  has  con- 
stantly increased  until  he  is  now  one  of  the 
largest  dealers  in  his  line  in  the  city  and 
occupies  Nos.  13 14  and  13 16  West  Olive 
street.  He  carries  a  full  and  complete  line 
of  staple  and  fancy  groceries,  flour,  feed 
and  meats  of  all  kinds,  and  gives  employ- 
ment to  five  people.  His  trade  extends  all 
over  the  city,  and  he  numbers  among  his 
patrons  many  of  its  best  citizens. 

On  the  24th  of  August,  1884,  Mr.  Erick- 
soh  married  Miss  Mary  Stahlberg,  also  a 
native  of  Sweden,  and  to  them  have  been 
born  eight  children,  of  whom  one  died  at 
the  age  of  one  year.  The  others  are  still 
living  and  are  as  follows:  Elvira,  Edward, 
Delia,  Grace,  Lillie,  Alexander  G.  and  Roy 


W.  The  family  have  a  nice  home  at  No. 
1 108  West  Olive  street,  which  Mr.  Erick- 
son  built  for  himself,  and  they  hold  mem- 
bership in  the  Swedish  Lutheran  church. 

Our  subject  is  one  of  the  active  and  in- 
fluential Republicans  of  the  seventh  ward, 
and  is  a  member  of  the  county  central  com- 
mittee for  the  eleventh  precinct  at  the  pres- 
ent time.  In  the  spring  of  1899  he  was 
elected  alderman  for  his  ward.  Frater- 
nally he  belongs  to  the  Modern  Woodmen 
of  America  and  the  National  Union.  He 
has  always  taken  an  active  part  in  organized 
labor,  and  for  one  year  he  has  served  as 
president  of  the  Coal  Miners'  Union  since 
he  has  been  in  his  present  business,  for  he 
well  knows  the  needs  of  labor,  and  still 
gives  such  organizations  his  encouragement 
and  support. 


ABRAM  KELLEY.  In  the  respect  that 
is  accorded  to  men  who  have  fought 
their  way  to  success  through  unfavorable 
environments  we  find  an  unconscious  recog- 
nition of  the  intrinsic  worth  of  a  character 
which  can  not  only  endure  so  rough  a  test, 
but  gain  new  strength  through  the  discipline. 
The  following  history  sets  forth  briefly  the 
steps  by  which  our  subject,  now  one  of  the 
substantial  agriculturists  of  Randolph  town- 
ship, overcame  the  disadvantages  of  his  early 
life.  For  a  half  century  he  has  been  prom- 
inently identified  with  the  agricultural  inter- 
ests of  the  county,  and  is  now  the  owner  of 
a  fine  farm  on  section  32,  Randolph  town- 
ship. 

Mr.  Kelley  was  born  April  6,  1830,  in 
Indiana,  five  miles  east  of  Terre  Haute,  and 
is  a  son  of  Amos  and  Elizabeth  (Jackson) 
Kelley,  natives  of  Kentucky,  v/here  their 
marriage  was  celebrated.      It  was  in   1829 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


547 


that  they  took  up  their  residence  in  Indiana 
and  in  the  midst  of  the  wilderness,  the  fa- 
ther cleared  and  developed  a  farm,  upon 
which  he  died  in  1837,  at  the  age  of  forty- 
five  years.  His  widow  was  left  in  limited 
circumstances  with  a  family  of  nine  children 
to  support.  With  the  assistance  of  her  sons 
she  continued  the  improvement  and  cultiva- 
tion of  the  farm  and  provided  for  her  chil- 
dren as  best  she  could.  There  Abram  Kel- 
ley  was  reared  to  habits  of  industry  and 
thrift,  and  on  leaving  Indiana  came  with  his 
mother  and  family  to  McLean  county,  Illi- 
nois, with  a  four-horse  wagon,  but  with  the 
exception  of  himself  all  went  to  Storey  coun- 
ty, Iowa,  in  1S51. 

During  the  first  two  or  three  years  of  his 
residence  in  this  county  our  subject  worked 
by  the  month  as  a  farm  hand,  but  after  his 
marriage  in  1852  rented  a  farm,  operating 
rented  land  for  eleven  years.  At  the  same 
time  he  engaged  in  chopping  and  splitting 
rails  and  followed  that  occupation  through 
the  winter  months  for  twenty  years.  In 
1852  he  led  to  the  marriage  altar  Miss  Per- 
melia  Moore,  who  was  born  in  Ohio,  but 
was  reared  in  this  county,  where  her  father, 
John  Moore,  one  of  its  honored  pioneers, 
located  as  early  as  1831.  The  children  born 
of  this  union  are  Lula,  now  the  wife  of 
James  Recker,  of  Bloomington,  by  whom 
she  has  two  children,  Elmer  and  Mabel. 
Frank  is  married  and  resides  in  Blooming- 
ton.  Anna  is  the  wife  of  Samuel  Van  Horn, 
of  Funks  Grove  township,  by  whom  she  has 
five  children.  May,  Myrtle,  Chester  and 
George.  Herman,  Homer  and  Elizabeth, 
all  three  are  at  home. 

Mr.  Kelley's  first  purchase  of  land  con- 
sisted of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
raw  prairie,  in  Downs  township,  upon  which 
was  not  a  stick  of  timber,  the  nearest  grove 


being  a  mile  and  a  quarter  away.  This 
farm  he  fenced  and  placed  under  cultivation, 
erected  thereon  a  good  house  and  barn,  but 
after  operating  it  four  or  five  years  sold  and 
moved  to  Heyworth  before  the  town  was 
started  or  the  railroad  laid  out.  Near  that 
village  he  owned  and  conducted  a  farm  for 
twenty-seven  years.  In  the  meantime  he 
purchased  his  present  farm  on  section  32, 
Randolph  township,  and  located  thereon  in 
February,  1884,  since  which  time  he  has 
made  many  improvements  upon  the  place, 
including  the  erection  of  a  pleasant  resi- 
dence and  substantial  outbuildings,  which 
stand  as  monuments  to  his  thrift  and  indus- 
try. Besides  this  valuable  place,  he  owns 
another  well  improved  farm  of  eighty  acres 
in  Downs  township,  and  is  justly  accounted 
one  of  the  best  and  most  skillful  farmers  of 
the  community. 

In  political  sentiment,  Mr.  Kelley  is  a 
Jeffersonian  Democrat,  who  cast  his  first 
presidential  ballot  for  Franklin  Pierce  in 
1852.  Socially  he  is  a  member  of  Hey- 
worth Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  religiously 
his  wife  belongs  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.  They  have  a  wife  circle  of  friends 
and  acquaintances  throughout  the  commu- 
nity, and  are  held  in  high  regard  on  account 
of  their  sterling  worth  and  many  excellen- 
cies of  character. 


PETER  E.  OLSEN.  Many  of  Bloom- 
ington's  most  progressive  and  enter- 
prising citizens  are  those  whose  early  homes 
were  on  the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic.  To 
this  class  belongs  Mr.  Olsen,  a  well  known 
general  merchant,  who  is  now  successfully 
engaged  in  business  at  No.  1016  West 
Washington  street.  He  was  born  in  the  town 
of  Falun,  Dalarne,  Sweden.  March  22,  1859, 


548 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


a  son  of  Andrew  Olsen,  a  miller  of  that 
place,  who  rented  and  operated  two  mills, 
and  was  doing  an  extensive  business  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  when  our 
subject  was  only  seven  years  old.  He  left 
five  children,  of  whom  four  came  to  Amer- 
ica. These  being  Peter  E.,  our  subject; 
Mrs.  John  Larson,  of  Bloomington;  An- 
drew, of  Webster  county,  Iowa,  and  Mrs. 
Sunberg,  of  Worcester,  Massachusetts.  The 
mother  lived  and  died  at  the  old  home  in  Swe- 
den. Both  parents  were  earnest  members 
of  the  Lutheran  church,  and  were  held  in 
high  esteem  by  all  who  knew  them. 

The  city  where  our  subject  was  born 
was  the  ancestral  home  of  the  family,  and 
there  he  was  reared,  his  education  being 
obtained  in  its  public  schools.  At  the  age 
of  eighteen  years  he  came  alone  to  the 
United  States,  and  without  friends  or  ac- 
quaintances started  out  in  a  strange  land  to 
seek  his  fortune.  Coming  to  Bloomington 
he  found  employment  in  the  McLean  county 
coal  mines,  where  he  worked  for  six  years. 
In  an  accident  in  the  mines  after  he  had 
been  there  for  three  years  he  unfortunately 
lost  one  leg.  His  wages,  however,  was 
good,  and  he  remained  there  three  years 
longer.  Having  saved  some  money  he  then 
bought  a  team,  and  for  the  following  twelve 
years  successfully  engaged  in  teaming  on 
his  own  account,  and  later  was  with  the 
city  employ  with  his  team  for  five  years.  In 
the  spring  of  1898  he  embarked  in  merchan- 
dising in  the  brick  block  at  No.  1016  West 
Washington  street,  stocking  his  store  with 
a  good  line  of  general  merchandise,  and  al- 
though he  has  been  engaged  in  this  busi- 
ness only  a  short  time  he  has  already  built 
up  a  good  trade  which  is  constantly  increas- 
ing. By  fair  and  honorable  dealing  he  wins 
the  confidence  and  good  will  of  his  patrons. 


In  Bloomington,  August  2,  1880,  Mr. 
Olsen  married  Miss  Louisa  Olsen,  a  native 
of  Ransberg,  Sweden,  and  to  them  have 
been  born  five  children,  but  Robert,  the  sec- 
ond in  order  of  birth,  died  at  the  age  of  six 
years.  Those  living  are  as  follows:  Axel, 
born  August  19,  1 881,  is  now  in  the  employ 
of  Robert  Louden;  Godfrey,  born  April  30, 
1885;  Beda,  born  November  10,  1887;  and 
Dell  Adrian,  born  September  7,  1889,  are 
all  at  school.  Eighteen  years  ago  Mr. 
Olsen  purchased  his  present  comfortable 
home  at  No.  717  West  Jefferson  street, 
where  he  has  resided  continuously  since. 
Religiously,  he  and  his  wife  hold  member- 
ship in  the  Lutheran  church,  and,  fra- 
ternally, he  belongs  to  the  Scandinavian 
Benevolent  Society,  and  the  Modern  Wood- 
men of  America,  in  which  he  has  held  of- 
fice. The  Republican  party  finds  in  him  a 
stanch  supporter  of  its  principles,  and  in 
1899  he  was  the  popular  candidate  for  super- 
intendent of  the  streets.  His  course  in  life 
has  ever  been  such  as  to  commend  him  to 
the  confidence  and  respect  of  all  with  whom 
he  has  come  in  contact,  either  in  business 
or  social  life,  and  he  has  a  host  of  warm 
friends  in  his  adopted  city. 


GEORGE  N.  DUNLAP,  who  is  living 
a  retired  life  on  his  farm  in  Danvers 
township,  was  born  July  2,  1821,  near  Lex- 
ington, Kentucky,  and  is  a  son  of  William 
and  Onie  (Green)  Dunlap,  the  former  a  na- 
tive of  Virginia  and  son  of  William  Dunlap, 
Sr., a  soldier  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  who, 
after  the  surrender  of  Cornwallis,  emigrated 
to  Kentucky,  and  located  three  miles  from 
Fort  Lexington,  now  the  city  of  Lexington. 
His  wife  was  Rebecca  Robertson,  of  Eng- 
lish descent,  her    father  being  a  clergyman 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


549 


in  Virginia.  She  lived  to  the  age  of  ninety- 
nine  years.  William  Dunlap,  Sr.,  died  at 
the  age  of  seventy-two  years.  They  were 
the  parents  of  seven  children,  five  sons  and 
two  daughters.  William  Dunlap,  the  fa- 
ther of  our  subject,  never  came  to  Illinois, 
dying  in  Kentucky,  as  did  also  his  wife. 
They  were  the  parents  of  ten  children,  of 
whom  George  N.  was  ninth  in  order  of 
birth. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  grew  to  man- 
hood in  his  native  state,  and  received  a 
limited  common-school  education.  He  was 
married  September  i6,  1851,  to  Miss  Mary 
H.  Nichols,  who  was  born  in  Lincoln,  Ken- 
tucky, December  5,  1833,  and  daughter  of 
Walter  and  Elizabeth  M.  (Thompson) 
Nichols,  the  former  a  native  of  Newport, 
Rhode  Island,  and  a  direct  descendant  of 
William  Mullens,  a  native  of  England,  who 
came  to  this  country  in  the  first  voyage  of 
the  Mayflower.  The  Thompsons  were  of 
one  of  the  very  prominent  old  families  of 
Virginia.  Walter  Nichols  was  a  son  of 
Joshua  and  Hannah  (Coggeshall)  Nichols, 
the  former  a  native  of  Newport,  Rhode 
Island,  and  the  latter  of  New  York.  He 
was  a  furniture  manufacturer  and  moved  to 
Kentucky  at  a  very  early  day,  locating  in  Dan- 
ville in  1808.  He  there  resided  until  a  few 
years  before  his  death,  when  he  sold  his 
property  and  located  in  Rushville,  Illinois, 
where  he  lived  with  his  children  until  called 
from  this  life  in  1866.  Walter  Nichols  also 
learned  the  trade  of  furniture  making.  He 
was  reared  and  educated  in  Danville,  Ken- 
tucky, and  there  married  Elizabeth  M. 
Thompson,  and  they  became  the  parents  of 
three  children:  Mary  H.  is  the  wife  of  our 
subject.  Sarah  T.  is  the  wife  of  Richard 
Gray,  and  they  reside  in  Bloomington,  Illi- 
nois.     Nelson   A.    resides    in    Le.xington, 


Kentucky,  where  he  is  in  the  grain,  tobacco 
and  warehouse  business.  Walter  Nichols 
died  in  1890  at  the  age  of  eighty-five  years. 
His  wife  died  when  but  thirty-seven  years 
old. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dunlap  eleven  chil- 
dren were  born.  Lizzie  T.  married  Jesse 
Barnes,  of  Bloomington,  Illinois,  but  died 
in  1893,  leaving  three  children.  Walter  N. 
married,  and  died  in  1886,  leaving  one 
child.  Anna  B.  is  the  wife  of  W.  Z.  Mor- 
rison, and  they  have  one  child.  Their  res- 
idence is  in  Bloomington.  William  G.  died 
at  the  age  of  nine  years,  from  the  kick  of  a 
vicious  horse.  Sarah  G.  is  the  wife  of 
R.  L.  Carlock,  county  clerk  of  McLean 
county,  and  they  have  one  child.  They 
reside  in  Bloomington.  Mary  T.  is  the 
wife  of  H.  L.  Bell,  of  Danvers  township. 
George  B.  married  Gertrude  M.  Bell,  and 
with  their  two  children  they  reside  in  Dan- 
vers township.  Hattie  N.  married  John  R. 
Perry,  and  they  have  one  child.  Their 
home  is  in  Barton  county,  Missouri.  Isaac 
M.  married  Bertha  E.  Bell,  and  they  reside 
in  Danvers  township.  Thomas  died  at  the 
age  of  two  years.  Edwin  C.  resides  at 
home  with  his  parents. 

Soon  after  his  marriage,  which  oc- 
curred in  his  native  state,  Mr.  Dunlap 
moved  to  Jackson  county,  Missouri,  where 
he  resided  three  years,  engaged  in  farming, 
but  on  account  of  his  wife's  ill  health  he  re- 
turned to  Kentucky,  but  in  1858  came  to 
McLean  county,  and  has  since  made  this 
his  home.  On  coming  to  the  county  he 
purchased  a  section  of  land  near  Blooming- 
ton, where  he  made  his  home  until  the 
spring  of  1867,  when  he  moved  to  Normal 
to  educate  his  children  in  the  university. 
While  the  children  were  in  the  university 
he  engaged  very  e.xtensively  in  the  whole- 


550 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


sale  dairy  business,  and  in  connection  with 
it  engaged  in  breeding  very  fine  Berkshire 
hogs,  which  he  exhibited  with  some  profit 
at  various  local  fairs.  He  also  raised  some 
fine  saddle  horses.  In  1884  he  moved  west 
of  the  city,  and  in  1885  practically  retired 
from  business. 

In  politics  Mr.  Dunlap  is  a  Democrat, 
with  which  party  he  has  affiliated  since  at- 
taining his  majority.  For  many  years  he 
served  on  the  school  board,  having  always 
taken  great  interest  in  the  public  schools. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church, 
as  is  also  his  wife.  One  peculiarity  of  the 
family,  on  both  the  Dunlap  and  the  Nichols 
side,  is  that  not  one  member  of  it  has  ever 
married  with  one  of  a  foreign  nation.  They 
rre  Americans  pure  and  simple.  While 
Hearing  four  score  years,  Mr.  Dunlap  Is  a 
well-preserved  man,  and  is  a  typical  Ken- 
tucky gentleman,  always  ready  to  greet  a 
friend  and  welcome  all  to  his  hospitable 
home. 


WILLIAM  LOCKER  HALLAM,  M.  D., 
deceased,  was  for  several  years  one 
of  the  most  prominent  physicians  and  influ- 
ential citizens  of  Bloomington.  He  was  a 
native  of  Illinois,  born  in  Louisville  April  2, 
185 1,  a  son  of  Dr.  John  Locker  and  Sarah 
(Green)  Hallam.  The  father  was  born  in 
England,  but  when  only  five  or  six  years  old 
he  was  brought  to  this  country  by  his 
parents,  who  settled  in  Grayville,  White 
county,  Illinois,  where  he  spent  his  boyhood 
and  youth.  He  was  a  very  learned  man, 
have  received  a  classical  as  well  as  a  med- 
ical education  in  higher  institutions  of  learn- 
ing in  St.  Louis,  Missouri.  He  read  medi- 
cine with  his  father-in-law.  Dr.  Green,  a 
pioneer  physician   of  this    stale,    who   died 


years  ago.  For  half  a  century  Dr.  Hallam 
successfully  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his 
chosen  profession  in  Centralia,  Illinois,  was 
also  a  surgeon  for  the  Illinois  Central  rail- 
road for  many  years,  and  was  one  of  the 
most  prominent  surgeons  in  his  section  of 
the  state.  He  died  in  June,  1894,  at  the 
age  of  seventy-six  years,  and  his  death  was 
felt  as  a  loss  among  all  classes,  as  he  was 
widely  and  favorably  known. 

Dr.  William  L.  Hallam,  our  subject, 
was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Centralia 
and  Lebanon  College.  He  commenced  the 
study  of  medicine  under  the  able  direction 
of  his  father,  and  later  entered  the  Medical 
College  of  Ohio,  at  Cincinnati,  where  he 
was  graduated  with  the  degree  of  M.  D.,  in 
1874.  He  was  engaged  in  active  practice 
with  his  father  at  Centralia  for  one  year, 
and  then  located  in  Grayville,  where  he 
remained  for  twelve  years. 

On  the  23d  of  November,  1875,  Dr. 
Hallam  married  Miss  Florence  N.  Condit, 
of  Centralia,  a  daughter  of  Edwin  S.  Con- 
dit, who  was  for  many  years  a  prominent 
banker  of  that  city,  and  provost  marshal 
during  the  civil  war.  He  was  born  in  New 
Jersey,  and  belonged  to  an  old  and  highly 
respected  family  of  that  state.  To  the 
Doctor  and  his  wife  were  born  five  children, 
four  of  whom  are  still  living,  namely:  John 
Edwin  Condit,  deceased;  Elizabeth  M., 
Harriet  N.,  Roscoe  Locker  and  Lucile  S. 

In  October,  1887,  Dr.  Hallam  came  to 
Bloomington  and  at  once  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  Dr.  Barnes,  which  connection 
continued  until  the  latter  was  appointed 
postmaster.  Dr.  Hallam  then  became  asso- 
ciated with  Dr.  Chapin.  He  served  for  a 
time  as  surgeon  for  the  Chicago  &  Alton 
Railroad,  and  was  a  prominent  member  of 
thp  county  and  state  medical  societies.     His 


THE    BIOGI^\rHICAL   RECORD. 


55» 


skill  and  ability  were  attested  by  the  liberal 
patroiiaj;e  he  enjoyed  and  he  ranked  as  one 
of  the  leading  physicians  of  this  locality. 
Socially  he  was  a  Knight  Templar  Mason, 
and  was  serving  as  commander  of  De  Molay 
Commandery  at  the  time  of  his  death,  which 
occurred  January  23,  1898.  He  was  also 
alderman  from  the  first  ward.  Politically 
he  affiliated  with  the  Republican  party,  and 
religiously  was  a  member  of  the  First  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church,  to  which  his  es- 
timable wife  also  belongs.  The  Doctor 
was  a  man  of  genial  manner  and  pleasing 
disposition,  and  wherever  he  went  he  won 
friends,  and  had  the  happy  faculty  of  being 
able  to  retain  them.  His  popularity  made 
him  a  great  favorite  in  all  circles. 


JAMES  W.  ADAMS,  a  well-to-do  farmer 
residing  on  section  7,  Randolph  town- 
ship, eight  miles  south  of  Bloomington,  is  a 
self-made  man,  without  an  extraordinary 
family  or  pecuniary  advantages  at  the  com- 
mencement of  life,  has  battled  earnestly 
and  energetically,  and  by  indomitable  cour- 
age and  integrity  has  achieved  both  char- 
acter and  a  competence.  By  sheer  force  of 
will  and  untiring  effort  he  has  worked  his 
way  upward. 

Mr.  Adams  was  born  in  Estill  county, 
Kentucky,  July  3,  185 1,  a  son  of  Berryman 
and  Cynthia  Ann  (Moppin)  Adams,  natives 
of  Virginia.  At  an  early  day  the  father  re- 
moved to  Estill  county,  Kentucky,  and  there 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  as  a  farmer, 
dying  in  April,  1862.  He  was  a  soldier  of 
the  war  of  1812  and  while  fighting  with  In- 
dians during  that  struggle  he  was  captured 
and  held  a  prisoner  by  them  for  three 
months,  when  a  white  man  traded  a  pony 
jor  him^  thgs  securing  his  release. 


After  the  death  of  his  father,  James  W. 
Adams  was  thrown  upon  his  own  resources 
at  the  early  age  of  eleven  years  and  endured 
many  hardships  and  privations  before  reach- 
ing manhood.  His  life  was  spent  upon  a 
farm  and  as  he  had  to  work  hard,  he  re- 
ceived very  little  schooling  and  the  greater 
part  of  the  knowledge  he  has  acquired  has 
been  gained  by  reading  and  observation  in 
later  years.  When  a  young  man  of  nine- 
teen years  he  came  to  McLean  county,  Illi- 
nois, where  he  took  up  his  residence  in  Oc- 
tober, 1S69.  He  worked  by  the  month  on 
the  poor  farm  for  two  years  and  for  the  fol- 
lowing six  years  was  similarly  employed  by 
different  parties. 

On  the  2 1st  of  January,  1877,  in  Ran- 
dolph township,  Mr.  Adams  married  Miss 
Clara  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Sylvester 
Jones,  who  came  here  from  Ohio  at  an  early 
day,  and  later  lived  in  Missouri,  where  Mrs. 
Adams  was  born,  but  finally  returned  to  this 
state,  where  she  was  reared  and  educated. 
Sylvester  Jones  was  a  member  of  the  Ninety- 
fourth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  enlisting 
in  1862,  in  Bloomington,  and  was  with  his 
regiment  until  his  death  in  March,  1863. 
He  was  brought  back  to  McLean  county, 
and  buried  in  the  Frankeberger  cemetery. 
His  wife,  Anna  Ireland,  died  in  Wellington, 
Kansas,  June,  1898.  Five  children  have 
been  born  to  our  subject  and  his  wife, 
namely:  Gracie,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
thirteen  years;  Anna,  Ivan,  Avery  and  Ada, 
twins,  all  still  at  home  with  their  parents. 

For  eleven  years  after  his  marriage,  Mr. 
Adams  rented  the  Funk  farm  three  miles  east 
of  McLean,  and  then,  in  1888,  purchased 
the  farm  on  section  7,  Randolph  township, 
where  he  now  resides.  He  has  remodeled 
and  repaired  the  dwelling,  has  fenced  and 
tiled  the  place,  and  niade  many  other  in»- 


55: 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


provements  which  add  greatly  to  its  value 
and  beauty.  In  addition  to  general  farm- 
ing he  devoted  considerable  attention  to 
stock  raising,  and  is  meeting  with  excel- 
lent success  in  his  labors.  He  cast  his  first 
presidential  vote  for  Samuel  J.  Tilden,  in 
1876,  and  since  that  time  has  never  wavered 
in  his  allegiance  to  the  Democratic  party 
and  its  principles.  He  takes  a  commenda- 
ble interest  in  public  affairs,  especially  along 
the  line  of  education,  and  for  nine  years 
most  efficiently  served  as  school  director  in 
his  district.  Fraternally,  he  is  a  Master 
Mason,  and  he  stands  high  in  the  esteem 
and  confidence  of  his  fellow  citizens. 


SIMON  FRY,  a  leading  and  representa- 
tive citizen  of  White  Oak  township, 
now  living  retired  upon  his  fine  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  ninety-six  acres  on  section  31, 
is  a  veteran  of  the  civil  war  and  bears  an 
honorable  record  for  brave  service  in  the 
cause  of  freedom  and  union,  and  in  the 
paths  of  peace  he  has  also  won  an  enviable 
reputation  through  the  sterling  qualities 
which  go  to  the  making  of  a  good  citizen. 
Mr.  Fry  was  born  in  Preble  county, 
Ohio,  June  19,  1841,  a  son  of  Jonas  and 
Christina  (Null)  Fry.  The  father  was  a  na- 
tive of  Virginia,  born  in  1806,  but  when  a 
lad  of  ten  years  accompanied  his  parents  on 
their  removal  from  the  Old  Dominion  to 
Warren  county,  Ohio,  where  he  grew  to 
manhood  and  was  married.  Subsequently 
he  became  a  resident  of  Preble  county,  that 
state,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farming  and 
stock  raising  until  1854,  which  year  wit- 
nessed his  arrival  in  McLean  county,  Illi- 
nois. Locating  in  Danvers  township,  he 
resided  there    until  his   death,    which   oc- 


curred in  October,  1872.    His  wife  survived 
him  several  years,  dying  February  18,1886. 

In  his  political  affiliations  he  was  first  a 
Whig  and  later  a  Republican,  and  in  re- 
ligious faith  he  was  a  United  Brethren.  He 
had  eight  children  who  reached  man  and 
womanhood,  namely  :  Catherine,  deceased 
wife  of  Peter  Wintz,  of  Carlock;  Michael, 
who  is  living  retired  in  Bloomington; 
Phcebe,  deceased  wife  of  William  Gilmore, 
of  White  Oak  township;  Emanuel,  who  died 
in  Harvey  county,  Kansas,  in  February, 
1899;  Lucinda,  deceased  wife  of  Dewitt 
Wallace,  of  White  Oak  township;  John  P., 
who  served  for  three  years  in  Company  E, 
Ninety-fourth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry, 
during  the  civil  war  and  is  now  a  resident 
of  Wellington,  Kansas;  Simon,  our  subject; 
and  George,  a  farmer  of  White  Oak  town- 
ship. 

Simon  Fry  was  thirteen  years  old  when 
brought  by  his  parents  to  McLean  county, 
and  he  remained  under  the  parental  roof 
until  he  attained  his  majority,  acquiring  a 
good  common-school  education.  On  the 
13th  of  August,  1862,  he  joined  the  boys 
in  blue  as  a  member  of  Company  E,  Ninety- 
fourth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  served 
for  three  years  or  until  hositilities  ceased. 
At  the  battle  of  Prairie  Grove,  Arkansas,  he 
was  wounded  by  a  minie  ball  passing 
through  his  thigh,  but  remained  with  his 
regiment  and  was  only  off  duty  two  months. 
He  participated  in  the  sieges  of  Vicksburg, 
Fort  Morganza,  Alabama,  and  Spanish 
Fort,  and  then  crossed  the  bay  from  Mobile 
and  went  to  Galveston,  Texas,  where  he  was 
mustered  out.  At  Springfield,  Illinois,  he 
was  honorably  discharged  and  returned 
home  with  a  war  record  of  which  he  should 
be  justly  proud. 

Mr.  Fry  then  turned  his  attention  to  the 


or  THE 

■:;:v:R:iTV  c?  numi 


SIMON    FRY. 


MRS.   MARY  E.   FRY. 


'i'^/?£/n 


"-ut^on 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


557 


more  quite  pursuits  of  farm  life,  beginning 
operations  upon  eighty  acres  of  his  present 
farm,  where  he  has  resided  continuously 
since  with  the  exception  of  six  months,  when 
engaged  in  milling  in  Danvers;  and  a  year 
and  a  half,  in  1882  and  18S3,  when  inter- 
ested in  the  grocery  business  in  Blooming- 
ton.  He  has  followed  stock  raising  in  con- 
nection with  farming,  making  a  specialty  of 
fine  horses,  both  draft  and  roadsters.  He 
was  one  of  the  organizers  and  is  president 
of  the  Danvers  German  Coach  Horse  Com- 
pany, organized  in  the  spring  of  1S98,  and 
has  done  much  to  elevate  that  class  of  stock 
in  the  county. 

On  the  19th  of  September,  1866,  Mr.  Fry 
wedded  Miss  Mary  E.  Boggs,  who  was  born 
in  Woodford  county,  Illinois,  May  7,  1848. 
Her  parents,  Francis  H.  and  Elizabeth 
(Vance)  Boggs,  were  natives  of  Pennsylva- 
nia and  Kentucky,  respectively,  and  early 
settlers  of  this  state.  Our  subject  and  his 
wife  have  one  son,  Walter  H.,  who  now 
carries  on  the  home  farm.  He  married 
Cora  A.  McReynolds,  a  native  of  McLean 
county  and  daughter  of  Edward  McReynolds. 
Five  children  bless  this  union:  Pearl  B., 
Goldie  B.,  Lyle  E.,  Hobart  Simon  and 
Opal  M. 

Politically  Mr.  Fry  is  a  Republican,  but 
at  local  elections  endeavors  to  vote  for  the 
best  man,  regardless  of  party  ties.  He  has 
efficiently  served  as  school  director  in  his 
district  and  every  duty  imposed  upon  him 
has  been  most  faithfully  discharged. 


MKRRITT  CHISM.  Prominent  among 
the  representative  citizens  and  re- 
spected and  influential  men  of  White  Oak 
township,  is  the  subject  of  this  biographical 
notice,  whose  home  is  on  section  26.     His 


valuable  farm  of  six  hundred  and  forty  acres, 
located  on  sections  23,  25  and  26,  is  well 
improved  and  highly  cultivated,  and  shows 
conclusively  the  owner  has  not  mistaken  his 
calling  in  adopting  agriculture. 

Mr.  Chism  was  born  on  his  father's  es- 
tate on  section  23,  White  Oak  township, 
March  25,  1852,  a  son  of  Jesse  and  Artimza 
(Brown)  Chism.  The  father  was  born  in 
Cumberland  county,  Tennessee,  May  16, 
1822,  and  was  a  son  of  John  Chism,  a  na- 
tive of  Scotland,  who  on  his  emigration  to 
America  located  in  Tennessee,  where  he 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  The  latter's 
wife  was  of  German  birth.  In  their  family 
were  four  sons,  Richard,  John,  James  and 
Jesse,  two  of  whom,  John  and  James,  dis- 
appeared during  the  civil  war,  and  all  trace 
of  them  was  lost.  One  daughter,  Nancy, 
married  and  remained  in  Tennessee. 

In  his  native  state  Jesse  Chism  continued 
to  make  his  home  until  twenty-four  years 
of  age,  caring  for  his  widowed  mother  from 
the  age  of  fifteen.  Soon  after  her  death,  in 
1848,  he  came  to  Illinois  on  horseback,  Mc- 
Lean county  being  his  destination,  as  ac- 
quaintances of  his  had  previously  located 
here.  On  his  arrival,  in  November,  1848, 
he  had  but  fifteen  dollars  in  money,  an  old 
watch  and  an  old  horse,  supplemented  with 
six  months'  schooling  in  the  public  school, 
with  which  to  begin  life  for  himself.  At 
first  he  worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade,  and 
in  company  with  J.  H.  Rowell,  now  of 
Bloomington,  engaged  in  the  sawmill  busi- 
ness on  Mackinaw  river  for  two  years.  On 
the  5th  of  November,  1 849,  he  married 
Artimza  Brown,  also  a  native  of  Tennessee, 
who  was  brought  to  this  state  during  her  in- 
fancy by  her  parents,  Zachariah  and  Eliza- 
beth (Jones)  Brown.  The  young  couple 
commenced  housekeeping   upon  a  tract  of 


558 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


eighty  acres  in  White  Oak  township,  owned 
by  Mrs.  Chism,  and  there  they  continued  to 
make  their  home  for  fifteen  years,  their  first 
residence  being  a  log  cabin,  which  the  fa- 
ther purchased  for  five  dollars,  moved  and 
rebuilt  upon  his  place.  Throughout  life  he 
continued  to  follow  agricultural  pursuits 
with  most  excellent  results,  and  was  also 
extensively  interested  in  the  stock  business, 
making  larger  shipments  than  any  other 
man  in  his  vicinity.  He  met  with  signal 
success  in  all  business  affairs,  and  became 
the  owner  of  two  thousand  acres  of  valuable 
land,  principally  in  McLean  county.  From 
his  own  timber  he  furnished  a  considerable 
amount  of  ties  to  the  Illinois  Central  Rail- 
road. In  his  political  views  he  was  a  stanch 
Republican,  though  not  a  politician  in  the 
sense  of  office  seeking.  However,  he  served 
in  a  number  of  local  positions  of  honor  and 
trust.  An  earnest  and  consistent  Christian 
gentleman,  he  took  an  active  part  in  re- 
ligious work,  and  was  one  of  the  founders 
of  the  East  White  Oak  Christian  church, 
and  was  one  of  the  main  pillars  of  the 
church,  with  which  he  was  officially  con- 
nected for  many  years.  He  died  January 
4,  1898,  his  wife  March  15,  1870,  honored 
and  respected  by  all  who  knew  them.  Of 
their  seven  children,  four  died  in  infancy. 
Those  who  reached  man  and  womanhood 
were  Amelia,  deceased  wife  of  John  J.  Riley, 
of  White  Oak  township;  Merritt,  our  sub- 
ject; and  Perry,  a  merchant  of  Bloomington. 
During  his  early  life  our  subject  became 
thoroughly  familiar  with  all  the  duties  which 
fall  to  the  lot  of  the  agriculturist,  and  he  ac- 
quired a  good  practical  education  in  the 
common  schools,  which  he  attended  until 
eighteen  years  of  age,  and  then  entered 
Eureka  College,  at  Eureka,  Illinois,  where 
he  pursued  his  studjeg  for  eighteen  months, 


On  starting  out  in  life  for  himself  he  chose 
the  occupation  to  which  he  had  been  reared, 
and  received  from  his  father's  estate  the  land 
he  now  owns.  He  continued  to  actively 
engage  in  farming  until  1898,  when  he 
leased  his  place,  and  has  since  lived  retired. 
On  the  1 6th  of  September,  1874,  Mr. 
Chism  led  to  the  marriage  altar  Miss  Amer- 
ica Robinson,  also  a  native  of  White  Oak 
township,  and  a  daughter  of  William  and 
Elizabeth  (Brown)  Robinson.  They  began 
their  domestic  life  upon  his  farm  in  a  com- 
fortable residence  he  had  erected  thereon, 
and  to  the  further  improvement  and  cultiva- 
tion of  the  place  he  devoted  his  time  and 
attention,  making  it  one  of  the  best  of  the 
many  fine  farms  of  this  locality.  In  the  fall 
of  1S98  he  removed  to  his  present  home, 
erected  on  another  part  of  the  estate.  He 
keeps  a  good  grade  of  stock,  including  some 
time  roadsters. 

The  first  wife  of  our  subject  died  April 
J  3.  '897.  Thirteen  children  were  born  to 
them,  eleven  of  whom  are  still  living, 
namely:  Walter  P.,  who  is  engaged  in 
farming  upon  the  homestead;  Frank  W.,  a 
resident  of  White  Oak  township;  Edith  M. , 
at  home;  Jesse  Garfield,  who  was  named 
for  his  grandfather  and  President  Garfield; 
Roy  M.;Imo  C. ;  Earl  G. ;  Chester  W. ; 
Harvey  W. ;  Stella  J. ;  and  Mattie  A.,  whose 
middle  name  is  for  her  paternal  grand- 
mother. On  the  15th  of  February,  1899, 
Mr.  Chism  wedded  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Freeland, 
daughter  of  William  and  Anna  (Brooks) 
Wilson,  of  Lowsville,  Illinois. 

The  Republican  party  finds  in  Mr. 
Chism  a  stanch  supporter  of  its  principles, 
and  he  has  served  his  fellow  citizens  in  the 
capacity  of  school  director  for  sixteen  years. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  are  earnest  and  faith- 
ful members  of  {.he    Christian   church,    jn 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


559 


which  he  has  served  as  deacon.  He  is  one 
of  the  most  progressive,  euterprising  and 
public-spirited  citizens  of  his  community, 
and  is  very  popular  with  a  wide  circle  of 
friends  and  acquaintances  who  esteem  him 
highly  for  his  genuine  worth. 


HENRY  KRIEGER,  the  well-known 
grocer  and  provision  dealer  of  South 
Allen  street.  Bloomington,  was  born  in 
Chillicothe,  Ohio,  April  12,  1861,  and  is  the 
son  of  Peter  and  Anna  Elizabeth  (Roos) 
Kreiger,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of 
Germany.  Peter  Krieger  grew  to  manhood 
in  Germany,  and  when  a  young  man  emi- 
grated to  the  United  States,  locating  in 
Baltimore,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade  of 
tailoring,  which  he  had  learned  in  the  old 
country.  While  residing  in  Baltimore  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Mrs.  Anna 
Elizabeth  Snyder,  lu'e  Roos,  and  soon  after 
moved  to  Portsmouth,  Ohio,  and  later  to 
Chillicothe,  in  the  same  state.  From  the 
latter  place  he  came  to  Bloomington  when 
our  subject  was  a  small  lad.  Here  he  first 
was  employed  as  a  tailor  by  Peter  Gratz, 
and  later  with  other  old  established  houses, 
and  then  for  himself,  until  on  account  of 
advanced  age  he  retired  from  business.  On 
coming  to  Bloomington  he  purchased  a  home 
near  Miller  Park,  where  he  lived  for  more 
than  thirty  jears.  His  death  occurred  in 
November,  1896,  while  his  good  wife  pre- 
ceded him  about  one  year.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  an  early  German  benevolent  society, 
Ubiand  lodge  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  always 
had  a  warm  place  in  his  heart  for  those 
from  the  fatherland. 

In  the  public  schools  of  Bloomington 
our  subject  obtained  his  education,  and  in 
his  youth  learned    the  tailor  trade  with  his 


father,  at  which  he  continued  until  1882, 
when  he  opened  a  small  grocery  store  at 
No.  503  South  Allen  street,  and  did  most 
of  the  work  himself.  His  room  was  quite 
small  at  first,  but  as  his  trade  increased  he 
enlarged  the  store,  and  in  the  years  that 
have  passed  has  made  four  additions  to  his 
premises,  which  now  goes  to  the  limit  of 
his  lot.  His  success  has  been  well  pleasing 
to  himself  and  his  many  friends,  and  his 
well  stocked  store  gives  evidence  of  his  busi- 
ness ability.  No  longer  can  he  do  the  work 
alone,  but  in  addition  to  the  help  given  by 
his  wife,  he  employs  a  man  and  is  assisted 
by  his  daughters,  and  all  are  kept  busy. 
He  now  owns  a  lot  with  si.\ty  feet  frontage, 
on  which  he  has  erected  a  good  home  in 
which  the  family  live. 

Mr.  Krieger  was  married  February  21, 
1884,  to  Miss  Helena  Schmitz,  who  was 
born  in  the  city  of  Chicago,  and  daughter 
of  John  and  Anna  Maria  (Metzger)  Schmitz, 
both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Germany; 
the  mother  was  bom  in  Mahren,  R.  B. 
Thrier,  Prussia,  and  the  father  at  Malburg, 
Knis,  Betburg;  but  they  were  married  in 
Chicago.  They  came  to  Bloomington  when 
Mrs.  Krieger  was  about  a  month  old,  in  1S61. 
The  father  was  a  pattern-maker  by  trade, 
and  on  coming  to  Bloomington  found  em- 
ployment in  the  shops  of  the  Chicago  & 
Alton  Railroad,  where  he  remained  for  a 
short  time,  and  then  opened  a  furniture 
store  and  undertaking  establishment  on  West 
Chestnut  street.  He  was  one  of  the  first 
employes  in  the  railroad  shops  of  the  city 
and  was  one  of  the  charter  members  of  the 
Bloomington  School  Verein.  For  many 
years  he  continued  in  business  with  gratify- 
ing success,  but  he  is  now  living  a  retired 
life.  His  wife  passed  to  her  reward  on  May 
12.  1880. 


560 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Krieger  three  children 
have  been  born,  one  of  whom,  Henry  Earl 
died  when  five  and  a  half  years  old.  The 
living  are  Carrie  A.  and  Viola  E.,  who  are 
students  in  the  public  schools  and  also  of 
College  of  Music.  In  the  transaction  of 
the  business  of  her  husband,  Mrs.  Krieger 
has  been  a  constant  helper  and  an  invalu- 
able aid.  She  believes  that  a  wife  should 
be  truly  a  helpmeet  to  her  husband.  Fra- 
ternally, Mr.  Krieger  is  a  member  of  Pythian 
Lodge,  No.  161,  K.  P.,  and  politically,  he 
is  independent. 


JEROME  T.  KEPNER,  an  influential 
farmer  of  Dry  Grove  township,  is  the 
owner  of  three  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of 
highly  cultivated  land.  He  was  born  in 
Juniatta  county,  Pennsylvania,  February  20, 
1830,  and  is  the  son  of  Samuel  and  Hester 
(Walker)  Kepner,  both  of  whom  were  na- 
tives of  Pennsylvania,  rhe  former  born  in 
1800,  and  the  latter  in  1802.  The  paternal 
grandfather,  Samuel  Kepner,  Sr.,  was  a  sol- 
dier in  the  Revolutionary  army.  He  mar- 
ried a  Miss  Rinehart,  and  to  them  were 
born  eight  children,  of  whom  Samuel,  the 
father  of  our  subject,  was  fifth  in  order  of 
birth.  He  died  in  Pennsylvania,  the  result 
of  an  accident,  his  wife  surviving  him,  and 
dying  at  the  age  of  eighty  years.  Samuel 
Kepner,  the  father,  grew  to  manhood  in  his 
native  state  and  there  married  Hester  Walk- 
er, daughter  of  John  Walker,  a  farmer  of 
Pennsylvania,  who  there  lived  and  died. 
By  this  union  there  were  nine  children,  of 
whom  six  grew  to  matsrity:  Jerome  T. , 
the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Calvin  A.,  who 
resides  in  Juniatta  county,  Pennsylvania; 
Samuel  A.,  who  resides  in  Atchison  county, 
Kansas;  William  W. ,  who  died  in  Juniatta 


county,  Pennsylvania,  at  the  age  of  forty- 
five  years;  Jane,  widow  of  Samuel  Ritzman, 
of  Juniatta  county,  Pennsylvania;  and  Ma- 
tilda, wife  of  Benjamin  Groniger,  of  the 
same  county  and  state.  The  mother  of 
these  children  died  in  1883,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-one  years,  the  father  surviving  her, 
dying  in  1888,  at  the  age  of  eighty-eight 
years.  They  were  members  of  the  Lu- 
theran church,  and  in  politics  he  was  a 
Democrat. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  grew  to  man- 
hood in  his  native  county,  and  received  his 
education  in  the  public  schools.  Leaving 
school  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  he  as- 
sisted his  father  in  farm  work  until  twenty- 
four  years  old,  when  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Jane  Thomas,  a  native  of 
Juniatta  county,  Pennsylvania.  Immedi- 
ately after  their  marriage  they  came  to  Illi- 
nois and  located  in  Peoria  county,  and  there 
remained  three  years.  His  wife  died  Sep- 
tember 15,  1858,  leaving  two  children.  The 
second  born,  Matilda,  lived  to  be  two  years 
old.  The  first  born,  Stewart  A.,  born  March 
5,  1855,  now  resides  in  Atchison  county, 
Kansas.  He  married  Belle  Switzer,  who 
died  leaving  four  children — Helen  M.,  Fan- 
nie L. ,  Harry  J.  and  Dorothy  B. 

After  the  death  of  his  wife,  Mr.  Kepner 
made  two  trips  back  to  his  native  county 
and  state,  and  on  the  i  ith  of  August,  1864, 
he  married  Mrs.  Sarah  E.  Stevens,  widow 
of  Alexander  O.  Stevens,  of  Juniata  county, 
Pennsylvania,  who  had  a  daughter  by  her 
first  husband,  Ella,  who  married  Fred  Brown, 
by  whom  she  has  four  children — Loe,  Grace 
E.,  Dora  E.  and  Carl.  They  reside  in  Dry 
Grove  township.  She  was  born  June  24, 
1838,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Samuel  and 
Sarah  (Kepner)  Rice,  both  of  whom  were 
natives  of  Pennsylvania,  the  former  born  in 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


561 


1803,  and  the  latter  in  1804.  They  were 
the  parents  of  ten  children,  of  whom  six 
grew  to  maturity.  Matilda  C.  married  J. 
R.  Ritner,  but  died  at  the  age  of  nineteen 
years.  Martha  J.,  now  the  widow  of  J.  R. 
Ritner,  resides  in  Newport,  Pennsylvania. 
Sarah  E.  is  the  wife  of  our  subject.  John 
died  at  the  age  of  twenty-si.\  years.  Mary 
M.  is  the  wife  of  Richard  Stratton,  and  they 
reside  in  Fairbury,  Illinois.  Fannie  A.  died 
at  the  age  of  twenty-eight  years.  Samuel 
Rice  for  many  years  was  engaged  in  the 
mercantile  business  in  Port  Royal,  Pennsyl- 
vania. He  died  at  the  age  of  fifty-seven 
years,  while  his  wife  died  when  forty-two 
years  old. 

To  Jerome  T.  and  Sarah  E.  Kepner  five 
children  have  been  born.  Mary  Alice  is  the 
wife  of  E.  E.  Collins,  and  they  reside  in 
Bloomington,  where  he  is  living  a  retired 
life.  Dora  E.  is  the  wife  of  S.  M.  Snavely, 
and  they  have  one  child,  Lyle  K.  Their 
home  is  in  White  Oak  township,  where  he 
is  engaged  in  farming.  Lillie  married  George 
H.  Johnson,  and  their  two  children  are 
Pearl  and  Chester.  They  live  in  Dry  Grove 
township.  Maude  F.  married  Charles  O. 
Myers,  and  they  also  reside  in  Dry  Grove 
township.      Ivy  died  in  infancy. 

After  his  second  marriage,  Mr.  Kepner 
returned  to  Peoria  county  and  engaged  in 
farming  on  rented  land  for  four  years,  and 
then  moved  to  Eppards  Point  township, 
Livingston  county,  Illinois,  where  he  pur- 
chased land  and  resided  there  for  fourteen 
years,  his  farm  then  consisting  of  two  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres.  During  the  most  of 
that  time  he  gave  special  attention  to  stock- 
raising,  breeding  pure  draft  horses,  and  also 
cattle  and  hogs.  In  1883  he  sold  his  farm 
in  Livingston  county  and  purchased  one 
hundred  and   fifty-si.\   acres  of  land  in  Dry 


Grove  township,  and  located  thereon.  Since 
that  time  by  additional  purchases,  he  has 
acquired  in  all  three  hundred  and  fifty  acres 
of  excellent  farming  land,  all  of  which  is 
under  cultivation.  In  addition  to  his  farm, 
he  has  several  thousand  dollars  worth  of 
personal  property,  thus  showing  that  he  has 
prospered  well  in  life. 

Politically  Mr.  Kepner  is  a  Republican, 
with  which  party  he  has  affiliated  since  cast- 
ing his  first  presidential  vote  for  Abraham 
Lincoln.  While  residing  in  Livingston 
county  he  was  road  commissioner  nine  years, 
and  has  served  about  the  same  length  of 
time  in  McLean  county.  He  has  been 
school  trustee  for  twelve  years,  and  school 
director  for  several  years.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Mennonite  church,  while  his  wife 
is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.  He  is  connected  with  the  Mutual 
Insurance  Company  of  Stanford,  Illinois. 
No  family  in  Dry  Grove  township  are  held 
in  higher  regard. 


HARRISON  HOUSER  is  classed  among 
the  successful  farmers  of  McLean 
county,  with  whose  agricultural  interests  he 
has  been  prominently  identified  since  the 
7th  of  March,  1852,  at  which  time  he  took 
up  his  residence  here,  but  he  is  now  prac- 
tically living  retired  upon  his  fine  farm  of 
two  hundred  and  sixty-five  acres  on  section 
16,  Randolph  township,  eight  miles  from 
Bloomington.  He  is  well  worthy  of  notice 
in  a  work  of  this  kind  and  to  be  ranked 
among  the  men  who  have  distinguished 
themselves  as  useful  and  enterprising  citi- 
zens. 

Mr.  Houser  was  born  in  Jessamine 
county,  Kentucky,  September  15,  1830, 
and  is  a  son  of   Peter   Houser,  whose  birth 


I 


562 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


occurred  in  the  same  state  in  1799.  His 
grandfather,  Abraham  Houser,  Jr.,  was  a 
native  of  Maryland,  while  the  great-grand- 
fahter,  Abraham  Houser,  Sr. ,  was  born  on 
the  River  Rhine,  in  Germany,  and  on  cross- 
ing the  Atlantic  to  the  new  world  took  up 
his  residence  in  Maryland  among  its  early 
settlers  and  there  reared  his  family.  His 
son  Abraham  went  to  Kentucky  when  a 
young  man,  and  as  a  pioneer  opened  up  one  of 
the  first  farms  in  Jessamine  county.  In 
1835  he  came  to  Illinois  and  spent  his  last 
days  in  Logan  county. 

In  his  native  state  Peter  Houser  grew  to 
manhood  and  married  Sarah  Horine,  a  na- 
tive of  Jessamine  county  and  a  daughter  of 
Henry  Horine,  who  was  also  of  German  an- 
cestry. For  several  years  Mr.  Houser  en- 
gaged in  farming  and  the  rope  and  bagging 
business  in  Jessamine  county,  but  in  1853 
came  to  McLean  county,  Illinois,  having 
two  years  previously  purchased  sixty-five 
acres  of  the  farm  where  our  subject  now  re- 
sides, while  on  a  visit  to  this  locality.  Our 
subject  had  settled  here  in  1852  and  com- 
menced to  break  and  improve  the  land  be- 
fore the  father  and  the  other  members  of 
the  family  arrived.  In  1854  the  father 
built  a  good  frame  house  upon  his  farm,  and 
later  purchased  one  hundred  and  ten  acres 
adjoining  and  entered  from  the  government 
three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  in  West 
township.  He  successfully  operated  his 
land  until  called  from  this  life  in  1863.  His 
wife  survived  him  a  number  of  years,  dying 
in  1889,  and  was  laid  to  rest  by  his  side  in 
Bloomington  cemetery,  where  a  neat  and 
substantial  monument  has  been  erected  to 
their  memory.  In  the  familj'  of  this  worthy 
couple  were  five  children,  two  sons  and 
three  daughters,  all  of  whom  reached  adult 
age.      They  were  as  follows:      Maggie,  who 


died  unmarried;  Mrs.  Mary  Jane  Smith,  a 
widow  residing  in  Kansas  City;  Harrison, 
of  this  sketch;  Melinda,  wife  of  William 
Rayburn,  of  Kansas  City,  and  Peter,  a  busi- 
ness man  of  Chicago. 

In  the  county  of  his  nativity,  Harrison 
Houser  passed  his  boyhood  and  youth  in 
much  the  usual  manner  of  farmer  boys  of 
his  day,  and  as  he  only  attended  schools  to 
a  limited  extent,  the  greater  part  of  his  edu- 
cation has  been  acquired  by  reading  and  ob- 
servation in  subsequent  years.  He  assisted 
his  father  in  converting  the  wild  land  into  a 
rich  and  productive  farm,  and  at  the  latter's 
death  succeeded  to  the  old  homestead, 
which  he  still  owns.  For  many  years  he 
successfully  carried  on  general  farming  and 
stock-raising,  but  since  1897  has  practical- 
ly lived  retired,  leaving  the  active  labors  of 
the  farm  to  younger  hands,  though  he  still 
oversees  its  operation  to  some  extent. 

On  the  1st  of  October,  1857,  in  Cler- 
mont county,  Ohio,  was  celebrated  the  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  Houser  and  Miss  Eliza  Hoover, 
who  was  born,  reared  and  educated  there, 
and  prior  to  her  marriage  successfully  en- 
gaged in  teaching  both  in  Ohio  and  Illinois. 
Her  father,  John  R.  Hoover,  was  a  substan- 
tial farmer  of  Clermont  county.  Mrs. 
Houser  died  December  11,  1897,  and  was 
laid  to  rest  in  Bloomington  cemetery.  Of 
the  five  children  born  to  our  subject  and  his 
wife.  Flora  is  now  the  wife  of  Emory  Oren- 
dorf,  of  Bloomington;  Agnes  married  F.  O. 
Lash,  of  that  city,  and  died  August  26, 
1897;  Anna  is  the  wife  of  A.  M.  Reed,  who 
lives  on  the  Houser  farm;  Eva  B.,  a  gradu- 
ate of  the  Normal  College,  is  now  one  of 
the  popular  teachers  of  Bloomington;  Mel- 
vin  W. ,  who  operates  the  home  farm,  mar- 
ried Belle  Brindley  and  has  one  son,  Mel- 
vin. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


5<^3 


Since  casting  his  first  presidential  ballot 
for  John  C.  Fremont,  in  1856,  Mr.  Houser 
has  been  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  Repub- 
lican party  and  its  principles  until  1896, 
when  he  voted  for  Wiliiaiii  J.  Bryan.  He 
has  served  as  a  delegate  to  numerous  county 
conventions  of  his  party,  and  has  always 
taken  an  active  and  influential  part  in  local 
politics.  For  four  years  he  most  creditably 
served  as  justice  of  the  peace  of  Randolph 
township,  and  has  been  a  member  of  the 
school  board  for  thirteen  years  and  as  presi- 
dent of  the  board  of  directors.  In  what- 
ever position  he  has  been  called  upon  to  fill 
he  has  discharged  its  duties  in  a  most  com- 
mendable and  satisfactory  manner  and  has 
gained  the  support  and  confidence  of  the 
entire  community.  For  almost  half  a  cen- 
tury he  has  been  a  resident  of  the  county 
and  has  not  only  witnessed  the  wonderful 
transformation  that  has  taken  place  in  that 
time,  but  has  always  borne  his  part  in  the 
work  of  upbuilding  and  progress,  and  is 
justly  numbered  among  the  most  valuable 
and  useful  citizens  of  Randolph   township. 


JOHN  JOSEPH  PITTS,  a  well  known 
and  prominent  citizen  of  Bloomington, 
and  the  owner  of  the  McLean  county  ab- 
stracts, has  a  wide  reputation  as  a  most 
capable  financier,  and  occupies  a  position  of 
no  little  prominence  in  connection  with 
political  affairs.  His  life  demonstrates  what 
maybe  accomplished  through  energy,  careful 
management,  keen  foresight  and  the  utiliza- 
tion of  the  powers  with  which  nature  has 
endowed  one  and  the  opportunities  with 
which  the  times  surround  him. 

Mr.  Pitts  is  a  native  of  this  county,  born 
in  McLean  township  October  20,  1853,  and 
is  a  representative  of  an  old  Massachusetts 


family  which  was  founded  in  this  country  in 
colonial  days.  As  his  ancestors  were  among 
those  who  fought  for  the  freedom  of  the 
colonies,  he  is  eligible  to  membership  in  the 
Sons  of  the  American  Revolution.  His 
father,  Joseph  A.  Pitts,  was  born  in  Dighton, 
Massachusetts,  November  14,  1S23,  was 
there  reared  and  educated,  and  in  early  life 
learned  the  blacksmith's  trade.  For  a  num- 
ber of  years  he  was  employed  as  engineer 
in  the  woolen  mills  at  Dighton,  and  in  1849 
he  went  to  California  in  search  of  gold,  re- 
turning to  his  native  state  in  1852.  There 
he  married  Miss  Betsy  Valentine  Peck,  a 
daughter  of  Captain  Peck,  of  Dighton,  and 
soon  after  their  marriage,  in  the  fall  of 
1852,  came  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Fremont, 
Tazewell  county,  where  they  remained  one 
winter.  The  following  year  they  located 
upon  a  farm  in  Mt.  Hope  township,  McLean 
county,  where  the  father  is  now  living,  but 
the  mother  died  in  November,  1867.  He 
transformed  the  wild  prairie  land  into 
highly  cultivated  fields,  and,  as  he  pros- 
pered in  his  new  home,  he  soon  became  one 
of  the  most  extensive  farmers  of  this 
locality,  owning  eight  hundred  acres  of 
valuable  land.  He  made  many  improve- 
ments upon  his  place,  including  the  erection 
of  fine  and  substantial  buildings.  In  polit- 
ical sentiment  he  is  a  Democrat.  In  the 
family  were  four  children:  John  Joseph,  of 
this  review;  Elizabeth,  at  home;  Lemira 
M.,  now  the  widow  of  Emmons  Snow,  of 
Canon  City,  Colorado;  and  Augustus  D., 
a  physician  of  Point  Arena,  California. 

John  J.  Pitts  began  his  education  in  the 
district  schools  near  his  childhood  home, 
later  attended  the  school  at  McLean,  and 
then  became  a  student  in  Shurtliff  College, 
Upper  Alton,  Illinois,  where  he  was  gradu- 
ated in  1877,  and  was  granted  the  degrees 


564 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


of  A.  B.  and  A.  M.  For  four  years  he  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  teaching,  having  charge 
of  one  school  the  entire  time,  and  then  en- 
tered the  law  department  of  Wesleyan  Uni- 
versity, where  he  was  graduated  in  June, 
1883,  with  the  degree  of  LL.  B.  He  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  the  same  year,  and  be- 
gan practice  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Pitts,  Bent  &  I^indley,  with  which  he  was 
connected  until  1888  and  enjoyed  a  good 
practice.  He  then  purchased  the  McLean 
county  abstract  books,  which  cover  a  large, 
wealthy  and  populous  field,  and  has  carried 
on  a  successful  business,  which  is  constantly 
increasing,  as  he  has  the  only  set  of  books 
in  the  count}'.  He  is  also  vice  president  and 
one  of  the  directors  of  the  Corn  Belt  Bank, 
of  which  he  was  one  of  the  incorporators. 
This  bank  has  a  capital  stock  of  one  hun- 
dred thousand  dollars,  a  surplus  of  fifty 
thousand,  and  pays  three  and  one-half  per 
cent  dividend  semi-annually.  Mr.  Pitts  is 
also  a  director  of  the  Home  Telephone  Com- 
pany, which  has  the  largest  patronage  in 
the  city,  and  owns  some  valuable  real  estate 
in  Bloomington.  He  is  not  only  a  suc- 
cessful and  energetic  business  man,  but  is 
also  a  progressive  and  public-spirited  citi- 
zen, who  by  his  connection  with  various 
enterprises  has  done  much  to  advance  the 
city's  welfare. 

On  the  14th  of  August,  1878,  Mr.  Pitts 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  E. 
Roberts,  of  Battle  Creek,  Michigan,  a 
daughter  of  William  S.  Roberts,  and  they 
now  have  four  children,  namely:  Henrietta 
Betsy,  Florence  S.,  Alice  Frances  and 
Joseph  Augustus.  The  family  hold  mem- 
bership in  the  Baptist  church,  in  which  Mr. 
Pitts  has  served  as  trustee  and  chairman  of 
the  board  for  ten  years,  during  which  time 
the  new  brick  church  was  erected  at  a  cost 


of  forty  thousand  dollars,  and  he  was  a 
member  of  the  building  committee.  Among 
other  improvements  in  the  city  with  which 
he  has  been  identified  are  the  opera  house, 
which,  as  a  stockholder,  he  assisted  in 
building.  As  a  Democrat,  he  has  always 
taken  an  active  and  influential  part  in  local 
politics,  and  when  a  young  man  he  was 
nominated  for  states  attorney,  and  although 
not  elected,  he  succeeded  in  reducing  the 
regular  twenty-seven  hundred  Republican 
majority  to  nine  hundred.  He  has  been 
chairman  of  the  Democratic  county  central 
committee  for  years,  and  having  a  large 
number  of  precincts  under  his  jurisdiction, 
he  has  had  to  give  considerable  attention  to 
its  work.  He  has  also  represented  the  si.xth 
ward  in  the  city  council,  and  while  a  mem- 
ber of  that  body  was  chairman  of  the  com- 
mittee on  public  buildings,  grounds  and 
improvements,  and  a  member  of  the  license 
and  judiciary  committees.  Socially  he  is 
also  quite  prominent,  being  past  chancellor 
commander  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  I^odge, 
a  member  of  Custer  Division,  uniformed 
rank;  past  e.valted  ruler  of  the  Benevolent 
and  Patriotic  Order  of  lilks,  and  a  member 
of  Bloomington  Lodge,  No.  43,  F.  &  A.  M. ; 
and  a  member  of  the  Scottish  Rite  bodies 
and  the  Peoria  Consistory,  Temple  of  the 
Mystic  Shrine. 


JOHN  W.  ARNOLD,  senior  member  of 
the  firm  of  J.  W.  Arnold  &  Company, 
bankers,  of  Colfax,  Illinois,  and  a  well- 
known  citizen  of  McLean  county,  was  born 
in  Culpepper  county,  Virginia,  February 
10,  1828,  and  is  the  son  of  Humphrey  M. 
P.  and  Patsey  (Maddox)  Arnold,  both  of 
whom  are  also  natives  of  the    Old  Domin- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


56s 


ion,  the  former  born  in  1803,  and  the  latter 
in  1S09.  They  were  the  parents  of  fifteen 
children — John  W. ,  Sarah  E. ,  Humphrey 
B.,  Samuel,  Robert  H.,  Mary  H.,  James 
C. ,  Martha  L. ,  Catherine,  Margaret  A., 
Joseph  J.,  George  W.,  Mildred,  Charles  E., 
and  Augusta.  Of  these  Samuel,  Mary  F. 
and  Augusta  died  in  early  childhood,  while 
Margaret  A.  died  after  her  marriage,  and 
James  C. ,  who  was  a  soldier  in  the  civil 
war,  was  drowned  in  Washington  Sound 
about  1887.  The  remainder  are  all  yet 
living. 

In  1830,  when  our  subject  was  but  two 
years  of  age,  his  parents  removed  to  Lick- 
ing county,  Ohio,  where  his  father  engaged 
in  farming.  In  that  county  John  W.  grew 
to  manhood,  and  received  his  education  in 
the  common  schools.  As  soon  as  old 
enough  to  follow  the  plow,  or  use  the  hoe, 
he  was  given  his  regular  task  in  the  culti- 
vation of  the  home  farm,  his  school  days 
usually  being  in  the  winter  months.  Farm- 
ing has  since  been  his  calling,  in  connec- 
tion with  other  lines  which  are  mentioned 
further  along  in  this  sketch. 

While  his  Ohio  home  may  have  had 
some  attractions  for  him,  he  felt  that  on 
the  broad  prairies  of  Illinois  the  oppor- 
tunities would  be  much  greater  to  make 
his  way  in  life,  and  accordingly  in  185 1  he 
came  to  McLean  county,  Illinois,  and  one 
year  later,  on  the  i8th  of  November,  1852, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary 
M.  Benson,  oldest  daughter  of  John  and 
Penara  (Hinshaw)  Benson,  of  White  Oak 
township.  John  Benson  was  born  in  Gib- 
son county,  Indiana,  October  12,  1807, 
and  resided  there  until  twelve  years  of 
age,  when  he  accompanied  his  parents  to 
what  was  then  Sangamon  county,  Illinois, 
but    which    now    forms    a    part    of    Logan 


county.  Four  years  later  he  came  with  his 
father  to  McLean  county,  and  assisted  in 
preparing  a  home  for  the  family  in  Bloom- 
ing Grove,  now  Bloomington,  after  which 
they  returned  to  Logan  county  and  brought 
the  family  to  their  new  home. 

John  Benson,  Sr.,  the  grandfather  of 
Mrs.  Arnold,  was  born  in  York  county, 
Pennsylvania,  March  i,  1778,  his  father, 
James  Benson,  being  a  soldier  in  the  Rev- 
olutionary war.  John  Benson,  Sr. ,  married 
Sally  Music.  John  Benson,  Jr.,  the  father 
of  Mrs.  Arnold,  was  a  soldier  in  the  Black 
Hawk  war  in  1832.  He  was  married  in 
1830  to  Penara  Hinshaw,  and  they  became 
the  parents  of  twelve  children,  seven  of 
whom  are  now  living — Mary  M.,  Robert 
M.,  Philip  Y.,  Penina  A.,  Adeline,  LucyF. . 
and  Emmitt  L.  Mr.  Benson  died  March 
19.  1875,  and  his  wife  March  10,  1899, 
when  eighty-five  years  old.  Two  of  the 
sons  were  soldiers  in  the  civil  war,  Robert 
M.  and  Philip  Y.  The  family  on  both  sides 
were  represented  in  the  war  of  181 2. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Arnold  were  born  five 
children,  as  follows:  John  P.,  Sarah  F. , 
James  R.,  Olive  and  Luella.  Of  these 
Olive  died  in  her  fifth  year,  and  Luella  in 
her  third  year.  John  P.  married  Miss 
Laura  Clarke,  of  Grayville,  Illinois,  and 
they  have  three  children,  two  sons  and  a 
daughter,  namely:  Harry  A.,  Ida  M.  and 
Homer  John.  Sarah  F.  married  Alonzo  H. 
Eyman,  now  of  Harristown,  Illinois,  and  the 
proprietor  of  the  Sunnyside  Stock  Farm, 
where  he  is  engaged  in  breeding  Aberdeen 
Angus  cattle  and  fine  horses.  James  R.  is 
conducting  a  successful  drug  business  in 
Colfax,  and  resides  at  home. 

In  1854  Mr.  Arnold  purchased  forty 
acres  of  land  in  White  Oak  township,  which 
he  sold  two  years  later  together  with  his  in- 


S66 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


terest  in  a  sawmill  which  he  had  been  oper- 
ating in  company  with  a  partner.  He  then 
erected  another  saw  mill  in  partnership  with 
his  father  and  purchased  some  more  land. 
He  later  sold  the  land  and  mill  on  account 
of  poor  health,  and  commenced  trading  in 
live  stock,  which  he  followed  for  a  time 
with  success.  In  1878  he  purchased  three 
hundred  acres  of  land  in  Lawndale  town- 
ship on  sections  27  and  34,  and  also  pur- 
chased a  half-section  in  Iowa,  in  company 
with  his  brother.  Later  his  son  John  P. 
purchased  his  brother's  interest,  and  the  fa- 
ther and  son  held  the  land  until  1897,  when 
they  traded  it  for  a  quarter-section  of  land 
in  Martin  township,  two  miles  southwest  of 
Colfax. 

In  1 87 1  Mr.  Arnold  removed  with  his 
family  to  Eureka,  in  order  to  give  his  chil- 
dren the  educational  privileges  of  the  col- 
lege at  that  place.  After  remaining  there 
eight  years,  they  returned  to  the  farm  in 
Lawndale  township,  on  which  they  lived 
until  1883  when  they  removed  into  the  vil- 
lage of  Colfax.  While  upon  the  farm  made  he 
a  specialty  of  breeding  first  class  Clydesdale 
and  Percheron  horses,  in  which  line  he  still 
continued  after  his  removal  to  the  village. 
He  also  continued  the  active  management 
of  his  farm  until  January,  1899,  when  he 
rented  it  out,  that  he  might  live  a  less  act- 
ive life. 

Mr.  Arnold  has  been  prominently  identi- 
fied with  the  growth  and  prosperity  of  the 
village  of  Colfax  since  its  inception.  In 
company  with  his  brother,  George  W.,  and 
son,  John  P.,  he  organized  the  private  bank 
in  Colfax,  and  which  is  run  under  the  firm 
name  of  J.  W.  Arnold  &  Co.  The  bank 
has  weathered  all  financial  storms  success- 
fully, and  is  conducted  with  ability  in  its 
details  and  active  management  by  the  son. 


who  is  quite  popular  with  the  people  of  the 
village  and  vicinity. 

The  Arnolds  have  descended  from  the 
Germans,  while  the  Bensons  are  of  Scotch 
origin,  the  family  emigrating  from  the  south 
of  Scotland  to  the  north  of  Ireland,  and 
thence  to  the  United  States,  but  on  both 
sides  they  have  become  thoroughly  Amer- 
icanized. Commencing  life  with  but  little 
means,  Mr.  Arnold  has  by  his  energy  and 
native  ability,  assisted  by  the  wise  counsels 
of  his  wife,  been  enabled  to  acquire  a  com- 
fortable competency.  He  is  a  self-made 
man  and  in  every  sense  that  the  term  im- 
plies, and  has  been  the  "architect  of  his 
own  fortune."  He  has  ever  been  willing  to 
lend  a  helping  hand  to  those  less  fortunate, 
and  by  his  genial  disposition  has  made  many 
friends.  He,  together  with  his  wife,  is  a 
member  of  the  Christian  church,  and  for 
many  years  has  served  in  the  office  of  dea- 
con. In  his  political  views  he  is  a  stanch 
Republican,  having  voted  with  that  party 
since  its  organization. 


C  WESLEY  STUBBLEFIELD,  a  rep- 
resentative and  prominent  citizen  of 
Funks  Grove  township,  whose  home  is  on 
section  18,  has  throughout  his  active  busi- 
ness life  identified  with  the  agricultural  in- 
terests of  that  portion  of  the  county,  where 
he  owns  and  operates  a  well-improved  and 
valuable  farm  of  three  hundred  acres — 
known  as  the  old  Robert  Stubblefield  home- 
stead. Upon  that  place  he  was  born  April 
19,  185 1,  a  son  of  Robert  and  a  brother  of 
Honorable  Ed  Stubblefield,  whose  sketch 
appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

As  soon  as  large  enough  to  be  of  any  as- 
sistance Mr.  Stubblefield  began  to  aid  in  the 
work  of  the  home  farm,  and  as  he  received 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


567 


but  limited  school  advantages,  he  is  princi- 
pally self-educated  by  reading  and  observa- 
tion since  arriving  at  years  of  maturity. 
After  reaching  man's  estate  he  took  charge 
of  the  farm,  and  after  his  father's  death, 
June  8,  1870,  he  succeeded  to  the  place, 
upon  which  he  has  made  many  improve- 
ments which  add  greatly  to  its  value  and  at- 
tractive appearance.  He  has  remodeled 
the  residence,  erected  outbuildings,  set  out 
an  orchard  and  ornamental  trees  besides 
much  small  fruit,  and  converted  the  farm 
into  one  of  the  best  and  most  desirable  in 
the  county. 

In  Mt.  Hope  township,  McLean  county, 
Mr.  Stubblefield  was  married,  December 
22,  1873,  to  Miss  Harriet  Land,  who  was 
born  in  Kentucky,  but  was  reared  here,  her 
father,  Howard  Land,  having  come  to  the 
county  at  an  early  day  and  settled  south  of 
Bloomington.  The  children  born  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Stubblefield  are  Jessie,  Robert 
Howard,  Seth  and  Olive,  all  at  home. 

Since  casting  his  first  presidential  ballot 
for  Abraham  Lincoln,  in  1864,  Mr.  Stubble- 
field has  been  a  stanch  supporter  of  the 
men  and  measures  of  the  Republican  party 
but  has  never  sought  nor  desired  the  honors 
or  emoluments  of  public  office.  Asa  friend 
of  education  he  has,  however,  served  for 
eighteen  years  as  a  member  of  the  school 
board  and  clerk  of  the  district.  He  is  a 
thorough  and  systematic  farmer,  who  has 
witnessed  almost  the  entire  growth  and  de- 
velopment of  his  native  county,  and  has 
ever  born  his  part  in  its  upbuilding  and  ad- 
vancement. He  has  herded  cattle  upon  the 
prairie  when  it  was  still  government  land, 
and  has  seen  the  wolves,  deer  and  other 
wild  game  disappear  at  the  advancement  of 
civilization.  He  is  a  man  of  e.xemplary 
habits  and  upright  character,  and   like  his 


brothers,  George,  Isaac  and  Ed,  is  strictly 
temperate,  never  .using  into.xicants  and  to- 
bacco in  any  form.  He  is  widely  and  favor- 
ably known  and  justly  merits  the  high  re- 
gard in  which  he  is  held  by  all  with  whom 
he  comes  in  contact,  either  in  business  or 
social  life. 


JUDGE  ALFRED  SAMPLE.  In  the 
last  half  of  the  present  century  the  law- 
j-er  has  been  a  pre-eminent  factor  in  all  af- 
fairs of  private  concern  and  national  impor- 
tance. He  has  been  depended  upon  to 
conserve  the  best  and  permanent  interests 
of  the  whole  people  and  is  a  recognized 
power  in  all  the  avenues  of  life.  He  stands 
as  the  protector  of  the  rights  and  liberties  of 
his  fellow  men  and  is  the  representative  of 
a  profession  whose  followers,  if  they  would 
gain  honor,  fame  and  success,  must  be  men 
of  merit  and  ability.  Such  a  one  is  Judge 
Sample  who,  as  a  jurist,  won  high  com- 
mendation by  his  fair  and  impartial  admin- 
istration of  justice,  and  he  is  now  success- 
fully engaged  in  private  practice  with  John 
J.  Morrisy  at  Bloomington. 

The  Judge  was  born  in  Butler  county, 
Ohio,  November  27,  1846,  and  is  a  son  of 
James  and  Jane  (Beard)  Sample,  natives  of 
Kentucky  and  Virginia,  respectively.  In 
1857  they  removed  to  Livingston  county, 
Illinois.  Both  were  earnest  and  faithful 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  By 
occupation  he  was  a  farmer  and  stock- 
dealer  and  was  also  interested  in  railroad 
business.  The  paternal  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  David  Sample,  was  a  native  of 
Scotland,  and  belonged  to  an  old  and 
highly-respected  family  of  that  country. 
On  coming  to  the  United  States  he  located 
in  Kentucky. 


568 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Judge  Sample  was  reared  on  a  farm.  In 
1857  he  accompanied  his  parents  on  their 
removal  to  Livingston  county,  Illinois.  In 
November,  1863,  when  but  sixteen  years  of 
age,  he  enlisted  in  Company  G,  One  Hun- 
dred Twenty-ninth  Illinois  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, and  went  immediately  into  active 
service.  He  participated  in  General  Sher- 
man's campaign  in  the  march  to  Atlanta. 
In  the  battle  of  Resaca  he  was  severely 
wounded  in  both  arms  and  breast,  and  as 
one  arm  was  broken,  he  was  unfitted  for 
further  duty  and  was  honorably  discharged 
December  6,  1864.  After  his  return  home, 
he  entered  Eureka  College,  where  he  pur- 
sued his  studies  for  three  years,  and  was 
later  a  student  in  Monmouth  College,  where 
he  completed  his  education,  giving  special 
attention  to  the  classics  and  mathematics. 
While  in  college  he  taught  at  intervals  dur- 
ing his  vacations  and  for  one  year  after 
leaving  school.  He  then  read  law  in  the 
office  of  the  noted  Colonel  Robert  G.  Inger- 
soll,  at  Peoria,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  1 87 1. 

The  same  year  Judge  Sample  located  at 
Paxton,  Illinois.  During  his  residence  there 
he  served  as  presidential  elector  for  Gar- 
field   in    1880;  was    state's    attorney    from 

1872  until    1880,    and   city    attorney   from 

1873  until  1877.  His  fellow  citizens  recog- 
nizing his  worth  and  ability,  elected  him 
circuit  judge  of  the  eleventh  judicial  cir- 
cuit, then  comprising  the  counties  of  Mc- 
Lean, Ford,  Livingston,  Kankakee  and  Iro- 
quois, and  he  held  that  position  from  June, 
1885,  to  June,  1897.  In  June,  1891,  he 
was  also  appointed  by  the  supreme  court  as 
one  of  the  judges  of  the  fourth  appellate 
district,  and  held  that  office  for  six  years. 
On  retiring  to  private  life  on  the  expiration 
of  that  term,  he  came  to  Bloomington  and 


formed  a  partnership  with  John  J.  Morrisy, 
which  connection  still  continues.  They  en- 
joy an  extensive  practice  in  all  the  courts 
and  are  recognized  as  two  of  the  ablest 
lawyers  in  the  city. 

Judge  Sample  married  Miss  Florence 
A.  Cook,  a  daughter  of  Colonel  H.  D.  Cook, 
who  was  brought  prominently  before  the 
people  in  the  civil  war  and  is  well  known  in 
state  history.  Two  children  were  born  of 
this  union,  Florence  and  Lois,  and  they 
have  a  pleasant  home  at  612  East  Locust. 
Socially  the  Judge  was  made  a  Mason  in 
Paxton  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Paxton,  and 
is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic.  H  is  a  genial,  courteous 
gentleman,  a  pleasant  and  entertaining  com- 
panion, and  has  many  stanch  and  admiring 
friends  among  all  classes.  As  an  energetic, 
upright  and  conscientious  lawyer,  and  a 
gentleman  of  attractive  social  qualities,  he 
stands  high  in  the  estimation  of  the  entire 
community. 


MARION  PARR,  who  is  engaged  in 
farming  and  stock  raising  one  and  a 
half  miles  south  of  Cooksville,  Blue  Mound 
township,  was  born  near  Green  Valley, 
Tazewell  county,  Illinois,  March  6,  1867, 
and  is  the  son  of  Nathan  J.  Parr,  who  was 
born  near  Circleville,  Ohio,  March  14,  1840, 
and  there  lived  with  his  parents  until  he  was 
sixteen  years  of  age,  when  he  accompanied 
them  to  Tazewell  county,  Illinois,  remain- 
ing with  them  until  he  attained  his  majority. 
He  then  went  to  Macon  county,  Illinois,  and 
renting  a  farm,  was  there  married  to  Miss 
Ellen  Reynolds  in  1865.  She  was  born 
near  Circleville,  Ohio,  and  came  to  Illinois 
in  her  childhood.  To  them  were  born  the 
following   named   children:     Franklin,  who 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


569 


is  now  a  successful  lawyer  in  Fort  Dodge, 
Iowa;  Marion,  the  subject  of  this  sketch; 
Harry,  who  left  home  when  fifteen  years  of 
age,  and  George,  who  is  living  at  home  with 
his  parents  in  Macon  county.  Returning  to 
Tazewell  county  in  1866,  he  purchased  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land,  which  he 
sold  in  1872  and  moved  to  McLean  county 
and  purchased  one  hundred  and  si.xty  acres 
of  land  which  he  traded  for  the  farm  on 
which  his  son  Marion  now  resides.  Later 
he  went  to  Macon  county  and  located  near 
Argenta,  where  he  is  now  an  extensive  land 
owner. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  on 
a  farm,  and  received  his  education  in  a  dis- 
trict school  of  McLean  county.  He  lived 
at  home,  and  assisted  his  father  in  farm 
work,  until  he  arrived  at  his  majority,  when 
his  father  returned  to  Macon  county,  when 
he  rented  from  him  the  farm  in  Blue  Mound 
township,  and  commenced  life  for  himself, 
doing  general  farming  and  stock  raising.  In 
the  latter  line  of  his  business  he  makes  a 
specialty  of  Galloway  cattle,  which  he  raises 
for  beef,  cream  and  robes,  and  he  has  been 
enabled  to  bring  his  stock  up  to  a  very  high 
standard. 

Mr.  Parr  was  married  April  15,  1891, 
to  Miss  Edna  M.  Brigham,  who  was  born 
February  5,  1871,  and  daughter  of  Benajah 
and  Elizabeth  Brigham,  old  settlers  of  Blue 
Mound  township.  By  this  union  two  chil- 
dren have  been  born:  Leland  \\'.,  Novem- 
ber 2,  1893,  and  Arthur  Eldon,  February 
5,  1896.  The  parents  are  members  of  the 
Church  of  Christ,  in  which  Mr.  Parr  is  an 
elder.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  al- 
though he  is  not  a  politician.  He  is  not  a 
member  of  any  lodge,  as  he  thinks  his  time 
can  be  more  profitably  spent  at  home.  He 
pperates  the  farm  with  th?  help  of  two  men. 


He  has  been  able  to  bring  his  farm  to  a 
high  state  of  cultivation,  is  a  progressive 
farmer,  using  the  most  improved  machinery 
in  the  working  of  the  same.  He  believes 
that  the  farmers  of  central  Illinois  should 
pay  more  attention  to  stock  raising  in  order 
to  keep  up  the  fertility  of  their  land,  and 
that  it  is  more  profitable  to  raise  a  good 
class  of  stock  than  poor  ones.  He  believes 
the  growing  of  corn  and  cattle  should  go 
"  hand  in  hand,"  in  proof  of  which  he  has 
named  his  herd  "The  Corn  Belt  Herd  of 
Galloway  Cattle." 


JOHN  HESTER,  a  prominent  and  suc- 
cessful merchant  of  Anchor,  has  by  his 
energy,  perseverance  and  fine  business  abil- 
ity secured  a  comfortable  competence.  Sys- 
tematic and  methodical,  his  sagacity,  keen 
discrimination  and  sound  judgment  have 
made  him  one  of  the  prosperous  business 
men  of  the  community. 

Mr.  Hester  was  born  near  Salem,  North 
Carolina,  March  5,  1852,  a  son  of  W.  C. 
and  Caroline  (Farral)  Hester,  natives  of  the 
same  state.  The  father,  who  was  a  car- 
penter by  trade,  served  through  the  Mex- 
ican war  under  General  Scott,  and  later 
when  the  civil  war  broke  out  he  was  drafted 
into  the  southern  army.  He  was  a  Union 
man,  but  was  taken  from  his  home  and 
made  to  enter  the  Confederate  service.  He 
was  killed  in  the   battle   of  the  Wilderness. 

Our  subject  was  the  only  child  of  his 
parents,  and  was  but  three  years  old  when 
his  mother  died  and  nine  when  he  lost  his 
father.  He  was  thrown  upon  his  own  re- 
sources at  a  very  tender  age.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools  of  his  native 
place  and  remained  in  the  south  until  about 
twenty  years  of  age   when   he  came  to  Illi- 


570 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


nois  and  found  emploj'ment  in  Warren  coun- 
ty, as  a  farm  hand,  remaining  there  about 
nine  years.  In  1880  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Eva  E.  Brown,  of  Livings- 
ton county,  Illinois,  who  was  born  in  Ohio, 
in  1863,  a  daughter  of  C.  H.  and  Sarah  A. 
Brown,  also  natives  of  the  Buckeye  state 
and  farming  people.  From  La  Salle  coun- 
ty her  parents  removed  to  Livingston  coun- 
ty, this  state,  where  her  father  was  quite  an 
extensive  land  owner,  but  they  now  reside 
in  Keith  county,  Nebraska,  where  he  owns 
a  half-section  of  land.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hester 
have  five  children  :  Bertie,  born  in  Octo- 
ber, 1 881;  Lucy  A.,  in  December,  1S82; 
Charles  H.,  in  1884;  William  C,  in  1886; 
and  Lee,  in  1895.  The  older  children  are 
now  attending  the  high  school  in  Anchor, 
and  Bertie  and  Lucy  stood  the  highest  in 
the  school  in  their  examinations  at  the  close 
of  the  term  in  1899.  The  former  also 
ranked  sixth  out  of  the  one  hundred  and  six 
who  were  examined  by  the  county  superin- 
tendent of  Bloomington.  The  family  is  one 
of  which  any  parents  might  be  justly  proud. 
After  their  marrige,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hester 
located  on  a  farm  of  eighty  acres  given  them 
by  her  father,  and  there  our  subject  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  general  farming  until 
1894,  when  he  moved  to  Anchor,  having  on 
the  1st  of  January,  of  that  year,  purchased 
an  interest  in  a  general  mercantile  store 
with  a  Mr.  Worley.  He  also  bought  a  house 
and  lot  in  the  village,  for  a  home,  and  in 
1897  sold  the  farm,  putting  the  money 
into  the  business,  which  he  has  greatly 
enlarged  and  to  which  he  now  gives  his 
entire  time  and  attention.  He  has  met  with 
some  reverses  in  his  business  career,  as  his 
store  and  contents,  together  with  several 
other  buildings  in  the  locality  were  destroy- 
ed by  fire  a  few  yerrs  ago.     This  property 


was  valued  at  thirty-five  thousand  dollars 
and  was  only  partially  covered  by  insurance. 
Mr.  Hester's  store,  which  was  three  stories 
in  height,  with  a  basement,  was  fully  stocked 
with  about  ten  thousand  dollars  worth  of 
goods,  insured  for  five  thousand,  which 
were  entirely  destroyed,  together  with  two 
houses  which  were  his  personal  property, 
his  loss  amounting  to  forty-two  hundred 
dollars.  He  has  never  rebuilt  but  rents 
another  store,  which  he  has  stocked  with  a 
complete  line  of  general  merchandise.  His 
establishment  would  do  credit  to  a  town 
many  times  the  size  of  Anchor,  as  it  is  com- 
plete in  all  its  departments  and  up  with  the 
times  in  every  particular.  His  patronage 
comes  from  a  territory  many  miles  in  extent, 
and  the  business  policy  which  he  has  main- 
tained has  brought  him  prosperity.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  a  Democrat  but  would  never  accept 
any  political  office,  preferring  to  give  his 
whole  time  to  his  business  interests.  Social- 
ly he  belongs  to  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America,  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  the  Encampment  and  the  Re- 
beccas. 


THEODORE  SYLVESTER  SMITH,  a 
leading  and  representative  citizen  of 
Cropsey  township,  was  born  in  Pittsburg, 
Pennsylvania,  January  21,  1842,  a  son  of 
John  and  Rachel  (Easley)  Smith,  of  whom 
extended  mention  is  made  in  the  sketch  of 
John  A.  Smith  on  another  page  of  this 
volume.  John  Smith  was  born  January  22, 
181 1,  while  his  wife  was  born  on  Novem- 
ber 21,  1808.  They  removed  with  their 
family  to  this  state  in  1856,  and  settled  in 
Old  Town  township,  McLean  county,  where 
the  father  rented  land  of  Abraham  Jones. 
On  account  pf  the  failure  of  the  wheat  crop 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


571 


in  1857,  he  became  in  debt  to  that  gentle- 
man to  the  extent  of  fifteen  hundred  dollars, 
but  this  was  paid  off  during  the  seven  years 
he  rented  land  from  him.  Later  he  pur- 
chased a  farm  of  his  own  and  successfully 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  throughout 
the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  died  Septem- 
ber 21,  1 885 — she  died  September  14,  1883. 

Our  subject  began  his  education  in  the 
district  schools  of  Pennsylvania  and  com- 
pleted it  in  this  county,  attending  school 
after  he  attained  his  twenty-fifth  year,  as  he 
unfortunately  had  been  injured  so  that  he 
was  unable  to  engage  in  hard  work  and  re- 
solved to  devote  his  time  to  improving  his 
mind.  He  remained  with  his  parents  upon 
the  home  farm  until  about  forty-five  years 
of  age,  and  after  their  deaths  returned  to 
the  old  homestead  in  Pennsylvania  on  a 
visit,  remaining  there  two  months.  On 
again  coming  to  Illinois  he  rented  the  farm 
on  which  he  now  lives,  and  though  unable 
to  perform  much  of  the  work  himself,  he 
has  been  most  successful  in  its  management. 
In  connection  with  general  farming  he  is 
also  interested  in  stock  raising. 

In  1888  Mr.  Smith  married  Mrs.  Laura  A. 
Jones,  widow  of  Levi  P.  Jones,  who  died 
in  1877.  Her  parents,  John  A.  and  Lucy 
Austin,  were  born,  reared  and  married  in 
Virginia,  and  from  that  state  removed  to 
Ohio  in  1852.  Five  years  later  they  came 
to  Illinois,  and  after  renting  land  for  a  time 
the  father  purchased  eighty  acres  in  Cropsey 
township,  McLean  county,  on  which  he 
made  his  home  until  called  from  this  life  in 
1879.  The  mother  is  still  living  and  now 
makes  her  home  with  her  children.  To 
them  were  born  four  sons  and  four  daugh- 
ters of  whom  George  died  at  the  age  of  fifteen 
years  and  Mrs.  Annie  Taylor  died  at  the  age 
pf  thirty-five.     Those  living  are   Philip,  a 


farmer  of  Missouri;  James,  a  teamster  of 
Colfa.x,  Illinois;  Henry,  a  carpenter  of 
Anchor,  Illinois;  Mary,  wife  of  P.  J.  Decker; 
a  successful  farmer  of  Cropsey  township; 
Harriet,  wife  of  Howland  Bedell,  a  farmer 
of  Lawndale  township;  and  Laura,  wife  of 
our  subject.  By  her  first  husband  Mrs. 
Smith  had  two  children:  Lucy,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  nine  years;  and  Frank,  a  resident 
of  Anchor  township.  She  also  has  two 
children  by  her  marriage  to  our  subject: 
Ella  May,  born  January  12,  1889;  and  Al- 
bert B.,  born  January   16,  1891. 

In  his  politcal  views  Mr.  Smith  is  a 
Democrat,  but  has  always  refused  to  accept 
office.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic 
church,  while  his  wife  holds  membership  in 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  They 
have  a  wide  circle  of  friends  and  acuaintances 
throughout  their  section  of  the  county  and 
are  held  in  high  regard  by  all  who  know 
them. 


JOHN  JEFFRIES,  one  of  the  young  and 
enterprising  farmers  of  McLean  county, 
owns  and  operates  a  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  land  on  sections  2  and  1 1, 
Blue  Mound  township,  the  family  residence 
being  on  the  latter  section.  He  was  born  in 
Dawson  township,  McLean  county,  April 
26,  1863,  and  is  the  son  of  Philip  Jeflries, 
who  was  born  in  England,  but  who  came  to 
the  United  States  when  quite  young,  locating 
near  Scranton,  Pennsylvania,  from  which 
locality,  in  a  few  years,  he  moved  to  Mc- 
Lean county,  Illinois.  In  Pennsylvania  he 
worked  at  the  blacksmith  trade,  but  after 
going  to  Ohio  he  engaged  in  farming,  an 
occupation  in  which  he  continued  after  his 
removal  to  this  county.  On  coming  to  Mc- 
Lean county  he   purchased  a  farm  of  one 


572 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


hundred  and  forty  acres,  lying  in  Blue  Mound 
and  Martin  townships,  which  he  put  under 
excellent  improvements,  erecting  all  the 
necessary  outbuildings,  and  tilling  the  land. 
He  is  now  living  retired  in  the  village  of 
Cooksville,  renting  out  the  home  place. 

While  residing  in  Ohio,  Philip  Jeffries 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Belle 
Morrison,  a  native  of  Scotland,  of  Scotch- 
Irish  descent,  who  came  to  this  country 
when  she  was  quite  young.  By  this  mar- 
riage they  became  the  parents  of  seven 
children,  four  of  whom  are  now  living: 
Mary  A.,  living  with  her  father;  Eva  A., 
wife  of  John  Scott,  a  farmer  living  near 
Lincoln,  Nebraska;  John,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch;  and  Charles,  of  Cooksville.  George 
died  June  2  1,  1899.  The  mother  of  these 
children  died  at  their  home  in  Blue  Mound 
township,  in  1895. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  on 
his  father's  farm  in  Dawson  township,  and 
in  the  district  schools  received  a  common- 
school  education.  He  remained  at  home 
until  he  was  of  legal  age,  when  he  rented 
land  and  commenced  farming  and  stock 
raising  for  himself.  He  continued  to  rent 
until  1 89 1  when  he  purchased  eighty  acres 
on  section  11,  Blue  Mound  township,  which 
he  commenced  to  cultivate.  Notwithstand- 
ing the  hard  times  that  followed  shortly 
after  he  made  his  purchase,  and  the  very 
low  prices  prevailing  for  almost  all  kinds  of 
farm  produce,  he  was  quite  successful,  and 
in  1898  purchased  eighty  acres  more  lying 
in  section  2.  Upon  both  tracts  he  has  made 
some  excellent  improvements,  including  a 
fine  country  home  on  section  11.  He  is 
thoroughly  progressive  and  the  improve- 
ments made  are  such  as  would  be  expected 
of  an  up-to-date  farmer  in  the  closing  years 
pf  the  nineteenth  century. 


On  the  4th  of  March,  1886,  Mr.  Jeffries 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Stella 
Johnson,  daughter  of  Philip  and  Elizabeth 
Johnson,  who  were  among  the  early  settlers 
of  McLean  county.  By  this  union  there 
have  been  born  five  children:  Ira,  born 
January  20,  1887;  Perry,  July  2,  1889; 
Clarence,  November  4,  1895;  Earl,  July 
28,  1897;  and  Bessie,  June  28,  1899.  The 
oldest  boys  are  now  attending  the  district 
school,  and  the  parents  propose  to  give  them 
the  best  educational  advantages. 

Mrs.  Jeffries  is  a  member  of  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  church,  and  Mr.  Jeffries  is  a 
supporter  of  the  same.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Republican,  and  he  has  held  the  office  of 
road  commissioner  a  couple  of  years,  and 
has  also  served  as  school  director  some 
years,  as  he  feels  a  deep  interest  in  the 
common-school  system  of  this  state.  Com- 
mencing life  without  means  and  on  a  rented 
farm,  his  success  is  worthy  of  the  man,  and 
shows  that  the  time  has  not  passed,  as  some 
would  have  us  believe,  when  there  is  no 
more  opportunities  for  one  to  succeed  in  life. 
In  the  face  of  the  hard  times  he  has  made  a 
success,  and  it  is  because  of  his  industry 
and  his  steadfast  determination  to  succeed. 


WILLIAM  D.  NICKERSON,  who  has 
spent  his  entire  life  in  McLean  county, 
now  owns  and  operates  a  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty-five  acres  on  section  36, 
Funk's  Grove  township,  and  which  lies  with- 
in five  miles  of  the  village  of  Heyworth, 
which  is  his  postoffice  address.  He  was 
born  in  Randolph  township,  October  31, 
1847,  and  is  the  son  of  Albert  R.  and  Ellen 
(Cook)  Nickerson,  the  former  born  in  Salis- 
bury, Maryland,  October  23,  18 10,  and  the 
latter  born  in  Hamiltion  county,  Ohio,  Oc- 


WM.   D.   NICKERSON   AND  WIFE. 


Um'.RY 

or  THE 

'"IVERSITV  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


575 


tober  14,  1820.  Her  parents,  however, 
were  numbered  among  the  early  settlers  of 
McLean  county,  locating  here  when  Ellen 
was  but  thirteen  years  of  age.  The  paternal 
grandfather,  James  Alexander  Nickerson, 
came  to  McLean  county  in  an  early  day,  lo- 
cating in  Blooming  Grove,  where  he  re- 
mained three  years,  and  then  removed  to 
Davis  county,  Missouri,  settling  in  Pattons- 
burg,  afterwards  called  Cofleeville. 

Albert  R.  Nickerson  purchased  land  and 
made  a  permanent  home  in  Randolph  town- 
ship, but  also  owned  a  section  of  land  in 
Arrowsmith  township,  and  a  considerable 
amount  elsewhere.  He  was  one  of  the  most 
successful  farmers  of  the  county,  and  died 
in  the  village  of  Hey  worth,  November  i, 
1886.  His  wife  survives  him,  and  makes 
her  home  in  Heyworth.  They  were  the 
parents  of  seven  sons  and  three  daughters, 
of  whom  six  sons  are  now  living,  as  follows: 
John,  of  Colfax,  Illinois;  James  A.,  of  Web- 
ster City,  Iowa;  Charles,  who  grew  to  ma- 
ture years,  but  died  leaving  a  wife  and  two 
children;  George  H.,  of  Heyworth;  William 
D.,  of  this  review;  Samuel,  of  Bloomington; 
Benjamin  P.,  of  Webster  City,  Iowa;  Marj' 
J.,  who  died  in  childhood;  Sarah  married 
Albert  Stillman,  and  is  now  deceased;  and 
Martha  E.,  who  married  Arthur  Demmitt, 
of  Bloomington,  but  who  is  now  deceased. 

William  D.  Nickerson  grew  to  manhood 
on  his  father's  farm  in  Randolph  township, 
and  was  educated  in  the  common  schools. 
He  remained  with  his  parents  until  after  he 
attained  his  majority,  assisting  in  the  culti- 
vation of  the  home  farm.  After  the  re- 
moval of  his  parents  to  Heyworth,  he  car- 
ried on  the  farm  for  three  years,  then  rented 
another  farm  for  one  year.  He  has  been 
twice  married,  first  in  Randolph  township 
with    Miss   Nora    Simerson,    in    February, 


1877.  She  was  a  native  of  this  county. 
After  marriage,  they  located  in  Arrowsmith 
township,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  for 
one  year  on  a  portion  of  his  father's  land. 
He  then  moved  to  his  present  farm,  eighty 
acres  of  which  he  inherited  from  his  father's 
estate.  He  later  purchased  an  adjoining 
eighty-five  acres,  and  has  here  since  con- 
tinued to  reside,  with  the  exception  of  the 
time  mentioned  in  this  sketch. 

In  January,  1885,  Mrs.  Nora  Nickerson 
departed  this  life,  and  after  her  death  Mr. 
Nickerson  rented  his  place  for  one  year.  He 
then  returned  and  resumed  his  farming  oper- 
ations, and  February  23,  1887,  he  was  un- 
ited in  marriage  with  Miss  Laura  E.  Martin, 
of  Heyworth,  who  was  also  a  native  of  Ran- 
dolph township,  born  and  reared  near  the 
village  of  Heyworth.  After  his  second  mar- 
riage, Mr.  Nickerson  again  rented  his  farm 
and  moved  to  Heyworth  to  take  care  of  his 
mother,  where  he  lived  for  four  years.  In 
1 89 1  he  returned  once  more  to  the  farm,  and 
during  the  season  built  the  barn  which  is 
now  on  the  place.  He  then  rented  the  farm 
and  moved  to  the  Isaac  Vanorstand  farm, 
where  he  remained  two  years,  since  which 
time  he  has  been  living  on  his  own  farm,  en- 
gaged in  general  farming  and  stock  raising. 

Politically  Mr.  Nickerson  is  a  life-long 
Democrat,  and  cast  his  first  presidential  bal- 
lot for  Horatio  Seymour  in  1868.  Office 
holding  never  had  any  attraction  for  him,  as 
he  cared  more  for  his  business  interests  than 
for  the  honors  attached  to  local  official 
positions.  He  is  a  member  of  no  church, 
but  his  wife  holds  membership  with  the 
Presbyterian  church  of  Heyworth.  He  has 
a  just  pride  in  his  native  county,  which  has 
now  been  his  home  for  fifty-two  years,  con- 
sidering it  the  best  county  in  the  entire  state. 
He  has  grown  with  its  growth,  and  has  beeq 


576 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


an  eye  witness  to  nearly  all  the  changes  that 
have  been  made,  and  in  the  work  accom- 
plished he  has  endeavored  to  do  his  part. 


ENOS  HALE  FARNSWORTH,  an  hon- 
ored and  highly  respected  citizen  of 
McLean,  who  is  now  living  retired  from  ac- 
tive business  life,  was  born  in  St.  Charles, 
Missouri,  January  25,  1825,  and  is  a  son  of 
Enos  Farnsworth,  whose  parents  were 
Stephen  and  Deborah  (Bennett)  Farns- 
worth, both  natives  of  Vermont,  the  latter 
born  of  English  parentage.  The  father  of 
our  subject  was  born  in  Woodstock,  \'er- 
mont,  was  a  man  of  good  education,  and 
for  a  time  was  engaged  in  the  newspaper 
business  in  Kingston,  Canada.  While  there 
he  married  Miss  Frances  Hale,  also  a  native 
of  the  Green  Mountain  state,  born  in  Rut- 
land. She  acquired  a  good  education  and 
successfully  engaged  in  teaching  school  in 
early  life.  She  came  of  good  old  Revolu- 
tionary stock,  tracing  her  ancestry  back  to 
Nathan  Hale,  of  Revolutionary  fame,  who, 
when  being  hung  as  a  spy  by  the  British, 
"regretted  that  he  had  but  one  life  to  give 
for  his  country."  Soon  after  his  marriage, 
the  father  of  our  subject  moved  to  New 
York  state,  and  later,  with  a  two-horse 
team,  to  Missouri,  locating  about  forty  miles 
west  of  St.  Charles,  where  he  opened  up  a 
farm  and  made  his  home  until  his  death 
in  August,  1824.  He  left  one  daughter, 
Sarah  A.,  now  deceased,  who  was  the 
wife  of  Augustus  Verry,  of  Tazewell  county, 
Illinois.  Our  subject  was  born  after  his 
father's  death.  After  the  death  of  her  hus- 
band Mrs.  Farnsworth  returned  east,  and 
after  residing  for  a  few  years  in  Canada 
came  to  Jacksonville,  Illinois.  Her  last 
days  were  spent  with  her  5on,  our  subject, 


and  her  daughter  in  Tazewell  county.  She 
died  in  Tazewell  county  at  the  home  of  the 
latter  in  1871. 

After  his  father's  death  our  subject  lived 
for  a  time  with  an  uncle  in  Detroit,  Michi- 
gan, and  Potsdam,  New  York,  and  later 
with  an  uncle  on  a  farm  in  Vermont.  He 
was  given  good  school  advantages.  In 
early  life  he  went  to  Picktou,  Canada, 
where  he  learned  the  cabinet-maker's  trade 
and  also  worked  on  a  farm  to  some  extent. 
He  then  returned  to  New  York  and  later 
made  a  few  trips  on  the  Great  Lakes  as  a 
sailor.  In  December,  1844,  he  came  to 
Illinois,  and  for  six  years  he  worked  on  a 
farm  in  Tazewell  county.  He  made  an 
overland  trip  to  California  with  an  ox  team 
during  the  gold  excitement  in  that  state, 
leaving  Armington,  Illinois,  March  18.  1850, 
and  arriving  on  the  Pacific  slope  on  the  9th 
of  the  following  September.  He  went  to 
work  in  the  mines  at  Placerville,  and  for 
over  a  year  he  engaged  in  mining  in  that 
state  with  fair  success.  He  returned  to  his 
home  in  Illinois  by  way  of  the  Isthmus  of 
Panama,  Kingston,  Jamaica,  the  West  In- 
dies and  New  York,  arriving  here  in  Novem- 
ber, 1 85 1.  As  has  already  been  stated, 
much  of  his  early  life  was  spent  in  travel, 
having  been  in  twenty-two  states  and  terri- 
tories, Canada,  Mexico,  Central  America, 
and  the  West  Indies  prior  to  his  marriage. 

It  was  in  McLean  county,  October  7, 
1852,  that  Mr.  Farnsworth  wedded  Miss 
Sarah  Ann  Longworth,  a  native  of  Morgan 
county,  Ohio,  and  a  sister  of  D.  N.  Long- 
worth,  whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in 
this  work.  He  had  previously  purchased  a 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Mt. 
Hope  township,  upon  which  they  began 
their  domestic  life.  In  1867  he  sold  that 
place  and  purchased  another  farm  pf  thg 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


577 


same  size  near  McLean,  only  a  mile  from 
the  villafje,  and  to  its  further  improvement 
and  cultivation  he  devoted  his  time  and  at- 
tention for  many  years.  He  built  thereon 
a  nice  residence,  good  barns  and  outbuild- 
ings, set  out  an  orchard,  small  fruit  and 
shade  trees,  making  it  one  of  the  most  de- 
sirable farms  of  its  size  in  the  locality.  He 
actively  engaged  in  farming  there  until  1897, 
when  he  rented  the  place  and  has  since 
lived  retired,  enjoying  a  well  earned  rest. 

Mrs.  Farnsworth  died  in  Bloomington 
July  12,  1897,  and  her  remains  were  in- 
terred in  Mt.  Hope  cemetery.  The  three 
children  born  to  our  subject  and  his  wife 
were  as  follows:  Clara  is  now  the  wife  of 
Charles  G.  Pumphrey,  who  owns  a  valuable 
farm  in  Funks  Grove  township,  and  they 
have  two  sons,  Robert  E.  and  Ralph.  (2) 
Terah  married  Effie  M.  Kinsey,  daughter  of 
Captain  Kinsey,  who  is  represented  on  an- 
other page  of  this  volume,  and  to  them  were 
born  two  daughters,  Vere  and  lima.  He 
carried  on  the  home  farm  for  his  father  un- 
til his  death,  caused  from  an  accident,  Feb- 
ruary 17,  1897,  at  the  early  age  of  thirty- 
two  years.  He  was  an  active  and  promi- 
nent member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  Lodge  of 
McLean,  in  which  he  served  as  past  grand, 
and  filled  all  the  offices  with  the  exception 
of  state  lecturer.  (3)  Sarah  P^rances,  the 
younger  daughter  of  our  subject,  is  the  wife 
of  A.  H.  Linebarger,  a  prominent  business 
man  of  Bloomington,  and  they  have  one 
son,  Herbert  R. 

Since  the  death  of  his  son,  Mr.  Farns- 
worth has  rented  his  farm  and  made  his 
home  with  his  daughter  in  McLean.  In 
early  life  he  was  a  Whig  in  political  senti- 
ment, but  has  supported  the  Republican 
party  since  its  organization  in  1856,  voting 
for  John  C.  Fremont  that  year  and  for  every 


presidential  candidate  of  the  party  since 
then.  He  has  taken  an  active  and  com- 
mendable interest  in  public  affairs;  served 
as  township  trustee  twenty  years  and  as  as- 
sessor two  years,  with  credit  to  himself  and 
to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  all  concerned. 
He  has  also  been  a  delegate  to  numerous 
county  conventions  of  his  party.  He  is  an 
earnest  Christian  gentleman  and  one  of  the 
original  members  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church  of  McLean,  with  which  he  united 
in  1852.  In  January,  1898,  he  joined  the 
Odd  Fellows  Lodge  at  that  place,  in  which 
he  has  served  as  chaplain,  and  is  also  a 
member  of  the  encampment  and  the  Re- 
becca order.  He  is  widely  known  and  is 
held  in  high  regard  by  all  who  have  the 
pleasure  of  his  acquaintance. 


HON.  ROLLAND  A.  RUSSELL. 
Faithfulness  to  duty  and  strict  adher- 
ence to  a  fixed  purpose  in  life  will  do  more 
to  advance  a  man's  interests  than  wealth  or 
adventitious  circumstances.  The  successful 
men  of  the  day  are  those  who  have  planned 
their  own  advancement  and  have  accom- 
plished it  in  spite  of  many  obstacles  and  with 
a  certainty  that  could  have  been  attained 
only  through  their  own  efforts.  This  class 
of  men  has  a  worthy  representative  in  Judge 
Russell,  who  has  risen  to  distinction  as  an 
eminent  lawyer  and  jurist,  and  is  now  serv- 
ing as  county  judge  of  McLean  county  for 
both  probate  and  common  law  jurisdiction. 
The  Judge  was  born  in  Windsor,  Shelby 
county,  Illinois,  December  10,  i860,  a  son 
of  Samuel  C.  and  Emily  A.  (Arbuckle)  Rus- 
sell. The  paternal  great-grandfather  was  a 
soldier  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  the 
grandfather,  Andrew  J.  RusseUi  was  one  o( 


578 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


the  defenders  of  the  new  republic  during  the 
war  of  1812.  At  an  early  day  the  latter  re- 
moved from  Pennsylvania,  where  the  family 
had  previously  made  their  home,  to  Sidney, 
Shelby  county,  Ohio,  becoming  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  that  ref:;ion.  There  he  cleared 
and  developed  a  farm,  and  in  connection 
with  its  cultivation  also  worked  at  the  car- 
penter's trade. 

Samuel  C.  Russell,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  Lycoming  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, in  1823,  and  was  six  years  of  age 
when  the  family  removed  to  Sidney,  Shelby 
county,  Ohio.  He  was  almost  wholly  self- 
educated,  his  knowledge  of  books  being 
mostly  obtained  after  reaching  the  age  of 
twenty-one,  but  he  became  a  man  of  broad 
general  information  and  sound  judgment, 
and  was  an  extensive  and  successful  farmer. 
In  1854  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Emily  A.  Arbuckle,  who  was  born  in  Hagers- 
town,  Maryland,  in  1831,  a  daughter  of 
Elisha  J.  Arbuckle,  one  of  the  early  resi- 
dents of  Shelby  county,  Ohio,  originally  from 
Maryland.  To  them  were  born  three  chil- 
dren, who  reached  the  age  of  maturity:  Rol- 
land  A.,  our  subject;  William  Albert,  a  resi- 
dent of  Francisville,  Indiana;  and  Caddie  B., 
wife  of  Jacob  Jones,  of  Windsor,  Illinois. 
The  same  year  of  their  marriage  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Russell  removed  to  Shelby  county,  Illi- 
nois, where  the  father  continued  farming 
and  stock-raising  with  marked  success.  He 
took  quite  an  active  interest  in  educational 
affairs  and  filled  a  number  of  school  offices, 
but  never  cared  for  political  preferment.  He 
was  a  faithful  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  took  an  active  part  in  its 
work  as  a  church  officer,  and  his  house  was 
always  the  home  of  the  early  ministers.  He 
died  March  13,  1894,  honored  and  respected 
by  all  who  knew  him,     His  estimable  wife 


is  still  living  and  continues  to  make  her 
home  in  W^indsor. 

Reared  on  the  home  farm,  judge  Russell 
began  his  literary  education  in  the  country 
school  south  of  Windsor,  and  in  the  spring 
of  1 880  entered  the  preparatory  department 
of  the  Wesleyan  University  at  Bloomington. 
He  paid  his  own  way  through  college  by 
teaching  and  working  on  the  farm,  and  was 
finally  graduated  with  honors  in  1887,  re- 
ceiving the  degree  of  A.  B.  He  stood  well 
in  his  classes,  especially  in  mathematics,  and 
after  his  graduation  was  offered  the  chair  of 
mathematics  in  that  institution.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Phi  Gamma  Delta  Society 
and  also  the  Adelphic  Literary  Society. 
For  two  years  after  leaving  school  he  had 
charge  of  the  Greenfield  high  school  in 
Green  county,  Illinois,  and  in  the  fall  of 
1889  entered  the  Wesleyan  Law  School, 
where  he  was  graduated  in  1891,  with  the 
degree  of  LL.  B.,  having  previously  re- 
ceived the  degree  of  A.  M. 

After  his  admission  to  the  bar.  Judge 
Russell  spent  three  months  in  Salt  Lake 
City,  and  on  his  return  to  Bloomington  in 
November,  1891,  he  entered  the  office  of 
Benjamin  &  Morrissey,  where  he  remained 
for  one  year.  He  was  then  engaged  in  the 
abstract  business  with  L.  H.  Weldon  until 
the  summer  of  1795,  when  he  entered  the 
office  of  Welty  &  Sterling,  being  engaged 
in  practice  for  himself  and  meeting  with  ex- 
cellent success  for  a  young  man. 

During  this  time  Judge  Russell  had  taken 
an  active  and  prominent  part  in  Repub- 
lican politics,  and  in  the  spring  of  1896  he 
was  elected  chairman  of  the  McLean  coun- 
ty Republican  committee,  in  which  capac- 
ity he  bore  an  important  part  in  the  McKin- 
ley  campaign  in  this  section.  As  the  result 
of  his  untiring  labor,  the  county  was  bettef 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


579 


organized  than  ever  before  and  the  party  re- 
ceived the  phenomenal  majority  of  three 
thousand  seven  hundred  and  twenty-three, 
the  usual  majority  being  less  than  two 
thousand.  He  came  iii  close  touch  with 
over  two  thousand  campaign  workers,  which 
shows  that  the  work  was  most  systematic- 
ally and  thoroughly  conducted.  He  also 
spoke  a  number  of  times  in  different  parts 
of  the  county  and  in  organizing  visited  all 
of  the  towns.  On  the  resignation  of  Judge 
Myers  he  was  elected  county  judge  in  June, 
1897,  to  fill  the  unexpired  term,  and  in 
1898  was  re-elected  by  a  good  majority. 

He  is  absolutely  fearless  in  the  discharge 
of  his  duties  and  when  his  cases  have  been 
carried  to  the  supreme  court  most  of  his  de- 
cisions have  been  affirmed.  He  possesses  a 
mind  practically  free  from  judicial  bias, 
and  brings  to  his  duties  a  most  thorough 
knowledge  of  the  law  and  of  human  nature, 
a  comprehensive  mind,  and  calm  and  de- 
liberate judgment.  Since  1894  he  has  been 
one  of  the  professors  in  the  Wesleyan  Law 
School,  lecturing  on  elementary  and  crim- 
inal law,  personal  property,  probate  and 
wills. 

On  the  23d  of  November,  1892,  Judge 
Russell  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Anna  Jessett,  a  daughter  of  Robert  Jessett, 
of  Bloomington,  and  they  now  have  two 
children:  Helen  and  Raymond  J.  They 
belong  to  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  and  the  judge  is  now  a  member  of 
the  official  board.  He  is  also  a  member  of 
the  Alumi  Literary  Club;  Bloomington 
Lodge,  No.  400,  I.  O.  O.  P.;  and  Jesse 
Fell  Lodge,  No.  164,  K.  P.,  of  which  he  is 
past  chancellor  and  an  active  member.  He 
is  a  genial,  courteous  gentleman,  a  pleas- 
ant, entertaining  companion,  and  has 
many  staunch  and  admiring   friends   among 


all  classes  of  men.  As  an  energetic,  up- 
right and  conscientious  lawyer,  and  a  gen- 
tleman of  attractive  social  qualities,  he 
stands  high  in  the  estimation  of  the  com- 
munity. 


ABRAHAM  STEPHENS  is  now  living  a 
retired  life,  having  through  marked 
energy  and  business  ability  acquired  a  hand- 
some competence  that  now  enables  him  to 
put  aside  arduous  cares  and  duties.  He  has 
become  an  extensive  land  owner,  having 
some  very  valuable  property  in  McLean 
county  and  elsewhere  which  yields  to  him 
a  good  income.  Mr.  Stephens  was  born 
near  Binghamton,  Broome  county,  New 
York,  November  10,  1826.  His  parents 
were  Obediah  and  Polly  (Winfield)  Ste- 
phens, both  natives  of  New  Jersey.  The 
father  was  born  in  1796  and  died  in  1876. 
By  trade  he  was  a  carpenter,  and  during 
the  war  of  1812  he  loyally  served  his  coun- 
try as  a  member  of  the  army.  In  connec- 
tion with  his  other  business  interests  he  also 
carried  on  farming  on  a  small  scale.  His 
first  wife  died  when  our  subject  was  only 
two  years  of  age,  and  he  afterward  married 
Mrs.  Sarah  A.  Guernsey,  by  whom  he  had 
one  daughter,  Polly,  who  is  now  living  in 
Chenango  county,  New  York.  By  the  first 
marriage  there  were  six  children:  Hannah, 
married  Alpha  Squire,  and  lives  at  St.  Jo- 
seph, Missouri;  Sarah  Ann,  wife  of  Elias 
Gaylord,  who  died  in  1897.  She  is  living  in 
New  Nork,  and  by  her  marriage  had  three 
children,  two  of  whom  are  living.  Fannie 
died  in  childhood.  Richard  is  living  on  a 
farm  in  Yates  township,  McLean  county, 
now  owned  by  our  subject.  He  married 
Sarah  Mayo,  and  to  them  were  born  seven 
children,  f^ve  of  whom  are   living,  namely: 


sSo 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Addie,  Frank,  Wilbur,  Nellie,  wife  of  Clin- 
ton Graves,  of  Stark  county,  and  Luella 
Delbert,  died  young.  Jennie  died  at  the 
age  of  twenty-five  or  twenty-six. 

Abraham  Stephens  acquired  his  educa- 
tion   in    the   home   schools,   and   remained. 

» 
under  the  paternal  roof  until  he  had  attained 

his  majority.  He  worked  at  the  carpenter's 
trade  with  his  father  and  then  went  to  Ad- 
dison, New  York,  where  he  secured  em- 
ployment at  twelve  dollars  per  month  and 
board.  Subsequently  he  was  employed 
near  Woodhull,  where  he  followed  carpen- 
tering during  the  summer,  and  then  re- 
turned to  Addison,  where  he  entered  the 
employ  of  the  Erie  Railroad  Company, 
working  on  depots  and  buildings  for  two 
years.  He  was  then  engaged  on  the  con- 
struction of  the  bridge  which  crosses  the 
Geneseo  river  at  Portage,  and  is  two  hun- 
dred and  thirty-four  feet  above  the  water. 
He  followed  bridge  building  for  a  number  of 
years,  being  employed  on  the  construction 
of  the  bridge  at  Jordan  as  overseer,  in  which 
capacity  he  also  labored  at  Rochester,  New 
York.  In  1853  he  went  to  Alexandria, 
Virginia,  where  he  worked  on  seven  large 
bridges  for  the  Orange  and  Alexandria  rail- 
road. There  they  pulled  the  lumber  out  of 
the  river,  having  been  sawed  previously. 
In  1855,  however,  Mr.  Stephens  abandoned 
bridge  building  and  came  to  Illinois.  In 
1856  he  was  employed  on  the  construction 
of  the  Congregational  church  and  some 
mills  in  Oneida,  Knox  county,  superintend- 
ing this  work  in  the  capacity  of  overseer. 

In  1858  he  made  his  first  purchase  of 
land,  paying  eighteen  hundred  dollars  for 
eighty  acres.  On  selling  that  tract  he  pur- 
chased another  eighty  acres  of  improved 
land,  to  which  he  added  forty  acres,  but  in 
1S70  he  sold  that  farm  for  seventy-five  dol- 


lars per  acre,  and  came  to  McLean  county, 
where  he  had  bought  one  hundred  ami  sixty 
acres,  the  nucleus  of  his  present-time  farm. 
He  now  owns  four  hundred  acres  in  one 
body,  which  is  improved  with  substantial 
buildings  and  fine  orchards.  He  rents  the 
farm,  while  he  lives  retired  from  active  busi- 
ness cares.  From  time  to  time,  as  his  finan- 
cial resources  have  increased,  he  has  made 
other  purchases,  and  is  now  an  extensive 
land  owner.  He  has  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  land  under  cultivation  in  Oswego 
township,  Livingston  county;  two  hundred 
and  four  acres  in  Wing,  Livingston  county; 
three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  near  Piper 
City,  and  one  hundred  and  fifty-four  acres 
in  Yates  township,  in  addition  to  the  home 
place  of  four  hundred  acres.  He  has  made 
valuable  improvements  upon  his  land,  all  of 
which  is  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation, 
and  from  his  property  he  derives  a  hand- 
some income.  He  formerly  carried  on  both 
grain  and  stock  raising,  and  engaged  in  buy- 
ing and  shipping  stock  from  Weston. 

On  the  loth  of  December,  1856,  Mr. 
Stephens  was  united  in  marriage  with  Sarah 
A.  Gloyd,  who  was  born  near  Plainfield, 
Massachusetts,  August  18,  1828.  Her  par- 
ents, Stephen  and  Hulda  (Millard)  Gloyd, 
were  also  natives  of  Plainfield,  and  had  a 
family  of  eight  children,  namely:  Joel, 
Amelia.  Stephen;  Sarah  Ann,  wife  of  our 
subject;  Frank,  who  is  living  near  Tacoma, 
Washington;  Ellen,  of  Toledo,  Ohio;  Delos, 
and  Julia.  The  parents  of  this  family  are 
both  now  deceased,  the  father  having  died 
while  on  a  visit  to  his  children  in  Illinois. 
Mrs.  Stephens  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
church,  and  Mr.  Stephens  contributes  lib- 
erally to  its  support.  He  became  a  member 
of  the  Grange  when  it  was  organized,  and 
in  politics  he  is  a  Democrat.     He  has  served 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


58t 


as  commissioner  of  highways  for  three  years, 
and  as  school  director  for  several  years.  In 
business  he  has  met  with  gratifying  and 
well-merited  success.  He  possesses  great 
energy,  sound  judgment  and  indefatigable 
industry;  and  these  elements  have  brought 
to  him  a  well-deserved  prosperity,  which 
now  enables  him  to  put  aside  all  active  labor 
to  enjoy  the  competence  which  former  toil 
has  brought. 


WILLIAM  THOMPSON.  The  natural 
advantages  attracted  at  an  early  day 
a  superior  class  of  settlers,  thrifty,  in- 
dustrious, progressive  and  law-abiding, 
whose  influence  has  given  permanent  direc- 
tion to  the  development  of  the  locality. 
Among  these  worthy  pioneers  the  Thomp- 
son family  holds  a  prominent  place,  and 
among  its  most  worthy  representatives  is 
the  subject  of  this  review,  who  is  now  suc- 
cessfully carrying  on  operations  as  a  general 
farmer  on  section  lo,  Randolph  township, 
where  he  owns  nearly  six  hundred  acres. 
He  has  been  a  resident  of  this  state  since 
October,  1831,  and  has  made  his  home  in 
McLean  county  since  the  5th  of  July,  1832. 
Mr.  Thompson  was  born  in  Butler  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  January  10,  1830,  and  is  a  son  of 
George  K.  Thompson,  who  was  born  in  Vir- 
ginia, January  30,  1800.  The  grandfather, 
William  Thompson,  was  also  a  native  of 
the  Old  Dominion,  his  father  having  re- 
moved thither  from  North  Carolina  at  an 
early  day.  In  Monroe  county,  Virginia, 
George  K.  Thompson  grew  to  manhood, 
and  in  Greenbriar  county,  that  state,  mar- 
ried Miss  Anstis  Collison,  who  was  born  in 
that  county,  January  9,  1810.  Later  they 
removed  to  Butler  county,  Ohio,  and  after 
living  there  for  a  few  years  came  to  Illinois 


in  1 83 1,  spending  the  first  winter  here  on 
the  site  of  the  present  city  of  Washington. 
On  the  5th  of  July,  1832,  they  unloaded 
their  household  effects  within  a  few  rods  of 
the  house  where  our  subject  now  resides. 
The  father  purchased  a  claim  with  a  double 
log  house  already  erected  upon  it  and  about 
eight  acres  broken.  He  was  not  permitted 
to  enjoy  his  home,  however,  as  death 
claimed  him  in  1833,  when  he  was  only 
thirty-three  years  of  age.  His  wife  sur- 
vived him  some  years  and  married  again. 

Our  subject  made  his  home  with  his 
mother  and  stepfather  until  grown,  and  as 
the  schools  of  this  region  at  that  time  were 
few  and  of  a  very  inferior  grade,  his  educa- 
tion was  rather  limited.  On  leaving  the 
parental  roof  he  engaged  in  farming  upon 
rented  land  in  this  county  for  two  years, 
and  in  1852  went  to  Story  county,  Iowa, 
remaining  until  the  spring  of  1853,  when 
he  returned  to  McLean  county,  where  he 
was  married,  and  then  returned  to  Iowa, 
and  purchasing  a  claim  near  Ames  he  at 
once  turned  his  attention  to  the  improve- 
ment and  cultivation  of  his  place.  Subse- 
quently he  entered  more  land  and  at  one 
time  owned  four  hundred  and  forty  acres 
in  that  county,  upon  which  he  made  many 
improvements  in  the  way  of  farm  buildings. 
He  continued  his  residence  in  that  county 
for  fifteen  years,  but  in  1867  sold  his  inter- 
ests there  and  returned  to  McLean  county, 
Illinois,  having  succeeded  to  one  hundred 
and  ninety-five  acres  in  Randolph  township. 
To  this  he  has  added  from  time  to  time 
until  he  now  has  five  hundred  and  forty-two 
acres  of  excellent  land,  which  he  has  placed 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  im- 
proved with  two  sets  of  buildings.  At  first 
he  resided  upon  the  eastern  part  of  the 
farm  for  about  twenty-five  years  and  then 


582 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


removed  to  his  present  residence,  which  is 
a  fine  brick  structure  of  modern  style  of 
architecture  and  is  one  of  the  most  pleasant 
homes  in  the  locality.  In  connection  with 
general  farming  Mr.  Thompson  has  always 
given  considerable  attention  to  raising  and 
feeding  stock  for  the  market. 

In  Bloomington,  on  the  20th  of  October, 
1853,  Mr.  Thompson  married  Miss  Cas- 
sandra French,  who  was  born  in  Belmont 
county,  Ohio,  but  in  1840  was  brought  to 
this  county  by  her  father,  William  French. 
She  died  in  Iowa  May  23,  1856,  leaving 
two  children,  namely:  Oliver  C,  now  a 
resident  of  Arizona,  who  is  a  civil  engineer 
in  the  employ  of  a  railroad  company  and  is 
chief  of  the  locating  department;  and 
Minerva,  wife  of  Henry  Tolbert,  a  farmer 
living  near  Des  Moines,  Iowa.  Mr.  Thomp- 
son was  again  married,  in  Story  county, 
Iowa,  March  4,  1858,  his  second  union 
being  with  Miss  Mary  M.  Jones,  who  was 
born  and  reared  near  Wooster,  Wayne 
county,  Ohio,  and  with  her  father,  Thomas 
F.  Jones,  removed  to  Story  county,  Iowa. 
The  children  born  of  this  marriage  are  as 
follows:  Anstis  F. ,  wife  of  William  H. 
Stewart,  a  substantial  farmer  of  Randolph 
township,  McLean  county;  Mary  J.,  wife  of 
James  C.  Wakefield,  a  farmer  and  business 
man  of  Hey  worth;  Mrs.  Martha  E.  Pumph- 
rey,  at  home  with  her  parents;  George 
K. ,  a  lawyer  of  Bloomington;  Daniel  W. , 
who  is  a  graduate  of  both  the  Normal  Col- 
lege and  the  Wesleyan  Law  School,  and  is 
now  aiding  his  father  in  the  operation  of 
the  home  farm;  and  Edith  and  Nellie,  both 
at  home. 

Politically,  Mr.  Thompson  is  a  Jeffer- 
sonian  Democrat,  and  cast  his  first  presi- 
dential vote  for  James  Buchanan  in  1856. 
While  a  resident  of  Story  count}',  Iowa,  he 


took  a  very  prominent  part  in  public  affairs, 
and  his  fellow  citizens,  recognizing  his 
worth  and  ability,  called  him  to  important 
official  positions.  He  served  as  circuit  clerk 
for  one  term,  during  which  time  he  made 
his  home  in  the  city  of  Nevada,  and  in  this 
county  he  filled  the  office  of  justice  of  the 
peace  for  one  term  in  a  most  creditable  and 
acceptable  manner,  and  as  member  of  the 
school  board  a  number  of  years  and  as 
president  of  the  district  board.  He  was 
also  a  member  of  the  school  board  in  Ran- 
dolph township  for  many  years.  Frater- 
nally, he  is  a  Master  Mason,  and  religiously 
his  estimable  wife  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  They  are 
widely  known  and  highly  respected. 


GEORGE  W.  ARNOLD,  who  is  en- 
gaged in  the  lumber  business,  and  in 
contracting  and  building  in  Colfax,  Illinois, 
was  born  in  Licking  county,  Ohio,  April 
24,  1850,  and  is  a  son  of  Humphry  M.  P. 
and  Patsey  (Maddox)  Arnold,  of  whom 
further  mention  is  made  in  the  sketch  of 
John  W.  Arnold,  on  another  page  of  this 
work.  In  1853  the  family  came  to  McLean 
county  and  located  near  Bloomington,  where 
George  grew  to  manhood,  and  received  his 
education  in  the  public  schools.  He  re- 
mained at  home,  assisting  in  farm  work, 
until  1869,  when  he  went  to  Lawndale 
township  and  purchased  forty  acres  of  raw 
prairie  land,  on  which  he  turned  the  first 
furrow.  For  the  next  two  years  he  worked 
by  the  day  and  month  for  various  persons 
and  at  odd  times  engaged  in  the  improve- 
ment of  his  small  tract  of  land. 

Mr.  Arnold  was   married   May  4,  1871, 
to    Miss    W.    Isabelle    King,    the    youngest 


THE    BIOGR.\PHICAL   RECORD. 


583 


daughter  of  Reuben  G.  and  W.  Susan  King, 
of  Stout's  Grove,  in  Danvers  township, 
McLean  county.  Reuben  G.  King  was 
born  in  Kentucky,  January  18,  181 1,  and 
was  educated  in  the  schools  of  that  state. 
He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  by 
profession  was  a  minister  in  the  Christian 
Church.  When  a  young  man  he  came  to 
Illinois  and  located  in  Sangamon  county, 
and  in  the  latter  part  of  1830  he  married 
Susan  Howell,  also  a  native  of  Kentucky, 
born  March  25,  18 10,  and  to  them  were 
born  twelve  children,  six  sons  and  si.x 
daughters,  namely:  Eliza  J.  Elizabeth  A.. 
William  B.,  Mary  S.,  Annie  R.,  Martha  J., 
Thomas  A.,  James  H.,  Robert  B. ,  W.  Isa- 
bella, Samuel  J.  and  John  E.  R.  A.  P. 
Mrs.  King  died  April  28,  1S57,  and  for  his 
second  wife  Mr.  King  married  Mrs.  Sarah 
Swift,  itcf  Clinkenbeard,  by  whom  he  had 
two  children,  V.  Alice  and  Edward  L.  Mr. 
King  was  a  soldier  in  the  Black  Hawk  war, 
the  Mexican  war,  and  the  war  for  the  union. 
He  was  killed  in  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  April 
6,  1862. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Arnold  were  born  five 
children,  three  sons  and  two  daughters. 
Joseph  P.  married  Gertrude  Wiley,  of  Col- 
fax, Illinois,  in  which  place  they  make  their 
home.  He  is  bookkeeper  for  his  father. 
Nellie  V.  married  John  D.  Cunningham, 
and  they  now  reside  in  the  city  of  Bloom- 
ington,  where  he  holds  the  position  of 
deputy  county  recorder.  Noah  A.,  Millie 
E.  and  A.  Lee  are  yet  at  home. 

In  the  course  of  time  Mr.  Arnold  sold 
his  first  land  and  purchased  a  quarter-sec- 
tion in  the  same  township.  Later  he  pur- 
chased, in  partnership  with  his  brother, 
John  W.,  a  half-section  of  land  in  Iowa, 
which,  in  1894,  he  traded  to  his  nephew, 
John    P.  Arnold,  for  real-estate   in     Colfax. 


In  1896  he  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  land  in  Richland  county,  Illinois, 
and  also  forty  acres  in  Jasper  county.  In 
189S  he  purchased  forty  acres  in  Woodford 
county,  Illinois.  He  also  owns  five  dwell- 
ings and  four  store  buildings  in  Colfax,  to- 
gether with  a  livery  and  boarding  stable, 
and  has  several  pieces  of  real-estate  in 
Bloomington.  For  a  time  he  was  in  part- 
nership with  his  nephew,  J.  R.  Arnold,  in 
the  lumber  and  coal  trade  and  in  the  drug 
business,  and  also  in  contracting  and  build- 
ing, in  each  of  which  lines  they  were  quite 
successful.  In  December,  1896,  the  co-part- 
nership was  dissolved,  J.  R.  Arnold  taking 
the  drug  business,  and  our  subject  succeed- 
ing to  the  other  lines  in  which  they  were 
engaged. 

In  his  political  affiliations  Mr.  Arnold  is 
thoroughly  independent,  voting  for  those  he 
considers  best  qualified  for  the  office.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Christian  church  of  Col- 
fax, of  which  body  his  wife  is  also  a  member. 
He  is  now  serving  as  one  of  the  trustees  of 
the  church  and  has  held  the  office  of  deacon. 
Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  Colfax  Lodge, 
No.  749,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. ;  of  Camp  No.  660, 
M.  W.  A. ,  and  of  the  Court  of  Honor.  Nellie 
V.  and  Millie  E.  are  members  of  Medora 
Chapter,  O.  E.  S.,  at  Colfax,  of  which  Mil- 
lie E.  is  worthy  matron. 

The  village  of  Colfax  dates  its  existence 
from  1880,  and  Mr.  Arnold  has  been  iden- 
tified with  it  since  its  inception.  His  son,  A. 
Lee,  was  the  first  child  born  within  its  cor- 
porate limits.  It  is  safe  to  say  that  no  man 
has  done  more  for  the  welfare  of  the  village, 
and  he  never  loses  an  opportunity  to  do 
that  which  will  advance  its  best  interests. 
His  time  and  money  have  been  freely  invested 
and  the  result  shows  that  his  efforts  have 
not  been  in  vain,  for  Colfax  presents  the  ap- 


584 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


pearance  of  being  one  of  the  most  thriving 
villages  in  the  state,  and  to  George  W.  Ar- 
nold much  of  the  credit  is  due. 


JOHN  M.  DARN  ALL,  a  worthy  repre- 
sentative of  the  farming  and  stock-rais- 
ing interests  of  Mt.  Hope  township,  has 
spent  his  entire  life  in  this  county,  and  now 
resides  on  section  5,  where  he  owns  a  valu- 
able and  well-appointed  farm  of  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  acres.  He  has  watched  the 
development  of  this  region  with  the  interest 
which  every  intelligent  man  feels  in  regard 
to  the  section  of  the  country  where  he  has 
spent  the  best  years  of  his  life,  and  should 
feel  satisfaction  in  the  thought  that  he  has 
been  no  unimportant  factor  in  bringing  it 
to  its  present  prosperous  condition.  He 
experienced  all  the  trials  and  difficulties  of 
frontier  life,  but  is  now  enjoying  the  reward 
of  his  labors  and  struggles  in  the  possession 
of  a  fine  homestead,  where  he  is  surrounded 
by  all  the  comforts  and  many  of  the  lux- 
uries of  life. 

Mr.  Darnall  was  born  in  this  county, 
September  30,  1833,  and  is  a  son  of  Nich- 
olas Darnall,  who  was  born  in  Boone- 
ville,  Kentucky,  in  1808,  and  came  to  Illi- 
nois in  1828,  locating  first  in  Lawndale 
township,  McLean  county.  There  he  mar- 
ried Serepta  Brooks,  also  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky, who  came  to  this  state  in  1829.  In 
1834  they  located  on  the  farm  now  owned 
and  occupied  by  our  subject,  and  here  the 
father  erected  a  good  story  and  a  half  house, 
in  1842,  and  made  other  improvements. 
He  died  in  1848  at  the  age  of  forty.  His 
wife  survived  him  until  1872,  and  reared 
her  children  to  habits  of  industry  and  hon- 
esty. 

Upon  his  present  farm  John  M.  Darnall 


grew  to  manhood,  and  though  his  early  edu- 
cation was  limited,  he  has  become  a  well 
informed  man  by  subsequent  reading  and 
observation.  He  remained  at  home  with 
his  mother  until  thirty  years  of  age,  when 
he  removed  to  the  section  of  the  farm  where 
he  now  lives,  his  present  residence  having 
been  built  there  in  1882.  He  has  pur- 
chased the  interests  of  the  other  heirs  in  the 
place,  has  made  many  improvements  there- 
on, and  has  throughout  his  active  business 
life  successfully  engaged  in  general  farming 
and  stock  raising. 

In  Bloomington,  January  3,  1S65,  was 
celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Darnall  and 
Miss  Hannah  Zollars,  who  was  born  in 
Waynesville,  De  Witt  county,  Illinois,  but 
was  principally  reared  in  Mt.  Hope  town- 
ship, McLean  county.  Her  father,  John 
Zollars,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  came  to 
this  state  from  Ohio  at  an  early  day,  and 
after  a  short  time  spent  in  De  Witt  county, 
took  up  his  residence  here.  Of  the  six 
children  born  to  our  subject  and  his  wife, 
three  are  now  deceased,  one  having  died  in 
infancy,  and  Sarah  and  George  in  early 
childhood.  Those  living  are  as  follows: 
Lee,  who  lives  on  a  part  of  the  home  farm 
and  owns  and  operates  a  steam  thresher,  is 
married  and  has  four  children,  Alvin  Ila, 
Donald  F. ,  Daniel  Ross  and  Orion  Harvel. 
Charles  and  Clarence  Homer  assist  in  the 
cultivation  of  the  farm. 

In  early  life  Mr.  Darnall  was  a  Whig  in 
politics,  and  cast  his  first  presidential  vote 
for  Millard  Fillmore  in  1856,  but  he  sup- 
ported Abraham  Lincoln  in  i860,  and  has 
since  affiliated  with  the  Republican  party. 
He  served  as  constable  in  his  township  in 
1865,  has  filled  the  office  of  pathmaster,  and 
has  been  a  member  of  the  school  board  for 
about  twenty-two  years.      His  wife  is  a  con- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


58S 


sistent  and  earnest  member  of  the  Christian 
church.  Mr.  Darnall  can  relate  many  in- 
teresting incidents  of  pioneer  life,  when 
there  were  no  railroads,  telegraphs  or  tele- 
phones in  through  this  section,  when  the 
settlers  were  widely  scattered,  and  the  pres- 
ent towns  and  city  were  mere  hamlets.  In 
1847,  in  company  with  his  father,  he  drove 
to  Chicago  with  a  team  of  horses,  making  a 
long  and  hard  trip  of  two  weeks,  while  at 
present,  with  modern  facilities  of  travel,  the 
journey  can  be  made  in  a  few  hours. 


LEVI  W.  SHOLTEY,  one  of  the  most 
successful  and  progressive  agriculturists 
of  Anchor  township,  was  born  in  Selma, 
Indiana,  September  7,  1S44,  and  is  of  Ger- 
man descent.  When  young,  his  paternal 
grandfather  stole  aboard  a  ship  bound  for 
America,  and  on  reaching  this  country  he 
was  sold  to  a  blacksmith  for  seven  years' 
labor  as  pay  for  his  transportation.  He 
soon  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade  and  fol- 
lowed that  occupation  throughout  life. 

Jacob  Sholtey,  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  near  Harrisburg,  Pennsylvania,  in 
1805,  and  began  his  business  career  in  that 
state  by  working  on  a  farm  by  the  month. 
Later  he  was  similarly  employed  in  Ohio 
for  seven  years,  and  then  removed  to  In- 
diana, purchasing  a  tract  of  timber  land  near 
Selma,  on  which  he  erected  a  grist-mill  and 
did  a  good  business  for  some  years.  Finally 
selling  out  in  1849,  he  came  to  Blooming- 
ton,  Illinois,  and  engaged  in  farming  with 
good  success  upon  land  where  the  Chicago 
&  Alton  railroad  shops  are  now  located. 
Subsequently  he  purchased  one  hundred  and 
twenty- five  acres  west  of  Shirley,  in  Dale 
township,  for  which  he  paid  about  seven 
dollars  per  acre.     That  farm  was  partially 


improved,  but  the  half  section  which  he 
later  bought  from  the  railroad  company  at 
twelve  dollars  and  a  half  per  acre  was  wild 
prairie.  His  next  purchase  consisted  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  at  fifty  dollars  per 
acre,  and  his  last  was  forty  acres  of  timber 
land  at  forty  dollars  per  acre.  Upon  these 
tracts  he  erected  good  and  substantial 
buildings,  placed  the  land  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation,  and  transformed  them 
into  valuable  farms.  He  was  a  man  of 
good  business  ability,  and  as  a  farmer  and 
stock  raiser  met  with  marked  success,  being 
at  length  able  to  lay  aside  all  business 
cares  and  live  retired.  On  the  ist  of  June, 
1830,  he  married  Miss  Mary  Kauflman,  who 
was  also  born  near  Harrisburg,  Pennsyl- 
vania. June  10,  1810,  and  was  of  German 
descent.  They  celebrated  their  golden  wed- 
ding on  the  1st  of  June,  1880,  and  the  fol- 
lowing October  Mr.  Sholtey  died.  His  wife 
survived  him  several  years,  passing  away  at 
the  old  homestead  in  Dale  township  in 
1893.  In  his  political  views  he  was  a  Re- 
publican. Of  the  nine  children  born  to 
them,  three  died  in  infancy,  Christopher  at 
the  age  of  nineteen  years,  and  Susan,  wife 
of  Adam  Hoffman,  died  in  Kansas  in  1889. 
Those  living  are:  Henry  C,  a  retired  farmer 
of  Bloomington,  who  has  three  married 
children;  Samuel,  a  successful  farmer  of 
the  same  place,  who  is  married  and  also  has 
married  children;  Anna,  wife  of  John  Cook, 
who  lives  near  Brownsville,  Tennessee,  and 
some  of  their  children  are  also  married; 
and  Levi  W. ,  our  subject. 

Levi  W.  Sholtey  secured  a  limited  edu- 
cation in  the  country  schools  of  Dale  town- 
ship, but  did  not  have  the  advantages  of 
many  children  of  his  day,  as  his  services 
were  needed  in  the  operation  of  the  home 
farm.       He    remained    under    the   parental 


586 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


roof  until  he  was  married,  at  the  age  of 
twenty- two  years,  to  Miss  Hannah  J.  Geyer, 
who  was  born  in  Muskingum  county,  Ohio, 
December  20,  1844,  a  daughter  of  Ammazia 
and  Sarah  Geyer.  She  came  to  this  county 
in  1864,  after  her  parents  had  been  located 
here  for  some  time.  Her  father  was  killed 
during  the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  but  her 
mother  is  living,  and  now  makes  her  home 
with  some  of  her  children  in  Nebraska. 
Nine  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Sholtey,  and  three  died  in  infancy.  Those 
living  are  William  E.,  who  married  Flor- 
ence Knight,  of  this  county,  and  now  lives 
in  Cheney's  Grove  township;  and  Mary  E. , 
wife  of  Otto  Taylor,  of  Anchor  township, 
by  whom  she  has  one  child,  Mabel ;  Julia  B. , 
widow  of  H.  O.  Davison,  by  whom  she  had 
one  child.  Earl;  Julia;  Oliver;  Sadie;  and 
Lawrence  V'ernon,  all  at  home.  The  children 
have  been  provided  with  good  educational 
advantages,  and  the  younger  ones  are  now 
nearly  through  school.  The  wife  and 
mother  was  called  to  her  final  rest  Febru- 
ary 23,  1886,  and  as  the  children  were 
small  at  that  time  it  was  rather  a  difficult 
task  for  Mr.  Sholtey  to  attend  to  their  wants 
and  also  his  business  interests,  but  he  has 
faithfully  discharged  his  duties  and  has 
reared  a  family  of  which  he  may  be  justly 
proud. 

He  began  married  life  on  a  half-section 
of  land  belonging  to  his  father,  which  he 
operated  with  good  success  for  two  years. 
On  attaining  his  majority  he  had  about  fifty 
head  of  young  cattle,  which  he  fed  for  three 
years  and  then  sold  for  seventy  dollars  per 
head.  With  the  money  thus  acquired  he 
purchased  farm  implements  and  household 
goods;  paid  some  upon  the  land  which  he 
now  owns;  and  invested  the  remainder  in 
live  stock.      He  made  a  contract  to  buy  two 


hundred  acres  of  wild  prairie  land  at  eight 
and  one-half  dollars  per  acre,  in  Anchor 
township,  sixteen  miles  from  Fairbury,  then 
the  nearest  market  place.  To  the  improve- 
ment and  cultivation  of  this  land  he  has 
since  devoted  his  energies  with  most  gratify- 
ing results.  He  himself  has  tiled  and  broke 
the  land,  has  planted  an  orchard  and  shade 
trees,  and  has  erected  good  buildings  there- 
on, making  it  one  of  the  ideal  country  places 
of  the  locality.  He  first  located  upon  this 
farm  in  1869,  but  twelve  years  later,  after 
the  death  of  his  father,  he  returned  to  the 
old  homestead  to  look  after  his  mother's  in- 
terests, remaining  there  until  she,  too, 
passed  away,  when  he  again  took  up  his 
residence  upon  his  own  farm,  which  is  now 
successfully  operated  by  himself  and  son. 
In  connection  with  general  farming  he  has 
engaged  in  stock  raising,  his  specialty  being 
hogs,  which  proved  quite  profitable  until 
1898,  when  he  lost  his  entire  herd  with 
cholera.  Since  returning  to  his  home  farm, 
he  has  purchased  eighty  acres  in  Cheneys 
Grove  township,  for  which  he  paid  seventy- 
two  dollars  and  a  half  per  acre,  and  in  1889 
he  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
partially  improved  land  near  Frederick, 
South  Dakota.  He  is  also  a  stockholder  in 
the  McLean  County  Fair  Association.  He 
gives  his  support  to  every  worthy  enterprise 
for  the  public  good,  and  is  especially  active 
and  prominent  in  church  work,  as  an  ear- 
nest and  consistent  member  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church.  He  has  served  as  Sun- 
day-school superintendent  for  five  years,  and 
is  now  most  satisfactorily  filling  the  office 
of  president  of  the  Anchor  township  Sunday- 
school  Association  for  a  second  year.  Some 
of  his  children  belong  to  the  same  church, 
while  his  others  are  members  of  the  Chris- 
tian church.     In  politics  he  is  a  Republican 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


587 


and  he  has  served  as  school  director  and 
trustee  for  many  years,  and  is  now  serving 
his  second  term  of  road  commissioner,  a 
very  competent  man  for  the  place. 


JAMES  S.  NEVILLE,  alderman  of  the 
first  ward  of  Bloomington,  and  one  of 
the  leading  lawyers  of  the  city,  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  well-known  firm  of  Rowell, 
Neville  &  Lindley.  How  many  a  man 
would  be  wise  if  wisdom  could  be  bought, 
but  it  can  only  be  obtained  through  hard 
labor  and  earnest  application,  and  a  man 
who  wins  prominence  in  any  of  the  learned 
professions  has  secured  it  through  merit. 
Mr.  Neville  is  a  man  of  broad  general  in- 
formation and  ripe  scholarship,  and  to  this 
he  has  added  a  thorough  knowledge  of  law. 
Working  earnestly  for  his  clients'  interests 
he  has  advanced  his  own;  but  whether  it 
will  be  beneficial  to  him  or  otherwise,  no 
trust  reposed  in  him  is  ever  slighted. 

He  was  born  in  Mackinaw,  Tazewell 
county,  Illinois,  March  11,  1856,  and  is  of 
English  and  French  descent.  His  paternal 
great-grandfather  was  General  John  Neville, 
of  Virginia,  who  was  a  first  cousin  of  Gen- 
eral Presley  Neville,  of  General  La  Fayette's 
staff.  The  grandfather,  George  Neville, 
was  born  in  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania,  but 
when  young  went  to  Virginia,  and  later  in 
life  became  a  resident  of  Tennessee,  where 
he  served  as  sheriff. 

Christopher  O.  Neville,  father  of  our 
subject,  was  born  in  Clarksville,  Tennessee, 
October  8,  1800,  but  was  reared  as  a  farmer 
boy  in  Kentucky  and  there  learned  the 
blacksmith's  trade.  He  was  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  Tazewell  county,  Illinois,  where 
he  took  up  land  from  the  government,  and 
tejfore  bis  simple  log  house  was  completed 


came  the  noted  deep  snow  of  1830.  In  the 
locality  he  made  his  home  and  engaged  in 
farming  and  blacksmithing  until  1850,  when 
he  removed  to  the  village  of  Mackinaw  and 
started  a  general  store.  In  i860  he  went 
to  Eureka,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the 
same  business  until  called  from  this  life 
October  26,  1869.  He  was  an  active  sup- 
porter of  the  Republican  party  and  was 
quite  a  prominent  and  influential  citizen  of 
his  community.  He  was  one  of  the  first 
postmasters  of  Mackinaw,  a  county  com- 
missioner of  Tazewell  county,  and  held 
other  local  offices.  He  was  a  faithful  mem- 
ber of  the  Christian  church  and  one  of  its 
most  active  workers,  and  was  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  college  and  church  at 
Eureka.  On  the  6th  of  November,  1846, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Eliza- 
beth L.  Lindsey,  who  was  born  in  Chris- 
tian county,  Kentucky,  December  5,  1813, 
and  was  a  daughter  of  James  A.  Lindsey, 
who  removed  from  that  state  to  Mackinaw, 
Illinois,  in  1834.  He  was  a  soldier  of  the 
war  of  1S12,  and  after  his  death  his  widow 
received  a  pension  from  the  government. 
Mrs.  Neville  died  December  5,  1877.  Only 
two  of  her  twelve  children  are  now  living — 
our  subject  and  Mrs.  C.  W.  Campbell,  of 
Topeka,  Kansas.  Mr.  Neville  was  twice 
married.  By  the  first  union  three  children 
are  now  living:  Mrs.  C.  N.  Pearre,  of  In- 
dianapolis, and  Mrs.  Virginia  Neville,  of 
Danville,  Kentucky;  and  John  H.,  pro- 
fessor of  languages  in  the  State  University, 
Lexington,  Kentucky. 

James  S.  Neville,  the  youngest  in  the 
family  of  five  children,  began  his  education 
in  the  common  schools  of  Eureka,  but  after 
his  father's  death,  which  occurred  when  he 
was  twelve  years  old,  the  family  removed 
to  a  farm,  and  he  further  pursued  his  studies 


588 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


in  the  district  schools.  At  the  age  of 
twenty  he  went  west,  where  he  spent  three 
years,  and  on  his  return  to  Illinois  located 
in  Bloomington,  where  he  read  law  with 
Rowell  &  Hamilton.  In  1880  he  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  by  examination  in  the  su- 
preme court,  but  remained  in  the  office  of 
his  preceptors  until  Mr.  Hamilton  was 
elected  governor  and  Mr.  Rowell  a  member 
of  congress.  Subsequently  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  law  firm  of  Neville  &  Blade  until 
Mr.  Blade  went  to  California,  after  which 
the  present  partnership  was  formed.  With 
the  exception  of  criminal  law,  he  is  engaged 
in  general  practice,  and  has  acted  as  attor- 
ney for  the  street  car  company  for  years 
and  also  for  the  telegraph  and  telephone 
companies.  He  is  not  only  a  good  lawyer, 
but  is  a  good  business  man  as  well;  in  fact, 
he  possesses  unusual  ability  in  that  direc- 
tion. He  has  been  active  in  the  organiza- 
tion of  a  number  of  corporations,  such  as 
the  fair  association  and  manufacturing  com- 
panies. 

On  the  nth  of  August,  1884,  Mr.  Ne- 
ville was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Nel- 
lie Bent,  a  daughter  of  Horatio  Bent,  of 
Bloomington,  and  to  them  has  been  born  a 
daughter,  Edith.  They  hold  membership 
in  the  Christian  church,  with  which  the 
family  has  been  connected  for  many  years. 
Mr.  Neville's  maternal  grandfather,  James 
A.  Lindsey,  was  a  prominent  minister  of 
that  denomination  for  over  twenty  years, 
and  helped  to  establish  many  of  the  Chris- 
tian churches  in  this  part  of  the  state. 
Since  attaining  his  majority,  Mr.  Neville 
has  taken  an  active  part  in  the  councils  of 
the  Republican  party,  and  during  President 
Harrison's  administration  he  most  efficiently 
and  satisfactorily  served  as  postmaster  of 
Bloomington,  during  which  time  he  helped 


to  locate  the  new  office.  He  has  also  repre- 
sented the  first  ward  in  the  city  council  for 
three  terms,  and  was  one  of  the  leaders 
who  was  active  in  bringing  about  the 
change  from  the  old  to  the  new  charter  on 
a  broader  basis.  He  drew  up  the  petitions 
and  had  them  circulated,  getting  the  needed 
names  for  it.  While  chairman  of  the  com- 
mittee on  general  improvements,  he  was  in- 
strumental in  laying  more  than  half  the 
pavements  in  the  city,  and  in  other  ways 
has  materially  advanced  its  welfare.  In 
manner  he  is  genial  and  courteous  and  is 
deservedly  popular  with  all  classes.  As  a 
lawyer  he  stands  high  with  the  profession, 
and  as  a  citizen  has  always  been  found  true 
to  every  trust  reposed  in  him. 


FRANK  J.  MITTAN,  M.  D.,  is  actively 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion in  the  village  of  Colfax,  where  he 
located  in  1891.  He  is  a  thorough  stu- 
dent of  his  profession  and  endeavors  at 
times  to  keep  abreast  of  the  times,  all 
especially  as  pertaining  to  medicine  and 
surgery.  He  was  born  in  DeWitt,  DeWitt 
county,  Illinois,  April  13,  1865,  and  ob- 
tained his  literary  education  in  the  district 
and  high  school  of  Farmer  City.  His  fa- 
ther, George  H.  Mittan,  was  born  near 
Scranton,  Pennsylvania,  September  12, 
1837,  and  when  twelve  years  old  came 
with  his  parents  to  Lee  county,  Illinois, 
where,  after  finishing  his  schooling  in  the 
common  schools,  he  learned  the  blacksmith 
trade,  and  later  carried  on  a  shop  until  he 
became  the  owner  of  a  farm,  which  he 
operated  for  a  time,  but  abandoned  for  a 
mercantile  life.  He  is  now  engaged  in  the 
furniture  trade  in  Farmer  City,  Illinois. 
George   H.  Mittan  was  twice   married, 


THE    BIOGR.\PHICAL   RECORD. 


589 


first  on  December  24,  1862,  to  Miss  Eliza 
Margaret  Erwin,  of  Farmer  City,  by  which 
union  there  were  seven  children,  five  sons 
and  two  daughters — Clara  B.,  Frank  J., 
Wesley  C,  Effie  J.,  Ira  C,  Elmer  and  Ora 
C.  Clara  B.  married  John  S.  Brandon,  of 
Belle  Flower,  Illinois,  and  they  have  two 
daughters.  Myrtle  and  Pearl.  They  now 
reside  in  Marshaltown,  Iowa.  Effie  J.  mar- 
ried Frederick  D.  Rhea,  of  Belle  Flower, 
Illinois,  and  they  have  now  three  living  chil- 
dren. They  now  reside  in  Mason  City,  Illi- 
nois, where  he  is  employed  as  a  railroad 
agent.  Mrs.  Eliza  Mittan  died  August  31, 
1888,  and  for  his  second  wife,  he  married 
on  ^^arch  3,  1897,  Mrs.  Fannie  Wharton, 
nee  Knight. 

After  finishing  his  education,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  taught  school  for  four 
years,  two  in  country  schools  and  two  in 
the  Belle  Flower  high  school.  In  the  va- 
cations of  the  summers  of  1883,  1884  and 
1885,  he  studied  medicine  with  Dr.  God- 
frey, of  Belle  Flower,  and  in  the  fall  of 
1887  he  entered  Miami  Medical  College,  at 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  remained  there  one 
year.  He  then  taught  as  principal  the  Belle 
Flower  high  school,  and  in  1888  entered 
Rush  Medical  College,  Chicago,  from  which 
he  was  graduated  in  1891.  Immediately 
on  receiving  his  diploma,  the  Doctor  located 
in  Colfax  and  entered  on  the  pactice  of  his 
profession,  and  has  since  met  with  unquali- 
fied success.  He  is  now  a  member  of  the 
McLean  County  Medical  Society,  and  also 
of  the  State  Medical  Society,  in  each  of 
which  he  takes  an  active  part. 

On  the  24th  of  November,  1896,  Dr. 
Mittan  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Emma  L.  Butcher,  of  Belle  Flower,  Illinois. 
Her  father,  James  C.  Butcher,  was  born 
near    Crawfordsville,    Indiana,    October  7, 


1829,  and  was  educated  in  the  schools  of 
his  native  state.  He  has  always  followed 
the  honorable  occupation  of  farming.  He 
was  twice  married,  first  in  1852,  to  Miss 
Jane  E.  Emmett,  of  Crawfordsville,  and 
they  became  the  parents  of  si,x  children, 
three  sons  and  three  daughters,  two  sons 
dying  in  infancy.  Those  living  are  Flora 
E.,  Emma  L.,  John  A.  and  Ida  A.  The 
family  came  to  McLean  county  in  1850  and 
located  in  Old  Town  township,  where  Mr. 
Butcher  resumed  his  farming  operations. 
His  wife  dying  November  3,  1870,  for  his 
second  wife  he  married  Mrs.  Susan  Harris, 
lief  Fordice,  the  marriage  being  solemnized 
October  2,  1871.  By  this  marriage  there 
are  three  children,  Jay  S. ,  Myron  H.  and 
Josie  H.  He  is  now  living  a  retired  life. 
Of  the  children  by  his  first  wife.  Flora  E. 
married  Lincoln  P.  Goodheart,and  they  have 
one  daughter,  Ina  L.  They  reside  in  Chi- 
cago. Ida  A.  married  Charles  Donohue,  of 
Chicago.  The  paternal  grandfather  of  Mrs. 
Mittan,  John  Butcher,  was  the  oldest  mem- 
ber of  his  family,  and  was  born  in  1799. 
He  married  Abigail  Monohon.  Her  grand- 
father, James  Butcher,  was  born  in  1777, 
and  he  was  also  the  oldest  member  of  the 
family.  He  married  Mary  Patterson.  Mrs. 
Mittan's  maternal  grandfather,  Peter  Mono- 
hon, married  Silence  Shobe. 

Fraternally  Dr.  Mittan  is  a  member  of 
Colfax  Lodge,  No.  799,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. ;  of 
Bloomington  Chapter,  No.  26,  R.  A.  M. ;  of 
Bloomington  Council,  No.  43,  R.  &  S.  M., 
and  of  De  Molay  Commandery,  No.  24,  K. 
T.,  of  Bloomington.  Since  locating  in  Col- 
fax he  has  taken  an  active  part  in  every- 
thing pertaining  to  the  welfare  of  the  village. 
Especially  has  he  shown  an  interest  in  edu- 
cational matters,  his  experience  as  a  teacher 
enabling  him  to  know  what  is  for  the  best 


590 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


interests  of  the  schools.  At  present  he  is 
serving  as  chairman  of  the  board  of  educa- 
tion. He  has  been  a  member  of  the  board 
of  aldermen,  and  was  president  of  the  board 
for  one  year.  He  is  at  present  chairman  of 
the  board  of  health  of  the  village.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  a  staunch  Republican.  His  an- 
cestry are  French,  Scotch,  German  and 
English. 


IRA  MERCHANT,  a  leading  and  repre- 
sentative citizen  of  Bloomington,  has 
been  one  of  the  most  important  factors  in 
her  upbuilding  and  development,  and  his 
devotion  to  the  public  welfare  has  made  him 
a  valued  resident.  He  is  widely  known  and 
his  worth  and  ability  have  gained  him  suc- 
cess, honor  and  public  confidence. 

Mr.  Merchant  was  born  February  13, 
1837,  on  the  family  homestead,  a  farm  of 
two  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  in  Randolph 
township,  Morris  county,  New  Jersey,  near 
Morristown,  and  is  the  fourth  in  order  of 
birth  in  a  family  of  seven  children,  whose 
parents  were  Daniel  Piatt  and  Eliza  (Carey) 
Merchant.  His  early  years  were  passed  at 
home,  assisting  in  all  the  work  pertaining 
to  farming,  and  his  education  was  received 
in  the  district  school  and  in  select  private 
schools  in  Newark.  He  left  home  for  the 
west  in  November,  1854,  and  accepted  a 
position  as  rodman  in  a  survey  then  being 
made  through  Missouri  for  the  North  Mis- 
souri Railroad,  now  a  part  of  the  Wabash 
system.  After  the  surveys  were  completed 
he  worked  on  the  construction  in  Audrain 
and  Boone  counties  until,  for  lack  of  funds, 
the  work  ceased  in  1856.  He  was  next  with 
his  uncle,  Ahaz  Merchant,  city  engineer  of 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  his  cousin,  Aaron 
Merchant,    county    surveyor   of    Cuyahoga 


county,  Ohio,  and  by  assisting  in  both  city 
and  county  work  for  several  months  he 
gained  some  valuable  information  in  land 
surveys  and  municipal  work. 

Later  the  engineer  for  whom  Mr.  Mer- 
chant worked  on  the  North  Missouri  Rail- 
road— James  P.  Low,  a  West  Point  gradu- 
ate-coffered him  a  position  with  an  en- 
gineering corps  in  Iowa,  with  headquarters 
at  Wapello,  Louisa  county.  Financial 
stringency  stopped  work  on  this  road  in  De- 
cember, 1856,  but  Mr.  Low  secured  a  posi- 
tion for  himself  and  engineering  party  on  a 
survey  that  commenced  at  White  Hall, 
Greene  county,  Illinois,  and  was  completed 
through  the  counties  of  Greene,  Scott,  Mor- 
gan, Cass,  Schuyler,  McDonough,  Warren, 
Mercer,  Henry  and  Rock  Island.  In  April, 
1857,  at  the  age  of  twenty  years,  he  was 
appointed  assistant  engineer  by  Mr.  Low 
and  placed  in  charge  of  construction  from 
White  Hall  to  Beardstown,  a  distance  of 
fifty  miles.  Subsequently  two  divisions 
were  formed,  and  he  took  charge  of  that 
portion  of  the  line  from  the  northern 
boundary  of  Scott  county  to  Beardstown. 
In  the  summer  of  1858  he  was  ordered  by 
the  chief  engineer,  Mr.  Low,  to  make  pre- 
liminary surveys  from  White  Hall  south,  to 
the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad,  at  Brighton, 
and  was  placed  in  charge  of  the  construc- 
tion of  this  division  after  completing  the 
location. 

On  the  14th  of  February,  i860,  Mr. 
Merchant  married  Miss  Mary,  daughter  of 
Francis  and  Louisa  Arenz,  of  Cass  county, 
Illinois.  Her  father  was  a  prominent  man, 
interested  in  the  politics  of  that  time,  and 
was  a  friend  of  Lincoln,  Yates,  Baker,  Mc- 
Clernand,  Palmer  and  other  noted  leaders 
in  political  life.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Merchant 
have    one    child,    Ella,    now    the     wife   of 


IRA  MERCHANT. 


OF  THE 
'I-'IVERSITy  Of  ILLINO-' 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


593 


Charles  H.  McWhorter,  a  merchant  of 
Denver,  Colorado,  by  whom  she  has  two 
children,  Ira  and  Irene.  Our  subject  and 
his  wife  also  have  an  adopted  son,  a 
nephew  of  Mrs.  Merchant,  Walter  Francis 
Arenz,  whose  mother  died  when  he  was 
only  one  month  old.  He  is  now  fifteen 
years  of  age. 

The  hard  times  and  great  business  de- 
pression preceding  the  war  of  the  Rebellion 
closed  the  work  of  construction  on  the 
Rock  Island  «&  Alton,  now  the  St.  Louis  di- 
vision of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy 
Railroad.  Mr.  Merchant  was  then  engaged 
for  several  months  in  making  final  estimates 
of  all  contractors'  work  from  Brighton  north 
to  Macomb,  McDonough  county,  and  was 
the  last  civil  engineer  to  work  on  the  line 
previous  to  the  breaking  out  of  the  war. 

In  August,  1 86 1,  he  enlisted  in  a  com- 
pany raised  at  Winchester,  Scott  county, 
and  was  elected  orderly  sergeant  of  that 
company,  which  became  Company  C, 
Twenty-eighth  Illinois  Infantry.  After  a 
short  time  spent  at  Camp  Butler,  they  were 
ordered  to  St.  Louis  to  be  armed,  and  then 
proceeded  to  Bird's  Point,  Missouri,  under 
command  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Waters, 
no  colonel  having  been  assigned.  In  the 
fall  of  1 86 1  Lieutenant  Colonel  Amory  K. 
Johnson,  of  the  Fourteenth  Illinois  Infantry, 
was  appointed  colonel  and  joined  the  com- 
mand at  Fort  Holt,  Kentucky,  opposite 
Cairo.  Mr.  Merchant  was  commissioned  by 
Governor  Richard  Yates  as  second  lieuten- 
ant of  his  company  on  the  27th  of  Decem- 
ber, 1 86 1,  to  take  rank  from  November  20. 
On  the  19th  of  November,  1862,  he  was 
commissioned  first  lieutenant  by  the  same 
governor,  on  recommendation  of  Colonel 
Johnson,  and  on  the  commission  was  en- 
dorsed "promoted  for  meritorious  services 


at  Fort  Donelson  and  Pittsburg  Landing." 
After  the  latter  battle  he  was  detailed  for 
signal  duty  and  was  with  the  camp  of  in- 
struction at  Paducah,  Kentucky,  until  June, 
1862,  when  he  rejoined  his  regiment  at 
Grand  Junction,  Tennessee. 

On  the  4th  of  July,  1862,  while  in  charge 
of  advanced  picket  at  Holly  Springs,  Mis- 
sissippi, Mr.  Merchant  was  wounded  in  the 
left  arm.  At  the  time  the  injury  was  con- 
sidered light,  but  erysipelas  setting  in  he 
was  in  danger  of  losing  his  arm.  When  the 
line  of  the  Memphis  &  Charleston  Railroad 
was  abandoned  in  the  summer  of  1862  and 
the  troops  were  ordered  to  Memphis,  the 
wounded,  sick  and  convalescent  were  sent 
north  to  Cairo  to  be  assigned  to  hospitals, 
but  on  account  of  the  danger  of  infection  to 
other  wounded,  Mr.  Merchant  was  prevent- 
ed from  entering  any  hospital.  In  Septem- 
ber he  rejoined  his  command,  and  while  not 
physically  able  to  attend  to  all  the  duties, 
he  took  command  of  the  company  and 
marched  to  Bolivar,  Tennessee,  and  from 
there  to  Hatchie  river,  where  he  was  with 
his  company  in  the  heat  of  the  engagement, 
October  6,  1862,  although  carrying  his  arm 
in  a  sling.  After  the  battle  was  over,  in 
taking  a  short  cut  through  the  timber  to 
visit  the  field  hospital,  he  came  upon  a  party 
of  Confederates  in  hiding  who,  supposing 
they  were  surrounded,  were  an.xious  to  sur- 
render if  guaranteed  they  would  not  be  fired 
at.  They  were  placed  in  line  and  marched 
to  the  heights  near  the  battle  ground  and 
turned  over  to  the  provost  marshal.  Major 
General  Stephen  A.  Hurlburt  personally 
complimented  Lieutenant  Merchant  for  his 
action  and  services  in  this  engagement. 
Soon  after  this  Colonel  Johnson  was  ap- 
pointed colonel  commanding  the  Third 
Brigade,   Fourth  Division,  Sixteenth   Army 


594 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Corps,  composed  of  the  Twenty-eighth, 
Thirty-second  and  Forty-first  Illinois  and 
the  Fifty-third  Indiana  regiments  and  ap- 
pointed Lieutenant  Merchant  brigade  quar- 
termaster. He  was  in  the  saddle  constant- 
ly in  Grant's  movement  south  through 
Mississippi  to  Water  Valley,  where  the 
command  was  compelled  to  retreat  by  reason 
of  the  capture  of  Holly  Springs  by  General 
Van  Doren.  During  the  winter  of  1862-3 
the  army  occupied  the  line  of  the  Memphis 
&  Charleston  Railroad  and  Lieutenant  Mer- 
chant was  with  the  brigade  at  Collierville 
and  acted  as  post  quartermaster,  railroad 
agent  and  express  agent.  Still  suffering 
from  his  arm  and  receiving  from  Dr.  West, 
his  regimental  surgeon,  the  advice  to  resign 
or  be  liable  to  lose  his  arm  and  perhaps  his 
life,  he  forwarded  his  resignation  to  General 
Grant  in  March,  1863,  and  it  was  accepted 
in  April. 

Returning  to  Illinois,  Mr.  Merchant 
went  to  Newark,  New  Jersey,  to  secure  the 
service  of  Dr.  Sweet,  a  noted  surgeon, 
who,  after  treating  him  several  months  and 
relieving  somewhat  the  rigidity  of  the  mus- 
cles and  soreness  of  the  arm,  told  him  he 
might  take  up  his  work,  as  no  further  im- 
provement could  be  made.  On  again  com- 
ing to  Illinois  he  was  elected  surveyor  of 
Sangamond  county  largely  through  the  in- 
fluence of  Governor  Yates.  After  serving 
the  term  for  which  he  was  elected,  he 
engaged  to  relocate  government  surveys  on 
the  Sullivant  tract  in  Ford  county,  some 
forty  thousand  acres  in  a  body.  After  com- 
pleting this  survey  he  took  charge  of  the 
field  party  and  completed  the  preliminary 
surveys  and  estimates  for  the  construction 
of  the  Peoria  &  Rock  Island  Railroad. 

In  the  winter  of  1868  Mr.  Merchant  lo- 
cated in  Bloomington  and  opened  an  office 


for  surveying  and  civil  engineering,  and  while 
making  a  start  in  local  work  was  employed 
by  Larrimore  &  Davis  to  assist  in  making 
abstracts  of  titles.  His  wife  had  been  ap- 
pointed the  first  superintendent  of  the  Sol- 
diers' Orphans'  Home,  and  in  August,  1867, 
under  the  direction  of  the  trustees,  John  M. 
Snyder,  Dr.  Allin  and  Jesse  A.  Willson,  she 
opened  a  temporary  home  in  the  residence 
No.  1207  North  Main  street.  She  most 
faithfully  and  efficiently  discharged  her  ardu- 
ous duties  in  the  care  of  over  fifty  children 
with  insufficient  accommodations,  and  was 
offered  the  position  of  superintendent  of  the 
permanent  home  in  June,  1869,  by  the 
unanimous  vote  of  the  trustees,  but  was 
obliged  to  decline  on  account  of  the  ill 
health  of  her  daughter. 

Mr.  Merchant  was  first  appointed  city 
engineer  of  Bloomington,  in  1869,  largely 
through  the  influence  of  Thomas  J.  Bunn, 
then  alderman  from  the  second  ward,  who 
from  that  time  on  has  always  been  a  warm 
friend  of  our  subject.  The  office  was  filled 
by  Mr.  Merchant  continuously  until  August, 
1880,  when  he  resigned  on  account  of  a  dis- 
agreement with  the  mayor,  but  was  re-ap- 
pointed in  1882,  and  served  that  year  and 
the  following  under  Mayor  John  W.  Trotter. 
Since  then  he  has  not  been  connected  with 
municipal  engineering.  In  the  spring  of 
1869  Bloomington  was  a  mud  town,  there 
being  several  weeks  during  which  no  loads 
could  be  hauled  from  the  Chicago  &  Alton 
and  Illinois  Central  railroads.  The  engi- 
neering work  that  year  consisted  in  paving 
the  streets  from  each  depot  to  the  public 
square,  the  Illinois  Central  bringing  stone 
from  La  Salle  and  the  Chicago  &  Alton  from 
Joliet  for  paving  Grove  street  and  two  blocks 
on  Main  from  the  Illinois  Central  depot, 
and   Chestnut  street  from   the   railroad  tQ 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


595 


Center  and  south  on  Center  to  the  square. 
Previous  to  this  time  they  were  no  pave- 
ments, no  sewers,  no  brick  sidewalks  and  no 
water  supply.  During  Mayor  Bunn's  ad- 
ministration, in  1870,  Nicholson  pavement 
was  laid  on  the  north  and  west  sides  of  the 
public  square,  and  the  history  of  the  pave- 
ments from  1870  to  1877,  when  the  first 
solid  block  of  brick  pavement  was  laid  on 
the  west  side  of  the  square,  was  a  succession 
of  trials  and  failures  with  everything  that 
could  be  laid  that  would  not  take  the  prop- 
erty to  pay  for  it.  The  first  block  of  brick 
pavement  laid  in  the  United  States  was  on 
the  west  side  of  the  square  in  Bloomington, 
but  to-day  it  is  safe  to  say  that  more  square 
yards  of  this  pavement  are  laid  in  cities 
from  five  to  one  hundred  thousand  popula- 
tion than  all  others  combined. 

The  building  of  sewers  was  commenced 
under  Mayor  Funk's  terms  from  1871  to 
1875,  and  the  water-works  under  the  same 
mayor.  Mr.  Merchant  superintended  the 
construction  of  the  water-works,  preparing 
all  descriptions  for  ordinances  and  making 
all  plats  of  property  and  lists  of  persons 
specially  assessed.  The  stand-pipe  which 
gives  Bloomington  the  best  of  equalized 
pressure  for  distribution  of  water  through 
the  mains  was  constructed  under  his  im- 
mediate supervision  from  plans  drawn  by 
James  P.  Berkenline,  of  Philadelphia,  Penn- 
sylvania; and  he  also  originated  the  system 
of  records  in  the  engineer's  office.  From 
May,  1884,  until  March,  1888,  he  was  en- 
gaged in  contracting  and  in  engineering  for 
tile  drainage  of  farms.  He  was  then  em- 
ployed by  the  executors  of  the  estate  of  the 
late  David  Davis  as  business  manager,  under 
their  direction  taking  charge  of  the  improve- 
ments on  farm  lands  and  keeping  books  and 
accounts  of  the   estate   until   the  death  of 


Henry  S.  Swayne,  one  of  the  executors,  in 
1893,  since  which  time  he  has  acted  as 
business  agent  for  Mrs.  Sarah  (Davis) 
Swayne,  one  of  the  two  heirs  of  David 
Davis. 

In  his  political  relations  Mr.  Merchant 
is  independent,  voting  for  the  man  rather 
than  the  party.  He  has  always  taken  an 
active  interest  in  the  welfare  of  Blooming- 
ton, and  his  abilities  have  been  exerted  in 
her  behalf,  so  that  she  now  ranks  among 
the  best  and  most  attractive  cities  compos- 
ing this  great  commonwealth.  He  is  an 
excellent  business  man  —  one  who  has  a 
peculiar  faculty  for  organizing  and  system- 
atizing all  his  business  affairs,  and  he  is  a 
genial,  affable  gentleman  who  makes  many 
friends.  His  wife  has  been  a  member  of 
the  Second  Presbyterian  church  of  Bloom- 
ington for  over  thirty  years,  and  is  a  most 
estimable  lady. 


WILLIAM  WELCH,  whose  residence  is 
on  section  30,  Funk's  Grove  town- 
ship, and  whose  farm  lies  within  three  miles 
of  the  village  of  McLean,  has  been  a  resi- 
dent of  McLean  county  since  September  30, 
1857.  He  was  born  in  Worcestershire, 
England,  in  June,  1826,  and  was  there 
reared  on  a  farm  and  received  a  limited  com- 
mon-school education.  For  five  years  he 
engaged  in  gardening  in  his  native  land  and 
was  a  practical  gardener.  Realizing  that  in 
his  native  land  the  opportunities  were  very 
few  for  one  to  make  his  way  to  independence, 
he  determined  to  come  to  America,  where 
the  poor  man  had  a  chance  to  make  more 
than  a  bare  living.  Accordingly,  in  the 
spring  of  1857,  he  sailed  from  Liverpool  in 
the  ship  Fidelia,  a  sailing  vessel,  and  was 
thirty-two  days  on  the  voyage,  during  which 


596 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


time  they  encountered  some  severe  weather 
and  met  with  what  might  have  proved  a 
more  serious  accident.  Some  days  before 
being  due  in  New  York  they  ran  into  a  coal 
vessel,  the  ship  being  considerably  damaged. 
In  their  crippled  condition  they  arrived  in 
New  York,  thankful  in  making  a  safe  ar- 
rival. From  New  York  he  went  direct  to 
Woodstock,  Oxford  county,  Canada,  where 
he  worked  at  odd  jobs  until  in  September 
following,  when  he  came  to  McLean  county, 
arriving  on  the  date  mentioned.  Here  he 
found  employment  as  a  farm  hand,  and  for 
two  years  worked  by  the  month. 

Mr.  Welch  was  married  in  Bloomington, 
Illinois,  October  i,  1859,  to  Miss  Catherine 
Snedeker,  a  native  of  West  Virginia  and 
daughter  of  George  Snedeker,  who  lived  and 
died  in  Brooke  county.  West  Virginia.  She 
came  to  McLean  county  a  young  lady,  with 
the  family  of  her  brother  George.  By  this 
union  four  children  were  born.  William,  Jr. , 
is  single  and  yet  remains  at  home.  Charles 
married  Helen  A.  Wood,  a  native  of  McLean 
county,  and  daughter  of  Captain  Harry 
Wood,  now  deceased.  They  have  one 
daughter,  Lena.  They  make  their  home 
with  his  parents,  and  he  assists  in  carrying 
on  the  farm.  Jane  yet  remains  under  the 
parental  roof.  Eva  is  the  wife  of  William 
Brock,  and  they  reside  in  the  village  of 
McLean. 

Soon  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Welch 
bought  a  small  tract  of  land  in  Randolph 
township,  and,  renting  some  other  tracts 
there,  lived  and  engaged  in  farming  until 
1867,  when  he  sold  out  and  bought  twenty- 
five  acres  of  his  present  farm.  It  was  an 
old  place,  much  run  down,  and  on  it  was 
an  old  log  house,  which  was  built  in  1829, 
and  in  that  he  moved  with  his  family  and 
commenced  to  make  all  necessary  improve- 


ments. In  due  time  the  old  house  was  re- 
placed with  a  more  modern  building,  barns 
were  built,  an  orchard  set  out,  and  the  place 
soon  presented  a  far  different  appearance. 
He  now  owns  sixty  acres  of  good  land,  but 
rents  and  cultivates  a  total  of  about  two 
hundred  acres,  giving  his  attention  to  mixed 
farming  and  stock-raising. 

Mr.  Welch  came  to  this  country  with 
the  intention  of  becoming  an  American  citi- 
zen, and  to  that  end  took  out  his  naturali- 
zation papers,  and  cast  his  first  presidential 
vote  in  1864  for  Abraham  Lincoln.  He  has 
since  voted  the  Republican  ticket,  but  has 
never  sought  or  accepted  an  office.  His 
sons  take  an  active  part  in  local  politics, 
and,  like  their  father,  support  the  Repub- 
lican ticket.  William  has  served  as  town- 
ship collector,  and  is  now  a  member  of  the 
school  board,  while  Charles  is  serving  as 
school  treasurer.  The  family  are  all  held 
in  high  esteem  in  the  community  in  which 
they  have  so  long  lived.  The  forty-two 
years  in  which  our  subject  has  lived  here, 
have  been  years  of  honest  toil,  and  while 
his  riches  may  not  have  increased  as  rapidly 
as  that  of  others,  all  that  he  has  is  the  re- 
sult of  his  own  labors,  assisted  by  his  good 
wife  and  the  family. 


DR.  HERMANN  SCHROEDER.  There 
are  always  a  few  men  in  every  com- 
munity who  are  recognized  leaders  in  the 
growth  of  the  localities  with  which  they  are 
connected,  who  are  the  promoters  of  its  en- 
terprises, the  founders  of  its  industries  and 
the  advocates  of  all  the  varied  interests 
which  will  contribute  to  the  prosperity  and 
well  being  of  their  fellow-townsmen.  Of 
this  class  Dr.  Schroeder  is  a  representative. 
He  has  been  one  of  the  most  potent  factory 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


597 


in  the  upbuilding  of  Bloomington,  where 
(or  almost  half  a  century  he  has  made  his 
home,  watching  the  development  of  the 
little  village  into  one  of  the  thriving  com- 
mercial centers  of  the  state,  and  bearing  an 
important  part  in  its  progress.  His  history 
is  in  many  respects  an  eventful  one,  but 
now  in  the  evening  of  life  he  is  crowned 
with  that  veneration  and  respect  which 
should  ever  follow  a  career  of  activity  and 
usefulness.  Broad-minded,  he  has  ever 
favored  liberty,  progress  and  the  right. 
With  him  success  in  life  has  been  reached 
by  his  sterling  qualities  of  mind  and  a  heart 
true  to  every  manly  principle;  he  has  never 
deviated  from  what  his  judgment  would  in- 
dicate to  be  right  and  honorable  between 
his  fellowmen  and  himself;  he  has  never 
swerved  from  the  path  of  duty,  and  now 
after  a  long  and  eventful  career  he  can  look 
back  over  the  past  with  pride,  and  enjoy 
the  remaining  years  of  his  earthly  pilgrim- 
age with  a  consciousness  of  having  gained 
for  himself,  by  his  honorable,  straightfor- 
ward career,  the  confidence  and  respect  of 
the  entire  community  in  which  he  lives. 

Dr.  Schroeder  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Althaldensleben,  near  the  city  of  Madge- 
burg,  in  Prussia,  May  22,  1821.  His  father 
was  one  of  Napolean's  old  soldiers  who 
gave  the  signal  to  retreat  from  Moscow.  On 
his  deportation  to  Siberia  he  escaped  from 
Russian  slavery,  and  found  after  a  long  wan- 
dering a  home  and  a  wife  in  the  village  of 
Althaldensleben.  There  the  Doctor  was 
born  in  a  year  of  great  famine,  and  taken  in 
a  basket  to  the  Kloyster  fields  by  his  mother 
who  worked  therein.  He  was  given  the  best 
educational  advantages  afforded  in  the 
schools  of  the  town,  and  his  parents,  who 
were  Catholics,  destined  him  for  the  priest- 
hood.      Aristocratic    people    and   even  the 


bishop  became  interested  in  him,  for  he  was 
an  excellent  scholar,  and  furnished  him  the 
means  of  study,  but  after  his  mother's  death 
he  abandoned  the  idea  of  entering  the  priest- 
hood and  commenced  the  study  of  natural 
philosophy  and  medicine,  but  while  thus  en- 
gaged his  benefactor,  Herr  Nathusius,  died 
and  he  commenced  the  study  and  work  of 
an  architect,  as  it  would  sooner  bring  him 
financial  returns,  and  he  must  depend  upon 
his  own  e.xertions  for  a  livelihood.  He  met 
with  excellent  success  in  the  new  undertak- 
ing and  soon  became  the  contractor  of  gov- 
ernment buildings.  He  prospered  financially, 
but  his  love  of  republican  principles  led  him 
to  discuss  the  same  from  the  public  platform 
and  through  the  press,  and  in  the  great  his- 
torical year,  1848,  he  was  to  be  found  upon 
the  barricade  and  among  the  revolutionary 
speakers.  Soon,  however,  a  contra-revolu- 
tion  took  place  and  Doctor  Schroeder,  to- 
gether with  many  other  revolutionists,  was 
persecuted  and  would  have  been  shot,  had 
he  not  made  his  escape  at  night  and  tied  to 
America,  "  the  land  of  the  free  and  home  of 
the  brave."  In  order  to  effect  his  escape  he 
was  obliged  to  kill  a  soldier  who  was  pursu- 
ing him,  and  taking  his  gun,  the  Doctor 
brought  it  with  him  to  America,  it  being  the 
first  needle  gun  in  this  country.  A  new 
chapter  in  the  book  of  life  was  thus  begun, 
and  from  that  time  his  interests  were  to  be 
allied  with  those  of  the  new  world. 

In  1846  Dr.  Schroeder  had  married 
Princ  von  Buchau,  the  youngest  daughter 
of  Baronet  Prince  von  Buchau,  who  was  the 
general-adjutant  of  the  great  General  Bluch- 
er,  at  Waterloo,  and  last  commander  of  Cas- 
sel,  one  of  the  thirteen  adorned  by  the  king 
of  Prussia,  knight  of  the  order  Pour  le 
Merite,  the  highest  military  order  in  Ger- 
many.   She  traced  her  ancestry  clear  back  to 


59S 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Johannes,  Prince  vonBuchau,  whoflourished 
in  1642  and  who  was  the  first  Swedish  gov- 
eror  in  America,  being  sent  hither  with  fifty- 
four  German  famihes.  He  built  the  first 
Protestant  church  in  the  United  States,  at 
Princedorph,  New  Jersey.  Later  he  returned 
to  Stockhohn,  where  he  occupied  a  position 
in  harmony  with  his  rank,  and  for  many 
generations  his  descendants  were  equally 
honored. 

Hidden  in  one  of  the  rotten,  wooden 
ships  Dr.  Schroeder  made  his  way  to  New 
York.  He  could  not  find  employment  there 
and  so  went  as  an  emigrant  to  Cleveland, 
Ohio,  where  he  gained  some  kind  friends 
and  again  took  up  the  study  of  medicine, 
becoming,  after  two  years  of  preparation, 
a  physician  of  considerable  note.  He 
practiced  in  Mansfield  and  in  Mount  Gilead, 
Ohio,  for  a  time  and  then  by  wagon  started 
westward,  reaching  the  little  town  of  Bloom- 
ington,  Illinois,  in  1851.  Upon  the  prairie, 
near  the  present  site  of  the  Illinois  Central 
depot,  he  constructed  a  shanty  out  of  the 
first  log  house  ever  built  in  the  town,  and 
began  the  practice  of  medicine,  eventually 
directed  his  energies  into  other  channels. 
He  dealt  quite  extensively  in  real  estate  for 
a  time,  first  purchasing  nine  town  lots  on 
which  he  erected  thirteen  houses  from  lum- 
ber he  had  made  from  the  timber  on  a  forty- 
acre  tract  of  land  that  he  had  purchased. 
Rents  were  high  then  and  accordingly  the 
investment  was  a  profitable  one.  He  soon 
accumulated  money  to  buy  from  the  Illinois 
Central  railroad  two  hundred  and  forty 
acres,  now  the  south  side  of  Elpaso,  and 
eighty  acres  on  which  the  city  of  Gilmanhas 
been  built.  He  named  the  place  Schroeder- 
ville,  laid  it  out  in  town  lots,  and  in  1856 
sold  it.  He  then  commenced  grape  culture, 
probably  establishing  the  first  vineyards  in 


the  west.  He  was  particularly  successful 
in  the  propagation  of  grape  vines,  sold  many 
million  plants  all  over  this  country  and  even 
shipped  to  France  and  Germany.  He  con- 
tinued in  that  line  until  a  short  time  ago, 
and  is  even  now  engaged  in  horticultural 
pursuits  upon  his  valuable  land,  comprising 
one  hundred  acres  which  adjoins  the  city. 

In  1866  he  erected  the  Grand  Opera 
House,  the  first  in  the  city,  having  two 
stores  in  the  first  story,  and  the  theater  in 
the  second,  third  and  fourth.  For  many 
years  entertainments  of  various  kinds  at- 
tracted the  people,  but  recently  it  has  been 
torn  down  to  make  room  for  more  modern 
buildings.  In  1869  he  aided  in  building 
Minerva  Block, — for  some  years  the  finest 
in  the  city — and  still  owns  the  store  at  No. 
316,  in  that  block.  Coal  had  been  found 
along  the  creek  and  in  the  hillsides,  but  the 
Doctor  thought  it  must  surely  underlie  the 
prairies  also.  Accordingly  he  secured  scien- 
tific e-xperts  to  make  examinations,  and,  as 
he  anticipated,  coal  was  found.  He  became 
the  owner  of  nearly  one-fifth  of  the  stock 
of  the  Bloomington  Coal  Mine  Company, 
and  was  twice  its  president,  but  sold  out  in 
order  to  devote  his  time  to  the  nursery  busi- 
ness. He  also  established  a  vinegar  and 
cider  factory,  and  developed  a  large  and 
profitable  business,  but  eventually  disposed 
of  the  plant. 

In  1875  Dr.  Schroeder  went  abroad  with 
his  family  and  traveled  all  over  Europe, 
where  he  first  partook  of  the  noted  summer 
sausage,  which  sold  for  seventy-five  cents 
per  pound.  After  his  return  he  began  the 
manufacture  of  sausage,  in  1878  erecting  his 
steam  sausage  and  meat  pressing  factory. 
South  Main  street,  Bloomington.  It  was 
his  intention  to  export  this  sausage,  and  his 
first  shipment  went  to  Europe.     He  sent  his 


THE    BIOGR.\PHICAL   RECORD. 


599 


son-in-law  to  Europe  to  make  arrangements 
for  the  disposal,  but  the  first  large  shipment 
was  found  to  contain  trichina,  and  nearly 
all  had  to  be  destroyed.  This  occasioned 
great  commotion  among  the  importers  of 
Germany,  and  was  taken  up  by  the  govern- 
ment. The  Doctor  was  visited  by  the  am- 
bassador of  this  country,  and  it  was  threat- 
ened to  shut  off  all  meat  importation  from 
America.  Dr.  Schroeder  wrote  many 
articles  to  defend  American  pork,  got  into  a 
number  of  very  heated  discussions,  and 
when  it  was  forbidden  to  receive  American 
pork  in  the  Fatherland,  he  retired  from  the 
business. 

Unto  the  Doctor  and  his  wife  were  born 
three  children.  America,  the  eldest,  mar- 
ried Noel  Abbott,  but  is  now  a  widow  and 
has  seven  sons.  Minerva  became  the  wife 
of  Dr.  Alfred  Schirmer,  of  Chicago,  and 
died  leaving  three  daughters  and  a  son. 
Franklin  is  married  and  has  two  sons  and  a 
daughter.  The  family  has  long  been  one 
of  prominence  in  the  community,  and  the 
circle  of  their  friends  is  almost  co-extensive 
with  the  circle  of  their  acquaintances.  The 
Doctor  has  also  been  prominent  in  the 
promotion  of  many  social  interests  of  Bloom- 
ington,  and  was  the  organizer  of  the  first 
Maennerchor.  He  is  a  man  of  excellent 
business  ability,  of  scholarly  attainments,  of 
artistic  tastes,  of  genial  temperament  and 
social  disposition,  which  qualities  have  made 
him  a  favorite  in  all  circles. 


MILTON  A.  GREEN,  who  is  engaged 
in  the  drug  business  in  the  village  of 
Colfax,  and  who  was  one  of  the  first  to  lo- 
cate there,  and  who  is  now  the  oldest  mer- 
chant in  the  place,  was  born  in  the  village 
of  Kent,  Jefferson  county,  Indiana,  Decem- 


ber 6,  1843,  and  was  fourteen  years  old 
when  he  accompanied  his  parents  to  Lex- 
ington, McLean  county,  Illinois.  His  pri- 
mary education  was  begun  in  the  schools 
of  his  native  village,  and  after  the  removal 
of  the  family  to  Lexington,  he  entered  the 
schools  of  that  place.  Later  he  attended 
Eureka  College  one  year,  which  completed 
his  school  life.  Arthur  Green,  his  father, 
was  born  in  Jennings  county,  Indiana,  Oc- 
tober, 1818,  and  in  the  pioneer  schools  of 
his  native  county  he  received  his  education. 
In  his  youth  he  learned  the  cabinet  maker's 
trade,  which  he  followed  for  some  years  in 
connection  with  the  mercantile  business. 
In  1839  he  moved  to  Jefferson  county,  Indi- 
ana, and  on  the  24th  of  October,  of  that 
year,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Mary  Wheat,  who  was  born  in  Jefferson 
county,  Indiana,  December  14,  1818,  and 
they  became  the  parents  of  four  sons  and 
four  daughters — James  B.,  Abraham  W., 
Milton  A.,  Susan  J.,  Zachary  T. ,  Zella  C, 
IdaE.,  and  Namoi.  Of  these,  James  B.  in 
early  life  followed  the  profession  of  teach- 
ing. He  enlisted  in  1862  as  a  soldier  in 
the  Ninety-eighth  Illinois  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, and  on  account  of  physical  disabil- 
ity, was  honorably  discharged  early  in 
1863,  but  died  in  March  of  the  same  year. 
Dr.  Abraham  W.  was  also  numbered  among 
those  that  wore  the  blue,  serving  in  Com- 
pany F,  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-sixth  Illi- 
nois Volunteer  Infantry,  and  was  honorably 
discharged  at  the  expiration  of  his  term  of 
service.  He  later  engaged  in  the  practice 
of  medicine  in  McLean  county,  and  was 
also  engaged  in  the  general  mercantile 
trade  here  until  1887,  when  he  removed  to 
the  state  of  Washington.  He  was  also  an 
acceptable  minister  in  the  Christian  church, 
and  yet  preaches    in   his  new  home,  and  at 


6oo 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


the  same  time  engages  in  the  practice  of 
medicine.  He  was  twice  married,  first  to 
Sophia  Luce,  and  they  had  two  children, 
Arthur  L.  and  Allene.  His  wife  was  killed 
in  Bloomington  in  1878,  by  being  thrown 
from  a  carriage.  For  his  second  wife,  in 
1880,  he  married  Jennie  L.  Lindley,  of 
Indianapolis.  Susan  J.  died  in  infancy. 
Zachary  T.  is  a  general  grocer  in  Flora,  " 
Clay  county,  Illinois.  He  married  Eliza- 
beth Rosenberger,  and  they  have  three 
children,  S.  Otis,  Maude  S.  and  Carl.  Ida 
E.  married  Solomon  Miller  and  they  ha%'e 
two  children,  Roy  and  Mary  M.  Mr.  Miller 
was  also  a  soldier  in  the  civil  war.  Naomi 
died  at  the  age  of  six  years.  Arthur  Green 
died  in  1887,  and  his  widow  May  15,  1890. 

After  leaving  Eureka  College,  Milton  A. 
Green  read  medicine,  and  in  1869  70,  at- 
tended Rush  Medical  College,  after  which 
he  went  to  Louisville,  Illinois,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  the  practice  of  his  profession.  He 
remained  there  about  five  years,  but  on  ac- 
count of  continued  ill  health,  he  abandoned 
the  profession,  and  in  April,  1875,  went  to 
Potosi,  Illinois,  where  he  took  charge  of 
his  brother  Abram's  general  store,  and  there 
continued  to  do  business  until  1880,  when 
the  store  was  removed  to  Colfax,  and  the 
business  continued  there.  In  November, 
1898,  he  purchased  the  drug  department  of 
the  store  and  the  remainder  of  the  stock 
was  shipped  to  his  brother  in  Medical  Lake, 
Washington.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are 
registered  pharmacists. 

On  the  8th  of  August,  1872,  Dr.  Green 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Theresa 
V.  Hart,  a  native  of  Wayne  county,  Illinois, 
but  then  living  in  Clay  county.  By  this 
union  three  children  were  born,  two  of 
whom,  Harry  V.  and  Daisy  M.,  died  in  in- 
fancy.    Clara  M.,  who  was  born  in  August, 


1878,  is  a  graduate  of  the  Colfax  high 
school,  and  also  a  graduate  of  the  North- 
western University  School  of  Pharmacy,  of 
Chicago,  in  the  class  of  1899.  The  father 
of  Mrs.  Green,  Daniel  M.  Hart,  was  born 
in  Virginia  about  1812,  and  moved  from 
that  state  with  his  parents  to  Ohio,  when  a 
boy,  the  family  locating  in  Carroll  county. 
After  obtaining  his  education  in  the  district 
schools,  he  read  medicine  and  began  its 
practice.  From  Ohio  he  moved  to  Wayne 
county,  Illinois,  where  for  forty  years  he 
was  engaged  in  active  practice.  He  was 
well  known  throughout  Wayne  and  adjoin- 
ing counties,  and  often  went  on  horseback 
fifteen  miles  from  one  patient  to  another. 
In  1839  he  married  Sarah  Marshall,  a  na- 
tive of  Carroll  county,  Ohio,  born  in  18 14. 
They  became  the  parents  of  six  children — 
Ephriam  J.,  Ruth,  Cicero  D.,  Theresa  V., 
Amanda  E.,  and  Sara  F.  Two  of  the 
number,  Ruth  aud  Sarah  F. ,  died  in  ink- 
fancy.  Ephriam  J.  married  Sarah  Rosen- 
berger, and  they  had  eight  children,  Metta 
P.,  Virgie  V.,  Everest  H.,  Claude  Y. ,  Edna 
W.,  Fay,  Lorena  and  Zula,  of  whom  Claude 
Y.  and  Zula  are  deceased.  Ephriam  J.  was 
a  soldier  in  the  war  for  the  Union,  serving 
in  the  Fortieth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry, 
from  which  he  was  honorably  discharged 
after  three  years  of  faithful  service.  Mrs. 
Sarah  Hart  died  in  1852,  while  Dr.  Hart 
survived  her  many  years,  dying  in  January, 
1876. 

As  already  intimated.  Dr.  Green  has 
been  identified  with  the  history  of  Colfax 
from  the  beginning.  He  let  the  contract 
for  his  residence,  corner  of  Center  and 
North  streets,  March  i,  1880,  and  his  wife 
came  with  their  household  goods  on  the  3d 
of  May,  following.  There  were  only  six 
families  in  the  village  at  that  time.      He  has 


THE   BIOGR.\PHICAL   RECORD. 


6oi 


always  taken  a  commendable  interest  in 
whatever  tended  to  promote  the  interests 
of  the  village,  and  has  served  one  term  of 
two  years  as  one  of  the  aldermen  of  the  vil- 
lage, and  for  about  two  years  was  village 
treasurer.  In  politics,  he  is  a  Prohibition- 
ist on  local  issues,  but  on  national  issues, 
especially  as  pertains  to  the  finances,  he 
is  a  Republican.  Fraternally,  he  is  a 
member  of  Eudora  Lodge,  No.  1S7,  K.  P., 
of  Colfax,  and  Mrs.  Green  is  a  member  of 
the  Pythian  Sisterhood.  They  are  charter 
members  of  the  Pythian  orders.  Both  have 
passed  through  all  the  chairs  of  their  respect- 
ive lodges.  She  also  became  a  member  of 
the  Eastern  Star  in  i  S99.  Religiously,  both 
are  zealous  members  of  the  Christian  church. 
While  residing  in  Louisville  the  Doctor 
served  as  deacon  of  the  church  at  that 
place,  and  since  taking  up  his  residence  in 
Colfax  he  has  served  the  church  in  the  of- 
fice of  elder. 


EDGAR  S.  CORPE,  an  energetic,  pro- 
gressive and  successful  farmer  of 
section  16,  Lawndale  township,  McLean 
county,  is  of  English  descent  and  a  native 
of  Indiana,  his  birth  having  occurred  in 
Middlebury,  Elkhart  county,  November  29, 
1840.  He  is  the  son  of  Benjamin  F.  and 
Mary  (Hurlburt)  Corpe.  The  former  was 
born  July  24,  1803,  and  died  October  12, 
1854.  The  latter  was  born  February  6, 
1805,  and  died  May  19,  1898.  They  were 
the  parents  of  twelve  children,  nine  of  whom 
are  still  living.  Our  subject  was  seventh  in 
order  of  birth. 

In  his  native  county  our  subject  grew  to 
manhood,  and  in  its  public  schools  received 
his  education.  He  was  one  of  the  valiant  de- 
fenders of  the  stars  and  stripes  during  the  war 


of  Rebellion.  Hardly  had  the  echoes  of  Fort 
Sumter's  guns  died  away,  when  he  offered 
his  services  to  his  country,  enlisting  April 
17,  1 861,  in  Company  I,  Ninth  Indiana 
Volunteer  Infantry,  for  three  months,  and 
on  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  was 
honorably  discharged.  On  the  7th  of 
August,  1862,  however,  he  re-enlisted  in 
Company  I,  Eighty-eight  Indiana  Volunteer 
Infantry,  and  with  that  command  partici- 
pated in  the  battles  of  Perry ville,  Kentucky; 
Murfreesboro,  Tennessee;  and  Little  Rock, 
Arkansas.  During  the  last  named  engage- 
ment he  was  wounded  in  the  right  leg  and 
knee  and  was  sent  to  hospital  at  Jefferson 
Barracks,  St.  Louis,  where  he  arrived  Octo- 
ber I,  1863.  He  remained  in  the  hospital 
until  November  15,  and  then  returned  to 
his  home  in  Middlebury,  Indiana,  on  a  fur- 
lough, and  was  there  about  three  weeks.  He 
then  went  to  Chattanooga,  Tennessee,  and 
continued  with  the  army  to  Marietta, 
Georgia.  On  the  20th  of  August,  1864,  he 
was  taken  prisoner,  but  was  soon  afterwards 
paroled.  In  November,  1864,  he  received 
a  furlough  and  again  visited  his  home. 

Mr.  Corpe  had  two  brothers,  Theron  F. 
and  Austin  S.,  in  the  same  company  and 
regiment  with  himself.  They  served  their 
country  faithfully  and  well  for  three  years. 
His  youngest  brother,  Emerson  J.,  enlisted 
in  the  One  Hundredth  Indiana  Volunteer 
Infantry  at  fourteen  years  of  age,  and  was 
in  thirty-eight  general  engagements  and  nu- 
merous skirmishes.  He  returned  home  at 
the  close  of  the  service  without  having 
received  a  wound  of  any  kind.  The  four 
brothers  are  yet  all  living. 

Soon  after  the  close  of  the  war  Mr. 
Corpe  located  in  Woodford  county,  Illinois, 
where  he  was  married  on  the  14th  of  April, 
1867,  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Nesmith,  a  native  of 


6o2 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Medina  county,  Ohio,  who  came  to  Illinois 
in  childhood  with  her  parents,  who  located 
in  Woodford  county.  She  is  of  Scotch  de- 
scent and  traces  her  ancestry  back  to  her 
great-grandfather,  James  Nesmith,  who  emi- 
grated to  America  in  17 19  from  London- 
derry, Ireland.  By  this  union  five  children 
have  been  born.  C.  Franklin  married  Miss 
Mabel  B.  Hester,  of  Cheno,  Illinois,  daugh- 
ter of  J.  Hester,  who  is  a  farmer  and  fruit 
grower,  residing  on  the  home  farm.  Nina 
died  in  infancy.  Charles  Perry  died  Janu- 
ary 8,  1899,  at  the  age  of  twenty-six  years. 
He  was  a  young  man  of  ability,  excellent 
education  and  irreproachable  character. 
Harry  W.  resides  with  his  parents,  and  with 
his  brother  operates  the  home  farm.  Jennie 
D.  married  Rev.  Harvey  G.  Wagoner,  of 
Eureka,  Illinois,  and  they  have  one  child, 
Mary  D. 

In  1880  Mr.  Corpe  took  up  his  residence 
on  his  present  fine  farm  in  Lawndale  town- 
ship, and  has  since  successfully  engaged  in 
its  operation.  He  and  his  sons  are  mem- 
bers of  Colfax  Lodge,  No.  799,  F.  and  A. 
M.,  and  the  ladies  of  the  household  belong 
to  the  Order  of  the  Eastern  Star.  The 
family  is  one  of  prominence  in  the  commu- 
nity, and  they  have  a  wide  circle  of  friends 
and  acquaintances  who  are  always  sure  of 
a  hearty  welcome  at  their  hospitable  home. 


JOHN  L.  PICKERING,  who  is  living  a 
retired  life  on  his  farm  on  section  4. 
Blue  Mound  township,  but  for  many  years 
was  actively  engaged  in  farming  and  stock 
raising,  was  born  near  Zanesville,  Belmont 
county,  Ohio.  August  25,  1831.  His  father, 
John  L.  Pickering,  was  born  in  Virginia, 
March  30,  1791,  and  when  about  eighteen 
years  of  age    accompanied    his  parents  to 


Ohio,  the  family  locating  in  Belmont  coun- 
ty, where  the  older  Pickering  purchased 
land  and  engaged  in  general  farming. 

When  John  L.  Pickering,  Sr. ,  became 
of  age  he  purchased  a  tract  of  land  and  be- 
gan life  for  himself.  He  built  a  small  mill 
on  his  place,  which  he  operated  in  con- 
nection with  his  farm,  doing  milling  for 
many  of  his  neighbors  for  miles  around. 
In  the  early  day  milling  was  quite  a  profit- 
able business.  On  the  12th  of  October, 
1 81 2,  he  married  Miss  Johanna  Blackledge, 
who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  January  i, 
1792,  and  who,  in  childhood,  moved  with 
her  parents  to  Belmont  county,  Ohio,  her 
father  engaging  in  agricultural  pursuits.  By 
this  union  there  were  eight  children  who 
reached  maturity,  and  one  that  died  in  in- 
fancy. Of  the  number  four  are  still  living. 
In  1836  the  family  came  to  Illinois  and 
settled  in  Grundy  county,  where  the  father 
purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  and  began 
its  improvement.  He  later  added  eighty 
acres  more  and  successfully  carried  on  his 
farm  and  engaged  to  some  extent  in  stock 
raising. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  four  and 
a  half  years  old  when  he  came  with  his  par- 
ents to  Grundy  county,  Illinois.  He  re- 
ceived his  education  in  an  old  log  school- 
house  in  that  county,  which  was  furnished 
with  rude  benches  and  like  primitive  furni- 
ture, well  remembered  by  the  pioneers.  He 
lived  at  home  until  twenty-four  years  old, 
assisting  his  father  with  the  farm  work.  He 
then  rented  a  farm  and  commenced  farming 
for  himself,  together  with  stock  raising. 
For  twelve  years  he  continued  to  rent,  dur- 
ing which  time  he  was  enabled  to  save 
enough  to  purchase  a  farm  of  eighty  acres 
of  partly  improved  land,  for  which  he  paid 
forty    dollars    per    acre.     This    land    com- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


603 


prised  a  part  of  his  present  farm,  he  having 
come  to  this  county  in  February,  1862.  To 
his  original  eighty  acres  he  later  added  one 
hundred  and  ten  acres,  giving  a  good  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  ninety  acres. 

On  the  9th  of  August,  1S55,  Mr.  Pick- 
ering was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Elizabeth  M.  Eaton,  who  was  born  Septem- 
ber 9,  1840,  in  Ohio,  near  the  old  home  of 
Mr.  Pickering,  and  who  came  with  her  par- 
ents, George  and  Anna  Eaton,  to  Illinois,  in 
1854.  Her  father  was  a  native  of  Ohio, 
while  her  mother  was  a  native  of  Virginia. 
They  located  in  Grundy  county,  this  state, 
where  the  father  purchased  a  farm  and  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Pickering  nine  children  were  born,  six 
of  whom  are  now  living,  and  all  very  suc- 
cessful farmers  in  the  vicinity  of  their  old 
home.  Oscar  is  married  and  has  one  child, 
Darwin.  He  is  engaged  in  farming  in  Blue 
Mound  township.  Thomas  B.  is  married 
and  has  one  child,  Claris.  He  is  also  a 
farmer  of  Lexington  township.  George 
Lincoln  is  married  and  is  the  father  of  three 
children,  Emma  Belle,  Romulus  and  Remus, 
twins.  He  is  engaged  in  farming  in  Blue 
Mound  township.  William  C.  is  married, 
and  has  two  children,  Ethel  and  Esther. 
He  is  also  farming  in  Blue  Mound  township. 
D.  Clarence  is  married  and  is  the  father  of 
one  child.  Pansy  M.  J.  He  is  at  present 
living  in  Cooksville.  John  A.  is  married 
and  is  the  father  of  one  child,  Manila 
Grace.  He  is  now  farming  on  a  part  of  the 
home  place. 

Mr.  Pickering  and  each  of  his  sons  are 
strong  Republicans,  and  though  they  are 
not  office  seekers,  they  always  work  for  the 
interest  of  their  party.  Mr.  Pickering  has 
held  the  office  of  road  commissioner  and 
school  trustee,  holding  the  latter  office  for 


twelve  years.  He  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  in  which 
he  is  serving  as  class  leader  and  steward, 
and  in  which  he  has  served  as  trustee.  He 
has  never  aspired  to  public  prominence, 
and  has  always  given  his  special  attention 
to  home  interests  and  the  improvement  of 
his  farm.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Patrons 
of  Husbandry  for  a  time,  the  only  secret 
society  with  which  he  was  ever  identified. 
For  thirty-seven  years  he  has  been  a  resi- 
dent of  McLean  county,  and  after  many 
years  of  honest  toil  he  feels  that  he  has  a 
right  to  take  life  easy,  and  to  that  end  has 
built  a  small  house  on  one  corner  of  his 
farm,  in  which  he  and  his  good  wife  will 
probably  spend  the  remainder  of  their  days. 


WILLIAM  H.  WRIGHT,  a  wide-awake 
and  energetic  business  man  and  suc- 
cessful farmer  residing  on  section  18,  Mt. 
Hope  township,  is  a  native  of  Addison 
county,  Vermont,  born  in  the  shadows  of 
the  Green  mountains,  February  13,  185 1, 
and  is  a  worthy  representative  of  one  of  the 
hardy  pioneer  families  of  that  state.  There 
the  birth  of  his  grandfather,  Moses  Wright, 
occurred,  and  his  father,  William  F.  Wright, 
was  born  in  Vermont  in  1 8 1 7.  On  attaining 
to  man's  estate  the  latter  was  there  married 
to  Miss  Electa  Whitwood,  a  native  of  Massa- 
chusetts. They  continued  their  residence 
upon  a  farm  in  the  Green  Mountain  state 
until  1856,  when  they  came  to  McLean 
county,  Illinois,  and  made  a  permanent  lo- 
cation in  Mt.  Hope  township,  where  the 
father  owned  two  different  farms.  The  first, 
consisting  of  eighty  acres,  he  sold  and  bought 
an  improved  place  of  the  same  size,  upon 
which  he  spent  his  last  days,  dying  there  in 


6o4 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


1886,  his  wife  in  1884.  They  were  laid  to 
rest  in  Mt.  Hope  cemetery,  where  a  sub- 
stantial monument  has  been  erected  to  their 
memory.  Our  subject  is  the  third  in  order 
of  birth  in  their  family  of  five  children,  the 
others  being  Kate  E.,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  twenty  years;  Mrs.  Catherine  E.  Ewinp;, 
a  widow,  of  Mt.  Hope  township;  C.  B.,  who 
is  engaged  in  farming  upon  a  place  adjoin- 
ing that  of  our  subject;  and  Mary  E.,  wife 
of  Elmer  Cotton,  a  farmer  of  Mt.  Hope 
township. 

William  H.  Wright  was  about  six  years 
old  when  brought  by  his  parents  to  this 
county,  where  he  has  since  made  his  home. 
During  his  boyhood  he  attended  the  public 
schools,  but  is  mostly  self-educated  since 
reaching  years  of  maturity.  He  assisted  his 
father  on  the  home  farm  until  thirty  years 
of  age,  during  which  time  he  also  taught 
school  in  McLean  county  for  two  years. 

In  Mt.  Hope  township,  February  3,  1881, 
was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Wright 
and  Miss  Elizabeth  Gardner,  a  native  of 
Tazewell  county,  Illinois,  and  a  daughter  of 
Daniel  Gardner,  who  now  makes  his  home 
in  McLean  county.  The  children  born  of 
this  union  are  Charles  H.,  Mabel  A.,  Ulysses 
Wayne,  Nellie  E.,  Electa  A.,  Althea  Grace 
and  William  W. 

For  a  year  or  two  after  his  marriage, 
Mr.  Wright  operated  his  father's  farm  and 
then  purchased  his  present  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  on  section  18,  Mt. 
Hope  township,  and  to  its  further  improve- 
ment and  cultivation  he  has  since  devoted 
his  energies  with  marked  success.  He  has 
built  a  comfortable  and  commodious  resi- 
dence— one  of  the  best  in  the  neighbor- 
hood— and  in  other  ways  has  added  greatly 
to  the  beauty  and  value  of  his  place.  He 
also  owns  another  farm  of  eighty  acres  in 


Mt.  Hope  township,  and  at  different  times 
has  bought  and  sold  other  tracts  of  land. 

Since  casting  his  first  presidential  vote 
for  General  U.  S.  Grant  in  1872,  Mr.  Wright 
has  been  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  men  and 
measures  of  the  Republican  party,  but  cares 
nothing  for  political  preferment.  In  1894 
he  was  elected  commissioner  of  highways 
and  is  now  serving  his  fifth  year  in  that 
office.  As  a  friend  of  education  and  our 
public  school  system,  he  has  used  his  in- 
fluence for  good  schools  and  competent 
teachers  while  serving  on  the  school  board 
and  as  clerk  of  the  district  for  some  years. 
Socially  he  is  a  member  of  McLean  Camp 
of  Modern  Woodmen,  and  religiously  his 
wife  is  connected  with  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church.  Although  he  is  not  a  mem- 
ber of  any  religious  organization,  he  attends 
church  with  his  wife  and  gives  of  his  means 
to  its  support.  Both  are  highly  respected 
by  all  who  know  them  and  have  a  large 
circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances  in  the 
community  where  they  have  so  long  made 
their  home  and  are  so  well  known. 


HENRY  F.  GIESE.  Back  to  the  father- 
land does  Henry  Giese  trace  his  line- 
age, and  that  in  his  character  abide  those 
sterling  qualities  which  ever  mark  the  true 
type  of  the  German  nation,  is  manifest  when 
we  come  to  consider  the  more  salient  points 
in  his  life  history,  which  has  been  one 
marked  by  consecutive  industry,  invincible 
spirit,  sturdy  loyalty  and  unwavering  honor, 
— all  of  which  have  resulted  most  naturally 
in  securing  him  a  position  in  the  respect  and 
esteem  of  his  fellow-men.  Coming  to  this 
country  with  no  capital  save  determination 
to  make  the  best  of  his  opportunities  and 
win  success  if  possible,  he  has  steadily  over- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


605 


thrown  all  obstacles  and  advanced  to  a 
prominent  place  among  the  substantial  citi- 
zens of  Bloomington. 

Born  in  the  village  of  Schwerin,  Mech- 
lenburg,  Germany,  on  the  ist  of  November, 
1845,  Henry  Giese  is  a  son  of  Henry  and 
Mary  (Schlichting)  Giese.  The  father  died 
in  Schwerin,  but  the  mother  after  came  to 
America  and  spent  her  last  days  with  her 
son  Henry.  In  the  common  schools  of  his 
native  village,  Henry  Giese  acquired  his  edu- 
cation, and  then  began  learning  the  cabinet- 
maker's trade,  at  which  he  served  a  four 
years'  apprenticeship,  working  for  his  board 
and  four  pfennigs,  amounting  to  ten  and  fif- 
teen cents,  which  was  the  entire  amount  he 
received  from  his  employer.  His  most 
thorough  and  practical  training,  however, 
was  received  in  the  trades  school,  where  he 
studied  arithmetic,  drawing  and  architecture. 
This  school  was  free  for  apprentices  only, 
who  were  taught  to  make  the  drawings  for 
their  own  particular  work, — a  most  practical 
and  valuable  training.  After  leaving  school 
he  worked  at  his  trade  for  six  months  in 
Germany  and  then  came  to  the  United 
States,  hoping  to  better  his  financial  condi- 
tion in  the  new  world. 

It  was  in  October,  1867,  that  Mr.  Giese 
crossed  the  Atlantic.  He  made  his  first 
location  in  Alpena,  Michigan,  then  a  new 
town,  in  which  he  secured  a  position  in  a 
sawmill.  He  devoted  himself  closely  to 
learning  our  language,  and  in  eight  months 
had  the  language  well  mastered.  He  then 
engaged  in  carpentering  and  building,  and 
on  the  4th  of  July,  1868,  started  on  a  lum- 
ber vessel  for  Chicago.  On  the  boat  he  got 
the  first  cup  of  coffee  which  he  had  tasted 
since  leaving  Germany,  and  it  was  indeed 
very  much  enjoyed.  He  worked  in  Chi- 
cago until  November,  1868,  when  he  came 


to  McLean  county  and  first  found  employ- 
ment on  a  farm  at  Shirley.  There  the  fol- 
lowing winter  was  passed  in  cabinet-making 
and  in  the  spring  he  began  working  at  the 
carpenter's  trade  for  Herman  Moratz,  erect- 
ing a  number  of  residences,  and  for  a  time 
was  employed  in  the  coach  department  of 
the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad  shops.  He 
assisted  in  the  erection  of  the  court  house, 
in  the  building  of  the  home  of  Judge  Davis, 
and  for  fifteen  months  was  employed  on  the 
construction  of  the  First  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church.  He  has  also  worked  on  most 
of  the  prominent  buildings  erected  by  Henry 
Miner.  Thus  his  time  was  passed  until 
1 88 1,  when  he  retired  from  the  building 
industry  and  purchased  a  grocery  store  at 
No.  1318  West  Market  street.  He  soon 
built  up  a  large  and  profitable  business, 
until  his  trade  is  now  the  largest  on  the 
west  side.  He  carries  an  extensive  and 
well-selected  stock  of  staple  and  fancy  gfo- 
ceries,  and  his  moderate  prices  and  fair 
dealing  have  brought  to  him  a  well-merited 
success.  He  also  handles  country  produce, 
flour  and  feed,  and  numbers  among  his 
patrons  many  of  the  best  families  of  the 
west  side.  His  first  realty  holdings  were 
his  store  and  home,  but  he  has  since  added 
to  his  property  interests,  making  judicious 
investments  in  real  estate,  owning  nine  dif- 
ferent residences  in  Bloomington.  He  has 
also  owned  a  number  of  farms,  and  now 
has  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  rich 
and  valuable  land  from  which  he  derives  a 
good  income.  He  was  also  a  shareholder 
in  a  coal  company,  but  their  enterprise  did 
not  prove  a  paying  one. 

Mr.  Giese  was  united  in  marriage  Decem- 
ber 3,  1 87 1,  to  Miss  Louisa  Hoffman,  and 
to  them  were  born  nine  children,  but  six 
are  now  deceased.     Those  living  are  Her- 


6o6 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


man  M.,  who  works  for  his  father;  Harry 
W. ,  who  is  learning  the  drug  business;  and 
Hilda,  who  is  attending  school.  The  par- 
ents were  reared  in  the  faith  of  the  Lu- 
theran church  and  have  been  life-long  mem- 
bers of  that  denomination.  In  his  political 
affiliations  Mr.  Giese  is  a  stalwart  Repub- 
lican and  has  served  as  a  member  of  the 
executive  committee,  but  has  never  sought 
or  desired  office,  preferring  to  devote  his 
energies  to  his  business  interests.  He  is 
regarded  as  one  of  the  most  successful 
German-American  citizens  of  Bloomington, 
and  is  a  worthy  representative  of  the  type 
of  men  that  the  fatherland  has  furnished 
this  republic.  He  has  ever  followed  pro- 
gressive and  honorable  business  methods, 
and  his  prosperity  is  the  fitting  reward  of 
earnest  labor. 


JASON  T.  PLACE,  an  honored  and  highly 
esteemed  resident  of  Mt.  Hope  town- 
ship, whose  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  is  located  on  section  9,  three  miles 
from  Atlanta,  was  born  in  Providence 
county,  Rhode  Island,  September  10,  1820, 
and  is  a  son  of  Stephen  and  Sally  (Rath- 
burn)  Place,  also  natives  of  that  state,  the 
former  born  in  Providence  county,  the  latter 
in  Washington  county.  The  father,  whose 
birth  occurred  May  29,  1783,  was  a  son  of 
Stephen  Place,  Sr. ,  and  grandson  of  Enoch 
Place,  whose  ancestors  were  from  England 
and  were  among  the  first  settlers  of  Kent 
county,  Rhode  Island,  where  representa- 
tives of  the  family  still  reside.  The  father 
of  our  subject  spent  his  entire  life  in  Provi- 
dence county,  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits, and  there  died  October  24,  1849. 

In  early  life  Jason  T.    Place   obtained 
a  good  practical  education,   attending  both 


common  and  private  schools  and  also  a 
seminary  for  two  terms.  When  his  own 
school  days  were  over,  he  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  teaching,  and  for  several  terms 
successfully  followed  that  profession  in  his 
native  state.  In  1846  he  first  came  west 
to  Illinois,  by  rail  and  across  the  lakes  from 
Buffalo,  New  York,  to  Toledo,  Ohio,  and 
arrived  in  this  section  of  the  state  in  Octo- 
ber, of  that  year.  He  taught  a  three- 
months'  term  of  school  in  a  log  school 
house  in  the  Mt.  Joy  neighborhood,  Logan 
county,  but  the  following  spring  returned 
to  Rhod  Island,  where  for  a  time  he  en- 
gaged in  farming  during  the  summer  months 
and  in  teaching  school  through  the  winter 
season.  After  his  father's  death  he  took 
charge  of  the  home  place. 

On  again  coming  to  Illinois  in  1856, 
Mr.  Place  purchased  land  on  section 
32,  Mt.  Hope  township,  McLean  county, 
on  which  an  old  house  and  barn  were 
standing.  It  was  known  as  the  Deacon 
Moss  farm  and  was  headquarter  for  runaway 
negroes  who  were  making  tl}eir  way  to 
Canada  by  means  of  the  "underground 
railroad."  For  four  years  our  subject 
operated  that  farm,  during  which  time  he 
taught  two  terms  of  school,  and  then  sold 
the  place,  and  in  1861  returned  to  Rhode 
Island,  having  charge  of  the  old  home  farm 
there  for  the  following  seven  years.  In  the 
meantime  he  was  married  in  his  native 
state,  April  15,  1862,  to  Miss  Martha  E. 
Peck,  who  was  born,  reared  and  educated 
in  Massachusetts,  a  daughter  of  William 
Peck,  who  was  one  of  the  Mt.  Hope  colony 
and  surveyed  the  land  for  them  in  McLean 
county.  She  was  a  sister  of  the  first  wife 
of  Joseph  Pitts,  whose  sketch  appears  else- 
where in  this  volume. 

Selling  the  homestead   in  Rhode  Island, 


THE    BIOGR.\PHICAL   RECORD. 


607 


Mr.  Place  returned  to  McLean  county,  Illi- 
nois, in  1S69,  and  the  following  year  pur- 
chased the  farm  on  section  9.  Mt.  Hope 
township,  where  he  now  resides.  He  has 
since  remodeled  the  residence,  erected  a 
barn  and  other  outbuildings,  set  out  an 
orchard  and  ornamental  trees  and  has  made 
many  other  improvements  upon  the  place 
which  add  greatly  to  its  value  and  at- 
tractive appearance. 

^fr.  Place  has  been  called  upon  to  mourn 
the  loss  of  his  estimable  wife,  who  passed 
away  May  25,  1896,  and  was  buried  in 
McLean  cemetery,  where  a  substantial  fam- 
ily monument  marks  her  last  resting  place. 
She  left  two  sons :  Raymond  M. ,  a  graduate 
of  the  Illinois  University  and  now  a  re- 
porter for  the  Daily  News  of  Chicago;  and 
Thaddeus  R. ,  who  assists  his  father  in  the 
operations  of  the  home  farm. 

In  politics  Mr.  Place  was  originally  a 
Jeffersonian  Democrat,  but  in  i860  sup- 
ported Abraham  Lincoln  for  the  presidency 
and  has  since  been  a  stanch  Republican. 
His  son  also  affiliates  with  that  party, 
and  the  younger  is  now  serving  his  fourth 
year  as  highway  commissioner  in  Mt.  Hope 
town,  having  succeeded  his  father  in  that 
office,  which  was  held  by  our  subject  for 
the  long  period  of  twelve  years.  Mr.  Place 
has  also  been  school  trustee,  a  member  of 
the  school  board  about  nine  years,  and  sec- 
retary of  the  district.  His  life  has  been 
honorable  and  upright  and  he  merits  and 
receives  the  respect  and  esteem  of  all  who 
know  him. 


OTTO  W.  GAFFRON,  a  well  known  and 
prominent  grocer  of  Bloomington,  has 
demonstrated  the  truth  of  the  saying  that 
guccesg  is  not  the  result  of  genius,  but  the 


outcome  of  a  clear  judgment  and  experience. 
During  his  boyhood  and  youth  he  became 
thoroughly  familiar  with  the  business,  and 
is  to-day  one  of  the  most  successful  grocers 
of  the  city. 

Mr.  Gafifron  was  born  in  St.  Louis,  Mis- 
souri, July  3,  1856,  and  is  a  son  of  Philip 
W.  Gaffron,  for  many  years  one  of  the 
honored  and  highly  respected  business  men 
of  Bloomington.  The  father  was  born  in 
Bielfieldt,  Germany,  in  1820,  and  remained 
in  his  native  land  until  after  he  attained  his 
majority,  there  learning  the  trades  of  a  dyer 
and  cigar  maker.  On  coming  to  the  United 
States  he  first  located  in  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
where  he  soon  found  employment.  There 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Henri- 
etta Schultz,  who  was  born  in  Saxony,  Ger- 
many, and  came  to  this  country  with  her 
brother,  C.  A.  Schultz,  who  later  became 
one  of  the  most  prominent  furniture  deal- 
ers of  Bloomington.  From  Cleveland  the 
father  removed  to  St.  Louis,  Missouri, 
where  he  engaged  in  business  for  himself 
for  two  years  as  a  manufacturer  of  cigars, 
and  in  the  fall  of  1855  came  to  Blooming- 
ton. Here  he  erected  the  building  which 
our  subject  now  occupies  at  No.  812  West 
Market  street,  and  opened  a  grocery  store. 
His  was  the  first  business  done  in  the  west  part 
of  the  town,  which  at  that  time  was  mostly 
open  prairie  land  or  covered  with  orchards. 
However,  he  soon  built  up  a  good  business, 
as  that  locality  became  more  thickly  set- 
tled, and  was  regarded  as  one  of  the  suc- 
cessful and  prominent  business  men  of  the 
city.  He  acquired  considerable  real  estate 
of  value,  and  continued  his  connection  with 
the  grocery  store  until  his  death  in  1890. 
In  his  family  were  nine  children  who  reached 
years  of  maturity,  of  whom  our  subject  is 
the  oldest.     The  father  was  a  charter  mem- 


6o8 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


ber  of  Remembrance  Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F., 
and  belonged  to  the  Free  Congregational 
church.     The  wife  and  mother  is  still  living. 

Otto  W.  Gaffron,  our  subject,  was  edu- 
cated in  the  public  and  high  schools  of 
Bloomington  and  obtained  a  good  business 
training  in  his  father's  store.  At  the  age  of 
sixteen,  he  was  given  an  interest  in  the 
business,  and  remained  in  partnership  with 
his  father  until  the  latter's  death.  As  his 
father  grew  old,  he  resumed  more  and  more 
of  the  responsibility,  and  at  length  had  the 
entire  management.  On  the  death  of  his 
father  he  became  sole  owner  and  to-day  has 
one  of  the  leading  retail  grocery  houses  of 
the  city,  carrying  a  large  and  well-selected 
stock  of  staple  and  fancy  groceries  and  also 
farm  produce.  Besides  his  large  retail  trade, 
he  also  sells  considerable  at  wholesale,  and 
he  has  met  with  excellent  success  as  a  dealer 
in  real  estate.  He  still  carries  on  business 
under  the  firm  name  of  O.  W.  Gaffron  and 
conducts  his  grocery  in  the  same  building 
where  his  father  began  operations  over  forty 
years  ago,  it  being  the  oldest  grocery  house 
in  the  city. 

Politically  Mr.  Gaffron  is  an  ardent  Re- 
publican, and  has  twice  been  elected  alder- 
man from  the  second  ward,  serving  from 
1894  until  1897,  with  credit  to  himself  and 
to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  his  constituents. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  water  board  and 
judiciary  committees — two  very  important 
committees — and  during  his  incumbency  the 
fine  new  high  school,  the  Lincoln  school  and 
the  Washington  street  school  were  also 
built;  the  public  library  was  accepted,  and 
fifteen  miles  of  paving  were  laid,  more  than 
doubling  the  previous  amount  in  the  city. 
He  was  one  of  the  most  popular  and  influ- 
ential members  of  the  council,  but  since  re- 
tiring from  that  office  has  taken  no  active 


part  in  political  affairs.  Socially  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men 
and  the  Benevolent  and  Patriotic  Order  of 
Elks. 


PETER  WHITMER.  It  has  been  left 
to  modern  civilization  to  perpetuate  by 
written  record  the  lives  of  those  who  have 
been  prominent  factors  in  the  upbuilding  of 
towns,  cities  and  countries.  Deeds  of  bat- 
tle have  been  the  theme  of  story  and  song 
from  the  earliest  age,  bat  the  man  who 
quietly  remained  in  the  ranks  of  business, 
performing  each  day's  duty  as  it  came  to 
him  and  promoting  the  general  prosperity 
through  his  individual  efforts  and  close  at- 
tention to  business,  was  unnoticed  by  the 
singer,  poet  and  historian.  To-day  we 
would  know  who  are  the  founders  of  the 
cities,  and  the  promoters  of  their  enter- 
prises, and  we  find  in  biography  a  subject 
that  yields  in  point  of  interest  and  profit  to 
no  other.  The  life  of  him  whose  name 
heads  this  sketch  represents  an  eventful 
and  interesting  career.  Integrity,  activity 
and  energy  have  been  the  crowning  points 
of  his  character,  and  few,  if  any  men,  are 
more  widely  and  favorably  known  in  Mc- 
Lean county  than  Peter  Whitmer. 

Many  years  ago  when  the  colony  of 
Pennsylvania  was  just  opening  up  the  vast 
region  of  the  Keystone  state  to  the  influ- 
ence of  civilization  and  improvement  his  an- 
cestors came  to  this  country.  His  grand- 
father, Peter  Whitmer,  came  from  Lancas- 
ter, England,  to  the  then  new  country,  and 
purchased  twelve  hundred  acres  of  land 
from  members  of  the  Penn  family,  the  old 
parchment  deed  of  transfer  being  still  in  ex- 
istence. The  Whitmer's  became  very  ex- 
tensive land  owners  and  people   of   promi-   « 


PETER  WHITMER. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


6ii 


nence  in  the  locality  where  they  resided. 
The  great-grandfather  of  our  subject,  Peter 
Whitmer,  Sr.,  was  a  native  of  Germany, 
whence  he  removed  to  Lancaster,  Pennsyl- 
vania, making  that  his  home  until  his  death. 
The  parents  of  our  subject,  Peter  and  Mary 
(Hess)  Whitmer,  were  both  natives  of 
Antrim  township,  Franklin  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  the  father  engaged  in  farming 
there.  He  was  born  in  1775,  and  died  in 
1S52.  His  wife,  who  was  born  in  1785, 
spent  her  entire  life  in  that  county,  and 
passed  away  in  1844.  They  were  members 
of  the  Mennonite  church,  and  people  of  the 
highest  respectability.  They  had  eleven 
children,  all  of  whom  are  now  deceased 
with  the  e.xception  of  Mrs.  Mary  Royer, 
who  is  living  near  the  old  homestead;  Rev. 
Carl  ^^'hitme^,  of  Lancaster,  Pennsylvania; 
and  Peter  of  this  review. 

Mr.  Whitmer,  the  well-known  banker  of 
Bloomington,  was  born  February  22,  1828, 
and  acquired  his  education  in  a  log  school- 
house  in  Antrim  township,  Franklin  town- 
ship, Pennsylvania,  and  by  study  in  his 
leisure  hours.  He  left  home  at  the  age  of 
si.xteen  and  went  to  Chambersburg,  Penn- 
sylvania, to  learn  the  trade  of  saddlery  and 
harness-making.  There  he  remained  until 
1849,  after  which  he  worked  as  a  journey- 
man in  Ohio,  Indiana  and  Illinois,  wherever 
he  could  find  positions.  During  all  this 
time  he  sought  a  favorable  location,  and  at 
length  decided  to  make  Bloomington  the 
scene  of  his  future  labors.  He  arrived  here 
in  April,  1852,  and  formed  a  partnership 
with  M.  L.  Moore  under  the  firm  name  of 
Moore  &  Whitmer,  engaging  in  the  manu- 
facture of  harness  and  saddlery,  at  the 
corner  of  Washington  and  Clark  streets,  the 
site  of  the  People's  Bank.  After  two  years 
Mr.  Whitmer  sold  out   to  his  partner  and 


engaged  in  the  grocery  business  in  Center 
street  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Parke, 
Whitmer  &  Hoopes.  For  three  years  he 
was  connected  with  that  enterprise,  and 
then  embarked  in  the  lumber  business,  hav- 
ing a  yard  on  each  side  of  the  city.  For 
seventeen  years  he  was  identified  with  the 
lumber  trade,  and  at  the  time  of  his  retire- 
ment therefrom  was  the  oldest  representa- 
tive of  the  business  in  Bloomington.  He 
enjoyed  a  very  extensive  and  profitable  pat- 
ronage, his  sales  having  reached  extensive 
proportions.  On  the  loth  of  January, 
1875,  however,  he  sold  out  and  accepted 
the  presidency  of  the  People's  Bank,  to 
which  position  he  had  been  elected.  He 
was  one  of  the  original  incorporators  and 
stockholders  of  the  bank,  but  hitherto  had 
never  been  officially  connected  with  it. 
During  almost  a  quarter  of  a  century  he  has 
remained  at  its  head,  and  to  his  wise  policy 
and  capable  management  the  success  of  the 
bank  is  attributable.  It  is  regarded  as  one 
of  the  most  reliable  financial  institutions  in 
this  part  of  the  state,  having  weathered  all 
kinds  of  financial  storms,  yet  standing  firm 
and  unshaken  through  all.  It  is  capitalized 
for  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  and  has  a 
surplus  and  undivided  profits  amounting  to 
one  hundred  and  twenty-five  thousand  dol- 
lars. Since  the  third  year  of  Mr.  Whit- 
mer's  presidency  it  has  regularly  paid  a 
quartely  dividend  of  three  per  cent,  and  the 
stock  has  sold  for  three  hundred  per  cent, 
above  par,  but  has  been  upon  the  market 
rarely.  The  corporation  purchased  the 
ground  and  erected  the  fine  building  which 
they  now  occupy  and  which  is  especially 
adapted  for  their  purpose.  Mr.  Whitmer 
succeeded  his  former  partner,  Mr.  Parke, 
as  president  of  the  People's  Bank,  and  is 
now  the  second  oldest  in  years  of  service  in 


6l2 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


such  a  position  in  Bloomington.  He  has  a 
justifiable  pride  in  the  institution,  which  is 
ahke  creditable  to  the  city  and  to  the  stock- 
holders. 

From  time  to  time  many  enterprises 
have  been  established  in  the  city  to  which 
he  has  given  his  support  and  encourage- 
ment. He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the 
Bloomington  Canning  Company,  is  one  of 
its  heaviest  stockholders  and  has  been  presi- 
dent from  the  beginning.  The  company 
also  owns  and  controls  a  branch  factory  at 
Chenoa,  and  puts  up  one  hundred  and  twen- 
ty-five thousand  cases  or  two  hundred  and 
fifty  car  loads  of  canned  goods  annually. 
Employment  is  furnished  between  three  and 
four  hundred  operatives  during  the  busy 
season  and  more  or  less  throughout  the 
year.  The  enterprise  has  proved  not  only 
a  profitable  one  to  the  stockholders,  but  has 
been  of  great  benefit  to  this  section  of  the 
state  by  furnishing  a  market  for  many  of 
the  products  produced  by  the  farmers.  Ira 
S.  Whitmer,  a  son  of  our  subject,  is  secre- 
tary of  the  company  and  gives  his  entire 
time  to  the  management  of  the  business, 
which  has  gradually  increased  from  year  to 
year  until  the  goods  are  now  sold  through- 
out the  United  States  and  are  so  well  known 
that  it  is  no  longer  necessary  to  advertise 
them  through  traveling  salesmen,  for  orders 
come  direct  from  the  merchants  to  the  fac- 
tories. This  company  ships  more  goods 
than  any  other  canning  concern  in  the  state 
and  their  success  is  now  thoroughly  estab- 
lished. Mr.  Whitmer  has  also  been  and  is 
a  stockholder  in  various  other  enterprises, 
but  is  not  officially  connected  therewith, 
save  as  a  director  of  the  Union  Can  Com- 
pany, which  manufactures  tin  cans  at 
Hoopeston,  Illinois. 

On   the   22d   of    February,    1855,   Mr. 


Whitmer  married  Miss  Lucy  McDonald,  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Lucy  (McCoy)  McDon- 
ald, who  was  born  and  reared  in  Winches- 
ter, Kentucky,  but  in  1852  came  to  Bloom- 
ington, where  he  was  in  business  for  many 
years.  Six  children  have  been  born  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Whitmer.  Mary,  the  eldest,  is 
the  wife  of  Dr.  Asa  Hooper,  of  Kansas  City, 
and  has  three  children,  Lucy,  Lucile  and 
Bernice.  Olive  is  the  wife  of  J.  O.  Wilson, 
vice-president  of  the  People's  Bank.  Ida 
is  the  wife  of  H.  C.  Hawk,  of  the  firm  of 
J.  F.  Humphries  &  Co.,  wholesale  grocers 
of  Bloomington,  and  they  have  two  children, 
Henry  Clark  and  Lucy.  Ira  S.,  the  secre- 
tary and  manager  of  the  Bloomington  Can- 
ning Company,  married  Eva  Fry  and  has 
one  child,  Pauline.  Leroy  G.,  a  graduate 
of  Eureka  College  and  the  Wesleyan  Law 
School,  is  now  an  attorney  of  this  city;  he 
married  Mildred  Murphy,  and  they  have  one 
child,  Robert  P. 

In  the  affairs  of  the  city  Mr.  Whitmer 
has  always  taken  a  deep,  zealous  and  com- 
mendable interest,  and  Bloomington  owes 
not  a  little  of  her  substantial  development 
to  his  efforts.  He  withholds  his  support 
from  no  movement  for  the  public  good,  has 
been  a  generous  friend  to  the  hospital,  the 
Public  Library  and  to  the  Coliseum,  and  ad- 
vocates all  interestsfor  themoral,  intellectual 
and  social  welfare  of  Bloomington.  For  al- 
most a  half  century  he  has  been  a  member 
of  Remembrance  Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and 
has  filled  all  of  its  offices.  He  helped  to 
found  the  Bloomington  Club  and  retained 
his  membership  therein  for  a  few  years,  but 
preferred  the  pleasures  of  home  to  those  of 
club  life.  For  forty  years  he  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Christian  church,  becoming 
identified  therewith  when  it  was  a  small  or- 
ganization, and  laboring  for  its  interests  un- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


613 


til  it  has  become  one  of  the  strongest  in  the 
city.  For  many  years  he  has  served  as 
deacon  and  trustee,  was  a  member  of  the 
building  committee,  and  has  contributed  lib- 
erally to  its  support.  He  held  the  office  of 
supervisor  of  Bloomington  township  for  ten 
or  twelve  years,  but  about  1890  refused  to 
serve  longer.  He  was  at  one  time  alderman 
for  the  second  ward,  but  has  never  cared  for 
public  office,  and  when  unanimously  nom- 
inated for  mayor  by  the  Republicans,  when 
a  nomination  was  equivalent  to  an  election, 
he  refused  to  accept  the  candidacy.  For 
twenty-eight  years  he  resided  on  West  Front 
street,  but  in  1897  purchased  his  present 
home  at  the  corner  of  East  and  Locust 
streets.  His  business  career  has  been  one 
of  marked  success,  yet  his  prosperity  has 
been  gained  along  the  most  commendable 
lines  of  legitimate  business  and  is  but  the 
reward  of  his  well-directed  and  consecutive 
effort.  So  worthily  has  it  been  won  and  so 
well  has  it  been  used  that  the  most  envious 
could  not  grudge  him  his  wealth,  but  while 
he  has  gained  triumphs  in  commercial  life, 
he  has  also  won  that  warm  personal  regard 
which  is  a  tribute  to  his  many  good  quali- 
ties of  head  and  heart,  to  his  true  nobility 
of  character. 


HENRY  W.  LANGSTAFF,  M.  D.,  is  a 
skilled  physician  and  surgeon  of  Colfax, 
whose  knowledge  of  the  science  of  medicine 
is  broad  and  comprehensive,  and  whose 
ability  in  applying  its  principles  to  the  needs 
of  suffering  humanity  has  gained  him  an 
enviable  prestige  in  professional  circles.  A 
native  of  McLean  county,  the  Doctor  was 
born  near  Colfa.x,  in  Martin  township,  Illi- 
nois, and  began  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  this  locality.     Later  he  attended 


the  Lexington  high  school  and  for  three 
years  was  a  student  in  Eureka  College. 

The  Doctor's  ancestry  is  Scotch,  Welsh, 
English  and  German.  His  paternal  great- 
grandfather, a  soldier  of  the  Revolutionary 
war,  was  a  native  of  Scotland  and  one  of 
the  earliest  settlers  of  New  Jersey.  The 
grandfather,  Asa  Langstaff,  was  born  in  that 
state,  in  1783,  was  educated  in  its  pioneer 
schools,  and  followed  the  occupation  of 
farming  throughout  life.  He  married  Lany 
Boylan,  of  his  native  state;  and  four  years 
later  removed  to  a  wild  tract  of  land  in 
Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  where  he  died  in 
1868.  His  widow  subsequently  removed 
to  Union  county,  Ohio,  where  she  passed 
away  in  1876.      She  was  born  in  1789. 

Henry  C.  LangstafI,  the  Doctor's  father, 
was  born  near  Zanesville,  Ohio,  March  18, 
1816,  and  during  his  boyhood  and  youth 
attended  the  public  schools  and  assisted  his 
father  in  clearing,  breaking  and  cultivating 
the  home  farm.  At  the  age  of  fifteen  he 
began  learning  the  cabinet  maker's  trade, 
and  later  devoted  his  attention  to  carpen- 
tering. In  1 839  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Elsie  Wintermute,  of  Muskingum 
county,  Ohio,  and  ten  years  later  they  re- 
moved to  Bloomington,  Illinois,  where  for 
a  period  of  six  years  he  was  employed  in 
the  machine  shop  of  Flag  &  Ewing.  He 
then  purchased  a  farm  in  Martin  township, 
where  for  several  years  he  followed  agri- 
cultural pursuits  and  also  did  contract  work, 
erecting  dwellings  and  school  houses  in  the 
locality.  On  selling  that  place  he  purchased 
another  farm  in  Yates  township,  which  he 
conducted  until  1872,  when  he  removed  to 
Lexington  and  practically  retired  from  busi- 
iness.  His  has  been  an  honorable  and  well 
spent  life,  and  he  is  now  enjoying  the  fruits 
of  his  labor.      His   first  wife   died  in  April, 


6i4 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


1865.  The  children  born  to  them  were  as 
follows:  John,  a  banker  of  Lexington,  who 
married  Isabel  Powell,  of  Martin  township, 
and  has  one  daughter,  Margaret  D.,  now 
the  wife  of  B.  C.  Van  Lear,  of  Bloomington; 
Leonidas,who  died  in  1891 ;  Brown,  a  farm- 
er and  stock  breeder  of  Missouri;  Rachel, 
wife  of  William  Beddows,  of  Fort  Scott, 
Kansas,  by  whom  she  has  two  daughters, 
Elsie  M.,  now  the  wife  of  Lewis  Brown,  of 
Union  City,  Ohio,  and  Ella,  wife  of  a  Mr. 
Ragsdale,  of  Kansas  City;  and  Henry  W., 
our  subject,  who  completes  the  family.  The 
father  was  again  married,  December  10, 
1868,  his  second  union  being  with  Mrs. 
Cynthia  A.  Wilson,  widow  of  B.  S.  Wil- 
son and  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Rebecca 
Smith,  formerly  of  Ohio.  By  this  marriage 
two  sons  were  born,  Frank  G.  and  Oscar  P. 

In  1 88 1  Dr.  Langstaff  commenced  the 
study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  Stiles,  of  Lex- 
ington, and  the  following  year  entered 
Hahnemann  Medical  College  of  Chicago, 
from  which  institution  he  was  graduated  in 
1885.  He  immediately  began  practice  at 
Colfax,  and  it  was  not  long  before  his  recog- 
nized skill  and  ability  soon  won  for  him  a 
liberal  patronage.  He  has  met  with  most 
excellent  success  in  his  chosen  calling,  and 
stands  high  in  the  esteem  of  his  professional 
brethren. 

On  the  7th  of  September,  1880,  Dr. 
Langstaff  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Olive  Williams,  only  child  of  James  B.  and 
Julia  A.  (Powellson)  Williams,  of  Lawndale 
township,  and  by  this  union  four  children 
were  born,  three  sons  and  one  daughter, 
namely:  J.  Hartzell;  Henry  R.  W.;  O. 
Glenn,  who  died  in  infancy;  and  E.  Jose- 
phine. Mrs.  Langstaff's  father  was  born  near 
Coshocton,  Coshocton  county,  Ohio,  March 
13,  1 83 1,  and  is  a  son  of  James   B.  Will- 


iams, Sr.,  and  grandson  of  Richard  Will- 
iams, who  with  his  eleven  sons  served  as  a 
soldier  of  the  Revolutionary  war.  Two 
were  killed  in  the  battle  of  Long  Island  and 
another  on  the  retreat  at  St.  Clair,  while  a 
fourth  was  taken  prisoner  but  finally  es- 
caped. James  B.  Williams,  Sr. ,  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania,  in  1797  and  at  the  age  of 
seventeen  moved  to  Ohio.  He  was  one  of 
the  defenders  of  his  country  in  the  war  of 
1 8 12,  and  at  the  end  of  that  conflict  re- 
turned to  his  home  in  the  Buckeye  state, 
where  he  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits 
and  became  a  large  land  owner.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Nancy  Ballantine,  of  Muskingum 
county,  Ohio,  and  to  them  were  born  nine 
children,  five  sons  and  four  daughters:  Re- 
becca, Mary,  Richard  B.,  James  B.,  Perry, 
Alexander,  Catherine,  Nancy  and  John. 
The  father  of  these  children  died  in  Co- 
shocton county,  Ohio,  and  later  the  mother 
with  her  family  came  to  McLean  county, 
Illinois,  where  she  departed  this  life  in  1878. 
James  B.  Williams,  Jr.,  the  father  of  Mrs. 
Langstaff,  passed  his  early  life  in  his  native 
state  and  was  educated  in  its  public  schools. 
At  the  age  of  twenty-two  he  went  to  Cali- 
fornia from  Illinois,  and  was  successfully 
engaged  in  gold  mining  there  until  1858. 
Returning  to  Ohio,  he  was  married  in  April 
of  that  year  to  Miss  Julia  A.  Powellson,  of 
Coshocton  county,  who  was  born  June  18, 
1838,  a  daughter  of  Conrad  and  Lucinda 
(Honey)  Powellson,  of  Virginia.  After 
their  marriage  they  came  to  McLean  county, 
Illinois,  and  first  located  in  Lawndale  town- 
ship and  later  in  Lexington  township.  Both 
were  earnest  and  consistent  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  took  an  active 
part  in  its  work,  and  Mr.  Williams  served 
as  a  local  preacher  for  that  denomination. 
The  Doctor  owns  three  farms,   one  of 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


6,5 


one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Martin  town- 
ship, one  of  eighty  acres  in  Lawnda'e  town- 
ship, and  one  of  eighty  acres  in  Lexington 
township.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Illinois 
State  Homeopathic  Medical  Society  and  in 
social  as  well  as  professional  circles  stands 
high,  for  he  is  a  pleasant,  genial  gentleman 
who  makes  many  friends  and  easily  retains 
them. 


WILLIAM  N.JONES,  a  leading  farmer 
and  prominent  citizen  of  Anchor 
township,  is  a  native  of  McLean  county, 
born  in  Smith's  Grove,  Towanda  township, 
February  3,  1853,  and  is  a  worthy  repre- 
sentative of  one  of  its  honored  pioneer 
families,  of  much  more  extended  mention 
is  made  in  the  sketch  of  F.  M.  Jones,  on 
another  page  of  this  volume.  The  grand- 
father of  our  subject,  Abraham  R.  Jones, 
Sr. ,  was  born  in  Cayuga  county,  New  York, 
October  17,  1791,  and  while  in  Ohio  haul- 
ing provisions  for  the  army  during  the  war 
of  1 81 2  became  acquainted  with  Miss  Ma- 
tilda Noel,  who  in  18 13  became  his  wife. 
She  was  born  in  Kentucky,  in  1795,  and 
from  there  went  with  her  family  to  Mary- 
land, and  to  Ohio,  in  1802.  In  1856  she 
and  her  husband  came  to  McLean  county, 
Illinois,  three  of  their  sons  having  previously 
come  to  this  state.  They  were  numbered 
among  the  prominent  early  settlers  of  his 
locality,  where  they  purchased  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  land,  making  their  home 
here  until  called  to  their  final  rest.  In 
their  family  were  the  following  children: 
Levi  is  now  living  on  a  farm  in  Clark  county, 
Ohio.  Cyrus,  a  resident  of  San  Jose,  Cali- 
fornia, owns  a  ranch  in  that  state,  is  inter- 
ested in  a  wholesale  grocery  and  a  bank  at 
San  Jose,  and  also  has  about  eight  hundred 


acres  of  land  in  McLean  county,  Illinois, 
and  is  a  stockholder  in  the  Third  National 
Bank  of  Bloomington.  William  W.  owned 
real  estate  in  this  county  and  in  Kansas, 
and  died  in  Towanda,  in  1895.  Nelson 
owned  eight  hundred  acres  of  land  in  To- 
wanda township  and  died  at  Smith's  Grove, 
in  1896.  Francis  M.  is  a  retired  farmer  of 
Bloomington  and  a  stockholder  in  the  Corn 
Belt  Bank  at  that  place.  Abraham  R.  was 
the  father  of  our  subject. 

Abraham  R.  Jones,  Jr.,  was  born  in 
Clark  county,  Ohio,  May  3,  1824,  and  in 
early  life  followed  farming  there.  Prior  to 
his  marriage  he  came  to  Illinois  and  pur- 
chased land  in  McLean  county,  which  he  at 
once  commenced  to  improve  and  cultivate. 
Returning  to  his  native  county,  he  was  mar- 
ried there,  April  25,  i860,  to  Miss  Nancy 
Donovan,  and  immediately  afterward 
brought  his  bride  to  the  home  he  had  pre- 
pared for  her  in  Smith's  Grove,  Towanda 
township,  this  county.  Here  he  prospered 
in  his  undertakings  and  at  one  time  owned 
thirty-five  hundred  acres  of  valuable  land 
in  Towanda  and  Anchor  townships,  but  be- 
fore his  death  disposed  of  all  but  nine  hun- 
dred and  eighty-live  acres.  He  was  an  able 
financier  and  e.xcellent  busines  man,  and  his 
life  was  such  as  to  win  for  him  the  confi- 
dence and  high  regard  of  all  with  whom  he 
came  in  contact.  Of  his  six  children  three 
died  in  infancy,  and  Abraham  L. ,  who  sold 
out  his  interests  here  and  went  to  Texas  for 
a  location,  died  in  McKinney,  that  state, 
September  9,  1881,  of  typhoid  fever.  Those 
living  are  Alice  J.,  wife  of  John  E.  Cam- 
eron, of  Smiths  Grove,  by  whom  she  had 
eight  children,  but  two  are  now  deceased; 
and  William  N..  of  this  review. 

During  his  boyhood  and  youth  our  sub- 
ject attended  the  district   schools,  and  for 


6i6 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


six  terms  was  a  student  at  Wesleyan  Uni- 
versity, Bloomington.  He  lived  at  home 
until  reaching  man's  estate  and  was  then 
married,  September  12,  1877,  to  Miss  Alice 
A.  Crotinger,  who  was  born  in  Licking 
county,  Ohio,  January  6,  1859.  Her  par- 
ents, Abraham  and  Harriet  (Dumbald) 
Crotinger,  were  also  natives  of  that  state 
and  were  descended  from  Pennsylvania  Ger- 
man stock. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Jones  operated 
his  father's  farm  for  a  half  interest  in  the 
stock  and  grain,  and  when  the  property  was 
divided  after  the  latter's  death  he  came  into 
possession  of  two  hundred  and  eighty-five 
acres  on  sections  27  and  34,  Anchor  town- 
ship, where  he  now  resides,  and  for  the  bal- 
ance of  his  interest  in  the  estate  received 
cash.  He  has  since  tiled  the  farm,  erected 
good  and  substantial  buildings  there,  and 
made  many  other  improvements  which  add 
greatly  to  its  value  and  attractive  appear- 
ance. After  operating  it  for  one  year,  he 
rented  it  and  moved  to  Anchor,  where  he 
purchased  two  houses  and  lots  and  a  store 
building,  and  embarked  in  general  mer- 
chandising, which  he  carried  on  for  eight 
years.  For  one  year  he  was  also  engaged 
in  buying  grain,  but  in  1892  disposed  of  all 
his  property  in  the  village  and  returned  to 
his  farm,  where  he  has  since  lived,  giving 
his  entire  time  and  attention  to  agricultural 
pursuits. 

After  a  short  illness,  Mrs.  Jones,  who 
was  a  faithful  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  and  a  most  estimable 
lady,  died  March  9,  1895.  By  ^^^  marriage 
to  our  subject  she  became  the  mother  of  the 
following  children:  Corydon  L. ,  born  June 
25,  1878;  Abraham  R.,  March  3,  1880; 
Edith,  September  23,  1881;  William  P., 
January  20,  1883;  May,  November  21, 1884; 


Carl  E.,  August  30,  1886;  Don  Leo,  August 
14,  1888;  Florence,  March  18,  1890;  and 
Eva,  May  29,  1893.  With  the  exception 
of  Corydon  L.,  who  is  now  engaged  in  farm- 
ing for  himself  in  Anchor  township,  the  chil- 
dren are  all  at  home,  and  Miss  Edith  is  act- 
ing as  her  father's  housekeeper.  Some  of 
the  family  are  also  members  of  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  church,  to  which  Mr.  Jones 
is  a  liberal  contributor,  although  not  a 
member  of  any  religious  denomination.  He 
is  a  stockholder  in  the  Saybrook  Fair  Asso- 
ciation and  a  supporter  of  every  interest  for 
the  public  good.  He  casts  his  ballot  with 
the  Republican  party,  and  has  filled  the 
office  of  township  trustee  two  terms,  asses- 
sor three  years,  school  director  five  years, 
and  is  now  clerk  of  the  school  board. 
While  a  resident  of  Anchor  he  served  as  as- 
sistant postmaster  for  five  years,  and  he  was 
also  appointed  to  take  the  eleventh  census 
by  the  congressman  of  the  district.  His 
official  duties  have  always  been  discharged 
in  a  prompt  and  most  commendable  man- 
ner and  as  a  citizen  he  has  always  been 
found  to  perform  any  duties  that  have  de- 
volved upon  him.  He  is  a  man  honored, 
respected  and  esteemed  wherever  known, 
and  most  of  all  where  he  is  best  known. 


JAMES  W.  BECHTEL,  senior  member 
of  the  firm  of  Bechtel  &  Bierbower, 
dealers  in  hardware  and  agricultural  imple- 
ments, Colfax,  Illinois,  was  born  in  the 
township  of  Lexington,  McLean  county, 
Illinois,  December  18,  1861,  and  until 
twelve  years  old  remained  on  the  farm  in 
that  township.  He  then  accompanied  his 
parents  to  Normal,  Illinois,  and  completed 
his  education  in  the  high  school  of  that 
city.       He  later  attended  a  business  college 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


6«7 


in  Bloomington,  taking  the  regular  course, 
and  graduating  therefrom.  His  father, 
John  Bechtel,  was  born  in  Pickawaj-  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  in  1826,  and  in  the  schools  of  his 
native  county  received  a  common-school 
education.  In  his  youth  he  spent  five  years 
as  an  apprentice  to  learn  the  blacksmith's 
trade,  this  being  at  a  time  when  one  was 
required  to  learn  every  branch  of  the  trade, 
and  not  some  separate  part,  as  at  the  pres- 
ent time.  He  later  spent  three  years  in 
learning  the  carpenter's  trade.  He  mar- 
ried Mary  Williams,  of  Coshocton  county, 
Ohio,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  four 
sons  and  two  daughters — John,  Nancy, 
Gabriella,  lona,  James  W.  and  Mary.  All 
died  in  infancy  except  James  W.  and  lona, 
who  married  Harper  Williams,  but  is  now 
deceased.  The  father  died  in  1878,  and 
the  mother  in  1874. 

After  leaving  the  business  college,  our 
subject  gave  his  attention  to  the  cultivation 
of  his  father's  farm,  and  continued  to  be 
thus  engaged  from  the  fall  of  1880  until 
1 886.  He  then  came  to  Colfax  and  engaged 
in  the  hardware  trade  in  connection  with 
grain  buying,  and  was  thus  employed  until 
1889,  the  business  being  conducted  under 
the  firm  name  of  Bechtel  &  Wiley.  Sell- 
ing out  the  business,  he  was  not  actively  em- 
ployed for  two  years.  In  1892-3,  he  was 
tinner  and  implement  man  for  Harris 
Brothers,  but  in  the  latter  part  of  1893  he 
purchased  from  Mr.  Crumbakera  half-inter- 
est in  his  hardware  and  agricultural  imple- 
ment business,  which  was  located  in  their 
present  stand.  That  partnership  continued 
about  one  year,  when  Mr.  Crumbaker  sold 
his  interest  to  Mr.  Ellington,  and  the  firm 
of  Bechtel  &  Ellington  continued  to  do 
business  until  1897,  when  Mr.  Ellington 
sold  out   to  Mr.    Bierbower.     The   firm   is 


now  doing  an  excellent  business,  carrying  a 
full  line  of  hardware,  agricultural  imple- 
ments, wagons  and  carriages. 

On  the  19th  of  March,  1879.  Mr.  Bech- 
tel was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Salina 
Manning,  of  Normal,  but  formerly  of  Grid- 
ley,  Illinois,  and  by  this  union  there  have 
been  born  two  sons  and  two  daughters — 
Bernice  L. ,  Elmo  R.,  Ivo  R.  and  Lola  B. 
The  father  of  Mrs.  Bechtel,  Laban  Manning, 
was  born  in  Virginia  in  1825,  and  was  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools.  He  learned 
the  carpenter's  trade  in  Utica,  New  York, 
and  followed  that  occupation,  in  connection 
with  contracting,  during  his  entire  life.  In 
1852  he  married  Eliza  J.  Pierce,  of  Plainfield, 
New  York,  and  at  once  came  to  Illinois,  lo- 
cating in  Gridley  township,  where  he  pur- 
chased a  tract  of  land.  He  erected  the  first 
house  in  the  village  of  Gridley.  When  the 
war  for  the  Union  commenced,  Mr.  Man- 
ning felt  that  it  was  his  duty  to  enter  the 
service  of  his  country,  and  accordingly  he 
enlisted  in  Company  B,  One  Hundred  and 
Eighth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  was 
killed  at  the  battle  of  Chickamauga.  In  the 
service  he  held  the  rank  of  second  sergeant. 
His  wife  survived  him  many  years,  dying 
on  the  i8th  of  April,  1895.  They  were  the 
parents  of  four  daughters — Mary  J.,  Alice 
S.,  Sarah  C.  and  Salina.  The  church  home 
of  the  parents  was  that  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal. 

Mr.  Bechtel  has  held  the  office  of  alder- 
man of  Colfax,  and  in  1898  was  president  of 
the  board  of  education.  In  his  political 
views  he  is  decidedly  Republican.  Fra- 
ternally, he  is  a  member  of  Martin  Lodge, 
No.  715,  I.  O.  O.  P.,  and  of  Autonomy 
Lodge,  No.  392,  Daughters  of  Rebecca,  in 
which  latter  order  Mrs.  Bechtel  is  a  mem- 
ber, and  is  also  a  member  of  Court  of  Honor, 


6i8 


THE    iSIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  Socially, 
he  and  his  wife  are  held  in  high  esteem  in 
Colfax,  and  wherever  known.  As  a  busi- 
ness man  he  is  enterprising  and  progressive, 
and  is  always  up  with  the  times.  His  an- 
cestry is  German  and  Welsh. 


JAMES  A.  WELCH.  Among  the  sturdy, 
energetic  and  successful  farmers  of 
McLean  county,  who  thoroughly  under- 
stand the  vocation  which  they  follow,  and 
consequently  are  enabled  to  carry  on  that 
calling  with  profit  to  themselves,  is  the  sub- 
ject of  this  notice.  He  is  actively  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits'upon  his  well-ordered 
farm  of  two  hundred  and  twenty-seven 
acres,  which  is  pleasantly  located  on  section 
12,  Randolph  township,  within  ten  miles  of 
Bloomington. 

A  native  of  this  county,  Mr.  Welch  was 
born  in  Downs,  January  6,  1849,  and  is  a 
son  of  Henry  Welch,  who  was  born  in 
Northampton  county,  Pennsylvania,  in 
18 16,  and  came  to  this  county  when  a 
young  man,  in  1835,  taking  up  his  residence 
in  Downs  township,  where  he  entered  land 
and  opened  up  a  farm  of  some  twelve  or 
thirteen  hundred  acres.  He  was  one  of 
the  most  enterprising  and  energetic  farmers 
of  his  community  and  due  success  was  not 
denied  him.  He  died  upon  his  farm  in 
1 88 1,  honored  and  respected  by  his  fellow 
citizens.  In  this  county  he  had  married 
Miss  Minerva  Caldwell,  a  native  of  Hamil- 
ton county,  Ohio,  who  came  here  when  a 
young  lady  and  is  still  living  at  the  age  of 
seventy-nine.  This  worthy  couple  became 
the  parents  of  eight  children,  four  sons  and 
four  daughters,  as  follows:  Sarah,  who 
died  in  childhood;  William,  who  married 
and  died  at   the  age  of  twenty-four  years; 


Susan,  deceased  wife  of  George  Bishop; 
Eliza  M.,  wife  of  William  Ried,  of  West 
township;  Alfred  J.,  of  Downs  township; 
George  H.,  of  Downs;  Elizabeth,  wife  of 
Frank  L.  Hollingsworth,  who  lives  on  the 
old  Welch  homestead  in  Downs  township, 
and  James  A.,  our  subject. 

Reared  upon  the  home  farm,  James  A. 
Welch  was  educated  in  the  district  schools 
of  the  neighborhood,  and  gave  his  father  the 
benefit  of  his  labors  until  twenty-three  years 
of  age.  On  the  23d  of  November,  1872,  in 
Randolph  township,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Myrtilla  J.  Bishop,  a  native 
of  this  county,  and  a  daughter  of  James 
Bishop,  whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in 
this  volume.  To  them  have  been  born 
four  children:  Henry,  who  married  Nettie 
Craig,  of  Downs,  and  follows  farming  in 
Empire  township;  Florence,  wife  of  J.  O. 
Killion,  of  Downs  township;  May  M.,  and 
Nellie,  both  at  home. 

Upon  his  marriage,  Mr.  Welch  located 
on  the  farm  where  he  still  resides,  and  has 
since  made  many  improvements  upon  the 
place,  including  the  erection  of  a  com- 
modious and  pleasant  residence,  good  barns 
and  outbuildings.  He  has  planted  fruit  and 
ornamental  trees,  has  tiled  and  drained  the 
fields,  and  converted  it  into  one  of  the  most 
desirable  farms  of  the  locality.  Mr.  Welch 
cast  his  first  presidential  vote  for  General 
U.  S.  Grant,  in  1872,  and  since  that  time 
the  Republican  party  has  always  found  in 
him  one  of  its  most  ardent  supporters,  but 
he  has  never  cared  for  the  honors  or  emolu- 
ments of  public  office,  though  he  has  served 
as  a  member  of  the  school  board  for  some 
years.  Religiously  he  and  his  family  are 
faithful  members  of  the  United  Brethren 
church,  with  which  he  is  officially  connected, 
and  are  all  held  in  high    regard    wherever 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


619 


known.  As  a  citizen  he  is  ever  ready  to 
discharge  every  duty  devolving  upon  him 
and  is  a  man  honored  and  respected  by  his 
fellow  men. 


ABRAHAM  BROKAW.  This  gentleman 
is  entitled  to  distinction  as  one  of  the 
ablest  financiers  and  one  of  the  most  pro- 
gressive and  enterprising  business  men  of 
Bloomington,  and  with  the  interests  of  the 
city  he  has  been  prominently  identified  for 
many  years.  Upon  the  commercial  activity 
of  a  community  depends  its  prosperity,  and 
the  men  who  are  now  recognized  as  leading 
citizens  are  those  who  are  at  the  head  of 
extensive  business  enterprises.  He  is  a 
man  of  broad  capabilities  who  has  carried 
forsvard  to  successful  completion  whatever 
he  has  undertaken. 

Mr.  Brokaw  was  born  near  Somerville, 
Somerset  county.  New  Jersey,  November  6, 
181 5,  a  son  of  William  and  Helen  (Ditmus) 
Brokaw.  He  remained  at  home  and  at- 
tended the  common  schools  of  the  neigh- 
borhood until  fifteen  years  of  age.  The 
following  three  years  were  spent  with  a 
cousin,  and  he  then  went  to  Mechanicsville, 
New  Jersey,  to  learn  the  wheelwright's 
trade,  but  before  he  finished  his  apprentice- 
ship he  came  west  to  Illinois  in  1836  with 
his  boss  and  spent  a  short  time  in  Spring- 
field, where  he  found  work  at  his  trade,  and 
that  place  being  on  the  line  of  the  old  stage 
route  from  St.  Louis  to  Chicago  he  had  a 
great  deal  of  repairing  to  do. 

Before  a  year  had  elapsed  Mr.  Brokaw 
became  a  resident  of  Bloomington  and 
opened  a  shop  on  Madison,  near  Front 
street,  where  he  carried  on  business  for 
himself,  making  the  first  set  of  wagon 
wheels  ever  manufactured  in  the  city.      He 


had  come  to  Bloomington  on  foot  and  com- 
menced business  here  with  little  means,  but 
by  fair  and  honorable  dealing  and  good 
workmanship  he  soon  built  up  an  excellent 
trade.  Early  in  the  '40s  he  purchased  two 
lots — the  one  on  which  the  Peoples  Bank 
now  stands  and  the  adjoining  one  on 
the  west,  both  of  the  original  town — 
and  for  these  he  paid  one  hundred 
dollars  for  the  one  on  the  corner  and 
twenty-five  dollars  for  the  other.  Upon 
this  property,  he  engaged  in  business 
for  some  years,  but  finally  sold  the  corner 
lot,  then  unimproved,  to  the  banking  com- 
pany which  now  has  it,  for  twenty-three 
thousand  dollars.  In  connection  with  the 
work  at  his  trade,  Mr.  Brokaw,  in  partner- 
ship with  Oliver  Ellsworth,  began  the  man- 
ufacture of  plows,  our  subject  doing  the 
wood  work,  and  in  this  undertaking  he  met 
with  excellent  success.  As  his  financial  re- 
sources increased,  he  bought  real  estate 
from  time  to  time  during  its  depression,  and 
before  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  received 
their  grant,  he  purchased  seven  hundred 
and  thirty  acres  of  land  in  Old  Town  town- 
ship, for  seventy  cents  per  acre.  His  friends 
predicted  that  his  taxes  would  soon  cause 
his  failure,  but  he  fenced  the  property  and 
during  the  civil  war  leased  it  for  one  thou- 
sand dollars  a  year,  which  was  a  great  help 
to  him  in  his  financial  operations  at  that 
time.  He  still  owns  that  land,  besides  a 
large  amount  of  other  real  estate  and  per- 
sonal property,  and  it  is  now  worth  one 
hundred  dollars  per  acre.  After  a  time  Mr. 
Brokaw  retired  from  the  wagon  business 
and  purchased  the  interest  of  his  partner  in 
the  plow  manufactory  and  the  property  on 
North  Main  street,  where  he  carried  on 
operations  in  connection  with  his  wife's 
brother,    Oliver    Ellsworth,   until  the  early 


620 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


'70s,  furnishing  employment  to  as  many  as 
twenty  men  and  manufacturing  many  of  the 
plows  used  in  breaking  the  prairies  of  this 
state.  Mr.  Ellsworth  made  the  first  steel 
plow  that  would  scour  successfully  on  these 
prairies.  Mr.  Brokaw  began  business  here 
before  the  railroad  was  built  and  the  material 
for  his  work  was  first  brought  from  the 
river.  Of  later  years  he  has  given  his  at- 
tention principally  to  the  management  of 
his  real-estate  interests,  and  is  now  the 
owner  of  over  five  thousand  acres  of  valua- 
ble land  in  McLean  county,  being  the 
wealthiest  man   in  this  section  of  the  state. 

In  October,  1847,  Mr.  Brokaw  married 
Miss  Eunice  Ellsworth,  who  came  to 
Bloomington  in  1837,  and  they  have  now 
traveled  life's  journey  together  for  over  half 
a  century,  sharing  its  joys  and  sorrows,  its 
adversity  and  prosperity.  They  have  al- 
ways made  their  home  at  No.  213  East 
Washington  street,  and  Mrs.  Brokaw  is  a 
member  of  the  Congregational  church. 

In  his  younger  years  Mr.  Brokaw  took 
an  active  part  in  public  affairs  and  served 
as  township  trustee  and  assistant  supervisor. 
He  has  always  been  a  stanch  Democrat  and 
is  now  the  oldest  supporter  of  that  ticket  in 
the  city.  Being  a  good  clarionet  player,  he 
became  one  of  the  first  members  of  the  old 
Bloomington  band,  which  at  that  time  was 
considered  the  best  in  the  state,  the  one  in 
Chicago  having  disbanded,  and  was  called 
to  many  different  places  to  play.  The  leader, 
George  Deitrich,  was  a  skilled  player  and 
could  arrange  the  music  for  the  band.  Of 
this  noted  organization  Mr.  Brokaw  is  the 
only  one  now  living  in  this  city  who  was  a 
member  of  this  band.  As  a  business  man 
he  is  most  widely  known,  and  his  life  record 
is  one  well  worthy  of  emulation,  containing 
many    valuable    lessons    of   incentive,    and 


showing  the  possibilities  that  are  open  to 
young  men  who  wish  to  improve  every  op- 
portunity for  advancement.  He  has  arisen 
from  a  humble  to  an  exalted  position  in  the 
business  world  entirely  through  his  own 
efforts  and  he  has  been  justly  recognized  as 
one  of  the  most  energetic  and  enterprising 
citizens  of  Bloomington. 


WILLIAM  S.  GANTZ  is  an  agricul- 
turalist of  energy  and  ability,  who  is 
successfully  engaged  in  his  chosen  calling  on 
section  24,  Cropsey  township.  He  was 
born  in  York  county,  Pennsylvania,  Octo- 
ber II,  1862,  and  is  a  son  of  Conrad  and 
Leah  (Schaffer)  Gantz,  also  natives  of  that 
county.  Throughout  his  active  business 
life  the  father  worked  at  the  carpenter's 
trade,  which  he  learned  in  his  youth,  and 
also  engaged  in  farming  on  a  small  scale, 
owning  and  operating  land  in  York  county. 
With  the  exception  of  one  pleasure  trip, 
when  he  went  west  as  far  as  Kansas  City, 
he  never  left  his  home  in  Pennsylvania,  but 
died  there.  His  wife  is  still  living  on  the  old 
homestead  with  one  of  their  children.  Of 
the  nine  children  born  to  them  one  died  in 
infancy,  and  Jane,  wife  of  N.  Stein,  died  in 
the  east  in  1895  leaving  one  son,  Winfield. 
Those  living  are  as  follows:  Mary  is  the 
wife  of  Emanuel  Snyder,  a  farmer  near 
Glen  Rock,  Pennsylvania,  and  they  have 
one  son,  Melvin;  Lizzie  is  the  wife  of  Jacob 
Krout,  a  farmer  of  York  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  they  have  four  children:  Paul, 
Jacob,  Adam  and  Leah;  John,  a  butcher  of 
Mexia,  Texas,  is  married  and  has  two  chil- 
dren; Leah  is  the  widow  of  Edwin  Strevig, 
a  farmer  of  Pennsylvania,  and  has  five  chil- 
dren: Lizzie,  Mary,  William,  Celeste  and 
John;  James,  a  railroad  carpenter  of  York, 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


621 


Pennsylvania,  is  married  and  has  four  sons: 
Cleason,  James,  Raymond  and  Cortez;  Will- 
iam S.,  our  subject,  is  the  next  in  order  of 
birth;  Conrad  lives  with  his  mother  at  the 
old  home  in  Pennsylvania. 

The  greater  part  of  the  education  of  our 
subject  was  acquired  in  the  district  schools 
of  his  native  state,  but  he  also  attended 
school  for  a  few  months  in  Quincy,  Illinois. 
He  remained  under  the  parental  roof  until 
twenty  years  of  age,  and  came  to  this  state 
in  1882.  He  found  work  as  a  farm  hand  in 
Woodford  county,  and  was  thus  employed 
for  eight  years.  At  the  age  of  twenty-eight 
he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Jennie 
L.  Parminter,  who  was  born  in  Woodford 
county  August  11,  1867,  her  parents,  John 
and  Harriet  Parminter,  being  early  settlers 
of  Woodford  county.  Her  mother  died  in 
1 89 1,  her  father  April  2,  1899.  The 
children  born  to  our  subject  and  his  wife 
are:   Leah,  Howard,  Arthur  and  Grace. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Gantz  worked  on 
a  farm  in  Woodford  county  for  three  years 
and  then  rented  one  hundred  and  si.xty  acres 
of  his  father-in-law.  This  tract  is  located 
on  section  34,  Cropsey  township,  and  here 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gantz  have  made  their  home, 
it  being  willed  to  her  at  his  death  as  her 
portion  of  the  estate.  When  our  subject 
first  located  here  the  place  was  only  par- 
tially improved,  but  he  has  since  converted 
it  into  one  of  the  best  farms  of  its  size  in  the 
locality,  and  as  a  farmer  and  stock  raiser  he 
is  meeting  with  marked  success.  He  is  pro- 
gressive, energetic  and  reliable,  and  com- 
mands the  respect  and  confidence  of  all 
with  whom  he  comes  in  contact  either  in 
business  or  social  life.  He  and  his  wife 
hold  membership  in  the  Metamore  Congre- 
gational church,  and  he  affiliates  with  the 
Democratic  party,  and   is  a  member  of   the 


Royal  Circle  of  Anchor.  He  is  now  serving 
his  fourth  year  as  school  director,  but  has 
never  been  an  aspirant  for  political  honors, 
preferring  to  give  his  entire  attention  to  his 
farming  interests. 


JACOB  W.  MYERS,  of  Colfax,  traces  his 
ancestry  back  to  Germany,  his  great 
grandfather  Myers  being  a  native  of  that 
country,  from  which  he  emigrated  to  Penn- 
sylvania at  a  very  early  date.  His  grand- 
son, John  Myers,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1777,  but  emi- 
grated to  Kentucky,  where  he  married  Miss 
Mary  Lindley,  and  they  became  the  parents 
of  nine  children:  Catherine,  Jacob  W., 
Elizabeth,  Sarah,  William,  John,  George, 
Daniel  and  Margaret  A.  In  1835  he  moved 
his  family  to  McLean  county,  Illinois,  and 
located  at  Blooming  Grove,  purchasing  the 
land  on  which  the  alms  house  now  stands. 
He  died  in  Bloomington  in  1868,  while  his 
wife  died  in  the  same  city  in  1857. 

Jacob  W.  Myers  was  born  in  Christian 
county,  Kentucky,  April  26,  1826,  and  was 
nine  years  of  age  when  he  accompanied  his 
parents  to  McLean  county.  In  the  schools 
of  this  county  he  obtained  a  good  common- 
school  education,  and  his  early  life  was  de- 
voted to  farming,  assisting  his  father  in  the 
cultivation  and  improvement  of  the  home 
place.  He  was  married  April  22,  185 1,  to 
Miss  Lurenia  L.  Phillips,  second  daughter 
of  Buford  and  Lucy  (Settle)  Phillips,  of 
Blooming  Grove,  McLean  county,  Illinois. 
Buford  Phillips  was  born  in  Virginia  in  1801, 
and  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of 
his  native  state.  W'hen  a  young  man  he 
emigrated  to  Kentucky,  and  in  1825  he 
married  Miss  Lucy  Settle,  and  to  them  were 
born  nine  children:    Milton,  Sarah,  George, 


622 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Lurenia  L. ,  Mary,  Martha,  Harrison, 
Joseph  and  Theodore.  George  was  a  soldier 
in  the  Union  army  during  the  civil  war,  and 
was  killed  at  Galveston,  Texas.  Mr.  Phillips 
died  in  1876.  His  wife,  who  was  born  in 
1808,  is  yet  living,  and  makes  her  home 
with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  John  Vannoston, 
near  Gibson  City.  Benjamin  Phillips,  the 
father  of  Buford,  was  born  in  Scotland 
about  1774,  and  when  a  young  man  emi- 
grated to  the  United  States,  lo- 
cating in  Virginia.  He  married  Betsy 
Moss,  who  was  then  living  in  Virginia,  but 
who  was  also  a  native  of  Scotland,  born  in 
1779.  She  came  to  this  country  with  her 
parents  when  but  ten  years  of  age.  To 
Benjamin  and  Betsy  Phillips  were  born  si.x 
children:  Buford,  William,  Harrison,  Lo- 
renzo Dow,  Delilah  and  Louisa.  He  died 
in  1809,  his  widow  surviving  him  many 
years,  dying  in  1868. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Myers  eleven  children 
have  been  born — Mattie,  Charles,  George 
W.,  Dora,  Lutie,  William,  Edward,  Nellie, 
John,  Jessie  and  Theresa.  Of  these,  Will- 
iam, John  and  Edward  died  in  infancy. 
Mattie  married  Henry  Miller,  and  they  have 
two  children,  Ira  and  Fannie.  They  reside 
in  Missouri,  where  he  is  engaged  in  farming. 
Charles  married  Abbie  Little,  of  Chicago, 
and  they  have  two  children,  Ollie  L.  and 
Jacob.  He  is  employed  as  a  motorman  in 
Chicago.  George  W.  married  Lottie  Brock- 
way,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Nellie. 
They  reside  in  Chatsworth.  Dora  married 
Oliver  Hanna,  and  their  three  children  are 
Theresa  M.,  Jesse  O.  and  Laura  N.  They 
reside  in  Sheridan,  Wyoming,  where  he  is 
in  the  grocery  trade.  Lutie  married  John 
VanDyke,  and  they  have  five  children,  Duke, 
Lloyd,  Eugene,  Lutie  E.  and  Perry.  They 
reside  in  Buf!alo,  Wyoming,  where  he  is  en- 


gaged in  the  clothing  trade.  Before  their 
marriage,  Mrs.  Hanna  and  Mrs.  VanDyke 
were  teachers  in  the  public  schools  of  Col- 
fax. Nellie  was  also  a  teacher  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  Colfax,  and  died  at  the  age  of 
twenty.  Jessie  married  J.  C.  Johnston,  a 
merchant  of  Colfax.  Tressie  married  Walter 
Redmon,  of  Forrest,  a  conductor  on  the 
Wabash.  They  have  one  child,  Madeline. 
In  1878  Mr.  Myers  moved  with  his  fam- 
ily to  Lexington,  Illinois,  where  they  lived 
four  years,  and  then  came  to  Colfax,  where 
he  has  since  been  principally  engaged  in 
training  thoroughbred  Kentucky  horses, 
while  Mrs.  Myers  conducted  the  hotel  near 
the  depot  for  six  years,  and  later  a  boarding 
house  for  seven  years.  In  politics  Mr. 
Myers  is  a  stanch  Democrat.  Religiously, 
he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Christian 
church. 


PHILIP  J.  DECKER  owns  and  operates 
a  fine  farm  of  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  in  Cropsey  township,  McLean 
county,  and  is  classed  among  the  leading, 
progressive  and  practical  farmers  of  the 
community.  He  was  born  in  Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania,  February  9,  1836.  His  fa- 
ther, George  J.  Decker,  was  born  in  Pala- 
tine or  Rhine,  Bavaria,  October  3,  1803, 
and  during  his  youth  learned  the  cooper's 
trade,  which  he  followed  for  several  years. 
In  1830  he  crossed  the  Atlantic  to  America, 
and  found  employment  with  the  Chemical 
Manufacturing  Company,  of  Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania.  As  the  result  of  the  industry 
and  enterprise  displayed  in  that  position  he 
was  enabled  to  accumulate  some  capital  and 
with  it  purchased  a  tract  of  land  near  York, 
Pennsylvania.  Later  he  sold  that  property 
and  removed  to  New  York  City,  where  he 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


623 


engaged  in  coopering  for  seven  years.  On 
the  e.xpiration  of  that  period  he  once  more 
purchased  a  farm  near  York,  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  remained  until  1870,  when  he  sold 
out  and  came  to  McLean  county,  Illinois. 
Here  he  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  land  in  Lawndale  township,  oper- 
ating the  same  until  a  few  years  prior  to  his 
death,  when  he  went  to  live  with  his  son,  a 
successful  farmer  in  Cropsey  township.  He 
died  in  1S87,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty- 
four  years.  His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Margaret  Schwab,  was  born  in 
Palatine,  Bavaria,  in  18 13.  Her  father 
died  there,  and  the  mother,  with  her  five 
daughters,  crossed  the  Atlantic  to  Philadel- 
phia, Pennsylvania,  where  Margaret  became 
the  wife  of  George  Decker  about  the  year 
1834.  They  were  the  parents  of  six  chil- 
dren, one  of  whom,  Elizabeth,  died  at  the 
age  of  seven  years.  The  others  are  Philip 
J.;  John,  who  is  living  in  Colton,  California, 
and  is  the  father  of  George  Decker,  the  fa- 
mous base-ball  player  of  the  Chicago  team; 
Lewis,  who  resides  on  a  fruit  farm  in  Oregon, 
and  has  one  son,  John;  Henry,  of  Gallatin, 
Missouri,  who  has  two  children,  Elmer  and 
Lizzie;  and  William,  who  resides  in  Mon- 
tana. 

Philip  J.  Decker  was  educated  in  New 
York  and  gave  his  assistance  to  his  father 
until  twenty-two  years  of  age,  when  he  be- 
gan teaching  school,  making  his  home, 
however,  with  his  parents.  He  dates  his 
residence  in  Illinois  from  1864,  in  which 
year  he  became  superintendent  of  a  large 
farm  in  Livingston  county.  After  two 
years  he  went  to  Fairbury,  where  he  worked 
in  an  elevator  for  the  man  of  whose  farm 
he  had  had  charge.  In  1866  he  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  land  in  Cropsey  township, 
and  after  completing  his  term  of  service  in 


connection  with  the  elevator  he  located 
upon  his  farm  in  1869  and  has  since  con- 
tinued its  cultivation.  He  has  extended  its 
boundaries  until  it  now  comprises  three  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  of  the  richest  farm- 
ing land  in  the  township.  It  was  nearly  all 
unbroken  prairie  when  he  took  up  his  resi- 
dence there,  but  is  now  under  a  high  state 
of  cultivation,  the  rich  fields  yielding  to  him 
excellent  crops.  He  is  also  engaged  in 
stock  raising  and  in  both  branches  of  his 
business  is  successful.  The  farm  was  orig- 
inal!}' a  tract  of  swampy  prairie  land,  but 
he  has  tiled  it,  has  erected  commodious  and 
substantial  buildings  and  has  planted  beau- 
tiful fruit  and  shade  trees  and  shrubbery,  so 
that  he  has  one  of  the  most  desirable  farms 
in  his  section  of  the  county. 

On  Christmas  day  of  1866  was  celebrat- 
ed the  marriage  of  Mr.  Decker  and  Miss 
Mary  E.  Austin,  daughter  of  John  and  Lucy 
Austin.  They  have  eleven  children,  name- 
ly: Charles,  of  Cropsey  township,  who  is 
married  and  has  three  children,  Eddie,  Onie 
and  Marian;  Jennie,  wife  of  William  F. 
Noll,  who  resides  in  Anchor  and  has  a  son 
Ferdinand;  Albert,  who  is  married  and  with 
his  wife  and  son  Clarence  resides  on  a  part 
of  the  home  farm;  Philip;  Edna;  Althea; 
George;  Peter;  Maud;  Walter  and  Alvin. 
With  the  exception  of  the  two  first  named, 
all  of  the  children  are  still  on  the  home 
farm  and  the  younger  members  of  the  fam- 
ily are  attending  school.  The  sons  operate 
the  land,  thus  enabling  Mr.  Decker  to  take 
life  easily,  although  he  still  superintends  the 
farm.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  in  politics 
he  is  a  Democrat.  He  has  served  as  asses- 
sor and  school  director  for  a  number  of 
years  and  is  now  filling  the  office  of  road 
commissioner  in  his  township.     He  is  presi- 


624 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


dent  of  the  Belle  Prairie  Township  Mutual 
Insurance  Company,  which  office  he  has 
ably  filled  for  ten  years.  He  is  one  of  the 
best  known  residents  in  this  locality,  has 
been  prompt  and  faithful  in  the  discharg;e  of 
his  official  duties,  and  as  a  man  and  citizen 
is  held  in  high  regard. 


JOSEPH  A.  PITTS  is  one  of  the  most 
prosperous  and  successful  agriculturists 
of  McLean  county,  .living  on  section  33, 
Mt.  Hope  township,  where  he  owns  and 
operates  a  valuable  farm  of  eight  hundred 
acres,  pleasantly  located  two  and  a  half 
miles  from  McLean.  He  dates  his  resi- 
dence in  this  county  from  the  loth  of  June, 
1852,  and  during  his  time  he  has  borne  an 
active  and  prominent  part  in  the  develop- 
ment of  this  section  of  the  state. 

Mr.  Pitts  was  born  in  Dighton,  Bristol 
county,  Massachusetts,  November  14,  1S23, 
and  belongs  to  an  old  family  of  that  state  of 
English  origin.  His  paternal  grandfather, 
George  Pitts,  who  was  born  in  Massachu- 
setts, August  16,  1752,  was  a  soldier  of  the 
Revolutionary  war.  The  father,  Hon. 
Joseph  Pitts,  was  also  a  native  of  Bristol 
county,  born  July  14,  1794,  and  became 
one  of  its  most  prominent  and  mlluential 
citizens,  being  called  upon  to  fill  a  number 
of  important  official  positions.  He  repre- 
sented his  district  in  the  legislature  of  Mass- 
achusetts and  was  collector  of  customs  at 
the  port  of  Fall  River  under  Presidents 
Jackson  and  Van  Buren.  He  married  Miss 
Elizabeth  Slade,  of  Bristol  county,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Hon.  Baker  and  Hannah  Slade,  who 
belonged  to  a  noted  family. 

To  a  limited  e.xtent  our  subject  attended 
the  common  schools  of  his  native  state,  but 
is  mainly  self-educated.      He  served  an  ap- 


prenticeship of  three  years  to  the  black- 
smith's trade,  and  later  followed  the  same 
as  a  journeyman  for  the  same  length  of 
time.  He  next  ran  an  engine  in  a  machine 
shop  and  in  a  saw  mill  for  two  years.  In 
1849  he  was  one  of  the  men  who  braved 
the  dangers  of  a  long  ocean  voyage  and  the 
hardships  of  a  miner's  life  in  the  hopes  of 
quickly  acquiring  a  fortune  in  the  gold 
fields  of  California.  He  took  passage  on 
a  sailing  vessel,  which  instead  of  rounding 
Cape  Horn  started  through  the  Straits  of 
Magellan  where  they  were  cast  away  by  the 
vessel  going  ashore  for  seventy-two  days, 
being  finally  relieved  by  a  passing  vessel, 
which  took  them  up  the  Pacific  coast  to 
Calio,  a  seaport  of  Peru,  where  the  Amer- 
ican consul  made  arrangements  for  the 
transportation  of  the  passengers  on  a  sailing 
vessel  to  San  Francisco.  When  Mr.  Pitts 
arrived  at  that  place  he  was  entirely  with- 
out means  and  was  obliged  to  seek  some 
employment  at  once.  Going  on  board  a 
vessel  he  worked  for  the  captain  for  twenty- 
one  days  and  then  started  for  the  mines  on 
foot,  a  distance  of  one  hundred  and  ten 
miles.  After  working  there  through  the 
winter,  he  went  to  other  mines  farther 
north,  where  he  remained  until  February, 
1852.  In  connection  with  mining  he  also 
engaged  in  trading  with  the  miners,  buying 
and  selling  goods,  and  in  both  undertakings 
met  with  fair  success.  He  returned  east  by 
way  of  the  Nicaraugua  route  and  New 
York,  arriving  at  his  home  in  Massachusetts 
February  13,  1852. 

On  the  24th  of  March,  near  his  old 
home  in  Bristol  county,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Betsy  V.  Peck,  who  was  born,  reared 
and  educated  in  Massachusetts.  Her  father, 
William  Peck,  was  a  surveyor,  who  sur- 
veyed   a   large   tract   of   land    in    McLean 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


625 


county,  Illinois,  for  the  Mt.  Hope  colony, 
and  received  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
for  his  services,  this  being  a  part  of  the 
farm  on  which  our  subject  now  resides.  It 
was  once  sold  for  ta.xes  but  was  redeemed 
by  Mr.  Pitts,  who  obtained  the  title  to  it. 
He  started  alone  for  the  west  soon  after  his 
marriage,  going  by  train  and  the  Great 
Lakes  to  Chicago,  by  the  canal  to  Peru, 
Illinois,  the  Illinois  river  to  Pekin,  and  by 
team  to  the  land  in  Mt.  Hope  township, 
McLean  county,  previously  owned  by  his 
father-in-law.  After  making  arrangements 
for  a  home  here,  he  returned  to  Massa- 
chusetts for  his  wife.  In  October,  1853, 
he  built  a  house  upon  his  land,  and  has 
since  devoted  his  energies  to  the  further 
improvements  and  cultivation  of  his  farm. 
To  the  original  tract  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  he  has  added  from  time  to  time 
until  he  now  has  eight  hundred  acres  of  as 
fine  farming  land  as  is  to  be  found  in  the 
county.  In  early  days  he  experienced 
many  hardships  and  privations  incident  to 
pioneer  life,  and  the  lumber  for  his  house 
he  had  to  haul  from  Pekin,  a  distance  of 
thirty-four  miles.  He  has  made  many  use- 
ful and  valuable  improvements  upon  his 
place,  and  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  most 
enterprising,  energetic  and  successful  farm- 
ers of  his  community. 

Mr.  Pitts  lost  his  first  wife  November 
24,  1867.  To  them  were  born  four  chil- 
dren, namely:  John  J.,  now  a  resident  of 
Bloomington;  Elizabeth,  an  invalid  at  home; 
Mrs.  Lemira  Snow,  a  widow  residing  in 
Canon  City,  Colorado;  and  Augustus  D., 
a  physician  of  Point  Arena,  California.  In 
McLean  county,  Mr.  Pitts  was  again  mar- 
ried. May  16,  1S76,  his  second  wife  being 
Augusta  A.  Starbuck,  a  native  of  Cumber- 
iand    county,    Illinois,   and    a   daughter  of 


Seth  and  Nancy  Starbuck,  natives  of  North 
Carolina  and  Ohio,  respectively.  Her 
father,  who  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade, 
came  to  this  state  about  1836,  and  was  mar- 
ried in  Cumberland  county.  Five  children 
have  been  born  of  the  second  marriage  of 
our  subject,  namely:  Herbert  A.,  who  is 
now  attending  the  Bunker  Hill  Military 
Academy;  Sarah,  who  holds  a  business 
position  in  Bloomington;  Lewis  E.,  who  is 
a  graduate  of  the  McLean  high  school,  and 
is  now  at  home;  and  Ralph  L.  and  George 
\V. ,  both  at  home. 

Politically  Mr.  Pitts  is  a  Jacksonian 
Democrat,  and  though  he  cares  nothing  for 
official  preferment,  he  has  served  his  fellow- 
citizens  as  highway  commissioner  for  seven 
years,  and  as  a  member  of  the  school  board 
and  president  of  the  district.  He  has  been 
remarkably  successful  in  life,  yet  his  suc- 
cess is  by  no  means  the  result  of  fortunate 
circumstances.  It  has  come  to  him  through 
energy,  labor  and  perseverance,  directed  by 
an  evenly-balanced  mind  and  by  honorable 
business  principles.  He  is  well-known  and 
highly  respected,  and  has  made  many 
friends  throughout  his  long  and  useful 
career. 


THOMAS  WEEKS.  JR.,  mine  manager 
of  the  Colfax  Coal  and  Mining  Com- 
pany, Colfax,  Illinois,  was  born  in  Worces- 
tershire, England,  March  25,  1850,  and  was 
eleven  years  old  when  he  accompanied  his 
parents  to  the  United  States.  In  the  com- 
mon schools  of  his  native  land,  he  began  a 
common-school  education,  and  after  the  ar- 
rival of  the  family  in  this  country  he  at- 
tended school  here  for  a  short  time.  His 
father,  Thomas  Weeks,  Sr. ,  was  also  a  na- 
tive of  Worcestershire,  England,   and   was 


626 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


born  in  May,  1825.  By  occupation  he  was 
a  coal  miner,  following  that  business  both 
in  England  and  after  he  came  to  the  United 
States.  Before  leaving  his  native  land,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Rebecca 
Wakelham,  who  was  born  in  the  same  shire 
in  which  he  was  born,  and  with  his  family 
he  came  to  the  United  States  in  1861,  lo- 
cating in  Kewanee,  Henry  county,  Illinois, 
where  he  proceeded  to  make  for  them  a 
home.  By  his  union  with  Rebecca  Wakel- 
ham, he  became  the  father  of  eight  children, 
namely:  Hannah,  who  was  drowned  when 
in  her  fourteenth  year;  Thomas,  Jr.,  our 
subject;  Emma,  who  died  in  infancy;  Ephra- 
im,  Rachel,  Heber  W. ,  Israel  and  Martha. 
The  mother  of  these  children  died  in  1864, 
three  years  after  coming  to  this  country, 
and  for  his  second  wife,  in  1865,  Thomas 
Weeks,  Sr. ,  married  Miss  Betty  Bates,  for- 
merly of  Durham,  England,  and  to  them 
were  born  two  children,  Mary  Ann  and 
Matilda.  Mrs.  Betty  Weeks  died  in  1869, 
but  her  husband  is  yet  living  and  now  resides 
in  Utah. 

Thomas  Weeks,  Jr.,  has  been  a  resident 
of  Illinois  since  1861,  with  the  exception  of 
three  years  spent  in  Iowa.  When  but  a 
small  boy  he  began  working  in  coal  mines, 
and  has  since  been  connected  with  coal 
mining  industry,  serving  in  every  capacity, 
as  common  miner,  track  layer,  timber  man 
and  pit  manager.  He  is  now  mine  manager 
of  the  Colfax  Coal  and  Mining  Company  at 
Colfax,  a  position  which  he  fills  to  the  en- 
tire satisfaction  of  those  interested. 

Mr.  \\'eeks  has  been  twice  married,  his 
first  union  being  with  Miss  Mary  Ann  Dixon, 
whom  he  married  April  28,  1877.  Their 
married  life  was  of  short  duration,  she  dy- 
ing within  one  year  after  the  ceremony  was 
performed.     For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Weeks 


married  Miss  Sarah  Jenkins,  of  Streator, 
Illinois,  on  the  i6th  of  September,  1880. 
She  is  a  native  of  Ohio.  Three  children 
have  come  to  bless  their  union.  Bertha  L. , 
C.  Elmer,  and  Edgar  Lloyd.  John  Jen- 
kins, the  father  of  Mrs.  Weeks,  was  born  in 
Blan  Llyn,  Plywedd  Llandisel  Shire,  Abart- 
avi,  Wales,  October  11,  1815.  He  married 
Elizabeth  Lewis,  who  was  born  in  Llan-on, 
in  the  same  county,  August  7,  1823,  and  to 
them  were  born  twelve  children,  the  two 
oldest  dying  in  infancy.  Those  surviving 
infancy  were  Susanna,  Jane,  David,  Eliza- 
beth (who  died  at  the  age  of  seven  years), 
Mary  Ann,  Margaret  E.,  Sarah,  Thomas, 
John  Lewis  and  Elizabeth,  second.  With 
his  wife  and  children  that  were  born  in 
Wales,  Mr.  Jenkins  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1847,  first  locating  in  Pittsburg, 
Pennsylvania,  and  later  removing  to  Ohio. 
Mr.  Jenkins  died  February  7,  1899,  and  his 
wife  February  19,  1899. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Weeks  is  a  stanch  Re- 
publican. Having  come  to  this  country  at 
the  commencement  of  the  civil  war,  and  be- 
lieving the  Republican  party  the  one  favor- 
ing the  freedom  of  all  men,  he  naturally 
drifted  into  that  organization.  Fraternally 
he  is  a  member  of  Colfax  Lodge,  No.  799, 
A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  he  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  Medora  Chapter,  No.  298,  O. 
E.  S.,  of  Colfax.  The  family  attend  the 
Presbyterian  church. 


ELDER  WILLIAM  G.  ANDERSON, 
who  is  practically  living  a  retired  life 
in  Colfax,  Illinois,  has  been  an  honored  cit- 
izen of  McLean  county  for  almost  half  a  cen- 
tury, during  which  time  he  has  led  a  very 
active  life  and  done  his  full  share  in  the  de- 
velopment of  the  county.      He   is  a  native 


ELDER  WILLIAM   G.   ANDERSON. 


UBR'.RY 
,   ,         0'    THE 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


629 


of  Indiana,  born  in  Jefferson  county,  Octo- 
ber 12,  1818,  and  is  the  son  of  William  G. 
and  Anna  (Whitaker)  Anderson.  The  fam- 
ily was  originally  from  Scotland,  but  were 
among  the  very  earliest  settlers  of  this 
country. 

William  G.  Anderson,  Sr. ,  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania,  in  1790,  and  moved  with  his 
parents  to  Kentucky  when  a  boy,  and  in 
the  pioneer  schools  of  that  state  he  obtained 
his  education.  By  occupation  he  was  a 
farmer.  In  Kentucky  he  married  Miss 
Anna  Whitaker,  whose  father  was  a  close 
friend  and  companion  of  the  celebrated 
hunter,  Daniel  Boone,  and  to  them  were 
born  nine  children,  seven  sons  and  two 
daughters,  and  of  these  only  three  survive — 
James  B.,  Anna  and  William  G.  James 
B.  is  now  a  resident  of  Harvard,  Kansas. 
He  married  Martha  J.  LaFevre  and  they 
have  four  children:  Alzora,  Amazona, Whit- 
ney and  Irene.  Anna  married  Lemuel 
Lindley,  now  of  the  state  of  Washington. 
They  have  si.\  children:  Jennie,  Delia, Oska, 
Amazona,  Belle  and  William.  With  his 
family  William  G.  Anderson,  Sr. ,  emigrated 
to  Indiana  in  18 16.  He  was  a  soldier  in 
the  war  of  181 2,  and  died  in  1862.  His 
wife  survived  him  about  one  year,  dying  in 
the  summer  of  1863. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  grew  to  man- 
hood in  his  native  state  and  was  educated 
in  the  common  schools  of  pioneer  times  in 
Indiana.  He  was  reared  a  farmer's  boy, 
and  in  farming  he  has  been  actively  inter- 
ested ever  since.  He  was  married  in  Jeffer- 
son county,  Indiana,  October  20,  1839,  to 
Miss  Jane  Sheridan,  daughter  of  James  and 
Phoebe  (Ricketts)  Sheridan,  and  to  them 
five  children  have  been  born,  four  sons  and 
one  daughter.  William  Harrison,  who  was 
born  in    1840,  married  Charity  Williams,  a 


native  of  Ohio,  and  they  have  two  children, 
John  M.  and  Metta.  He  is  engaged  in  farm- 
ing and  stock-raising,  and  since  the  estab- 
lishment of  Colfax  has  been  actively  identi- 
fied with  its  mercantile  interests.  Francis 
Marion  engaged  in  farming  until  1883  in 
this  county.  He  then  went  to  Dakota, 
where  he  remained  for  a  time,  and  still 
following  the  occupation  of  a  farmer. 
He  now  resides  in  Colfax,  and  is  en- 
gaged in  the  poultry  business  and  farm- 
ing. In  1 86 1  he  enlisted  in  Company 
C,  Ninety-fourth  Illinois  Volunteer  In- 
fantry and  with  his  regiment  went  to  the 
front.  He  was  wounded  by  gun  shot  in  the 
left  arm  and  was  honorably  discharged  in 
the  spring  of  1863.  He  married  Mary 
Williams,  and  they  have  two  children, 
Ollie  and  Edith.  Ollie  married  Wick 
Cotton,  and  they  have  four  children.  James 
Madison,  the  third  son  of  our  subject,  en- 
listed in  Company  K,  Eighth  Illinois  In- 
fantry, and  was  wounded  in  the  charge  on 
Fort  Blakesley,  April  15,  1865,  a  few  days 
after  General  Lee's  surrender,  and  died  of 
his  wound  that  night.  He  was  a  brave  boy 
soldier,  a  sacrifice  on  the  altar  of  his  coun- 
try. Mary  E.  married  Benjamin  F.  Payne, 
of  Colfax,  who  was  a  soldier  in  Company  A, 
Sixteenth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  enlisting 
at  the  age  of  fifteen  years,  and  who  was 
honorably  discharged  in  September,  1864, 
before  he  was  eighteen  years  old.  To  them 
four  children  were  born,  William  O.,  Jennie 
M.,  Whitney  and  Maude  A.  Mr.  Payne  was 
an  attorney  at  law,  and  while  residing  in 
Dakota,  was  elected  probate  judge,  and 
served  with  distinction  for  five  years,  one 
year  by  appointment,  and  four  years  by 
election.  Mr.  Payne  was  an  attorney  for 
the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  Company  up  to 
the  time  of  his  death,    and  from    1876  to 


630 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


1882  was  attorney  for  the  Lake  Erie  & 
Western  Railway  Company.  He  was  also 
attorney  for  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern 
Railway  from  1884  to  1888,  and  was  assist- 
ant inspector  general  of  the  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic  under  General  Lucius  Fairchild 
four  years.  He  died  in  April,  1893.  Mill- 
ard Fillmore,  the  youngest  son  of  our  sub- 
ject, is  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  is  mak- 
ing a  specialty  of  breeding  pure  blooded 
Poland  China  hogs.  He  married  Miss  Lou 
Smith,   and  they  have  one  son,  Lawrence. 

Mr.  Anderson  came  with  his  family  to 
McLean  county  in  1855,  and  located  near 
Bloomington,  where  he  remained  three 
years.  In  1857  he  purchased  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  land  on  section  3,  Martin 
township,  and  in  the  following  year  moved 
to  the  place.  On  the  land  was  a  log  cabin 
into  which  the  family  moved,  and  in  which 
they  lived  several  years.  In  that  cabin 
religious  services  were  held  on  Sundays, 
and  often  at  other  times.  In  1862  Mr. 
Anderson  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  adjoining  on  section  2,  and  in  1864 
purchased  forty-two  acres,  a  part  of  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  3.  In  1865  he 
erected  his  present  dwelling,  which  has  now 
been  the  family  residence  for  more  than  a 
third  of  a  century.  After  his  farm  had  been 
placed  under  cultivation  and  was  well  im- 
proved he  turned  his  attention  to  raising 
short-horned  cattle  and  Poland  China  hogs, 
in  which  line  he  met  with  good  success. 

From  the  time  Mr.  Anderson  came  to  Mc- 
Lean county,  especially  from  the  time  that 
he  located  in  Martin  township,  fortune  has 
seemed  to  smile  on  him.  He  was  always 
an  enterprising  and  far-seeing  man,  always 
ready  to  embrace  any  opportunities  for  bet- 
tering his  condition.  He  was  chiefly  instru- 
mental in  securing  the  Kankakee  branch  of 


the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  through  Colfax 
in  1880,  and  all  of  the  village  north  of  the 
railway,  including  the  station,  is  built  on 
his  original  purchase  on  section  3.  In  ad- 
diton  to  the  real  estate  already  mentioned, 
Mr.  Anderson  is  the  owner  of  five  hundred 
and  forty  acres  near  Olney,  the  county  seat 
of  Richland  county,  and  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  in  Dakota.  He  also  owns  a 
store  building  and  dwelling  house  at  Col- 
fax. 

In  1 89 1,  Mr.  Anderson  organized  the 
State  Bank  of  Colfax  and  was  its  president 
for  six  years.  After  doing  a  successful  busi- 
ness during  its  continuance,  he  sold  it  to  J. 
Porter  Arnold  in  1898.  He  was  instrumen- 
tal in  causing  the  west  coal  shaft  to  be  sunk, 
which  is  now  in  successful  operation.  A 
stock  company  was  organized  to  conduct 
the  coal  business,  and  he  was  its  first  pres- 
ident, a  position  he  held  four  years,  until 
he  sold  his  interests  to  other  parties.  In 
1893  a  joint  company  was  organized  to 
manufacture  oil  cans  and  novelties  and  Mr. 
Anderson  was  elected  president  of  the  com- 
pany. The  business  was  successfully  con- 
ducted by  the  company  for  two  years,  when 
parties  from  Bloomington  bought  the 
plant. 

In  1859  Mr.  Anderson  was  ordained  a 
minister  of  the  gospel  in  the  Christian 
church,  and  for  twenty  years  was  more  or 
less  actively  engaged  in  the  ministry,  preach- 
ing the  gospel  in  a  very  acceptable  manner. 
While  he  was  practically  retired  from  active 
work  as  a  minister,  he  has  never  lost  interest 
in  the  cause,  and  although  at  an  age  when  so 
many  think  they  must  give  way  to  younger 
men,  he  yet  teaches  the  Bible  class  in  the 
Christian  Sunday  school  at  Colfax.  While 
actively  engaged  in  the  work,  for  nearly 
three  years  he  was  financial  agent  for  Eure- 


i 


THF    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


631 


ka  College,  which  is  under  the  fostering 
care  of  the  Christian  church,  and  during  the 
time  he  raised  for  the  institution  thirty-five 
thouand  dollars  for  each  month  in  which  he 
was  employed.  He  has  reason  to  be  proud 
of  this  record,  and  the  college  |is  under  an 
everlasting  debt  of  gratitude  for  what  he 
accomplished  for  it. 

In  1880,  after  the  inauguration  of  Presi- 
dent Garfield,  he  was  appointed  postmaster 
of  Colfax,  and  held  the  position  for  seven 
years.  During  the  years  1868  and  1S69 
he  served  the  township  as  a  member  of  the 
board  of  supervisors  in  an  acceptable  man- 
ner. He  has,  however,  never  cared  for 
official  position,  as  his  business  interests 
have  alsvays  required  his  greatest  attention. 
Like  the  greater  number  of  well-to-do  men 
of  this  country,  he  commenced  low  down  on 
the  ladder,  and  by  persistent  efforts  he  has 
been  enabled  to  mount  higher.  In  all  his 
work  his  good  wife  has  been  indeed  to  him 
a  help-meet,  and  has  ably  seconded  him  in 
his  efforts.  Like  her  husband,  she  is  also 
an  honored  member  of  the  Christian  church, 
and  in  the  doctrines  of  which  she  has  the 
utmost  faith.  For  si.xty  years  this  worthy 
couple  have  trod  life's  journey  together, 
and  although  the  snows  of  many  winters 
rest  upon  their  heads,  they  are  yet  light  of 
heart,  and  when  the  summons  comes  to 
"come  up  higher, "  they  will  be  ready  to  go. 


FRANCIS  ARMSTRONG  JOHNSON, 
deceased,  was  for  many  years  one  of 
the  leading  and  successful  business  men  of 
Bloomington,  one  well  known  and  respected 
for  his  integrity  of  character.  He  was  born 
in  Coshocton,  Ohio,  June  8,  1834,  and  was 
the  son  of  John  and  Susannah  (Boyd)  John- 
son, the  former  of  Scotch-Irish  descent,  and 


the  latter  a  native  of  Ireland.  By  occupa- 
tion the  father  was  a  farmer  in  Coshocton, 
an  occupation  in  which  he  continued  after  his 
removal  to  Illinois.  With  his  family  he 
came  to  McLean  county,  in  1853,  and  in 
different  parts  of  the  county,  and  also  in 
DeWitt  county,  Illinois,  engaged  in  his 
regular  calling.  In  the  winter  of  1859-60, 
he  went  with  his  family  to  Texas,  with  a 
view  of  making  that  his  future  home,  but  it 
being  shortly  after  the  John  Brown  raid  in 
Virginia,  the  northern  man  was  not  wel- 
come in  any  of  the  southern  states,  and 
Texas  was  no  exception  to  the  rule.  Ac- 
cordingly in  the  spring  of  i860  he  retraced 
his  steps,  and  once  more  became  a  citizen 
of  McLean  county,  where  the  remainder  of 
his  life  was  spent. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  spent  his  boy- 
hood and  youth  in  his  native  state,  and  in 
its  public  schools  received  his  education. 
For  a  time  he  was  employed  in  a  grocery 
store  in  his  native  town,  and  thus  received 
a  fairly  good  business  training,  which  was 
doubtless  of  value  to  him  in  future  years. 
He  was  nineteen  years  old  when  he  ac- 
companied his  parents  to  Illinois,  and  here 
he  assisted  his  father  in  farm  work,  contin- 
uing with  him  until  he  was  twenty-four 
years  old.  He  was  then  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Lorena  J.  Bowman,  a  na- 
tive of  Venango  county,  Pennsylvania,  and 
daughter  of  Alexander  and  Elizabeth  (Rob- 
bins)  Bowman,  both  of  whom  were  natives 
of  the  same  state. 

Alexander  Bowman  was  of  Scotch  de- 
scent, but  of  good  old  Revolutionary  stock, 
his  father  being  a  soldier  in  the  war  for 
American  independence,  serving  under  Gen- 
eral Washington.  Alexander  Bowman 
showed  his  bravery  and  love  of  country  by 
serving  as  a  soldier  in  the  second  war  with 


632 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Great  Britain  in  1812.  The  children  of  the 
Revolutionary  hero  became  widely  scat- 
tered, a  part  of  them  going  to  Virginia,  and 
others  to  Kentucky.  Alexander  Bowman 
lived  in  Erie  county,  Pennsylvania,  from 
which  he  removed  to  Venango  county,  where 
Mrs.  Johnson  was  born  December  14,  1843. 
From  Venango  county  he  moved  to  Bel- 
mont county,  Ohio,  and  in  1852  to  Bloom- 
ington,  Illinois,  where  he  lived  a  retired  life. 
In  his  native  state  and  in  Ohio  he  was  en- 
gaged in  farming.  About  1857  he  went  to 
Missouri, where  he  had  some  farmlands,  and 
there  resided  a  few  years,  and  then  returned 
to  Bloomington,  where  his  death  occurred 
February  28,  1882.  Reared  in  the  Presby- 
terian faith,  he  was  a  member  of  that  body 
in  early  life,  but  before  leaving  the  east  he 
became  a  member  of  the  Christian  church, 
in  which  faith  he  died.  He  was  well  versed 
in  the  Scriptures  and  was  a  strong  advocote 
of  Christian  union.  His  good  wife,  the 
mother  of  Mrs.  Johnson,  died  in  1854. 

Shortly  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Johnson, 
with  his  young  bride,  accompanied  his  fa- 
ther's family  to  Te.xas,  and  for  the  same  rea- 
son which  prompted  the  father  he  also 
returned  to  McLean  county  in  the  spring 
of  i860.  On  coming  back  he  located  in 
Bloomington,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
stock  business,  buying  and  shipping  to  the 
various  markets.  In  due  time  he  came  to 
be  one  of  the  largest  dealers  and  one  of  the 
best  known  men  in  the  county.  He  con- 
tinued in  the  business  until  the  year  of  his 
death  and  met  with  gratifying  success.  He 
had  the  confidence  of  the  farming  com- 
munity to  a  remarkable  degree,  farmers 
having  faith  in  him  that  he  would  always 
pay  them  the  highest  market  quotations  for 
their  stock. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnson  were  the  parents 


of  four  children,  two  of  whom  are  deceased. 
Frank  died  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years. 
William,  who  was  a  railroad  engineer,  died 
at  the  age  of  thirty-four  years.  Charles 
A.,  who  resides  in  Bloomington,  married 
Miss  Marguerite  Harvey,  and  they  have  one 
child,  Lorena  M.  He  is  a  railroad  en- 
gineer, in  the  employ  of  the  Chicago  & 
Alton  Railroad.  May  married  Frank  Clark 
Capen,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Helen. 
The  family  of  which  Mr.  Capen  is  a  mem- 
ber is  represented  on  another  page  of  this 
work. 

In  early  life  Mr.  Johnson  was  an  ardent 
Democrat,  but  later  was  more  independent, 
casting  his  vote  for  the  man  rather  than  the 
party.  Religiously  he  was  identified  with 
the  Christian  church,  of  which  body  his 
wife  is  also  a  member.  Both  were  mem-- 
bers  of  the  church  in  Bloomington  for  many 
years,  and  the  interest  long  maintained  by 
both  is  continued  by  Mrs.  Johnson,  whose 
faith  in  the  teachings  of  the  church  is  strong 
and  enduring. 

Mr.  Johnson  departed  this  life  June  20, 
1 89 1,  his  death  being  sincerely  mourned  by 
a  loving  wife  and  children  and  by  a  large 
circle  of  friends.  His  body  was  laid  to  rest 
in  the  beautiful  cemetery  at  Bloomington, 
there  to  wait  the  resurrection  day.  Mrs. 
Johnson  yet  resides  in  their  neat  home  on 
the  corner  of  Clinton  and  Locust  streets, 
where  she  has  lived  since  1884.  Like  her 
husband,  she  is  held  in  high  esteem. 


LEVI  BECK,  who  owns  a  valuable  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  sec- 
tion 36,  about  three  and  a  half  miles  from 
the  village  of  Heyworth,  which  is  his  post- 
office  address,  came  to  McLean  county  in 
the  fall  of  1867.     He  was  born  in  Ashland 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


633 


county,  Ohio,  July  i,  1S45,  ^^^  's  the  son 
of  John  and  Barbara  Ann  (Jeffries)  Beck, 
both  of  whom  were  natives  of  the  same 
state,  where  their  marriage  was  solemnized. 
They  later  moved  to  Putnam  county, 
Indiana,  where  his  death  occurred  in  1873. 
His  wife  survives  him  and  makes  her  home 
in  Paris,  Edgar  county,  Illinois.  They 
were  the  parents  of  ten  children,  of  whom 
seven  are  yet  living.  Michael  served  three 
years  in  the  Union  army  during  the  civil 
war,  but  is  now  railroading  in  Indiana. 
Daniel  also  served  three  years  in  the  Union 
army,  but  is  now  engaged  in  farming  in 
Edgar  county,  Illinois.  John  was  also  a 
soldier  in  the  civil  war  and  died  in  the 
hospital  at  Knoxville,  Tennessee.  Levi,  of 
this  review,  was  next  in  order  of  birth. 
William  is  living  retired  in  the  city  of  Chi- 
cago. Samuel  is  in  the  Black  Hills.  David 
resides  in  Denver,  Colorado,  and  is  engaged 
in  mining.  Maggie  married  Jacob  Oswath, 
and  resides  in  Indiana.  Frank  grew  to 
manhood  and  settled  in  Paris,  Illinois,  but 
is  now  deceased.  Mrs.  Mary  Howard  is  a 
widow  residing  in  Paris,  Illinois. 

The  boyhood  of  our  subject  was  spent 
in  his  native  state,  and  when  thirteen  years 
old  he  accompanied  his  parents  to  Putnam 
county,  Indiana,  where  he  grew  to  mature 
years,  and  where  his  education  was  com- 
pleted in  the  common  schools.  He  was 
reared  on  a  farm,  and  followed  the  vocation 
of  farmer  throughout  life.  In  1864,  he  fol- 
lowed the  example  of  his  brothers  and  en- 
listed in  the  service  of  his  country  to  assist 
in  suppressing  the  rebellion.  He  became  a 
member  of  Company  C,  One  Hundred  and 
Fifteenth  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  for 
six  months  and  served  until  the  close  of  the 
war.  His  regiment  was  sent  into  Tennessee 
and  did  guard  duty  at  Knoxville  and  Cumber- 


land Gap.  During  his  term  of  enlistment 
he  was  sick  for  one  week  in  the  hospital  at 
Ball's  Gap,  Tennessee,  aside  from  which  he 
was  always  on  active  duty.  With  his  regi- 
ment he  was  mustered  out  and  discharged 
at  Indianapolis,  Indiana. 

After  receiving  his  discharge,  Mr.  Beck 
returned  to  his  home  in  Putnam  county, 
Indiana,  where  he  worked  by  the  month  for 
various  parties  until  1867,  when  he  came  to 
McLean  county,  Illinois,  and  rented  a  farm 
in  Funk's  Grove  township,  where  he  re- 
mained one  year.  He  then  rented  another 
farm,  near  where  he  now  resides,  and  lived 
there  for  three  years.  He  was  married  in 
Funk's  Grove  township,  September  16,  1869, 
to  Miss  Jennie  Matlock,  but  who  was 
principally  reared  in  DeWitt  county,  Illinois, 
She  is  a  daughter  of  James  and  Eveline 
(Hensler)  Matlock,  the  former  a  native  of 
Indiana,  and  the  latter  of  Virginia.  In  his 
native  state  Mr.  Matlock  engaged  in  farming, 
and  coming  to  DeWitt  county,  Illinois,  he 
there  engaged  in  the  same  occupation.  He 
died  in  DeWitt  county  in  1893,  but  his 
wife  survives  him  and  resides  on  the  old 
homestead  in  that  county. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Beck  remained 
on  the  farm  where  he  was  living  at  the  time 
for  one  year  longer,  and  then  rented  a  farm 
of  Harrison  Baker  for  two  years.  From  the 
Baker  farm  he  came  to  the  farm  where  he 
now  resides,  and  for  ten  years  rented  the 
place,  and  in  1884  bought  the  farm,  and  has 
here  since  continued  to  reside,  actively  en- 
gaged in  mi.xed  farming  and  stock  raising. 
On  coming  to  the  farm  he  found  it  in  a  very 
poor  condition  as  regarded  improvements, 
the  dwellings  being  in  a  very  dilapidated 
condition,  indeed.  He  has  since  built  a 
neat  residence  and  good  barn,  and  the  place 
presents  a  very  different  appearance.    Com- 


^34 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


mencing  life  in  McLean  county,  as  he  did, 
without  means,  and  being  compelled  to  rent 
for  so  many  years,  he  certainly  has  reason 
now  to  be  thankful  for  his  success. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beck  three  children 
were  born,  as  follows:  Frederick,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  fifteen  3-ears,  September  28, 
1 888  Myrtle  May,  who  yet  makes  her  home 
with  her  parents,  and  Earl,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  nine  months. 

Mr.  Beck  has  always  been  a  stanch 
Democrat  in  politics,  but  has  never  been  a 
politician  in  the  sense  of  office-seeking.  He 
has,  however,  served  as  a  member  of  the 
school  board.  Mrs.  Beck  is  a  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  church  at  Heyworth. 
Both  have  many  friends,  especially  in  the 
southern  part  of  McLean  county,  where 
they  are  best  known. 


JOSEPH  EHRESMAN.  Among  the 
sturdy,  energetic  and  successful  farmers 
and  stock  raisers  of  Anchor  township,  who 
thoroughly  understand  the  vocation  which 
they  follow,  and  are  consequently  enabled 
to  carry  on  their  calling  with  profit  to  them- 
selves, is  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  He  is 
a  native  of  Illinois,  born  near  Eureka,  in 
Woodford  county,  April  9,  1851,  a  son  of 
Christian  Ehresman,  whose  birth  occurred 
in  Germany  in  1800.  It  was  about  1830 
that  the  father  emigrated  to  America,  and 
after  a  few  years  spent  in  Ohio,  came  to 
this  state,  first  locating  in  Stout's  Grove, 
Danvers  township,  McLean  county,  but 
later  removing  to  Woodford  county,  where 
he  became  the  owner  of  two  hundred  and 
forty  acres  of  fine  farming  land.  Through- 
out life  he  followed  agricultural  pursuits. 
In  political  sentiment  he  was  a  Democrat. 
He  died  in  Woodford  county  in  1874. 


Christian  Ehresman  was  twice  married 
before  coming  to  this  country,  his  first  wife 
being  Miss  Annie  Barnard,  whose  birth- 
place was  near  that  of  her  husband,  and  to 
them  were  born  four  children:  John,  Eliza- 
beth, Phctbe  and  Christopher.  Of  this 
family,  only  the  daughters  are  now  living. 
After  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  Mr.  Ehres- 
man married  her  sister.  Miss  Maggie  Bar- 
nard, by  whom  he  had  four  children: 
Annie,  Fanny,  Mary  and  Peter.  Of  these, 
only  Annie  is  now  living.  After  coming  to 
h  is  country,  the  father  married  Miss  Fanny 
Barnard,  a  sister  of  his  former  wives,  she 
having  come  to  the  United  States  with  her 
father.  Eight  children  were  born  to  this 
union:  Magdalena,  Barbara,  Katie,  Joseph, 
Susan,  Lydia,  Samuel  and  Jacob.  The 
mother  died  in  November,  1895,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-one  years. 

Joseph  Ehresman,  of  this  review,  was 
educated  in  the  district  schools  of  Wood- 
ford county,  and  until  twenty-two  years  of 
age  he  gave  his  father  the  benefit  of  his 
labor.  He  then  rented  the  home  farm  for 
two  years,  and  for  the  following  two  years 
operated  another  rented  farm.  After  his 
marriage,  in  1876,  he  purchased  forty  acres 
of  land  in  his  native  county  for  thirty  dol- 
lars per  acre,  and  at  once  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  its  improvement  and  cultivation, 
erecting  thereon  good  buildings.  On  selling 
that  place  in  1880,  he  bought  ninety-nine 
acres  in  Danvers  township,  McLean  county, 
for  twenty  dollars  per  acre.  This  was  also 
improved,  and  when  disposed  of  in  1889  he 
purchased  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  in 
Anchor  township  for  forty-two  dollars  and  a 
half  per  acre,  upon  which  he  has  since  made 
his  home.  In  1895  he  added  to  it  a  forty- 
acre  tract,  for  which  he  paid  seventy-seven 
dollars  and  a  half  per  acre.      It  was  then 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


63s 


but  partially  improved,  and  to  its  further 
development  and  cultivation  he  has  since 
devoted  his  time  and  attention,  so  that  he 
now  has  one  of  the  best  farms  of  its  size  in 
the  township. 

On  the  /th  of  September,  1876,  Mr. 
Ehresman  married  Miss  .\nna  Salzman,  who 
was  born  in  Butler  county,  Ohio,  June  25, 
1847,  near  Hamilton,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Christian  and  Mary  (Imhoff)  Salzman.  The 
father  was  born  in  iSii,  in  Lorraine,  now 
a  province  of  Germany,  but  formerly  be- 
longed to  France,  and  the  mother's  birth 
occurred  near  the  Rhine,  in  Germany,  in 
1806.  On  their  emigration  to  the  new 
world  they  settled  in  Ohio  and  later  re- 
moved to  Indiana,  the  father  becoming  the 
owner  of  eighty  acres  of  land  near  Lafay- 
ette. There  his  wife  died  January  4,  1890, 
and  he  passed  away  at  the  home  of  one  of 
his  daughters,  in  Kansas,  May  31,  1895. 
In  their  family  were  si.x  children,  namely: 
Magdalena,  Mary,  Katie,  Elizabeth,  Anna, 
wife  of  our  subject;  and  John,  who  died  in 
18S7.  Our  subject  and  his  wife  have  two 
sons:  Charles  O.,  born  August  25,  1877, 
lives  at  home  and  is  engaged  in  farming  for 
himself  on  rented  land  near  by;  and  Walter 
L. ,  born  July  19,  18S0,  is  attending  school 
and  assisting  in  the  operation  of  the  home 
farm.  The  family  hold  membership  in  the 
United  Brethren  church,  of  which  Mr. 
Ehresman  has  been  a  steward,  and  they 
take  an  active  interest  in  church  and  Sun- 
day-school work.  Socially,  he  is  a  member 
of  Gibson  Camp,  No.  235,  M.  \V.  A.,  and 
the  Loyal  Sons  of  America  at  Gibson  City, 
and  politically  is  identified  with  the  Repub- 
lican party.  Although  he  has  served  as 
school  director  for  seven  years  he  has  never 
cared  for  office,  preferring  to  give  his  un- 
divided attention  to  his  business  interests. 


MARSHAL  J.  HAGAR,  a  worthy  rep- 
resentative of  the  agricultural  interests 
of  this  county,  who  was  born  in  Buliinger 
county,  Missouri,  June  5,  1849,  a  son  of 
James  Andrew  and  Jane  (Spencer)  Hagar. 
His  father  was  a  native  of  North  Carolina, 
and  successfully  carried  on  farming  there 
until  his  removal  to  Missouri,  where  he  pur- 
chased two  hundred  and  fifty-six  acres  of 
land.  There  he  continued  his  agricultural 
pursuits  and  prospered  in  his  undertakings. 
His  death  occurred  in  1866.  His  wife  was 
born  in  Missouri,  and  after  the  death  of  her 
husband  she  disposed  of  the  farm  and  re- 
moved to  Illinois,  making  her  home  with 
her  son  until  called  to  her  final  rest.  She 
was  the  mother  of  seven  children,  but  only 
two  are  now  living.  The  daughter,  Eliza- 
beth, is  the  wife  of  James  Allman,  and  re- 
sides near  the  old  homestead  in  Missouri. 
She  has  two  children,  William  and  Marion. 
The  deceased  members  of  the  family  were 
Thomas,  who  was  married  and  had  two 
children,  but  all  have  now  passed  away; 
Henderson  and  Marion,  who  died  in  the 
Confederate  army,  for  which  they  were 
drafted  during  the  civil  war;  Sarah,  wife  of 
William  Proctor,  who  resides  in  Missouri, 
and  by  whom  she  had  six  children,  namely: 
Grover  and  Harlan,  who  are  living  near 
Charlotte,  Illinois;  and  Sallie,  Thomas  and 
Henderson. 

Mr.  Hagar,  whose  name  introduces  this 
review,  was  educated  in  the  district  schools 
of  Missouri,  and  remained  under  the  pa- 
rental roof  until  he  had  attained  his  major- 
ity. He  was  married  March  17,  1870,  to 
Minerva  A.  Ward,  who  was  born  in  North 
Carolina  July  17,  1849,  ^"^  removed  to 
Missouri  with  her  parents,  David  and 
Minerva  Ward,  during  her  girlhood  days. 
They  were  natives  of   North  Carolina,  and 


636 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


the  father  died  when  Mrs.  Hagar  was  only 
twelve  years  of  age,  after  which  the  mother 
made  her  home  with  her  children  until  her 
death  in  1896.  They  were  the  parents  of 
five  sons  and  two  daughters,  but  three  are 
now  deceased.  The  living  are  James  S. 
Ward,  a  farmer  of  Martin  township;  John 
F.,  who  is  living  a  retired  life  in  Anchor; 
and  Mrs.  Hagar. 

For  two  years  after  his  marriage  Mr. 
Hagar  operated  and  rented  a  farm  in  Mis- 
souri, and  since  1873  he  has  resided  at  his 
present  home  in  Cropsey  township.  He 
rented  the  land  for  six  years  and  then  pur- 
chased three  hundred  and  twenty  acres, 
paying  fifty-two  dollars  per  acre,  being  the 
north  half  of  section  32.  He  has  since 
made  some  valuable  improvements  upon  it, 
including  the  erection  of  excellent  buildings, 
and  now  has  one  of  the  best  farming  prop- 
erties in  the  county.  With  the  aid  of  his 
sons  he  operates  all  of  his  land,  carrying  on 
general  farming  and  stock  raising. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hagar  have  been  born 
eight  children:  Charles  L. ,  who  resides  on 
a  farm  in  Lawndale  township,  and  married 
Leora  Hudson,  by  whom  he  has  two  chil- 
dren; Forest  and  Lola;  Mettie,  wife  of 
Frank  Bechtel,  a  farmer  residing  near  Char- 
lotte, Livingston  county,  by  whom  she  has 
three  children:  Elza,  Orville  and  Gladys; 
Edward,  who  is  living  at  home;  Nora,  wife 
of  James  Smith,  a  farmer  of  Anchor  town- 
ship, by  whom  she  has  one  son,  Lawrence; 
Frank,  Julia;  Albert  and  Le  Roy,  twins. 
The  parents  are  consistent  members  of  the 
Christian  church,  and  in  politics  Mr.  Hagar 
is  a  Democrat,  but  has  never  aspired  to  of- 
fice. He  has  served  as  school  director  for 
twelve  years  since  living  in  the  state,  and 
takes  an  active  interest  in  the  advancement 
of  the  cause  of  education.     Socially  he  is 


connected  with  the  Modern  Woodman  of 
America,  the  Court  of  Honor  and  the  Royal 
Circle,  and  of  the  last  named   is  a  director. 


CYRUS  FRANK,  senior  member  of  the 
well-known  firm  of  C.  E.  Frank  & 
Company,  general  painters,  has  been  a 
resident  of  the  city  of  Bloomington  since 
1864,  and  since  1865  has  been  actively  en- 
gaged, either  as  a  journeyman  or  master 
painter.  He  was  born  in  Somerset,  Somer- 
set county,  Pennsylvania,  October  27,  1845, 
and  is  the  son  of  Jacob  and  Catherine 
(Weyand)  Frank,  both  of  whom  were  born 
in  the  same  county  and  state,  the  former  in 
1 8 17  and  the  latter  in  18 14.  They  were 
the  parents  of  nine  children,  Cyrus  being 
third  in  order  of  birth.  The  family  is  of 
old  German-Pennsylvania  stock,  the  pater- 
nal grandfather  F"rank  being  born  in  Somer- 
set county,  where  he  was  a  well-known 
citizen,  having  for  years  conducted  a  tavern 
on  the  old  Bedford  pike,  which  was  a  well- 
known  stopping  place  for  Ohio  drovers  and 
others.  The  maternal  grandfather,  Will- 
iam Weyand,  was  also  a  native  of  the  same 
county,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  and 
where  his  entire  life  was  spent,  dying  when 
past  eighty  years  old.  Jacob  Frank  was  a 
farmer  in  his  native  county,  and  for  some 
years  served  as  tax  collector  of  Somerset. 
He  left  Pennsylvania  in  1864  and  came  to 
Bloomington,  where  he  engaged  in  the  gro- 
cery business  on  Center  street  for  about 
twenty  years,  doing  a  large  and  successful 
business.  He  quit  business  a  few  years 
ago,  and  now  lives  a  quiet  and  retired  life 
at  his  home  on  South  Lee  street. 

The  boyhood  and  youth  of  our  subject 
were  spent  in  his  native  state,  and  he  re- 
ceived a  fairly  good  education  in  the  public 


I 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


637 


schools  of  Somerset.  He  came  with  the 
family  to  Bloomington  in  1864  and  has 
since  made  this  his  home.  Previous  to 
coming  here,  and  in  1862,  he  enlisted  in 
1862,  he  enlisted  in  Company  B,  One  Hun- 
dred and  Twelfth  Regiment  Pennsylvania 
Volunteer  Cavalry,  for  three  years,  and 
with  his  regiment  went  to  the  front.  After 
a  few  months'  service,  however,  on  account 
of  sickness,  he  was  honorably  discharged, 
much  to  his  deep  regret.  Soon  after  arriv- 
ing in  Bloomington  he  conld  not  withstand 
the  appeals  of  the  president  for  more  men, 
and  feeling  that  his  health  was  restored  and 
duty  demanded,  he  enlisted  in  the  One 
Hundred  and  Forty-fifth  Illinois  Volunteer 
Infantry,  and  once  more  went  to  the  front. 
With  his  regiment  he  was  sent  to  Missouri 
and  with  it  he  remained,  doing  his  duty 
faithfully  and  well  until  the  close  of  the 
war,  being  mustered  out  in  tbe  summer  of 
1865. 

On  receiving  his  discharge,  Mr.  Frank 
returned  to  his  home  in  Bloomington,  and 
having  commenced  the  painter's  trade  be- 
fore leaving  his  eastern  home,  he  accepted 
a  position  with  Plumb  &  Buffham,  general 
painters  of  Bloomington,  and  was  with  that 
firm  as  a  journeyman  for  eight  or  nine 
years.  "  He  then  started  in  business  for  him- 
self, in  which  he  has  since  been  actively 
engaged  with  the  exception  of  (our  years 
when  he  was  in  the  employ  of  J.  W.  Evans 
Sons  &  Company.  In  1898  he  admitted 
his  two  eldest  sons  into  partnership,  and 
the  firm  name  was  then  changed  to  C.  E. 
Frank  &  Company.  The  firm  is  now  doing 
an  excellent  business,  with  many  good  con- 
tracts for  the  summer  of  1899.  With  one 
exception,  Mr.  Frank  has  been  actively  en- 
gaged in  painting  in  Bloomington  a  longer 
period  of  time  than  any  other    man.      He 


has  had  the  painting  of  many  of  the  best 
buildings  in  the  city,  some  of  which  he  has 
painted  over  several  times,  the  proprietors 
knowing  their  work  will  be  well  done.  He 
has  often  given  employment  to  as  many  as 
fifteen  mem  at  a  time.  For  many  years  his 
shop  was  on  Washington  street,  south  of  the 
court  house,  but  of  recent  years  he  has 
occupied  his  present  location  No.  410  North 
Center  street. 

On  the  7th  of  February,  1871,  Mr. 
Frank  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Eliza  Alice  Lape,  of  Bloomington,  and 
daughter  of  David  Lape,  and  by  this  union 
there  are  seven  children:  Maude  B.,  now 
Mrs.  Thomas  Radford,  of  Bloomington; 
Clyde  D. ,  who  married  Minnie  Dillion,  of 
Bloomington,  by  whom  he  has  two  children, 
Leon  and  Hazel,  is  in  partnership  with  his 
father;  Edward  R. ,  also  a  member  of  the 
firm;  Roy  L.,  who  is  working  for  the  firm; 
William  Arthur,  who  is  learning  the  painter's 
trade  with  the  firm;  May  and  Rose,  at  home. 
The  family  reside  in  a  pleasant  home,  No. 
512  West  Mill  street,  which  has  been  the 
family  residence  since  1884.  Fraternally 
Mr.  Frank  is  a  member  of  Evergreen  City 
Lodge,  No.  265,  I.  O.  O.  F. ,  in  which  he 
has  held  office.  Religiously  he  is  a  member 
of  the  Christian  church,  of  which  body  his 
wife  is  also  a  member. 


JAMES  A.  STEPHENS,  residing  on  sec. 
tion  10,  Mt.  Hope  township,  has  been 
prominently  identified  with  the  growth  and 
development  of  McLean  county  for  over 
forty  years.  He  has  ever  cheerfully  given 
his  support  to  those  enterprises  calculated 
to  prove  of  public  benefit,  and  by  building 
up  a  good  homestead  has  materially  ad- 
vanced the  interests  of  the  county. 


638 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Mr.  Stephens  is  a  native  of  Illinois, born 
in  what  is  now  Logan  county,  December 
II,  1836,  and  is  a  worthy  representative  of 
an  honored  pioneer  family.  His  father, 
Adam  Stephens,  was  born  in  \'irginia,  in 
1 801,  and  was  a  son  of  Peter  Stephens, 
also  a  native  of  the  Old  Dominion,  and  was 
one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Ohio,  having  re- 
moved there  with  his  family  in  1809.  There 
Adam  Stephens  grew  to  manhood,  married 
Miss  Mary  Hoblit,  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  a 
daughter  of  John  Hoblit,  also  a  pioneer  of 
the  Buckeye  state.  In  1829  Mr.  Stephens 
migrated  to  Illinois  and  took  up  his  resi- 
dence in  what  is  now  Logan  county,  where 
he  opened  up  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
si.xty  acres  and  there  reared  his  family. 
Later  he  made  his  home  for  a  time  in  At- 
lanta, but  his  last  days  were  spent  on  a 
farm  in  McLean  county,  near  that  of  his 
son,  James  A.,  where  he  died  in  August, 
1882,  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty-one 
years.  His  wife  had  passed  away  in  1878 
and  both  were  laid  to  rest  at  Roach  Chapel, 
where  a  monument  has  been  erected  to 
their  memory.  To  them  were  born  eight 
children,  but  our  subject,  who  was  the  only 
son  of  the  family,  is  now  the  only  survivor. 

During  his  boyhood  and  youth  James  A. 
Stephens  aided  in  the  work  of  the  home 
farm  and  attended  the  common  schools  of 
the  locality,  remaining  with  his  father  until 
he  reached  man's  estate.  In  Logan  coun- 
ty, he  was  married,  December  24,  1857,  to 
Miss  Martha  E.  Hatch,  who  was  born  at 
Xenia,  Greene  county,  Ohio.  Her  father, 
Stephen  B.  Hatch,  was  born  in  Indiana, 
but  reared  and  married  in  Ohio,  where  he 
worked  at  the  brickmaker's  trade  in  early 
life,  but  after  his  removal  to  Logan  county, 
Illinois,  in  1856,  he  devoted  his  attention  to 
agricultural  pursuits.    Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stephens 


have  become  the  parents  of  two  children. 
The  son,  Edward  D. ,  resides  in  McLean, 
and  carries  on  the  home  farm.  He  is  mar- 
ried and  has  two  children,  Pearl  and  Irmie. 
Carrie  B.,  the  only  daughter  of  our  subject, 
is  now  the  wife  of  Robert  Bowers  and  has 
one  daughter,  Edna  Fay.  They  live  on  the 
farm  with  our  subject.  Mr.  Bowers  is  a 
good  mechanic,  handy  with  all  kinds  of 
tools,  and  owns  and  operates  a  sawmill,  a 
traction  engine,  two  threshing  machines 
and  a  drilling  machine  for  boring  wells.  He 
is  a  most  active  and  enterprising  man. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Stephens  located 
on  a  farm  in  McLean  county,  and,  after 
renting  for  two  years,  he  purchased  eighty 
acres  of  his  present  farm  in  1859.  At  that 
time  only  a  few  acres  had  been  broken,  and 
the  house  thereon  was  in  a  rather  dilapidated 
condition.  To  the  work  of  improvement 
and  cultivation  he  at  once  turned  his  atten- 
tion, and  as  he  prospered  in  his  new  home 
he  purchased  another  eighty-acre  tract, 
making  a  fine  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres,  upon  which  he  has  erected  a  neat 
and  commodious  brick  residence,  made 
from  bricks  of  his  own  manufacture  at  a 
brickyard  on  his  place.  His  farm  is  now 
well  tiled,  and  at  an  early  day  he  set  out 
fruit,  shade  and  ornamental  trees,  many  of 
which  are  now  great  trees  over  two  feet  in 
diameter  at  the  base.  Mr.  Stephens  came 
to  the  county  empty-handed,  but  through 
his  industry,  good  management  and  untiring 
efforts  has  become  quite  well-to-do,  and  is 
now  the  owner  of  one  of  the  most  valuable 
and  well-improved  farms  of  its  size  in  Mt. 
Hope  township. 

Since  casting  his  first  presidential  vote 
for  Abraham  Lincoln,  in  i860,  Mr.  Stephens 
has  been  an  ardent  supporter  of  the  Repub- 
lican party,   and  for  si.vteen   years  he  has 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


639 


most  creditably  served  as  a  member  of  the 
school  board.  His  entire  life  has  been 
passed  in  this  section  of  the  state,  and  has 
watched  with  interest  the  wonderful  ad- 
vancement that  has  here  been  made  during 
his  memory.  During  his  boyhood  he  was 
quite  a  hunter,  and  has  killed  a  number  of 
deer,  wild  turkeys  and  other  game  which 
was  then  to  be  found  in  considerable  num- 
bers on  the  prairies  and  in  the  groves  of 
Logan  and  McLean  counties.  In  those 
early  days  he  hauled  the  farm  products  for 
his  father  to  Pekin,  which  was  then  the 
nearest  and  best  market  place,  but  was  often 
compelled  to  sell  corn  for  ten  cents  per 
bushel  and  wheat  for  thirty  cents.  Since 
coming  to  his  present  farm  he  has  also  sold 
corn  for  ten  cents. 


MARTIN  WILLIAMS,  who  is  engaged 
in  farming  in  Martin  township,  is  one 
of  the  oldest  native  born  citizens  of  McLean 
county  now  living  within  its  borders.  He 
was  born  in  Danvers  township,  October  18, 
1830,  and  in  the  pioneer  schools  of  the 
vicinity  of  his  father's  place,  he  obtained  a 
common  school  education.  His  life  has 
always  been  that  of  a  farmer,  and  in  his 
young  manhood  for  eight  years  he  was  en- 
gaged in  breaking  prairie  for  the  new  set- 
tlers as  they  came  into  the  county  and  took 
up  homesteads.  His  father,  Shadrach  Wil- 
liams, was  born  in  Tennessee  in  1803,  and 
when  a  young  man  came  to  McLean  county, 
where  he  engaged  in  farming.  He  was 
twice  married,  first  to  Miss  Fannie  M.  Ash- 
lock,  and  to  them  were  born  three  children: 
Martin,  Robert  and  E.  Frances,  the  two 
latter  being  deceased.  In  1839  Mrs.  Fan- 
nie M.  Williams  departed  this  life,  and  for 
his  second  wife  Shadrach  Williams  married 


Miss  Malinda  Paisley,  and  they  became  the 
parents  of  two  children,  Shadrach,  and  a 
daughter  who  died  at  the  age  of  si.xteen 
years.  Of  the  children  by  his  first  wife, 
Robert  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  for  the 
union,  and  was  honorably  discharged  at  its 
close.  Shadrach  Williams  died  in  1854, 
and  his  second  wife  is  also  deceased. 

On  the  17th  of  November,  1861,  Martin 
Williams  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mar- 
garet M.  Dean,  of  Allin  township.  Her 
father,  Jonathan  Dean,  was  a  native  of 
Maryland  county,  Ohio,  and  was  born  in 
18 16.  He  received  there  a  common-school 
education,  and  in  his  youth  learned  the 
blacksmith  trade,  which  he  afterwards  fol- 
lowed in  connection  with  farming.  He 
married  Mary  Elwell,  of  his  native  county, 
and  to  them  were  born  eight  children,  two 
of  whom  died  in  infancy.  Those  living  are 
William  S.,  Thomas  W.,  Abigail,  Susan, 
Margaret  M.  and  Nimrod  N.  Of  these 
William  S.  married  Rebecca  McBride,  of 
Knox  county,  Ohio,  and  their  six  children 
are  Jonathan,  Mary,  Frank,  William  C. , 
Laura  and  Minnie.  Thomas  W.  died  at  the 
age  of  forty-two  years.  Abigail  married 
William  Williams,  and  they  have  five  living 
children,  George,  James  J.,  Ella,  Eva  and 
J.  Lee.  Susan  married  Joseph  Wilson,  of 
Danvers  township,  McLean  county.  Nimrod 
N.  was  a  soldier  in  the  Union  army  during 
the  civil  war,  and  died  while  in  the  service. 
Mr.  Dean  died  in  1873,  and  his  wife  in  1887. 

To  Martin  Williams  and  wife  eleven 
children  have  been  born,  eight  sons  and 
three  daughters:  George  D.,  who  died  in 
his  eighth  year;  Robert  F.,  Mary  E.,  Will- 
iam S.,  John  M.,  James  J.,  Abigail  M., 
Sarah  M.,  Charles  S.,  Martin  H.  and 
Thomas  L.  Of  the  living,  Robert  F.  mar- 
ried  Elizabeth   Biggs,  of   Martin  township. 


640 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


and  they  have  six  children,  Lessey,  Minnie, 
Edward  F.,  Allen  and  Alice  (twins),  and 
Elmer.  Mary  E.  married  John  Theniell, 
and  they  have  two  children,  Albert  H.  and 
Hattie  F.  William  S.  married  Lavina 
Rice,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Daisy 
G.  Abigail  married  William  Ingleheart,  of 
Hloomington,  and  their  children  are  Olive 
M.  and  Vernie.  Sarah  M.  married  Charles 
McAtee,  of  Martin  township,  where  they 
now  reside.  By  his  first  marriage  with  Mel 
McReynolds,  Mr.  Williams  had  two  chil- 
dren, Sarah  M.,  deceased,  and  Ellen  F. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Williams  is  a  stanch  Re- 
publican, a  party  with  which  he  has  been 
identified  since  its  organization.  Religiously 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  of  which  body  his  wife  and  nearly 
all  the  family  are  members.  Born  in  pio- 
neer times,  Mr.  Williams  realizes  something 
of  the  trials  and  hardships  one  has  to  endure 
in  opening  up  a  new  country,  but  he  has 
lived  to  see  the  country,  indeed,  to  "blos- 
som as  the  rose,"  and  his  native  county  to 
occupy  a  proud  position  among  its  sister 
counties,  and  to  have  the  reputation  of  be- 
ing the  best  agricultural  county  in  the  state. 


WILLIAM  S.  LAIN,  who  is  now  en- 
gaged in  the  harness  and  saddle 
trade  in  Colfax,  Illinois,  was  born  in  Mc- 
Lean county,  Illinois,  July  18,  1870.  He  is 
the  son  of  Isaiah  and  Mary  Ann  (Stevens) 
Lain,  the  former  a  native  of  Richmond 
county,  Kentucky,  born  in  1832,  and  the 
latter  of  Missouri.  They  were  the  parents 
of  ten  children,  one  of  whom,  Emmitt  died 
in  infancy.  The  others  are  Betty,  Sarah, 
Delia,  Nelly,  William  S.,  Kate  M.,  John 
D.,  Stephen  and  Burbridge.  The  family 
came  to  McLean  county  in  1865,  first  locat- 


ing in  Dale  township,  and  in  1873  moving 
into  Blue  Mound  township,  where  he  pur- 
chased land  and  engaged  in  farming,  contin- 
uing in  the  same  business  until  his  death, 
February  22,  1897.  His  wife  passed  away 
some  ten  years  previous,  dying  June  10, 
1887. 

In  the  district  schools  of  Blue  Mound 
township  our  subject  obtained  his  literary 
education,  after  which  he  entered  the  busi- 
ness college  in  Bloomington,  from  which  he 
was  graduated.  After  completing  his  edu- 
cation he  devoted  his  energies  to  farming 
until  October,  1897,  when  he  went  to  Col- 
fax and  purchased  the  merchant  and  custom 
harness  business  of  A.  C.  Wheeler,  which 
he  has  since  successfully  conducted,  manu- 
facturing harness,  saddles,  and  keeping  in 
stock  everything  usually  found  in  a  first- 
class  establishment  of  the  kind,  including 
curry  combs,  brushes,  blankets,  oils,  etc. 
He  employs  two  men  and  one  efficient  fore- 
man, in  the  person  of  Henry  Wheeler,  who 
is  an  expert  in  the  business. 

On  the  6th  of  February,  1896,  Mr.  Lain 
married  Miss  Mary  McClure,  of  Martin 
township,  and  they  have  now  one  son,  How- 
ard I.  Robert  McClure,  the  father  of  Mrs. 
Lain,  was  born  in  the  north  of  Ireland,  May 
9,  1842,  and  in  his  native  land  received  his 
education  and  followed  the  honorable  occu- 
pation of  farming.  He  came  to  the  United 
States  in  i860,  first  locating  in  Tazewell 
county,  Illinois.  He  was  married  August  31 , 
1869,  to  Miss  Sarah  Gillan,  who  was  then 
living  in  Tcizewell  county.  Nine  years  later 
they  came  to  McLean  county,  Mr.  McClure 
purchasing  eighty  acres  of  improved  land 
on  section  13,  Martin  township,  where  the 
family  has  since  continued  to  reside.  In  ad- 
dition to  the  home  farm,  Mr.  McClure  owns 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres   in    Missouri. 


THF    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


641 


To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McClure  were  born  seven 
children,  four  daughters  and  three  sons, 
namely:  Emma  J.,  Olive  M.,  Sadie  A., 
William  J.  and  Mary  L.  (twins),  John  T. 
and  Robert  Lee.  Emma  J.  married  John 
McClintock,  and  they  have  three  children, 
Owen,  Eleanor  B.  and  Charlotte.  Olive 
M.  married  Ernest  Wonderlin,  of  Martin 
township,  and  they  have  three  living  chil- 
dren, Grace  M.,  Homer  M.,  and  John  H. 
Sadie  A.  married  Curtis  Sarbaugh,  formerly 
of  Ohio,  and  they  have  one  son,  Chester  A. 
William  J.  is  assisting  in  operating  the  home 
farm.  The  younger  members  of  the  family 
are  students  in  the  public  school.  Mr.  Mc- 
Clure died  December  15,  1893,  mourned 
not  alone  by  the  family  but  by  a  large  circle 
of  friends  as  well. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Lain  is  a  thorough  Re- 
publican. The  family  attend  the  Christian 
church.  Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of 
Colfax  Lodge,  No.  799,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. ;  of 
Medora  Chapter,  No.  298,  O.  E.  S. ;  Martin 
Lodge,  No.  715,  I.  O.  O.  F. ;  Eudora  Lodge, 
No.  187,  K.  P.  Socially,  he  stands  high  in 
the  estimation  of  the  community  in  which 
be  lives,  and,  as  a  business  man,  he  is  pro- 
gressive. 


JONATHAN  H.  KIRKPATRICK,  well 
known  throughout  McLean  county  as  a 
leading  business  man,  was  born  in  North 
Liberty,  Adams  county,  Ohio,  on  the  23d 
of  December,  1844,  a  son  of  John  and  Mary 
(Postlewaite)  Kirkpatrick.  The  father  was 
probably  born  in  Virginia  and  the  mother 
was  a  native  of  that  state.  When  a  young 
man  he  went  to  Adams  county,  Ohio,  where 
he  worked  at  the  tailor's  trade,  which  he 
had  previously  learned.  He  was  married  in 
the  Old  Dominion   and   died  when  our  sub- 


ject was  about  eight  years  old,  leaving  a 
widow  and  eight  children.  The  mother 
came  to  Bloomington  in  1852  in  company 
with  an  Ohio  colony  and  settled  near  Oak 
Grove,  in  the  northwestern  part  of  McLean 
county.  Jonathan  H.  Kirkpatrick,  then  a 
young  lad,  began  work  in  order  to  assist  in 
the  support  of  the  family.  They  had  a  team 
which  was  employed  by  the  railroad  com- 
pany at  the  time  of  the  construction  of  the 
Illinois  Central.  He  acquired  a  good  prac- 
tical education  m  the  common  schools,  and 
followed  farming  in  this  county  until  1861, 
when  he  removed  to  Washington  county, 
Iowa,  with  his  mother,  whose  death  there 
occurred.  She  was  a  member  of  the  United 
Presbyterian  church,  and  was  ever  most  de- 
voted to  her  family,  discharging  faithfully 
the  heavy  duty  that  was  laid  upon  her  in 
the  care  of  her  large  family  at  her  husband's 
death. 

On  removing  to  Iowa  Mr.  Kirkpatrick,  of 
this  review,  purchased  a  farm  near  Brigh- 
ton, and  successfully  carried  an  agricultural 
pursuits  for  a  number  of  years.  He  was 
very  energetic  and  enterprising,  and  in  ad- 
dition to  the  improvement  of  his  land  he  was 
active  in  public  service,  filling  the  offices  of 
justice  of  the  peace,  school  director  and  con- 
stable. In  August,  1873,  however,  he  dis- 
posed of  his  interests  in  the  Hawkeye  state 
and  returned  to  Bloomington,  and  since 
that  time  has  sold  stock  as  an  auctioneer 
throughout  McLean  and  other  counties 
of  southern  Illinois.  He  has  practically 
been  in  control  of  all  the  business  in 
his  line  in  this  section  of  the  state,  and  has 
been  most  successful  in  his  undertakings. 
His  sales  have  been  larger  than  those  of 
any  other  man  in  the  business,  and  he  has 
sold  for  seventy-five  successive  days.  Other 
enterprises   have  also  claimed  the  attention 


642 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


of  Mr.  Kirkpatrick,  who  is  a  man  of  re- 
sourceful ability,  keen  discrimination  and 
reliable  judgment.  In  1885  he  opened  a 
second  hand  furniture  business  on  North 
Main  street,  Bloomington,  and  from  the 
beginning  the  new  enterprise  prospered,  his 
patronage  constantly  increasing.  This  was 
the  nucleus  of  his  present  extensive  furni- 
ture business.  He  owns  a  half  interest  in 
this  business,  his  partner  being  his  son-in- 
law,  Louis  W.  Howard,  the  enterprise  be- 
ing conducted  under  the  firm  name  of 
Howard  &  Kirkpatrick.  They  built  the 
first  brick  block  at  522  and  524  North  Main 
street,  a  structure  three  stories  in  height 
and  ninety  feet  in  depth,  with  basement,  and 
have  the  largest  single  store  room  in  town. 
They  carry  all  kinds  of  house  furnishing 
goods,  including  furniture,  carpets,  stoves, 
dishes  and  in  fact  everything  needed  to 
thoroughly  equip  a  house.  Their  stock  is 
the  most  extensive  in  the  city  and  their 
trade  has  reached  large  proportions,  war- 
ranting the  employment  of  twelve  salesmen 
in  the  store.  This  new  building  and  busi- 
ness was  established  only  five  years  ago,  but 
has  already  become  one  of  the  leading  mer- 
cantile establishments  in  the  city.  Mr. 
Howard  is  the  manager  of  the  business, 
while  Mr.  Kirkpatrick  gives  his  attention  to 
the  sale  of  stock.  In  addition  to  the  prop- 
erty and  business  interests  mentioned  he 
owns  a  building  at  No.  418  North  Main 
street,  a  handsome  residence  and  a  farm  in 
McLean  county. 

While  in  Iowa,  Mr.  Kirkpatrick  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Sylvia  D.  Sperry,  of 
Malone,  New  York,  who  was  then  success- 
fully engaged  in  teaching  in  Brighton,  Iowa. 
They  have  five  children:  Mary,  wife  of 
Louis  Howard;  Ida,  deceased  wife  of  Will- 
iam Humphrey;  Ora,  at  home;  Charles,  who 


is  attending  the  high  school  in  Bloomington, 
and  Edward,  attending  school.  The  family 
have  a  pleasant  home  at  No.  61 1  W.  Mon- 
roe street,  and  are  held  in  high  regard  in 
the  community.  The  parents  are  members 
of  the  Second  Presbyterian  church  and  Mr. 
Kirkpatrick  contributes  liberally  to  its  sup- 
port. He  belongs  to  Evergreen  City  Lodge 
No.  265,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  to  Jesse  Fell 
Lodge,  No.  164,  K.  P.  He  was  elected 
alderman  from  the  second  ward  on  its 
organization.  The  term  of  service  was  de- 
termined by  lot  and  the  short  one  fell  to 
him.  He  was  chairman  of  the  finance  com- 
mittee and  also  served  on  the  judiciary  com- 
mittee and  on  the  claim  committee.  He 
took  an  active  interest  in  support  of  all 
questions  for  the  betterment  of  the  city  and 
labored  most  earnestly  in  the  face  of  strong 
opposition  to  secure  the  improvement  on 
West  Monroe  street  and  the  valley  sewer. 
He  is  at  all  times  a  public-spirited  man, 
giving  his  aid  and  co-operation  to  every 
movement  calculated  to  advance  the  educa- 
tional, social,  moral  and  material  welfare  of 
the  community. 


CHARLES  E.  SMITH,  who  resides  on 
section  30,  Funk's  Gruvo  township, 
has  been  a  resident  of  McLean  county  since 
1864,  since  which  time  he  has  been  con- 
stantly engaged  in  general  farming  and  stock 
raising  with  gratifying  success.  He  is  a 
native  of  Morgan  county,  Ohio,  born  May 
9,  1849,  and  is  the  son  of  William  L.  and 
Maleta  (Cotton)  Smith,  both  of  whom  were 
also  natives  of  the  same  county  aud  state, 
the  former  born  December  19,  1824.  The 
paternal  grandfather,  Joseph  Smith,  was 
one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Morgan  county. 
William  L.  Smith   was  reared  to  farm 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


643 


life,  an  occupation  in  which  he  continued 
during  his  active  life.  Attracted  by  the 
glowing  accounts  that  he  had  heard  of  the 
prairie  state,  and  especially  of  McLean 
county,  he  came  here  with  his  family  in 
1864  and  purchased  a  farm  of  two  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  near  the  village  of  McLean, 
but  in  Funk's  Grove  township.  There  he 
resided  for  many  years,  actively  engaged  in 
farm  work,  and  then  gave  up  the  manage- 
ment of  the  farm  to  his  son  and  lived  re- 
tired. His  death  occurred  in  1892,  and  his 
remains  were  interred  in  the  cemetery  at 
Funk's  Grove.  His  wife  yet  survives  and 
makes  her  home  in  the  village  of  McLean. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  spent  his  boy- 
hood in  his  native  state,  where  he  began 
his  primary  education  in  the  public  schools. 
He  was  fifteen  years  old  when  he  came  with 
his  parents  to  McLean  county,  and  in  the 
schools  of  the  village  of  McLean  he  finished 
his  school  life.  He  remained  under  the 
parental  roof  until  after  he  attained  his  ma- 
jority, assisting  in  the  cultivation  of  the 
home  farm. 

On  the  22d  of  January,  1874,  Mr.  Smith 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Martha 
Jane  Longworth,  a  native  of  McLean 
county,  and  daughter  of  John  and  Prudence 
(Edwards)  Longworth,  the  former  a  native 
of  Morgan  county,  Ohio,  and  the  latter  of 
Maine.  They  came  to  McLean  county  in 
1836.  Mr.  Longworth  purchasing  a  farm  of 
two  hundred  acres  in  Mount  Hope  town- 
ship. He  was  very  successful  and  enter- 
prising and  spent  the  last  years  of  his  life 
on  the  old  farm.      His  wife  is  also  deceased. 

After  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith 
commenced  their  domestic  life  on  the  farm 
where  they  yet  reside,  Mr.  Smith  first  pur- 
chasing eighty  acres  of  partially  improved 
land.       He    later    purchased    one    hundred 


acres  additional,  and  has  now  a  fine  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  eighty  acres,  all  of  which 
is  under  cultivation,  and  the  farm  is  other- 
wise greatly  improved,  having  on  it  a  good 
dwelling,  barns  and  outbuildings,  good 
orchard,  shade  and  ornamental  trees,  and 
presenting  a  very  neat  and  attractive  ap- 
pearance. In  his  farming,  he  confines  him- 
self to  no  specialty,  but  engages  in  mi.xed 
farming  and  stock  raising,  and  in  the  latter 
line  he  has  been  reasonably  successful. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  have  three  children. 
Adah  M.  is  a  well-educated  young  lady  re- 
siding at  home.  Flora  L.  married  Nathan- 
iel Ewing,  but  died  in  December,  1897. 
Leslie  E.,  the  only  son,  resides  at  home. 
The  family  are  all  highly  esteemed. 

Time  certainly  passes  rapidly  away,  and 
anniversaries  come  before  one  can  scarcely 
realize  that  such  is  the  case.  On  the  22nd 
of  January,  1899,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  were 
made  aware  that  twenty-five  years  of  their 
happy  wedded  life  had  slipped  quietly  away. 
Friends  to  the  number  of  about  eighty  came 
in  upon  them  with  their  congratulations  and 
best  wishes  and  a  most  enjoyable  time  was 
had.  Numerous  presents  were  made  which 
were  highly  appreciated,  but  the  evidence 
of  good  will  and  friendship  was  better  than 
all,  and  will  always  be  a  pleasing  thought  to 
the  happy  recipients. 

Mr.  Smith  has  been  a  life-long  Repub- 
lican and  a  firm  believer  in  the  principles  of 
the  party.  He  has  voted  the  party  ticket 
since  casting  his  first  presidential  vote  for 
General  Grant  in  1872.  For  some  eighteen 
years  he  has  served  as  a  member  of  the 
school  board,  thus  showing  his  interest  in 
the  cause  of  education.  Fraternally  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  lodge  at  McLean, 
and  also  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  and  in  the  lodge  of  the  latter  order 


644 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


he  has  passed  all  the  chairs.  He  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Order  of  the  East- 
ern Star.  They  are  both  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  McLean, 
and  take  an  active  interest  in  the  work  of 
the  church.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 


JAMES  L.  BALLARD,  M.  D.  Among 
those  whose  lives  have  been  devoted  to 
the  healing  art  and  have  made  for  them- 
selves a  prominent  place  in  the  profession 
is  Dr.  Ballard,  of  Saybrook.  He  is  one  of 
the  pioneer  physicians  of  this  section  of  the 
state,  and  is  now  the  oldest  practitioner 
in  McLean  county.  For  many  years  he 
successfully  prosecuted  his  chosen  calling, 
but  is  now  practically  living  retired,  prac- 
ticing only  among  his  old  and  particular 
friends. 

The  Doctor  was  born  in  Madison  county, 
Kentucky,  May  25,  1826,  and  was  reared 
in  Jessamine  county,  that  state.  His  father, 
Dr.  W.  J.  Ballard,  was  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia, and  when  a  lad  of  about  seven  years 
went  to  Kentucky  with  his  father,  James  B. 
Ballard,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Madison 
county.  There  Dr.  W.  J.  Ballard  grew  to 
manhood  and  was  educated.  He  engaged 
in  practice  in  Jessamine  county  for  a  num- 
ber of  years,  finally  coming  to  Bloomington, 
Illinois,  in  June,  1855.  Here  he  opened 
an  office  and  built  up  a  good  practice  which 
he  continued  to  enjoy  until  his  death,  being 
one  of  the  best  known  and  most  popular 
physicians  of  the  city  in  early  days. 

Our  subject  was  reared  in  Jessamine 
county,  Kentucky,  and  commenced  the 
study  of  medicine  under  his  father,  later 
attending  lectures  at  the  medical  depart- 
ment  of  Transylvania  University,   Lexing- 


ton, Kentucky.  He  completed  his  studies 
there  about  1847  and  at  once  engaged  in 
practice.  He  was  married  May  23,  1849, 
to  Miss  Kate  Hogan,  a  native  of  Jessamine 
county,  Kentucky,  and  a  daughter  of  Will- 
iam Hogan,  a  prominent  business  man 
there,  who  ran  a  ferry  across  the  Kentucky 
river.  Her  paternal  grandfather,  William 
Hogan,  Sr. ,  was  from  North  Carolina  and 
was  an  early  settler  of  Garrard  county.  Her 
mother,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Love 
Chrisman,  was  the  daughter  of  Joseph 
Chrisman,  who  was  from  Virginia  and  was 
also  a  pioneer  of  Jessamine  county.  In 
1855  Dr.  Ballard  removed  with  his  father's 
family  to  Bloomington,  and  there  father 
and  son  engaged  in  practice  together  for 
two  years.  In  1857  our  subject  came  to 
Saybrook,  and  for  many  years  his  practice 
extended  for  many  miles  into  the  surround- 
ing country,  often  receiving  calls  from 
Ford,  De  Witt  and  Champaign  counties. 
He  built  up  a  large  and  lucrative  practice, 
which  he  continued  to  enjoy  until  1894, 
since  which  time  he  has  practically  lived 
retired. 

Nine  children  were  born  to  the  Doctor 
and  his  wife,  namely:  Love  is  the  wife  of 
Dr.  John  M.  Criglcr,  a  prominent  business 
man  of  Saybrook;  Lizzie  is  the  wife  of  Dr. 
W.  X.  Sudduth,  a  resident  of  Chicago;  Dr. 
W.  H.,  a  dentist,  of  Chebanse,  Illinois; 
Katie,  wife  of  Charles  A.  Schureman,  a 
banker  and  business  man  of  Saybrook; 
Charles  E.,  who  graduated  from  a  medical 
school  of  St.  Louis,  and  was  engaged  in 
practice  with  his  father  until  his  death  in 
1 891.  As  a  physician  and  pharmacist  he 
held  diplomas  in  three  different  states, 
Illinois,  Nebraska  and  Iowa.  He  was  also 
a  talented  musician,  who  wrote  music  and 
was  especially  proficient  as  a  cornet  player. 


, ...^'"^  -HE 

'     'TV    OF    I 


'(.UNOfr 


J.  L.   BALLARD,  M.  D. 


MRS.   CATHERINE   BALLARD. 


or  THE 

i;;!VERsiTy  of  Illinois 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


649 


Lucy  is  the  wife  of  Jesse  Evans,  who  holds 
a  position  in  the  bank  at  Saybrook.  Dr. 
John  B.  is  a  dentist,  of  McCook,  Nebraska. 
Mildred  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  Robert  Portwood, 
a  dentist,  of  Saybrook.  On  the  23d  of  May, 
1899,  the  children,  grandchildren,  relatives 
and  friends  in  a  f^reat  number,  met  at  the 
home  of  Dr.  Ballard  and  his  wife  to  cele- 
brate their  golden  wedding.  They  brought 
with  them  many  tokens  of  friends  and 
esteem  and  all  had  a  most  enjoyable  time. 
In  his  political  views  the  Doctor  is  a 
Jeffersonian  Democrat,  but  at  local  elections 
he  endeavors  to  support  the  men  best  quali- 
fied for  the  offices,  regardless  of  party  ties. 
He  has  been  elected  to  numerous  positions 
of  honor  and  trust,  such  as  supervisor,  town- 
ship trustee,  assessor  and  justice  of  the 
peace  and  has  discharged  the  various  duties 
ofj  these  positions  in  a  most  commendable 
and  satisfactory  manner.  Socially  he  is  a 
Master  Mason,  belonging  to  the  lodge  at 
Saybrook,  and  his  wife  is  a  faithful  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 


AARON  HARVEY  CONGER, who  is  now 
practically  living  a  retired  life  on  his 
farm  at  Fletcher,  in  Blue  Mound  township, 
was  born  March  19,  1830,  near  Newark, 
Licking  county,  Ohio.  He  traces  his  an- 
cestry back  to  1667,  a  period  of  more  than 
three  hundred  years,  the  family  being  of 
Scotch  descent,  but  early  settlers  in  this 
country.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  has  in 
his  possession  a  "family  tree,"  in  which  the 
various  branches  of  the  family  are  traced 
back  to  1669,  and  which  is  a  great  curiosity. 
Gershom  Conger,  the  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  where 
he  engaged  in  farming  on  quite  an  extensive 
scale  for  the  time  in  which  he  lived.    While 


the  owner  of  two  farms,  and  raising  and 
marketing  a  large  amount  of  produce,  it  is 
said  that  he  never  owned  a  wagon.  In  the 
winter  he  would  haul  his  produce  to  mar- 
ket on  sleds,  and  at  other  seasons  carry  the 
products  of  his  farms  to  market  on  horse- 
back, something  which  seems  to  farmers  of 
the  present  day  to  be  almost  incredible  of 
belief.  Gershom  Conger  married  Hannah 
Post,  who  was  also  of  Scotch  descent,  but 
born  in  New  Jersey.  Aaron  Conger  was 
their  third  eldest  son.  He  was  born  in 
Greene  county,  Pennsylvania,  March  7, 
1696.  He  was  a  well  educated  man,  and 
for  some  years  engaged  in  teaching  in  the 
schools  of  his  native  state  and  in  Ohio. 

Aaron  Conger  grew  to  manhood  in  his 
native  state,  and  there  married  Mary  Mc- 
Vey,  also  a  native  of  Greene  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, and  to  them  were  born  twelve 
children,  of  whom  two  died  in  infancy.  At 
present  writing  there  are  four  living,  of 
whom  our  subject  is  the  oldest.  Mrs. 
Sarah  Jane  Pierson  is  now  living  in  Kansas. 
James  M.  resides  in  Macomb,  Illinois.  Mrs. 
Martha  Barnhouse  is  living  in  Grant  county, 
Oregon.  She  is  the  owner  of  one  of  the 
largest  sheep  ranches  in  the  state,  and 
which  contains  about  three  thousand  acres. 
The  business  of  this  ranch  is  very  extensive. 
Aaron  Conger  was  also  a  very  extensive 
farmer  and  stock  raiser,  and  in  the  latter 
branch  of  his  business  gave  special  atten- 
tion to  horses,  for  which  there  was  a  great 
demand  in  his  day.  In  politics  he  was  a 
Democrat.  His  death  occurred  in  1876, 
while  his  wife  survived  him  two  years,  dying 
in  1878. 

Aaron  Harvey  Conger  was  reared  in  his 
native  county,  and  was  educated  in  the 
typical  log  school  house,  with  its  rude 
benches  and  wide  fire-place.     While  his  op- 


650 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


portunities  for  acquiring  an  education  were 
not  of  the  best,  he  made  the  best  use  of 
them,  and  by  extensive  reading  in  after 
years  he  has  become  a  well-informed  man. 
He  was  reared  to  farm  life,  and  remained 
at  home  assisting  in  the  farm  work  until  he 
was  twenty-one  years  old.  He  then  went 
to  work  in  a  woolen  mill,  and  in  three  years 
mastered  all  its  branches.  Leaving  the  mill 
at  the  expiration  of  that  time,  he  went  to 
work  for  a  stock  buyer,  raising  and  market- 
ing his  stock,  and  with  him  he  continued 
four  years.  That  was  in  this  county. 
He  first  received  eighteen  dollars  per  month, 
but  before  leaving  the  employ  of  that  gen- 
tleman he  was  getting  fifty-five  dollars  per 
month. 

Saving  his  money,  Mr.  Conger  came  to 
McLean  county  in  1S59  and  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  his  present  fine  farm,  for 
which  he  paid  twelve  dollars  per  acre. 
From  time  to  time  he  added  to  its  area  un- 
til it  now  contains  two  hundred  and  eighty 
acres.  When  he  first  came  to  the  county 
the  site  of  his  present  farm  was  covered 
with  wild  prairie  grass,  and  there  was  not 
a  tree  or  building  in  sight.  Wolves  deer 
and  rattlers  were  abundant,  and  on  several 
occasions  he  had  encounters  with  the  wolves, 
but  always  succeeded  in  driving  them  away. 
On  one  occasion  he  was  attacked  by  a 
wounded  deer,  but  after  a  severe  fight  he 
succeeded  in  killing  it.  In  these  encount- 
ers he  was  fortunate  in  not  receiving  any 
wounds.  Several  times  when  wishing  some 
venison  he  would  mount  his  horse,  and  after 
running  down  a  deer  would  kill  it  with  a 
club.  By  hard  work  and  good  management 
in  time  he  succeeded  in  making  of  his  place 
a  most  valuable  farm,  on  which  he  set  out 
a  good  orchard,  and  erected  the  necessary 
buildings. 


On  the  28th  of  April,  1861,  Mr.  Conger 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Ellen 
White,  daughter  of  George  C.  and  Julia 
(Noel)  White.  She  was  born  in  Tippecanoe 
county,  Indiana,  while  her  father  was  a  na- 
tive of  New  York,  and  her  mother  of  Clarke 
county,  Ohio.  When  she  was  eleven  years 
of  age  she  came  with  her  parents  to  Mc- 
Lean county,  and  here  her  union  with  Mr. 
Conger  was  celebrated.  By  this  marriage 
there  were  nine  children,  six  of  whom  are 
living.  Two  of  the  number  died  in  infancy, 
and  one,  Cora  Miles,  when  twenty-four 
years  of  age.  Clara  is  the  wife  of  Nicholas 
H.  Watson,  and  they  have  one  son,  Lynn. 
He  is  engaged  in  the  drug  business  in  Anch- 
or, Illinois.  Charles  C.  is  making  his  home 
on  a  farm  near  Fletcher,  and  has  the  man- 
agement of  the  two  elevators  in  Fletcher, 
of  which  his  father  owns  a  half  interest.  He 
has  two  children,  Gladys  and  Edith.  Bert- 
ice  H.  is  also  living  at  home  and  has  the 
management  of  the'home  farm.  F.  Pearle, 
now  Mrs.  Frank  Parish,  is  living  in  Indian- 
apolis, Indiana,  where  her  husband  has  an 
interest  in  a  large  cracker  establishment. 
Blanche  is  the  wife  of  Jacob  Phillips,  who 
is  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  in 
Holcomb.  Ogle  county,  Illinois.  Ethel  is 
living  at  home  and  is  engaged  in  teaching 
near  her  father's  residence. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Conger  are  members  of 
the  Baptist  church,  in  which  he  has  been  a 
deacon  for  several  years.  In  politics  he 
was  originally  a  Repnblican,  and  cast  his  first 
presidential  vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln.  As 
a  member  of  that  party  he  cast  his  last 
presidential  vote  for  Benjamin  Harrison. 
Since  that  time  he  has  been  an  earnest  ad- 
vocate of  the  principles  of  the  Prohibition 
party.  On  the  Prohibition  ticket  he  ran  as 
a  candidate  for  the  state  senate,  and  polled 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


651 


a  heavy  vote.  He  was  also  a  candidate  for 
sheriff  of  McLean  county  on  the  Prohibition 
ticket  and  again  polled  a  heavy  vote.  He 
has  always  been  true  to  his  party,  and  he 
has  always  felt  that  he  would  rather  be 
beaten  in  a  good  cause  than  to  be  suc- 
cessful in  a  bad  one.  In  his  township  he 
served  as  collector  a  number  of  years,  and 
for  thirty  years  was  a  school  director,  and 
took  particular  pride  in  his  home  school. 
He  always  gave  special  attention  to  the  em- 
ployment of  competent  teachers,  and  as  a 
consequence  this  one  school  has  sent  out 
about  twenty-five  pupils  who  have  held  and 
are  now  holding  responsible  and  prominent 
positions.  In  this  they  owe  their  success  to 
his  good  management  of  the  school.  His 
influence  was  always  for  good,  and  he  is 
spoken  of  very  highly  by  those  who  have 
profited  by  his  good  advice  and  timely  help. 
Mr.  Conger  did  a  general  farming  and 
stock  raising  business  while  actively  engaged 
in  farm  work.  One  day,  while  following 
the  plow,  he  reasoned  that  he  could  do  bet- 
ter for  himself  and  family  by  employing 
some  one  for  that  work,  and  return  to  his 
old  business  of  buying  and  shipping  stock, 
at  which  he  had  been  very  successful  in 
times  past.  He  also  went  into  the  grain 
trade,  buying  and  selling  on  commission  for 
two  years,  after  which  he  purchased  on  his 
own  account,  and  for  twenty  years  was  act- 
ively engaged  in  the  business.  On  account 
of  ill  health  he  was  forced  to  retire  from  act- 
ive business,  and  has  turned  it  over  to  his 
son,  of  whom  mention  has  already  been 
made.  His  first  elevator  being  too  small  in 
which  to  handle  his  grain,  in  1897  he  erect- 
ed a  much  larger  one,  and  both  are  now 
being  used.  In  that  year  he  took  in  a  part- 
ner, and  the  business  is  now  being  conduct- 
ed under  the  firm  name  of  Conger  &  Beier. 


Their  business  is  quite  extensive,  and  ship- 
ments are  made  to  all  points  in  the  United 
States,  where  good  markets  are  found. 

Mr.  Conger  has  traveled  quite  extensive- 
ly from  coast  to  coast,  but  never  feels  but 
what  he  can  learn  much  from  the  men  with 
whom  he  is  brought  in  contact.  A  Chris- 
tian man,  he  takes  his  religion  with  him,  and 
ever  tries  to  live  up  to  the  principles  of  the 
golden  rule.  He  is  greatly  esteemed  in  the 
community  which  has  been  his  home  for  so 
many  years,  and  both  young  and  old  trust 
him  implicitly. 


JOHN  PENDERGAST,  who  for  twenty- 
three  years  has  been  section  foreman  on 
the  Illinois  Central  railroad,  and  who  was 
one  of  the  first  to  locate  in  the  village  of 
Colfax,  was  born  in  the  city  of  Chicago, 
Illinois,  June  12,  1855,  and  when  he  was  a 
small  boy  his  parents  moved  to  Effingham 
township,  Effingham  county,  Illinois,  where 
his  boyhood  and  youth  were  spent.  In  the 
public  schools  of  Effingham  he  received  a 
good  common-school  education.  His  father, 
James  Pendergast,  was  born  in  Ireland  about 
1827,  and  when  twenty  years  of  age  set  sail 
for  the  United  States.  He  located  first  in 
Vermont,  and  there  worked  at  a  variety 
of  occupations  by  the  day  and  month.  While 
residing  in  Vermont  he  married  Miss  Mary 
O'Brien,  also  a  native  of  Ireland,  who  came 
to  the  United  States  in  girlhood.  By  this 
marriage  there  were  three  children:  John, 
Ella  and  Edward.  Ella  married  Marion 
Arrington,  of  Fayette  county,  Illinois,  and 
to  them  were  born  five  children:  Eugene, 
Harry,  Nellie,  Katie  and  Mattie,  of  whom 
Nellie  died  at  the  age  of  two  years.  Edward 
is  in  the  railroad  business,  and  married 
Margaret   Smith,   of   Ivesdale,  Illinois,    and 


6$2 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


they  have  two  children:  William  and  Marian. 
James  Pendergast  died  in  1859,  and  for  her 
second  husband,  Mrs.  Pendergast  married 
Edward  Harty,  by  whom  she  had  three 
children:  Kate,  William  and  Mary,  of  whom 
the  latter  died  in  infancy.  Bcjth  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Harty  are  yet  living. 

John  Pendergast,  our  subject,  began  life 
for  himself  when  he  was  fifteen  years  of  age, 
securing  employment  as  a  common  laborer 
with  the  Illinois  Central  railroad,  and 
worked  in  that  capacity  for  the  company 
for  five  years.  On  account  of  efficient  and 
faithful  service,  he  was  promoted  to  the  po- 
sition of  section  foreman,  which  position  he 
has  now  held  for  more  than  twenty-three 
years.  On  the  26th  of  June,  1879,  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Catherine  Green,  formerly  of 
Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  and  they  have 
now  two  sons  and  two  daughters.  James 
W.  is  a  graduate  of  the  Colfax  high  school, 
and  was  the  third  child  born  in  the  corporate 
limits  of  Colfa.x,  and  was  the  only  one  of 
the  three  who  graduated,  all  being  students 
of  the  same  school.  Walter  E.  and  Mary 
E.  are  students  in  the  school  from  which 
their  brother  graduated.  Anna  Veronica 
died  when  six  months  old. 

William  Green,  the  father  of  Mrs. 
Pendergast,  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1832, 
and  in  his  native  country  received  a  very 
limited  education.  When  but  a  small  boy, 
he  saw  there  was  little  or  no  opportunity 
for  a  workingman  in  the  country  of  his 
nativity,  so  he  decided  to  emigrate  to  the 
United  States,  which  he  did  about  1848, 
when  about  sixteen  years  old.  Locating  in 
Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  he  learned  the 
moulder's  trade,  and  followed  that  occupa- 
tion for  many  years.  He  married  Eliza 
Mann,  also  of  Ireland,  but  at  the  time  of 
their    marriage  a  resident  of  Philadelphia, 


They  became  the  parents  of  five  children: 
Fanny,  Catherine.  William,  Charles  and 
Elizabeth.  The  family  came  to  this  state 
in  1865  and  located  in  Effingham  county. 
Mr.  Green  died  in  1878,  and  Mrs.  Green 
March  7,  1894. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pendergast  are  highly 
esteemed  citizens  of  Colfax,  honest  in  all 
their  dealings,  and  have  the  reputation  of 
paying  for  what  they  contract  at  one  hun- 
dred cents  on  the  dollar.  She  is  a  devoted 
wife  and  mother,  overseeing  the  secular, 
moral  and  religious  interests  of  the  family. 
The  family  are  members  of  St.  Joseph's 
Roman  Catholic  church  of  Colfax.  In 
politics  he  is  an  uncompromising  Democrat. 


HARLEY  J.  WHITE,  city  treasurer  of 
Bloomington,  is  one  of  the  younger 
men  of  the  city  who  have  made  an  excel- 
lent reputation  for  themselves  and  who  have 
reflected  honor  on  the  city  of  their  adoption. 
He  was  born  in  Peoria,  Illinois,  May  2, 
1865,  and  is  the  son  of  Michael  B.  and 
Sarah  (Hill)  White,  the  former  born  two 
miles  north  of  Niagara  Falls,  in  Ontario, 
Canada,  January  4,  1823,  where  he  grew 
to  manhood  and  learned  the  trade  of  mill- 
wright. He  later  came  to  Illinois  and  lo- 
cated in  Peoria,  where  he  was  in  the  em- 
ploy of  Gipps'  brewery  and  distillery,  as  a 
millwright,  having  supervision  of  the  repair 
work  in  their  mills.  While  in  that  city,  in 
1863,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mrs. 
Sarah  Reed,  iicc  Hill,  a  native  of  Green 
county,  Pennsylvania,  born  October  18, 
1826,  and  daughter  of  Thomas  Hill,  also  a 
native  of  that  state,  of  old  German  Penn- 
sylvania stock,  who  there  lived  and  died. 

About    three   years  after  his   marriage, 
Michael    B.    White    moved    his    family    to 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


653 


Bloomington  and  built  the  mill  at  Shirley, 
which  he  operated  about  five  years  for  him- 
self, and  then  moved  into  the  city,  where 
he  was  employed  as  a  millwright  for  Thomas 
Cox,  who  owned  the  Eagle  and  Union  mills, 
keeping  both  mills  in  order.  In  1885  he 
went  to  Montovislo,  in  San  Luis  valley, 
west  of  Pueblo,  where  he  died  on  the  last 
day  of  the  World's  Fair,  in  1893.  While 
in  that  state  he  was  engaged  in  ranching, 
having  a  number  of  sections  of  land  and 
many  head  of  stock.  His  wife  survived 
him  some  three  years,  dying  in  Bloomington 
at  the  home  of  our  subject,  October  12, 
1896. 

Harley  J.  White  is  the  only  living  child 
of  his  parents.  He  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  Bloomington,  and  later 
took  a  course  in  Evergreen  City  Business 
College.  He  worked  for  the  means  to  put 
himself  through  the  business  college,  and 
when  he  completed  the  course,  he  had  to 
take  the  first  job  that  came  to  hand,  and  he 
was  not  very  particular  what  it  was  so  that 
it  would  afford  him  the  means  of  living. 
He  soon  attracted  the  attention  of  the  pub- 
lic, and  in  1893  was  appointed  health  of- 
ficer for  the  city  of  Bloomington,  and  for 
four  years  had  charge  of  the  health  depart- 
ment of  the  city.  During  that  time  the  city 
dispensed  with  the  medical  health  officer, 
Mr.  White  discharging  all  the  duties  of  the 
office  in  a  most  satisfactory  manner.  In 
1897  he  became  a  candidate  for  the  office  of 
city  collector,  and  won  out  of  a  field  of 
seven  candidates  who  were  contending  for 
th  office.  His  two  years'  service  was  such 
as  to  justify  his  nomination  as  city  treasurer 
in  the  spring  of  1899,  and  on  the  i8th  of 
April,  he  was  elected,  and  is  now  serving 
bis  first  term  in  that  office. 

Mr.  White  was  united  in  marriage,  May 


13,  1896,  with  Miss  Emma  Laudett,  of 
Bloomington,  and  daughter  of  Charles  H. 
Laudett,  and  they  have  now  one  son,  Clin- 
ton H.  While  not  members,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
White  attend  and  help  sustain  the  First 
Presbyterian  church. 

In  politics  Mr.  White  is  a  stanch  Re- 
publican, and  for  some  years  has  been  a 
member  of  the  city  and  county  central  com- 
mittee of  his  party,  and  has  taken  a  very 
active  part  in  moulding  public  opinion. 
By  his  own  efforts,  and  his  own  energy,  he 
has  made  a  success  of  life,  and  this  while  at 
all  times  working  under  disadvantages,  hav- 
ing been  paralyzed  in  one  leg  when  an  in- 
fant, which  still  leaves  him  disabled.  Fra- 
ternally he  is  a  member  of  the  Modern 
\\'oodmen  of  America,  and  as  a  citizen  no 
man  stands  higher  in  the  estimation  of  the 
general  public. 


CAPTAIN  HUGH  NEILL,  a  veteran 
both  of  the  Mexican  and  civil  wars,  has 
been  a  resident  of  Martin  township  since 
1866.  He  was  born  in  the  north  of  Ireland 
November  20,  1824,  and  when  a  boy  of 
twelve  years  he  went  with  his  parents  to 
Scotland,  where  he  received  a  good  com- 
mon-school education.  His  father,  David 
Neill,  was  born  in  Scotland  about  1792,  and 
married  Isabella  McConnell,  of  a  celebrated 
Scotch  family,  and  a  native  of  Scotland, 
and  to  them  were  born  seven  children — 
Hugh  and  Martha  (twins),  Mary  Ann,  John, 
Margaret,  Jennette  and  David.  The  par- 
ents never  came  to  the  United  States,  but 
died  in  their  native  land,  in  1842,  the  fa- 
ther dying  ten  days  after  the  death  of  his 
wife.  He  was  a  warm  friend  of  the  cele- 
brated Robert  Emmett. 

In  his  youth  the  subject  of  this  sketch 


654 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


enlisted  as  a  common  sailor,  but  it  did  not 
take  him  long  to  become  tired  of  the  sea, 
and  at  the  first  opportunity  he  returned 
home,  and  in  1843,  when  nineteen  years  of 
age,  and  one  year  after  the  death  of  his 
parents,  he  came  to  the  United  States,  tak- 
ing a  vessel  at  Greenock  and  landing  at 
Mobile,  Alabama,  later  going  to  New  Or- 
leans, Louisiana,  where  he  took  out  his  first 
naturalization  papers.  In  1846  he  enlisted 
in  Company  B,  Third  Battalion,  Louisiana 
Volunteers,  for  the  Mexican  war,  and  served 
under  Generals  Taylor  and  Scott  until  the 
close  of  the  war,  when  he  was  honorably 
discharged.  He  was  first  sergeant  of  his 
company,  and  while  in  the  service  dis- 
charged every  duty  with  the  utmost  fidelity. 

In  1849  Mr.  Neill  came  to  this  state  and 
located  at  Peoria,  and  one  year  later  came 
to  Bloomington,  where  he  found  employ- 
ment in  a  lumber  yard.  In  1851  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Sarah  Randolph,  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia, and  who  came  with  her  parents  to 
Illinois  in  early  life,  the  family  locating  in 
Logan  county,  from  where  they  later  emi- 
grated to  Iowa.  They  were  of  Scottish 
descent,  and  trace  their  ancestry  back  to 
Sir  William  Randolph,  who  was  a  bosom 
friend  of  William  Wallace,  the  Scottish 
chieftain  of  the  fifteenth  century. 

To  Captain  and  Mrs.  Neill  were  born 
seven  children  —  David,  John,  Mary  E., 
William,  Isabella,  Alexander  T.  and  Frances 
B.  The  oldest  son,  David,  is  conducting  a 
barber  shop  in  Colfax.  John  was  a  rail- 
way man,  and  died  in  1893.  Mary  E.  died 
in  infancy.  William  died  in  his  fifteenth 
year.  Isabella  married  Elmer  Powell,  and 
they  are  the  parents  of  three  children,  Grace, 
Clarence  and  Jessie.  They  now  reside  at 
Beaver  Crossing,  Nebraska.  Alexander  is 
an  attorney  at  law  in  Stillwater,  Oklahoma. 


He  married  a  lady  in  Missouri.  Frances  B. 
married  John  Barth,  and  they  have  two 
daughters,  Jennie  and  Kate.  Their  home 
is  in  Clayton,  Oklahoma. 

Shortly  after  their  marriage  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Neill  moved  to  Peoria,  Illinois,  where 
he  was  employed  as  out-door  clerk  for  Tyng 
&  Brotherson,  who  were  engaged  in  the 
grain  and  commission  business,  and  for  ten 
years  was  in  their  employ.  The  war  for  the 
Union  was  now  in  progress,  and  the  military 
spirit  was  once  more  stirred  within  him,  and 
on  June  26,  1861,  he  was  mustered  into 
the  service  of  his  adopted  country,  at  St. 
Louis,  Missouri,  as  first  lieutenant  of  Com- 
pany G,  Eighth  Missouri  Volunteer  Infantry, 
and,  going  to  the  front,  he  served  under 
such  distinguished  generals  as  Lew  Wallace, 
Blair,  Logan,  Sherman  and  Grant,  being 
principally  with  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee. 
He  was  promoted  captain  for  bravery  in 
action  at  the  battle  of  Fort  Donelson.  He 
was  honorably  discharged  with  the  rank  of 
captain  and  brevet-major  August  16,  1864. 

After  receiving  his  discharge.  Captain 
Neill  returned  to  his  home  in  Peoria,  where 
he  remained  a  few  months.  The  war  not 
being  ended,  his  Scotch  blood  and  warlike 
spirit  would  not  let  him  rest  content  until 
those  in  rebellion  were  brought  to  terms  and 
the  supremacy  of  the  general  government 
acknowledged.  Accordingly,  on  the  28th  of 
February,  1865,  he  again  entered  the  vol- 
unteer service  of  his  adopted  country  in 
Company  F,  Second  Regiment  of  Veteran 
Volunteers,  and  was  mustered  in  with  the 
rank  of  captain.  With  his  company  he  was 
sent  to  Elmira,  New  York,  and  although 
the  war  was  soon  afterward  ended,  he  was 
retained  in  the  service  until  March  10, 1866, 
when  he  was  again  honorably  discharged. 
To  show  the  arduous   service  in  which  the 


THE    BIOGR.\PHICAL   RECORD. 


655 


Captain  was  engaged,  we  will  state  that  he 
was  in  the  battles  of  Fort  Donelson,  Shiloh 
and  Russell's  House,  the  seige  of  Corinth, 
the  battles  of  Chickasaw  Bayou,  and  Ar- 
kansas Post,  the  seige  of  Vicksburg,  the 
battles  of  Chattanooga  and  Mission  Ridge, 
march  to  Knoxville,  Tennessee,  the  march 
through  Georgia,  battles  of  East  Snake 
Creek  Gap,  Resaca,  Dallas,  Kenesaw 
Mountain,  and  in  all  the  battles  before  At- 
lanta. 

For  a  third  of  a  centurj'  Captain  Xeill 
has  been  a  resident  of  Martin  township, and 
in  all  the  years  that  have  passed  he  has 
added  to  his  circle  of  friends.  He  was 
called  upon  to  mourn  the  loss  of  his  good 
wife  November  i6,  1893.  She  was  a  truly 
good  woman,  kind  and  affectionate,  a 
worthy  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church, 
and  died  in  the  full  assurance  of  faith.  The 
Captain  is  also  a  member  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian church  at  Colfax,  and  is  one  of  its 
elders.  Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  Although  of 
foreign  birth  his  love  for  his  adopted  coun- 
try has  been  attested  by  about  seven  years 
of  faithful  service  in  defense  of  the  old  flag. 


FREDERICK  CHARLES  MUHL.  This 
well  known  resident  of  Bloomington  is 
one  of  our  leading  German-born  citizens, 
and  in  his  successful  business  career  he  has 
shown  the  characteristic  thrift  and  enter- 
prise of  his  race.  Beginning  with  no  cap- 
ital except  that  acquired  by  his  own  indus- 
try he  has  built  up  a  large  business  as  a  con- 
tractor and  manufacturer  of  cornice,  and  is 
to-day  one  of  the  prosperous  citizens  of 
Bloomington. 

Mr.  Muhl  was  born  on  the  25th  of  No- 
vember, 1846,  in   Thilbeer,  Creisosterburg, 


Madgeburg,  Province  of  Saxony,  Prussia, 
which  was  the  ancestral  home  of  the  family. 
His  mother  died  in  that  country,  after  which 
the  father,  Christopher  Muhl,  married  again, 
and  with  his  second  wife  and  seven  chil- 
dren emigrated  to  America  in  1862.  They 
arrived  in  Bloomington,  Illinois,  on  the  lOth 
of  October  of  that  year,  and  here  the  father 
followed  his  trade  of  cabinet  making  until 
his  death.  In  his  native  land  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  church,  but  here 
united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
of  which  he  remained  a  consistent  member. 
Frederick  C.  Muhl  obtained  a  fair  edu- 
cation in  his  native  tongue  before  leaving 
Europe,  but  had  no  knowledge  of  English 
on  his  arrival  in  this  country,  and  it  has 
been  entirely  through  his  own  efforts  that 
he  had  become  familiar  with  the  language. 
While  learning  to  speak  English  he  was  va- 
riously employed,  and  then  served  an  ap- 
prenticeship with  Harwood  Brothers  in  tin 
roofing  and  cornice  making,  after  which  he 
worked  as  a  journeyman  with  them  until 
about  twenty  years  ago,  when  he  opened  a 
shop  and  started  in  business  on  his  own  ac- 
count. From  the  start  he  has  met  with 
success  and  his  trade  has  constantly  in- 
creased. He  manufactures  cornice,  and  has 
done  a  large  amount  of  slate  roofing  be- 
sides other  kinds,  being  the  oldest  contrac- 
tor in  that  line  in  the  city.  He  has  worked 
on  many  of  the  best  buildings  in  Blooming- 
ton, including  the  Coliseum,  the  new  mar- 
ket, and  Chisholm  Flats,  and  during  the 
busy  season  gives  employment  to  from  ten 
to  twelve  men.  He  has  purchased  prop- 
erty at  212.  214  and  216  South  Centre 
street,  which  he  has  erected  what  is  now 
known  as  the  Muhl  block,  with  store  rooms 
below  and  Hats  above,  and  as  the  lots  are 
very  deep  he  has  built  his  shop  in  the  rear. 


656 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Mr.  Muhl  was  united  in  marriage  May 
10,  1 87 1,  with  Miss  Johanna  Musch,  also  a 
native  of  Prussia,  and  to  them  have  been 
born  seven  children,  namely:  Lena,  now 
the  wife  of  Samuel  Waugh;  Carl,  who  is 
with  his  father  in  business;  Gertie;  Albert, 
died  at  the  age  of  four  years;  Fred;  Oscar 
and  Julia.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Muhl  are 
leading  members  of  the  German  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  with  which  he  united  in 
1863  when  quite  young,  and  he  is  consid- 
ered one  of  the  pillars  of  the  church,  filling 
the  pulpit  at  times  in  the  absence  of  the 
regular  minister.  He  has  always  taken  an 
active  part  in  church  work,  was  a  member 
of  the  building  committee  on  the  erection 
of  the  house  of  worship,  and  is  now  serving 
as  trustee  of  the  same  and  as  superintendent 
of  the  Sabbath-school.  He  is  a  Repub- 
lican, but  takes  no  active  part  in  political 
affairs  aside  from  voting.  His  devotion  to 
the  public  good,  however,  is  unquestioned, 
and  arises  from  a  sincere  interest  in  the 
welfare  of  his  fellow  men. 


JOHN  HAWTHORN,  who  is  now  living 
a  retired  life  in  the  village  of  Colfa.x, 
was  for  many  years  one  ot  the  most  active 
and  enterprising  farmers  in  McLean  county, 
one  who  toiled  early  and  late  with  the  re- 
sult that  prosperity  attended  him  in  all  his 
efforts.  He  is  a  native  of  Cumberland 
county,  Pennsylvania,  and  was  born  March 
26,  1816.  His  father,  James  Hawthorn,  was 
also  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  there  mar- 
ried Nancy  Clark,  likewise  a  native  of  the 
same  state,  and  to  them  were  born  eleven 
children. 

In  his  native  state  John  Hawthorn  grew 
to  manhood,  receiving  in  the  schools  of  that 
early  day  a  very  limited  education.     At  a 


very  tender  age  he  worked  out,  receiving  for 
his  first  labor  one  dollar  per  month,  together 
with  his  board.  He  was  not  long  required 
to  work  for  such  a  small  sum,  his  industrious 
habits  and  evident  desire  to  please  his  em- 
ployers making  a  valuable  hand,  and  his 
services  were  therefore  in  demand.  For 
some  years  he  worked  on  various  farms  by 
the  month,  becoming  thus  familiar  with  all 
kinds  of  farm  labor,  and  which  stood  him 
in  good  turn  in  after  years. 

On  the  20th  of  May,  1841,  Mr.  Haw- 
thorn was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Eliza  Morias,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  but 
of  Holland  descent.  Nine  children  came  to 
bless  their  union — Mary  J.,  George  W., 
John  M.,  Eliza  E.,  James  R.,  Margaret  R., 
Henry  C. ,  David  A.  and  Thomas  W.  Since 
the  death  of  her  mother  in  1885,  Mary  J. 
has  been  the  faithful  manager  and  house- 
keeper for  her  father.  George  \V.  married 
Mary  C.  Crumbaker,  and  they  have  seven 
children,  John  E.,  Arza  D.,  Effie  J.,  Pearl, 
Bessie  M.,  Roy  O.  and  M.  Rebecca.  They 
reside  in  Lawndale  township.  John  M.  is 
a  stock  man  in  Nebraska.  Eliza  E.  mar- 
ried Emil  Graff,  but  died  the  same  year  of 
her  marriage.  James  H.  married  Sarilda 
Smith,  and  they  have  seven  children, 
Daisy,  Nelly  D.,  Elsie  J.,  Everett,  Essel, 
Estella  and  an  infant.  They  reside  in  Iowa. 
Margaret  A.  married  Richard  Crumbaker, 
and  they  have  one  daughter  living,  Dora  J. 
Their  home  is  in  Lawndale  township. 
Henry  C.  married  Eva  Warner,  and  they 
have  three  sons;  they  reside  in  Iowa. 
David  A.  married  Jennie  Billingsby,  and  to 
them  were  born  two  children,  Zena  and 
Bonnie.  Their  home  is  in  Missouri.  Thom- 
as W.  married  Clara  Wiley,  and  they  have 
four  children,  they  live  in  Iowa.  The 
mother  of  these  children  was  called  to  her 


JOHN   HAWTHORN. 


L.- 

Oh     Hit 
.'VERSiTY  OF  ILLlKC;i 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


659 


reward  November  29,  18S5,  leaving  a  large 
family  and  numerous  friends  to  mourn  her 
loss.  She  was  a  good  mother,  a  loving 
wife,  and  a  true  helpmeet  to  her  husband, 
aiding  him  greatly  in  his  prosperous  career. 

Si.x  years  after  his  marriage,  Mr.  Haw- 
thorn moved  with  his  family  to  Ohio,  mak- 
ing the  journey  in  a  one-horse  covered  wagon. 
They  remained  in  that  state  four  years  and 
then  came  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Peoria 
county,  which  was  their  home  until  the  fall 
of  1853,  when  they  became  permanknt  resi- 
dents of  McLean  county,  locating  in  Lawn- 
dale  township,  where  Mr.  Hawthorn  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  of  government  land, 
paying  one  hundred  dollars  for  the  same. 
This  land  joined  that  of  William  Henline, 
who  had  provided  for  his  father  and  mother 
in  their  old  age,  by  the  erection  on  the 
place  of  a  comfortable  log  cabin.  The 
parents  had  recently  passed  over  "on  the 
other  side, "and  Mr.  Hawthorn  purchased 
the  log  house  for  ten  dollars,  and  through 
the  assistance  of  kind  neighbors  moved  it  to 
his  eighty  acres  as  a  place  of  abode  for  his 
growing  family. 

Not  a  furrow  had  been  turned  on  the 
place  when  purchased  by  Mr.  Hawthorn,  and 
with  that  characteristic  industry  that  has 
followed  him  through  life,  he  went  to  work 
to  till  the  soil  and  otherwise  improve  the 
farm.  While  with  his  family  he  had  to  en- 
dure the  toils  and  privations  of  pioneer  life, 
he  has  the  proud  satisfaction  of  feeling  that 
in  the  end  "  all  is  well."  About  every  two 
years  he  added  to  the  area  of  his  posses- 
sions, until  he  had  seven  hundred  acres  in 
the  vicinity  of  his  first  home,  and  in  Nebras- 
ka he  has  entered  up  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  for  each  of  his  sons.  He  also  owns 
land  in  Kansas  and  Iowa,  and  now  has 
about   seventeen  hundred   acres.     He   has 


been  a  successful  man,  but  sobriety,  indus- 
try and  integrity  will  always  win. 

The  first  presidential  vote  cast  by  Mr. 
Hawthorn  was  for  William  Henry  Harrison 
in  the  celebrated  campaign  of  1840,  when 
the  cry  of  the  Whigs  was  ' '  Tippecanoe  and 
Tyler,  too,"  with  log  cabins  and  hard  cider 
as  an  accompianment.  Such  a  stir  was 
never  before  known.  He  continued  to  vote 
with  the  Whig  party  as  long  as  it  was  in 
existence,  and  on  the  birth  of  the  Republic- 
an party  he  cast  his  lot  with  it,  and  has 
since  been  an  enthusiastic  supporter  of  that 
party. 


HORACE  OLYNTHUS  HEDGE,  editor 
and  proprietor  of  the  Chenoa  Gazette, 
has  had  a  remarkably  eventful  career.  His 
parents  were  prominent  residents  of  Wind- 
sor, Vermont,  where  his  father,  Lemuel 
Hedge,  was  engaged  in  printing  and  publish- 
ing, and  in  mechanical  pursuits.  He  com- 
menced the  publication  of  the  Vermont 
Journal,  and  for  a  time  was  sole  proprietor. 
The  firm  of  Hedge  &  Merrifield,  of  which 
he  was  the  senior  member,  published  the 
first  quarto  illustrated  Bible  in  the  United 
States.  From  Windsor  his  parents  removed 
to  Middletown,  Connecticut,  where  Horace 
was  born  June  2,  1822.  The  family  soon 
afterwards  returned  to  Vermont,  settling  in 
Brattleboro,  and  in  the  schools  of  that  city 
Horace  fitted  himself  for  college.  Entering 
Trinity  College,  at  Hartford,  Connecticut, 
he  pursued  the  regular  course  and  graduated 
with  honors.  He  was  educated  for  the 
ministry,  but  preferring  a  mercantile  life,  he 
went  to  the  city  of  New  York,  where  he 
found  employment  as  bookkeeper  with  the 
firm  of  Bramhall,  Abernethy  &  Collins,  a 
large  importing  and    wholesale    dry-goods 


66o 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


house.  He  was  later  offered  and  accepted 
a  more  lucrative  position  as  bookkeeper  in 
John  Ryle's  large  silk  factory  at  Paterson, 
New  Jersey,  which  he  resigned  to  accept  a 
still  better  position  with  Benjamin  Brundred 
&  Son,  manufacturers  of  cotton  machinery 
for  the  Rubios,  of  Mexico.  He  spent  a  year 
or  more  in  Mexico,  looking  after  the  inter- 
ests of  the  firm  there,  during  which  time  he 
became  an  adept  in  the  Spanish  language. 

After  his  return  to  the  United  States, 
Mr.  Hedge  went  to  New  York  city  as  book- 
keeper for  John  Campbell  &  Co.,  large 
paper  manufacturers  and  dealers.  While 
in  that  city  he  became  personally  and  inti- 
mately acquainted  with  the  eminent  editors 
of  that  day — Horace  Greeley,  Henry  J. 
Raymond,  Charles  A.  Dana  and  James 
Gordon  Bennett — together  with  many 
authors,  publishers,  musical  celebrities, 
writers,  and  other  prominent  persons.  The 
confinement  in  the  establishment  of  Camp- 
bell &  Co.  was  too  much  for  him,  and  he 
resigned  his  position  and  returned  to  Pater- 
son, New  Jersey,  where,  in  1845,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Margaret  Colt 
Smith,  a  relative  of  the  Colts,  Penningtons 
and  Hornblowcrs,  and  soon  after  his  mar- 
riage was  appointed  agent  and  accountant 
for  the  Erie  railway,  and  remained  in  the 
service  of  that  road  over  twenty  years. 
While  residing  in  Paterson,  he  was  organist 
in  the  Presbyterian  and  Baptist  churches 
for  several  years,  and  was  prominent  in 
Masonic  circles,  in  the  lodge,  council,  chap- 
ter and  commandery.  He  was  elected  the 
first  city  clerk  of  Paterson,  and  was  the  first 
comptroller,  and  he  was  also  a  member  of 
the  local  and  state  boards  of  education  sev- 
eral terms. 

At  the  breaking  out  of  the  civil  war, 
Mr.    Hedge    received    a   commission    from 


President  Lincoln  in  the  secret  service  of 
the  United  States,  and  was  engaged  in 
many  hazardous  and  dangerous  missions 
during  the  war.  He  was  also  special  war 
correspondent  for  the  New  York  Tribune, 
Times,  Sun  and  Herald.  At  the  close  of 
the  war  he  came  west  to  Chicago,  and  took 
charge  of  the  organ  department  of  Lyon  & 
Healy,  introducing  the  famous  Burdette 
organ,  and  while  with  them  traveled  ex- 
tensively. In  1 87 1  he  went  to  Marseilles, 
Illinois,  as  manager  of  Brown  &  Norton's 
paper  manufactory,  and  while  there  started 
and  published  the  Marseilles  Register.  In 
1874  his  wife  died,  and  in  May,  1876,  he 
went  to  Minonk  and  started  the  Minonk 
Times,  now  the  News.  In  August,  of  that 
year,  he  married  Miss  Mary  H.  Waite,  at 
Marseilles.  While  residing  in  Minonk  he 
was  organist  in  the  Presbyterian  church, 
and  was  elected  city  clerk  several  times. 

In  1883  Mr.  Hedge  came  to  Chenoa 
and  purchased  the  Chenoa  Gazette  and  job 
printing  establishment,  and  has  since  con- 
tinued the  publication  of  the  paper.  In 
April,  1889,  his  office  was  destroyed  by  fire, 
and  he  lost  everything.  Nothing  daunted, 
he  went  to  Chicago,  purchased  new  mate- 
rial and  issued  the  Gazette  on  the  regular 
publication  day.  In  1891  he  assigned  to 
his  son  an  interest  in  the  paper,  and  it  was 
published  by  Hedge  &  Son.  This  relation 
continued  but  about  one  year,  the  son,  Jo- 
seph, dying  in  1892. 

Since  taking  up  his  residence  in  Chenoa, 
Mr.  Hedge  has  been  elected  and  served  as 
city  clerk  two  or  three  terms,  refusing 
higher  offices,  and  has  always  enjoyed  the 
confidence  and  esteem  of  the  people.  He 
is  a  fine  Latin  scholar  and  a  fine  musician, 
as  well  as  an  excellent  journalist  and  poet. 
Under  the    nom   de  plume  of   "  Olynthus " 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


66 1 


and  "H.  O.  H."  he  has  contributed  some 
poems  of  rare  merit.  He  has  also  written 
some  songs  and  music  which  have  had  a 
wide  sale. 

Mr.  Hedge  has  been  an  e.xtensive  trav- 
eler through  this  country  and  in  Me.xico, 
and  has  a  large  acquaintance  among  emi- 
nent men,  especially  among  authors,  mu- 
sicians and  statesmen.  He  was  at  one  time 
quite  wealthy,  but  has  been  unfortunate, 
losing  heavily  in  the  early  days  of  the  oil 
development  in  Pennsylvania,  and  in  the 
great  Chicago  fire.  He  has  three  married 
daughters  by  his  first  wife,  who  are  living 
in  Chicago,  and  one  daughter  by  his  second 
wife,  who  is  attending  college  in  Minne- 
apolis. 

On  the  1 2th  of  March,  1899,  Mr.  Hedge 
experienced  another  great  loss,  by  the  de- 
struction of  his  office  by  fire,  the  entire 
contents  being  burned,  including  his  books 
and  accounts,  together  with  his  subscrip- 
tion lists.  As  in  the  first  instance  of  the 
loss  of  his  office,  he  lost  no  time  in  procur- 
ing another  outfit,  and  the  publication  of 
the  Chenoa  Gazette  is  still  continued.  Such 
pluck  is  indeed  commendable  and  unusual 
at  his  age. 


ISAAC  CONKLIN,  a  farmer  and  stock 
raiser,  residing  on  section  i,  Martin 
township,  and  who  for  twenty  years  has 
been  agent  for  the  Phoenix  Insurance  Com- 
pany, of  Brooklyn,  New  York,  was  born  in 
Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  March  24,  1831, 
and  there  grew  to  manhood,  being  reared 
on  a  farm  and  receiving  his  education  in  the 
common  schools.  His  father,  William 
Conklin,  was  born  in  \\'ashington  county, 
Pennsylvania,  March  17,  1809,  and  when 
but  two  years  of  age  was  taken  by  his  par- 


ents to  Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  where 
his  boyhood  and  youth  were  spent.  He 
was  educated  in  the  pioneer  schools  of  Ohio 
and  was  reared  to  the  honorable  occupation 
of  farming.  On  the  iSth  of  March,  1830, 
he  married  Miss  Bedelia  McKernan,  and 
they  became  the  parents  of  twelve  children 
— Isaac,  John,  Austin  (who  died  in  infancy), 
Elniira,  James  H.,  M.  Catherine,  Peter  M., 
William  (who  died  in  infancy),  Amanda, 
Joseph,  Amelia  and  Shelby.  In  1886,  Will- 
iam Conklin  departed  this  life,  and  his  wife, 
who  was  born  in  1812,  died  in  1882.  John 
Conklin,  the  paternal  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  was  born  in  Maryland.  He  mar- 
ried Mary  Spencer,  of  Washington  county, 
Pennsylvania,  and  to  them  were  born  eight 
children.  The  grandfather  died  about  1859, 
and  the  grandmother  about  1880. 

Isaac  Conklin  was  reared  on  his  father's 
farm  in  Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  and  re- 
ceived a  common-school  education.  In  his 
twentieth  year  he  began  to  learn  the  car- 
penter's trade,  which  he  followed  for  eleven 
years.  On  the  9th  of  May,  i860,  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Susan  Worrell,  second  daughter 
of  Henry  and  Harriet  (Switzer)  Worrell, 
who  came  from  Baltimore,  Maryland,  to 
Fulton  county,  Illinois.  Henry  Worrell 
was  born  in  Baltimore,  Maryland,  June  10, 
1800.  He  received  a  limited  common- 
school  education,  and  ia  his  youth  learned 
the  carpenter's  trade,  which  he  followed  for 
a  time,  but  latter  engaged  in  farming.  He 
married  Harriet  Switzer,  also  a  native  of 
Baltimore,  Maryland,  and  to  them  were 
born  eight  children — Jesse,  Rachel,  Susan, 
Nellie,  Jane,  Mary,  Julia  and  Harriet.  The 
family  came  to  Illinois  in  1S36,  and  located 
in  Canton,  Fulton  county.  They  started 
from  their  home  in  Maryland  with  a  one- 
horse  covered  wagon,  but  when  they  came 


662 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


to  cross  the  mountains  they  found  that  one 
horse  was  not  sufficient  to  draw  the  load,  so 
that  Mr.  Worrell  was  forced  to  buy  another 
horse,  and  placing  him  in  front  of  the  other 
drove  them  tandem  the  remainder  of  the 
journey.  Mr.  Worrell  died  in  185 1  and  his 
wife  in  1853. 

Six  children  came  to  bless  the  union  of 
Isaac  Conkling  and  Susan  Worrell,  three 
sons  and  three  daughters.  One  son  died  in 
infancy.  The  others  are  Charles  R.,  C. 
Belle,  Emma  J.,  Annie  E.  and  William  A. 
Charles  R.  is  engaged  in  farming  near  Kan- 
kakee, Illinois.  C.  Belle  married  Asbury 
Howard,  and  they  have  three  children, 
Bertha,  Gersert  and  Susie.  They  reside  in 
Peoria,  where  Mr.  Howard,  who  is  a  skill- 
ful carriage  and  sign  painter,  is  engaged  in 
business.  Emma  J.  married  William  Nick- 
erson,  a  farmer  of  Lawndale  township. 
Annie  E.  married  George  Baird,  and  they 
have  three  children,  Mabel,  Louise  and 
Tiny.  They  reside  in  Peoria,  where  Mr. 
Baird  is  engaged  in  contracting.  By  trade 
he  is  a  carpenter.  William  A.,  who  is  a 
farmer  near  Peoria,  married  Dolly  Atkins, 
a  native  of  Sperryville,  West  Virginia,  but 
who  was  living  in  Colfa.\  at  the  time  of  her 
marriage,  and  they  have  one  daughter, 
Nadene. 

Mr.  Conklin  came  to  Bloomington  in 
1856,  and  worked  at  his  trade  until  1861, 
and  then  for  four  years  rented  land  in  Lawn- 
dale  township.  In  1864  he  purchased  his 
presentfarmof  two  hundred  and  forty  acres, 
eighty  acres  of  which  are  in  Martin  town- 
ship, and  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in 
Lawndale  township.  In  addition  to  the 
home  farm,  he  has  an  interest  with  his  son 
in  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  near  Kanka- 
kee, Illinois.  Since  coming  to  Illinois  he 
has  been  quite   successful,  and  is  now  well 


and  comfortably  fi.xed.  his  farm  and  build- 
ings showing  the  industry  and  good  taste  of 
its  owner.  In  politics  he  is  a  Free  Silver 
Democrat,  and  in  his  religious  views  he  is  a 
Methodist,  being  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  at  Colfax.  His  wife  and 
children  are  members  of  the  Christian 
church  in  the  same  place.  All  are  highly 
esteemed  in  the  community. 


HILWERT  WILLIAM  HARMS  is  the 
owner  of  a  valuable  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  ninety  acres,  in  Yates  township, 
improved  with  all  modern  improvements  and 
accessories,  and  his  name  is  found  on  the 
roll  of  McLean  county's  leading  agricultur- 
ists. He  was  born  in  Peoria  county,  Illi- 
nois, November  8,  1852,  and  is  a  son  of 
Henry  H.  Harms,  who  was  born  in  East 
Friesland,  in  the  kingdom  of  Hanover,  Ger- 
many, May  25,  1822.  The  father  was  a 
farmer  and  weaver,  and  in  July,  185 1,  cross- 
ed the  Atlantic  to  America.  He  at  once 
made  his  way  to  Peoria  where  he  arrived 
with  only  one  dollar  in  his  pocket  and  that 
sum  he  paid  for  being  ferried  across  the 
river,  the  bridge  having  been  washed  out. 
Ere  leaving  his  native  land  he  married  Jo- 
anna Hilwert  Saathoff,  who  was  born  in 
Hanover,  August  27,  1822.  On  reaching 
Peoria,  they  both  secured  employment  until 
they  could  get  a  start  in  the  new  world. 
After  eight  years  the  father  rented  a  farm 
in  Woodford  county  and  five  years  later  he 
purchased  a  quarter-section  which  he  had 
leased.  All  of  the  improvements  upon  the 
place  were  made  by  him  and  the  farm  be- 
came a  valuable  property.  He  erected  good 
buildings,  laid  many  rods  of  tiling  and  de- 
veloped rich  and  fertile  fields.  In  1875  he 
purchased  one  hundred  and    sixty   acres  of 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


66z 


land  at  forty  dollars  per  acre  and  thereon 
conducted  a  successful  business  until  i8So, 
when  he  rented  his  farm  to  his  son.  After 
the  death  of  his  wife  in  1881  he  went  to  live 
with  his  children.  In  the  family  were  eight 
sons  and  daughters,  but  one  of  the  number 
died  in  infancy.  Harm  W.  Harms  is  a 
farmer  residing  near  Panola  and  married 
Hiskie  P.  Johnson,  by  whom  he  has  twelve 
children,  four  now  deceased.  The  living 
are  Henry  H.,  Peter,  Janna,  John,  Harm, 
Gracie,  Annie  and  Bertha.  Hilwert  is  the 
ne.\t  of  the  family.  Annie  H.  is  the  wife  of 
Dirk  Myer,  who  is  engaged  in  the  wholesale 
and  retail  hardware  business  in  Peoria  and 
in  the  manufacture  of  Weir  furnaces.  They 
have  six  children,  of  whom  five  are  living, 
Senna,  Joanna,  Albert,  Henry  and  Frank. 
Mary  is  the  wife  of  Frank  Rewerts,  a  farm- 
er residing  near  Benson.  Illinois,  and  of 
their  nine  children  seven  are  living,  namelj*: 
Etta,  Henry,  Janna,  Willie,  Amanda,  John 
and  August.  Janna  is  the  wife  of  John 
Williams,  who  follows  farming  near  Rochelle, 
Illinois,  and  their  children  are  Hannah, 
Etta,  Henn.-,  Senna  and  John.  Fannie 
Amanda  is  the  wife  of  George  Williams, 
proprietor  of  a  grocery  and  feed  store  in 
Peoria,  and  they  have  three  children,  Clara, 
Flora  and  Mary. 

Mr.  Harms,  of  this  review,  acquired  his 
education  in  the  district  schools  and  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  Kreuger.  He  remained  at 
home  until  twenty  years  of  age  and  then 
entered  upon  an  independent  business  career 
by  renting  land  of  his  father.  This  he  op- 
erated very  successfully  and  also  followed 
threshing  for  eight  years,  using  horsepower. 
His  first  purchase  of  land  consisted  of  eighty 
acres,  for  which  he  paid  twenty  dollars  per 
acre.  This  was  situated  in  Livingston 
county  and  came  into  his  possession  in  1 880. 


He  afterward  added  to  it  a  tract  of  ten  acres, 
for  which  he  paid  eighteen  dollars  per  acre, 
making  his  home  thereon  for  si.\  years,  when 
he  bought  one  hundred  and  seventeen  acres 
for  thirty-four  dollars  and  twenty  cents  per 
acre.  One-half  of  it  was  prairie  and  the 
other  covered  with  brush,  but  he  cleared  it 
all.  made  some  e.xcellent  improvements 
upon  it  and  in  1889  sold  it  for  forty-two 
dollars  and  a  half  per  acre.  He  then  pur- 
chased his  present  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
ninety  acres,  paying  fifty  dollars  per  acre  for 
a  quarter-section  and  fifty-two  dollars  per 
acre  for  the  remainder.  It  is  now  under  a 
very  high  state  of  cultivation  and  he  also 
successfully  engages  in  raising  Normanshire 
and  English  draft  horses.  He  has  upon  the 
place  fine  orchards,  a  commodious  and 
handsome  residence  and  one  of  the  best 
barns  in  the  township,  and  all  the  improve- 
ments upon  the  place  stand  as  monuments 
to  his  thrift  and  enterprise. 

On  the  i6th  of  January,  1877,  Mr. 
Harms  married  Miss  Geske,  daughter  of 
Heika  and  Gertrude  (Xeeman)  Kuhlman. 
She  was  born  near  Eureka,  in  Woodford 
county,  Illinois,  January  16,  1857,  and  her 
parents  were  natives  of  Hanover,  Germany, 
whence  they  came  to  America  the  year  fol- 
lowing the  emigration  of  Mr.  Harms'  par- 
ents. They  had  a  family  of  seven  children, 
namely:  Senna  is  the  wife  of  Maine  Harms, 
of  Nebraska,  and  their  children  are  Carrie, 
Heika,  Mannan,  Geska,  Gertrude,  John 
and  Sene.  Geske  is  the  wife  of  our  sub- 
ject. George  Kuhlman  is  now  deceased. 
He  married  Lena  Baum,  and  both  are  now 
deceased.  Their  children,  Gertrude,  Caro- 
line, Senna,  Katie  and  Clara,  reside  in  Se- 
cor,  Illinois.  Reina  is  the  deceased  wife  of 
J.  Tholen,  who  resides  in  Peoria,  Illinois. 
Their  children  are  Maggie,    Henry,  Heika, 


664 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Katie  and  George.  Melchert  is  a  farmer, 
and  is  living  in  Wing,  Illinois.  He  has  two 
children,  John  and  Heika.  Lena  is  living 
with  her  relatives.  Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of 
William  Ludwig,  of  Secor,  Illinois. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harms  are  the  parents  of 
si.\  children,  but  one  died  in  infancy.  The 
others,  Janna,  Henry  H.,  Heika,  George 
and  Annie,  are  still  at  home.  The  parents  are 
faithful  members  of  the  German  Lutheran 
church,  in  which  Mr.  Harms  is  serving 
as  trustee,  while  in  the  Sunday-school  he 
has  also  been  an  officer.  In  politics,  he  is 
independent,  supporting  the  men  whom  he 
thinks  best  qualified  for  office.  He  has 
served  as  school  director  for  six  years  and 
has  also  been  pathmaster,  discharging  his 
duties  in  a  prompt  and  able  manner.  His 
life  has  been  one  of  great  industry,  and  he 
deserves  much  credit  for  his  success,  as  it 
has  come  to  him  as  the  result  of  earnest 
purpose  and  untiring  labor. 


CHARLES  E.  THOMPSON,  who  re- 
sides on  section  3,  Mt.  Hope  township, 
is  an  example  of  what  may  be  attained  by 
the  youth  of  this  land,  even  though  they 
commence  life  without  means  or  influential 
friends  to  aid  them  on  the  road  to  pros- 
perity. He  was  born  in  Morgan  county, 
Ohio,  November  i,  1845,  ^^^  there  grew 
to  manhood,  receiving  his  education  in  the 
common  schools.  His  father,  John  II. 
Thompson,  was  a  native  of  Loudon  county, 
Virginia,  born  March  17,  1813,  and  was 
there  reared  to  man's  estate  and  there  mar- 
ried Miss  Nancy  Tavaner,  also  a  native  of 
Virginia.  Soon  after  their  marriage  they 
moved  to  Ohio,  making  their  home  in  Mor- 
gan county,  where  he  purchased  a  tract  of 
timber  land,   cleared   it,  and   opened  up  a 


farm.  They  were  among  the  early  settlers 
of  that  locality.  Later  they  sold  their  Ohio 
farm  and  moved  to  Wayne  county,  Iowa, 
where  he  again  engaged  in  farming  and 
spent  the  last  years  of  his  life,  dying  April 
II,  1898.  He  was  twice  married,  and  by 
his  first  wife  there  were  six  children  that 
grew  to  maturity.  She  died  in  1853.  By 
his  second  wife  there  were  five  children 
that  lived  to  mature  years,  and  all  are  yet 
living. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  son  of 
John  H.  and  Nancy  (Tavaner)  Thompson. 
He  remained  with  his  father  until  of  age, 
and  in  1868  came  to  McLean  county,  where 
an  uncle  and  cousin  were  then  living.  On 
his  arrival  he  went  to  work  on  a  farm  by 
the  month  for  C.  T.  McCarty,  of  Funks 
Grove  township,  with  whom  he  continued 
three  years.  He  then  rented  a  farm  and 
for  two  years  engaged  in  its  cultivation. 
On  the  22d  of  February,  1876,  he  was  united 
in  marriage,  in  Funks  Grove  township,  with 
Miss  Clara  Smith,  a  native  of  Ohio,  but 
who  was  reared  and  educated  in  this  county. 
She  is  a  daughter  of  W.  L.  Smith,  a  native 
of  Ohio,  and  a  sister  of  Charles  E.  Smith, 
whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this 
work.  By  this  union  there  are  two  chil- 
dren, Ira  Bliss  and  Ora  Pearl,  both  at 
home. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Thompson  moved  to  a  farm  in  Funks 
Grove  township,  which  he  rented  and  on 
which  they  lived  for  some  years.  He  then 
purchased  a  farm  of  one  hundred  acres  in 
Funks  Grove  township,  but  near  the  village 
of  McLean,  and  there  resided  for  nine 
years,  during  which  time  he  made  a  num- 
ber of  valuable  improvements  on  the  place. 
Selling  the  farm  at  a  nice  advance  on  the 
purchase  price,   in   1891   he  purchased  the 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


66  s 


farm  where  they  now  reside,  and  which 
consists  of  one  hundred  and  sixty-five  acres 
of  well  improved  land,  with  good  residence, 
barns  and  other  outbuildings,  all  of  which 
are  kept  in  excellent  repair. 

In  connection  with  his  farming,  Mr. 
Thompson  has  been  engaged  in  stock  rais- 
ing, and  in  buying  and  dealing  in  horses. 
Thirty-one  years  ago  he  came  to  McLean 
county  a  poor  young  man,  but  he  had  pluck 
and  a  determination  to  succeed,  and  the  re- 
sult of  his  years  of  toil  is  now  shown  in  his  will 
tilled  fields,  the  good  stock  upon  his  place, 
and  other  evidences  that  goes  to  show  the 
industrious  man,  who  is  not  willing  to  lag 
behind  in  the  race  of  life,  but  always  keeps 
in  the  front,  and  who  never  knows  of  the 
word  fail.  Politically  he  is  a  true  blue  Re- 
publican, and  since  attaining  his  majority 
has  supported  the  men  and  measures  of  the 
Republican  party.  For  some  years  he  has 
served  on  the  school  board,  and  for  about 
eight  years  as  clerk  of  the  school  district. 
The  entire  family  are  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church  of  McLean,  in  which 
he  is  serving  as  steward.  Fraternally  he  is 
a  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America.   All  are  held  in  the  highest  esteem. 


ALEXANDER  E.  STUMP,  who  for 
nearly  half  a  century  has  been  one  of 
the  popular  mechanics  of  the  city  of  Bloom- 
ington,  has  many  friends  scattered  through- 
out the  county,  and  is  a  worthy  representa- 
tive of  his  trade.  He  was  born  near 
Germantown,  Perry  county,  Pennsylvania, 
October  29,  1831,  and  is  the  son  of  John 
and  Margaret  (Snyder)  Stnmp,  of  an  old 
Pennsylvania  family.  The  father  owned 
and  run  a  sawmill,  in  his   native   state,  and 


was  killed  when  our  subject  was  but  five 
years  old. 

In  his  native  state,  Alexander  E.  Stump 
grew  to  manhood  and  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools.  In  his  youth  he  learned 
the  blacksmith  trade,  which  he  has  followed 
during  his  entire  life.  The  great  state  of 
Illinois  had  for  some  years  been  attracting 
the  young  men  of  the  east,  and  like  many 
others  he  determined  to  here  seek  a  home, 
with  the  hope  of  doing  better  than  in  the 
crowded  east.  In  1855  he  came  to  Mc- 
Lean county  and  located  in  Bloomington 
and  for  two  years  worked  in  the  shop  of 
John  R.  Smith.  He  then  opened  a  shop 
for  himself  on  the  corner  of  Madison  and 
Front  streets  and  soon  built  up  a  good  busi- 
ness. Later  he  went  into  partnership  with 
a  Mr.  Hayes,  and  the  two  did  nearly  all 
the  business  of  the  town  in  those  days.  In 
i860  he  bought  a  lot  at  No.  213  East  Front 
street,  one  of  the  most  valuable  lots  in 
the  city  and  opened  his  shop  alone,  and 
soon  was  doing  an  excellent  business,  mak- 
ing a  specialty  of  horse  shoeing.  His 
business  was  such  that  he  gave  employ- 
ment to  a  good  many  men,  and  that  busi- 
ness has  kept  up  until  the  present  time,  and 
with  one  exception  he  is  the  oldest  man  in 
his  line  of  business. 

On  the  2d  day  of  February,  i860,  Mr. 
Stump  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Aurora  E.  Earner,  a  daughter  of  G.  Ear- 
ner, an  old  justice  of  the  peace,  of  Bloom- 
ington, and  one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  city. 
She  was  born  November  i,  1834,  in  Mc- 
Connorsville,  Morgan  county,  Ohio.  By 
this  union  there  are  two  children,  the  eldest. 
Earner  A.,  being  engaged  with  his  father 
in  business.  He  married  Miss  Carrie  Wil- 
son, and  they  have  one  daughter,  Edith. 
Their  eldest  child,  Jessie,    married   Dudley 


666 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Creed,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Lucy. 
The  good  wife  of  our  subject  died  Octo- 
ber 3,  1894,  and  her  death  was  sincerely 
mourned  not  only  by  her  family,  but  by  a 
large  circle  of  friends.  She  was  a  member 
of  the  Unitarian  church,  of  which  Mr. 
Stump  is  also  a  member. 


JOHN  T.  BUCK,  one  of  the  active  and 
enterprising  farmers  of  McLean  county, 
has  a  valuable  and  well  improved  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  si.xty  acres  on  section  10, 
Funk's  Grove  township,  about  six  miles 
from  the  village  of  Heyworth.  On  that 
farm  he  has  resided  since  1889,  at  which 
time  he  made  his  first  purchase  of  eighty 
acres,  to  which  he  has  since  added  eighty 
more  acres.  The  farm  is  well  improved 
and  is  kept  under  a  high  state  of  cultiva- 
tion. He  is  a  native  of  DeWitt  county  and 
was  born  March  10,  1855.  His  father, 
Melvertis  Buck,  was  born  in  Ohio  in  1830, 
and  came  to  this  state  in  his  early  manhood, 
locating  first  in  Pekin,  Tazewell  county. 
Some  time  later,  with  a  land  warrant,  he 
took  up  one  hundred  and  si.\ty  acres  of  land 
in  Rutledge  township,  DeWitt  county,  and 
there  resided  some  years.  Disposing  of 
that  tract,  he  later  purchased  one  hundred 
and  thirty-three  acres  near  Waynesville,  in 
the  same  county.  He  married  Miss  Nancy 
Leeper,  a  native  of  Illinois,  and  they  be- 
came the  parents  of  three  children,  of  whom 
our  subject  is  the  oldest.  Mary  Ann  is  the 
wife  of  Dan  Stephens,  a  substantial  farmer 
of  McLean  county.  Sherman  is  living  on 
the  old  homestead  in  DeWitt  county.  The 
father,  who  was  a  successful  farmer,  died 
February  24,  1892.  His  wife  survives  him 
and  resides  on  the  old  farm  in  DeWitt 
county. 


The  subject  of  this  sketch  grew  to  man- 
hood on  the  old  farm,  which  was  located 
within  two  and  a  half  miles  of  Waynesville, 
DeWitt  county,  and  was  educated  in  the 
common  school.  He  remained  with  his 
parents  until  1881,  when  he  began  farming 
for  himself  on  section  12,  Funk's  Grove 
township,  commencing  with  forty  acres, 
which  he  at  that  time  purchased.  On  that 
tract  he  lived  nine  years,  in  the  meantime 
improving  it,  and  renting  and  cultivating 
other  land.  Selling  at  a  nice  advance,  he 
bought  eighty  acres  of  his  present  farm,  to 
which  he  removed,  and  to  which  he  later 
added  eighty  acres  adjoining.  Here  he  has 
since  lived,  year  by  year  making  additional 
improvements  on  the  place,  in  one  year 
putting  up  his  residence,  another  building  a 
barn,  then  by  planting  an  orchard,  setting 
out  shade  and  ornamental  trees,  until  to- 
day the  place  presents  a  neat  and  tasty 
appearance,  and  shows  that  it  is  managed 
by  one  who  thoroughly  understands  his 
business.  In  connection  with  his  farming, 
he  has  since  1893  been  operating  a  steam 
thresher,  purchasing  one  at  that  time,  which 
he  later  sold,  and  purchased  another,  a  new 
and  improved  one.  He  also  owns  and 
operates  a  corn  sheller,  and  with  the  aid  of 
the  thresher  and  sheller  he  adds  materially 
to  his  income  each  year,  at  the  same  time 
being  of  great  assistance  to  his  neighbors, 
who  depend  on  him  to  thresh  their  grain 
and  shell  their  corn. 

Mr.  Buck  was  married  in  McLean  coun- 
ty in  1878,  to  Miss  Nancy  Beard,  who  was 
born  and  reared  near  the  village  of  McLean, 
and  daughter  of  William  Beard,  formerly 
from  Ohio. 

Politically  Mr.  Buck  is  a  stanch  Repub- 
lican, and  in  local  politics  he  has  been  quite 
active.      In    1894  he  was  elected  commis- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


667 


sioner  of  highways,  and  was  re-elected  in 
1897,  and  is  now  serving  his  second  term, 
making  a  very  satisfactory  official.  For 
about  ten  years  he  served  as  school  director 
for  his  district,  and  conscientiously  dis- 
charged the  duties  of  that  office.  Frater- 
nally he  is  a  member  of  Waynesville  Lodge, 
I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  passed  through  all  the 
chairs,  and  is  now  past  grand  of  the  lodge. 
Like  thousands  of  others  he  commenced 
life  with  but  little  means,  but  through  in- 
dustry and  good  management,  assisted  by 
the  help  of  his  good  wife,  he  has  now  a  well 
improved  farm,  and  is  numbered  among  the 
most  progressive  farmers  in  the  township 
and  county,  and  one  worthy  of  the  respect 
in  which  he  is  held. 


JOSHUA  BARNES,  an  old  and  honored 
resident  of  Martin  township,  McLean 
county,  whose  home  is  on  section  25,  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania,  May  9,  1827,  and 
after  completing  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  state,  worked  at  the 
potter's  trade  there.  On  the  20th  of  Jan- 
uary, 1847,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Isabella  Trent,  of  Pennsylvania,  a 
daughter  of  James  and  Mary  (Smith)  Trent, 
also  natives  of  that  state,  the  former  born 
in  1800.  Her  father  died  in  1863,  and  her 
mother  soon  afterward.  In  their  family 
were  eight  children,  namely:  Mary,  de- 
ceased; Isabella,  wife  of  our  subject;  Peggy; 
John;  Sarah;  Elias;  Lizzie  and  James. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barnes  have  become  the 
parents  of  eleven  children,  five  sons  and  six 
daughters,  and  of  these  five  were  born  in 
Pennsylvania  and  the  remainder  in  Illinois. 
In  order  of  birth  they  are  as  follows:  Be- 
linda married  Franklin  McKee,  a  machinist 
of   Bloomington,  and  they   have  two   chil- 


dren, William  and  Dora;  Daniel  S.  married 
a  Miss  Roberts,  and  himself,  wife  and  child 
are  all  now  deceased;  Benjamin  F.  married 
Annie  Graves,  of  Vermont,  and  they  had 
five  children,  Oscar,  Franklin,  Maude, 
Myrtle  and  Minnie;  Sarah  died  at  the  age  of 
seven  years;  Ellen  married  Benjamin  Bur- 
nett, of  McLean  county,  and  they  had  one 
daughter,  Minnie,  wife  of  William  McClurc, 
formerly  of  the  north  of  Ireland,  by  whom 
she  has  one  son,  Sidney ;  Molly  married  Harry 
Knipple,  of  Pennsylvania,  now  deceased  by 
whom  she  has  three  children,  Charles,  Maude 
and  Ray,  and  she  now  resides  in  Chicago, 
Illinois;  John  died  at  the  age  of  four  years; 
Belle  married  Nin  Hand,  of  southern  Illi- 
nois; Hattie  died  in  infancy;  Oscar  married 
Sadie  Henley,  of  Bloomington,  by  whom  he 
had  one  daughter.  Pearl,  and  he  died  De- 
cember 5,  1893;  and  Charles  died  at  the  age 
of  two  years. 

On  coming  to  Illinois  in  1855,  Mr. 
Barnes  first  located  in  Twin  Grove,  but  has 
made  his  home  in  Martin  township,  Mc- 
Lean county,  since  1868.  During  his  resi- 
dence in  this  state  he  has  devoted  the 
greater  part  of  his  time  and  attention  to  ag- 
ricultural pursuits,  and  has  met  with  well- 
deserved  success  in  his  labors,  being  a 
thorough  and  systematic  farmer  and  a  busi- 
ness man  of  more  than  ordinary  ability.  He 
laid  aside  all  personal  interests,  August  8, 
1862,  and  joined  the  boys  in  blue  as  a  mem- 
ber of  Company  A,  Ninety-fourth  Illinois 
Volunteer  Infantry.  He  participated  in  the 
battle  of  Prairie  Grove,  Arkansas,  and  the 
capture  of  Van  Buren,  that  state;  took  part 
in  the  siege  and  capture  of  Vicksburg,  Mis- 
sissippi, and  Fort  Morgan,  Alabama;  the 
capture  of  Spanish  Fort;  and  was  in  numer- 
ous skirmishes.  He  received  a  flesh  wound 
in  the  left  leg  near   Rolla,  Missouri,  and  at 


668 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


the  close  of  the  war  was  honorably  dis- 
charged at  Galveston,  Texas,  July  17,  1865, 
and  returned  to  his  home  with  a  war  record 
of  which  he  may  be  justly  proud.  In  his 
political  affiliations  he  is  a  thorough  Repub- 
lican, and  he  takes  a  deep  and  commend- 
able interest  in  all  enterprises  calculated  to 
advance  the  interests  of  his  county,  state  or 
nation.  He  is  widely  and  favorably  known 
and  has  made  hosts  of  friends  during  his 
residence  in  McLean  county.  His  esti- 
mable wife  is  a  member  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren church. 


WILLIAMSON  P.  MINTER.  president 
of  the  Minter  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany, Bloomington,  has  been  one  of  the 
active  manufacturers  and  business  men  of 
the  city  for  more  than  forty  years.  He  was 
born  in  Kentucky,  July  10,  1832,  and  at  the 
age  of  three  months  was  left  fatherless,  his 
mother  soon  afterwards  moving  to  the  home 
of  Gabriel  Minter,  her  late  husband's  father. 
She  later  married  a  Mr.  Nelson,  and  is  yet 
living  in  Kentucky  at  the  age  of  eighty-eight 
years.  She  has  made  her  home  in  the  same 
place  for  fifty-seven  years.  Gabriel  Minter 
was  a  practicing  physician,  and  was  one  of 
the  pioneer  doctors  of  the  vicinity  in  which 
he  lived,  moving  there  from  Virginia.  He 
was  a  well-to-do  man,  and  was  the  owner 
of  a  large  farm,  which  he  carried  on  in  ad- 
dition to  his  practice. 

When  our  subject  was  but  eight  years 
old  he  was  sent  as  an  apprentice  to  Madison 
county,  Kentucky,  to  learn  a  trade,  the  term 
of  his  apprenticeship  being  until  he  was 
twenty-one  years  old.  He  first  learned 
wool-carding,  and  then  the  manufacture  of 
wool-carding  machinery,  cabinet  and  under- 
taking work,  blacksmithing  and   carpenter- 


ing. For  his  thirteen  years'  work  he  was 
to  receive  his  board,  clothing,  six  months 
schooling,  and  at  the  expiration  of  his  term 
of  service,  a  broadcloth  suit  of  clothes  or 
one  hundred  dollars  in  cash.  He  wisely 
chose  the  latter,  and  with  this  sum  he 
went  to  Garrett  county,  in  the  same  state, 
and  for  two  years  was  in  charge  of  a  wool- 
carding  establishment  as  foreman.  He 
then  came  to  Bloomington,  and  for  a  time 
was  an  employe  in  a  cabinet  shop,  but  later 
started  a  cabinet  shop  of  his  own  on  Wash- 
ington street.  His  salesroom  was  on  Wash- 
ington street  and  his  shop  being  where  the 
Big  Four  depot  stands.  He  built  up  an  ex- 
cellent trade,  but  the  second  year  after  his 
establishment  in  business  the  mill  burnt  and 
he  lost  all  that  he  had,  and  was  thus  com- 
pelled to  temporarily  abandon  business.  Se- 
curing a  situation  with  the  Chicago  &  Alton 
Railroad,  he  run  an  engine  on  that  line  for 
two  years.  He  then  commenced  contract- 
ing as  a  carpenter,  continuing  in  that  line 
until  the  outbreak  of  the  civil  war.  Not- 
withstanding he  was  of  southern  birth,  he 
was  loyal  to  the  core,  and  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany C,  Thirty-third  Illinois  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, for  three  years,  and  with  his  regi- 
ment went  to  the  front,  his  service  being  in 
Missouri,  Arkansas,  Tennessee,  Mississippi 
and  Louisiana.  The  Thirty-third  was  a 
fighting  regiment,  and  he  was  with  it  in  all 
the  principal  engagements  during  its  term  of 
service.  At  the  expiration  of  his  term,  he 
was  sent  from  Louisiana,  by  way  of  New 
Orleans,  on  a  boat  to  Cairo,  Illinois,  thence 
by  rail  to  Springfield,  where  he  was  mustered 
out  of  service,  having  but  twice  received  a 
furlough  in  three  years. 

On  returning  to  his  home  in  Blooming- 
ton Mr.  Minter  commenced  work  as  a  jour- 
neyman for  Mr.  Randolph,  a  contractor  and 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


669 


builder,  with  whom  he  continued  until  1866, 
when  he  resumed  contracting  for  himself. 
From  1866  to  1S77  he  was  actively  en- 
gaged in  building,  and  many  of  the  best 
buildings  erected  during  that  time  were  under 
his  supervision. 

For  about  fifteen  years  Mr.  Minter  was 
a  member  of  the  old  volunteer  fire  depart- 
ment of  Bloomington,  serving  with  Com- 
pany No.  I,  and  much  of  the  time  being 
president  of  the  company.  In  1871  his  left 
hand  was  badly  injured  in  the  discharge  of 
his  duties  as  a  member  of  the  company,  and 
for  four  years  he  could  not  use  the  hand. 
He  then  commenced  work  turning  for  a 
chair  factory,  and  did  all  their  work  in  that 
line  for  six  years.  The  factory  suspending 
operations  he  went  into  the  grocery  business 
for  himself,  his  establishment  being  on 
South  Lee  street,  corner  of  Wood,  and  con- 
tinued in  that  line  for  three  years.  He  then 
commenced  running  a  planing  mill,  fur- 
nishing material  for  finishing  of  houses.  His 
first  mill  was  on  the  corner  of  Market  and 
East  streets,  but  outgrowing  the  capacity  of 
the  mill  at  that  location  he  bought  a  lot  on 
the  corner  of  Grove  and  McClun  streets, 
and  in  1890  built  his  present  commodious 
factory,  and  has  since  done  an  increasing 
business.  The  firm,  which  is  composed  of 
Mr.  Minter  and  his  son,  Edward  F.,  who 
was  admitted  into  partnership  when  he  was 
twenty-one  years  old,  is  doing  a  very  large 
and  most  satisfactory  business,  supplying 
much  of  the  inside  finishing  for  dwellings 
and  stores  being  erected  in  Bloomington 
and  vicinity. 

Mr.  Minter  was  married  in  1855  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Christman,  of  Kentucky,  and  they 
have  had  five  children,  of  whom  only  one 
is  now  living,  Edward  F.,  who  was  born  in 
Bloomington,  March  8,  1869.      He  married 


Miss  Minnie  May  Hibbs,  of  EI  Paso,  Illinois, 
and  they  have  had  three  children,  the  first 
born,  Ralph  E.,  being  deceased.  The  liv- 
ing are:  Leona  Belle  and  Iva  Grace.  The 
home  of  Mr.  Minter  is  located  at  No.  506 
South  McClun  street,  where  they  show  the 
true  Kentucky  hospitality,  which  is  prover- 
bial. While  not  a  member,  Mr.  Minter, 
with  his  wife,  attend  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church  and  contribute  to  its  support. 
Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  W.  T.  Sher- 
man Post,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Bloomington. 

The  reader  of  this  sketch  will  observe 
that  it  has  not  all  been  smooth  sailing  with 
our  subject.  He  has  had  much  to  discour- 
age him,  but  his  life  shows  a  preseverance 
that  brings  success,  and  few  there  are  that 
will  envy  him  for  what  he  has,  as  those  who 
know  him  are  aware  that  all  comes  from 
his  own  industry  and  thrift.  The  esteem  in 
which  he  is  held  by  the  people  of  McLean 
county  is  well  merited. 


J  NELSON  ROSE,  an  honored  veteran 
of  the  civil  war  and  one  of  the  represnta- 
tive  farmers  of  McLean  county,  has  for  the 
past  nine  years  been  prominently  indentified 
with  the  agricultural  interest  of  Martin 
township,  his  home  being  on  section  36. 
He  is  a  native  of  Illinois,  born  in  Clark 
county,  January  31,  1842,  and  is  a  son  of 
Ira  B.  Rose,  whose  birth  occurred  in  New 
York  state,  in  1805,  and  whose  education 
was  obtained  in  the  common  schools  that 
prevailed  in  that  early  day.  By  occupation 
the  father  was  a  carpenter  and  joiner. 
When  a  young  man  he  emigrated  to  Clark 
county,  Illinois,  and  there  married  Miss 
Julia  Martin.  Her  family  were  early  set- 
tlers of  much  prominence  in  Martinsville, 
which  was  named  in  their  honor,  and  her 


670 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


father  platted  the  village.  Mrs.  Rose  died 
in  1 87 1  and  her  husband  ten  years  later.  In 
their  family  were  seven  children,  four  sons 
and  three  daughters, .namely:  Martha  J.,  J. 
Nelson,  Henry,  Diedema,  Daniel,  David  and 
Emeline  P.  The  family  is  of  English  and 
Scotch  decent. 

Mr.  Rose,  of  this  sketch,  attended  the 
common  schools  of  his  native  county  and 
early  in  life  became  thoroughly  familiar  with 
every  department  of  farming,  which  voca- 
tion he  has  made  his  life  work.  In  1864, 
during  the  dark  days  of  the  civil  war,  he  en- 
tered the  service  of  his  country,  enlisting  in 
Company  I,  Thirtieth  Illinois  Infantry.  In 
March,  1865,  he  was  made  a  prisoner  of 
war  and  for  eighteen  days  was  incarcerated 
in  Libby  prison,  Richmond,  Virginia,  at  the 
end  of  which  time  he  was  paroled.  At  the 
close  of  the  war,  when  his  service  no  longer 
needed  he  was  honorably  discharged  and  re- 
turned home  to  resume  the  njore  quiet  pur- 
suits of  farm  life. 

On  the  28th  of  December,  1876,  Mr. 
Rose  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Drewey  A.  Tudor,  of  McLean  county, 
formerly  of  Kentucky,  who  died  February 
15,  1895,  mourned  by  all  who  knew 
her.  Five  children  born  of  this  union  are 
still  living,  namely.  Lillie  B.,  wife  of 
Charles  Steiger,  of  Cheney  Grove  township; 
Ira  T. ;  Grace  V.,  who  has  taken  charge  of 
the  household  affairs  since  her  mother's 
death;  Mollie  M. ;  and  Guy  H. 

Mr.  Rose  is  an  active  and  prominent 
member  of  the  United  Brethren  church  of 
Plymouth,  and  is  now  serving  as  one  of 
its  trustees.  In  his  political  views  he  is  a 
pronounced  Republican,  and  he  has  held  the 
office  of  school  director  for  several  terms, 
but  has  always  declined  to  accept  other 
official  positions  that  have  been  offered  him, 


preferring  to  give  his  undivided  attention  to 
his  own  interests.  Through  thrift,  sobriety 
and  integrity  he  has  succeeded  in  accumlat- 
ing  a  comfortable  competence  and  receives 
and  merits  the  confidence  and  respect  of 
his  fellow  citizens. 


JOSEPH  INGRAM,  an  enterprising  and 
prosperous  agriculturist  and  a  highly  re- 
spected citizen  of  Martin  township,  living  on 
section  29,  was  bornin  Upper  Canada,  June  2, 
1 848, and  is  of  Scotch  descent.  The  father 
and  mother  of  John  Ingram  were  born  in 
Toronto,  Scotland,  in  18 19,  and  he  obtained 
his  education  in  the  schools  of  his  native 
land.  Throughout  life  he  followed  the  oc- 
cupation of  farming.  In  1 841  he  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Elizabeth  Patterson, 
of  his  native  land,  and  their  wedding  jour- 
ney was  a  voyage  to  the  new  world.  They 
first  located  in  Upper  Canada,  but  in  1853 
came  to  the  United  States,  and  after  resid- 
ing in  Ohio  less  than  a  year  they  came  to 
Illinois  in  1854,  with  a  team  and  covered 
wagon,  locating  in  Bloomington,  near  the 
Illinois  Central  railroad  station.  For  three 
weeks  they  lived  in  the  covered  wagon  and 
then  removed  to  a  log  cabin  in  Harley's 
Grove,  four  miles  southwest  of  what  is  now 
known  as  the  city  of  Bloomington.  In  1855 
they  took  up  their  residence  in  Blooming 
Grove,  and  the  following  year  located  on 
the  John  Stanford  farm,  south  of  the  city. 
Their  last  days  were  spent  in  Canton,  Kan- 
sas, where  the  father  died  August  i,  1888, 
the  mother  March  i,  1895.  To  this  worthy 
couple  were  born  eleven  children,  six  sons 
and  five  daughters,  namely:  John  A., 
Margaret,  Agnes,  Joseph,  May,  James, 
Alexander,  George,  Maria,  William  and 
Sally. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


671 


In  this  county  Joseph  Inpram  grew  to 
manhood  and  throughout  his  active  business 
life  has  engaged  in  farming  here,  meeting 
with  varied  success  in  his  labors.  During 
the  dark  days  of  the  Rebellion  when  the  na- 
tion was  in  peril,  he  valiantly  offered  his 
services  to  the  government,  enlistingjuly  3, 
1 86 1,  in  Company  A,  First  Illinois  Volun- 
teer Cavalry.  In  the  battle  of  Lexington 
he  was  wounded  on  the  back  and  neck  by  a 
blow  from  the  stock  of  a  shotgun  in  the 
hands  of  a  rebel  soldier  and  was  taken  pris- 
oner. He  was  finally  paroled  and  discharged 
in  October,  1861,  but  re-enlisted,  August 
16,  1864,  in  Company  E,  Ninety-fourth  Illi- 
nois Volunteer  Infantry.  His  brother  John 
was  a  member  of  the  same  company  and 
regiment,  and  they  were  honorably  dis- 
charged .August  16,  1866,  after  three  years 
of  faithful  and  arduous  service. 

On  the  19th  of  November,  1867,  Mr.  In- 
gram led  to  the  marriage  altar  Miss  Frances 
Hargitt,  a  native  of  Yorkshire,  England. 
Her  father,  Thomas  Hargitt,  was  born  in 
Enswood,  England,  in  1824,  was  educated 
in  the  schools  of  that  country,  and  there 
worked  at  the  tailor's  trade  and  engaged  in 
business  as  a  book  dealer,  but  on  this  side 
of  the  Atlantic  he  followed  the  occupation 
of  farming.  He  married  Miss  Eliza  Nice, 
of  Land's  End,  England,  and  to  them  were 
born  five  children  who  are  still  living, 
namely:  Charles  F. ,  Frances  E.,  Lewis  A., 
Alfred  A.  and  Emma  N.  In  1855  the  fam- 
ily emigrated  to  America  and  for  ten  years 
made  their  home  in  Canada,  but  in  18G5 
came  to  the  United  States  and  settled  in 
Anchor  township,  McLean  county,  Illinois. 
Mr.  Hargitt  died  November  7,  1894,  and  his 
wife  passed  away  January  2,  1897. 

Of  the  five  children  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.    Ingram,   Arthur  L.  died  in    infancy. 


Frederick  N.,  a  farmer  of  Martin  township, 
married  Alice  Horner,  and  they  have  two 
children:  G.  Blanche  and  Walter  L.  Alma 
died  in  infancy.  Frank  O.  C. ,  also  a 
farmer  of  .Martin  township,  married  Grace 
Hepner,  of  the  same  place.  Grace  M.  S. 
is  now  the  wife  of  Donald  Russell,  of  Cooks- 
ville.  Blue  Mound  township,  McLean  county. 
The  family  are  members  of  the  Christian 
church  and  occupy  an  enviable  position  in 
the  best  social  circles  of  the  communities  in 
which  they  reside.  Fraternally  Mr.  Ingram 
is  an  honored  member  of  McPherson  Post, 
G.  A.  R. ,  of  Bloomington.  His  political 
support  is  always  given  the  men  and 
measures  of  the  Republican  party,  and  he 
has  most  creditably  and  acceptably  filled 
the  offices  of  road  commissioner  eleven 
years  and  school  director  nine  years. 


JOHN  OTTO,  though  now  practically 
living  retired,  has  been  one  of  the  im- 
portant factors  in  the  business  circles  of 
McLean  county,  and  his  life  is  an  exempli- 
fication of  the  term  "the  dignity  of  labor." 
The  possibilities  that  .America  offers  to  her 
citizens  he  has  utilized,  and  though  he  came 
to  this  country  in  limited  circumstances  he 
has  steadily  and  perseveringly  worked  his 
way  upward,  leaving  the  ranks  of  the  many 
to  stand  among  the  successful  few. 

Mr.  Otto  was  born  in  Erdebricken, 
Prussia,  July  7,  18 17,  a  son  of  Michael  and 
Catherina  (Benter)  Otto.  The  early  home 
of  the  family  was  near  that  place,  and  there 
the  father  engaged  in  farming  until  coming 
to  the  new  world,  about  1841.  He  located 
first  in  Ohio,  but  later  came  to  McLean 
county,  Illinois,  where  his  death  occurred. 

Our  subject  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  his  native  land,  where   he 


672 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


obtained  a  good  education  in  the  German 
language  and  also  learned  the  English  let- 
ters, but  his  entire  knowledge  of  our  tongue 
has  been  acquired  since  his  emigration  to 
America.  He  continued  working  on  farms 
until  1838,  when  he  sailed  for  the  United 
States,  spending  his  twenty-first  birthday 
upon  the  ocean.  He  first  settled  in  Butler 
county,  Ohio,  and  while  working  on  a  farm 
there  he  learned  to  read  and  write  the  Eng- 
lish language  without  attending  school. 
For  some  time  he  was  in  the  employ  of 
others,  and  then  he  and  a  brother  purchased 
a  farm,  which  they  sold  in  coming  to  Mc- 
Lean county,  in  1853.  Here  Mr.  Otto 
bought  ninety  acres  of  partially  improved 
land  in  Dry  Grove  township,  and  to  its  cul- 
tivation and  improvement  devoted  his  ener- 
gies until  1866. 

In  the  meantime  he  was  married,  August 
5,  1858,  to  Miss  Magdalena  Kennell,  also  a 
native  of  Germany,  who  died  in  1875.  Of 
the  three  children  born  to  them  one  died 
previous  to  the  mother's  death,  and  Ernest 
K.  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years.  Rob- 
ert J.,  the  only  one  now  living,  married 
Rose  Ruh,  of  Bloomington,  and  is  now  en- 
gaged in  the  real  estate  and  insurance  busi- 
ness in  that  city. 

On  leaving  his  farm  in  Dry  Grove  town- 
ship, in  1866,  Mr.  Otto  came  to  Blooming- 
ton  and  purchased  four  acres  of  land  on 
West  Mulberry  street,  west  of  the  railroad, 
which  he  laid  out  in  lots  and  sold  three- 
fourths  of  them  at  a  good  profit.  Upon  one 
acre  he  erected  a  residence  for  his  own  use, 
and  there  made  his  home  until  1883.  Be- 
fore coming  to  Bloomington  he  had  bought 
and  sold  considerable  property  in  the  coun- 
try at  different  times,  and  as  he  had  met 
with  excellent  success,  he  embarked  in  the 
real-estate   business   in   the  city.       He  has 


dealt  quite  extensively  in  farming  lands,  at 
times  owning  several  hundred  acres,  and  at 
present  has  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in 
Chenoa  township,  McLean  county,  the  same 
amount  just  over  the  line  in  Livingston 
county,  Illinois,  and  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  with  his  son  in  Iowa.  He  also  owns 
a  large  brick  building  at  the  corner  of  Mad- 
ison and  Monroe  streets,  adjoining  his  home 
at  No.  303  Monroe,  and  is  a  stockholder  in 
the  Third  National  Bank.  All  of  this  prop- 
erty has  been  acquired  by  his  excellent  busi- 
ness ability,  untiring  energy  and  sagacity, 
for  he  came  to  America  not  only  empty- 
handed  but  in  debt.  While  in  the  country 
he  served  as  school  director,  but  has  never 
cared  for  official  positions,  preferring  rather 
to  give  his  undivided  attention  to  his  busi- 
ness interests.  He  is  an  active  and  promi- 
nent member  of  the  Menonite  church,  and 
one  of  the  first  of  that  denomination  to  lo- 
cate in  the  county. 


CHARLES  HENRY  MORRIS,  who  car- 
ries on  general  farming  and  stock  rais- 
ing in  Cropsey  township,  is  numbered  among 
Ohio's  native  sons,  his  birth  having  occurred 
in  Mt.  Vernon,  Knox  county,  on  the2istof 
June,  1848.  His  father,  David  Morris,  was 
born  in  Wheeling  West  Virginia,  October 
17,  1 81 2,  and  in  his  youth  learned  the  car- 
penter's trade,  which  he  followed  through- 
out his  entire  life,  being  an  architect  and 
contractor  during  the  last  twenty  years  of 
his  business  career.  On  leaving  the  state 
of  his  nativity  he  removed  to  Mt.  Vernon, 
Ohio,  about  1830,  and  was  identified  with 
its  building  interests  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  1882.  His  wife,  who  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Mary  Bricker,  was  born  in 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


673 


Pennsylvania,  about  1S12,  and  was  married 
in  Ohio,  in  1842,  to  David  Morris.  In  the 
family  were  five  sons  and  one  daughter.  Ne- 
man, the  eldest,  died  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
two  years;  and  Mishachhyatt  contracted 
fever  while  in  the  army  and  died  at  the 
close  of  the  civil  war.  Louisa,  the  daughter, 
is  the  wife  of  Nicholas  Deitrich,  a  successful 
farmer  residing  near  Monroe,  Jasper  county, 
Iowa.  They  have  four  children:  Morris, 
who  is  married;  Charles;  Mary,  who  is  also 
married;  and  Allie.  William  H.  married 
Martha  Phillips,  in  Mt.  Vernon,  Ohio,  and 
follows  farming  near  Hartford,  Iowa.  He 
served  during  the  civil  war  in  Company  H, 
Fourth  Ohio  \'olunteer  Infantry.  They  have 
four  children:  Edward,  Frank,  Jessie,  and  Al- 
lie. Charles  H.  is  the  next  of  the  family.  Co- 
lumbus D.,  twin  brother  of  our  subject,  is 
the  agent  for  the  Middle  Division  Elevator 
Company  at  Anchor,  Illinois.  He  married 
Maria  J.  Mann,  and  their  children  are  Lula, 
Pearl,  Edward,  Clara,  Leona  and  Viola. 
The  mother  of  our  subject  died  in  1854. 

Charles  H.  Morris  completed  his  educa- 
tion in  the  Mt.  Vernon  Union  College, 
where  he  pursued  a  four  years  elective  course 
with  the  intention  of  later  preparing  for  the 
medical  profession.  On  leaving  school  he 
studied  medicine  for  four  months  with  Dr. 
J.  \V.  Russell,  but  not  finding  the  business  to 
his  taste  he  came  to  Illinois  in  1867  and  has 
since  been  identified  with  its  farming  inter- 
ests. He  first  rented  land,  leasing  the  place 
upon  which  he  now  resides  for  fifteen  years. 
He  is  successfully  engaged  in  farming  and 
stock  raising  and  makes  a  specialty  of  the 
breeding  of  fine  road  horses  and  Jersey  cat- 
tle. For  a  time  he  purchased  stock  for  ship- 
ment but  now  devotes  his  energies  almost 
entirely  to  the  cultivation  of  his  fields.  He 
is  a  man  of  marked  industry  and  enterprise 


and  his  success  is  the  result  of  well-directed 
labors. 

Mr.  Morris  was  married  March  25,  1874, 
to  Rachel,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Mary 
(Powell)  Darnell.  Her  parents  were  early 
settlers  of  Livingston  county,  owning  a 
large  farm  near  Indian  Grove.  The  father 
was  a  native  of  Virginia,  while  his  wife  was 
born  near  Lexington,  Kentucky,  and  for 
many  years  they  were  identified  with  the  de- 
velopment and  progress  of  this  section  of 
Illinois.  In  his  later  years  Mr.  Darnell  dis- 
posed of  much  of  his  property,  but  at  the 
time  of  his  death  was  still  the  owner  of  a 
valuable  tract  of  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Darnell  became  the 
parents  of  twelve  children  :  Elvira  married 
Joshua  Hildreth;  they  have  seven  children 
— William,  Albert,  Henry,  Charles,  Dora, 
Minnie  and  Cora.  Martha  A.  married 
George  Moore,  and  they  have  three  living 
children — Mary,  Etta  and  George;  an  in- 
fant died  unnamed.  James  T.  died  in  the 
civil  war.  Rebecca  is  the  wife  of  Frank 
Rockfellow  and  they  have  three  children — 
Henry,  Zella  and  Frank.  Emeline,  wife 
of  William  Darnell,  who  after  his  death 
married  Benjamin  Fleming;  she  is  now  de- 
ceased. Celia  C,  wife  of  Benjamin  Ray- 
burn;  they  have  seven  living  children. 
Bundrum  married  Sarah  Powell,  and  has 
three  children — Flora,  Jessie  and  Curtis. 
Sarah,  wife  of  J.  W.  Coombes,  has  three 
children — Pearl,  Edna  and  Jesse;  Mrs. 
Coombes  is  now  deceased.  The  wife  of 
our  subject  was  next  in  order  of  birth.  Kiz- 
zie,  wife  of  Frank  Crouch,  has  two  chil- 
dren— Jennie  and  Elmer;  by  a  former  mar- 
riage she  has  one  son,  Clifton.  Edith  is  the 
wife  of  Byron  Crouch,  and  they  have  ten 
children.  Mrs.  Morris  was  born  January 
24,     1854,     at     Indian     Grove,    Lexington 


674 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


county,  Illinois,  and  by  her  marriage  be- 
came the  mother  of  six  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters, but  D.  Edwin,  the  second  child,  died 
in  infancy;  and  an  infant  died  unnamed. 
Lillie,  the  eldest,  is  the  wife  of  Morris 
Hickey,  who  is  employed  in  the  elevator 
at  Anchor,  and  they  have  one  son,  Curtis. 
Delano,  who  in  the  Spanish-American  war 
enlisted  in  Troop  G,  First  Illinois  Cav- 
alry, is  now  assisting  in  the  operation  of 
the  homs  farm.  Charles  Elmer  is  em- 
ployed by  an  uncle  in  Wood  River,  Ne- 
braska; Otto,  Don  and  Orville  are  attend- 
ing the  district  schools.  The  parents  and 
five  of  their  children  are  members  of  the 
Christian  church  and  Mr.  Morris  is  now 
serving  as  one  of  its  deacons.  In  politics 
he  has  been  a  stanch  Republican  since 
casting  his  first  presidential  vote.  In  his 
township  he  has  held  the  office  of  consta- 
ble for  a  number  of  years,  and  as  school  di- 
rector he  has  done  effective  service  in  the 
cause  of  education.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and 
the  Royal  Circle,  and  in  the  former  has 
held  a  number  of  offices,  while  in  the  latter 
he  is  now  serving  as  chaplain. 


TOBIAS  S.  STAUFFER,  a  leading  citi- 
zen and  successful  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser  of  Cheney  Grove  township,  whose 
home  is  on  section  29,  was  born  in  Lancas- 
ter county,  Pennsylvania,  April  21,  1836.  a 
son  of  Tobias  and  Anna  (Shank)  Stauf^er, 
also  natives  of  that  county,  where  the  fam- 
ilies were  established  at  an  early  day.  His 
paternal  grandfather  was  John  Stauffer.who 
lived  to  the  advanced  age  of  ninety  years, 
and  the  maternal  grandfather  was  John 
Shank.  The  great-great-grandfather,  John 
Staufier,  was  a  native   of  Switzerland,  and 


on  his  emigration  to  the  new  world  located 
in  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania.  He 
married  a  Miss  Shank  prior  to  the  Revolu- 
tionary war. 

Our  subject  grew  to  manhood  in  his  na- 
tive county  and  was  provided  with  good 
school  advantages.  He  first  attended  the 
common  schools,  and  later  the  Pennsyl- 
vania State  Normal,  at  Millersville,  and  he 
successfully  engaged  in  teaching  for  eight 
terms  in  Lancaster  county,  and  for  one 
term  in  Danvers  township  after  coming  to 
this  county.  On  the  20th  of  November, 
i860,  he  was  married,  in  Pennsylvania,  to 
Miss  Mary  S.  Bishop,  also  a  native  of  Lan- 
caster county,  and  a  daughter  of  Henry  and 
Catherine  (Shelley)  Bishop,  who  were  born 
in  the  same  place.  Her  maternal  grandfa- 
ther, David  Shelley,  was  one  of  the  pio- 
neers of  Illinois,  becoming  a  resident  of 
Clinton  in  1833. 

In  1867  Mr.  Stauffer  and  his  wife,  in 
company  with  her  parents,  came  to  this  state 
and  settled  in  Madison  county,  where  they 
arrived  in  April  of  that  year.  There  our 
subject  worked  on  a  farm,  clerked  in  a  store 
and  later  started  out  as  a  harvest  hand.  In 
the  last  named  capacity  he  came  to  McLean 
county  where  he  concluded  to  locate.  His 
first  purchase  consisted  of  forty  acres  of 
land  in  Dry  Grove  township,  which  at  that 
time  was  entirely  unimproved.  After  erect- 
ing a  small  house  thereon  he  began  to  break 
and  place  under  cultivation  his  land,  and  he 
continued  its  operation,  together  with  rent- 
ed land,  for  eleven  years.  Selling  out  in 
1878,  he  bought  a  farm  of  eighty  acres  in 
Normal  township,  four  miles  from  Bloom- 
ington,  on  which  he  lived  for  six  years,  dur- 
ing which  time  he  remodeled  the  house 
and  built  a  new  barn.  He  then  disposed 
of  that  place  and  bought  an   improved  farm 


UCRARY 
'   'VEftSiry  OF  iLLINO/f 


MRS.  T.   S.   STAUFFER. 


TOBIAS   S.   STAUFFER. 


or  THE 
..VtRSiTY  OF  ILUNOIf 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


679 


of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Old  Town 
township,  to  the  further  improvement  and 
cultivation  of  which  he  devoted  his  energies 
for  nine  years,  tilling  his  land,  repairing  his 
residence  and  building  outbuildings.  On 
selling  out  that  farm  he  bought  two  hun- 
dred acres  on  section  29,  Cheney  Grove, 
where  he  now  resides.  Here  he  has  a  large 
and  substantial  brick  residence,  a  good  barn 
and  other  outbuildings.  A  good  orchard 
and  ornamental  trees  enhance  the  beauty 
and  value  of  the  place,  and  it  is  pleasantly 
located  within  a  mile  of  Saybrook.  Mr. 
Stauffer  gives  considerable  attention  to  the 
stock  business.  While  in  Normal  township 
he  kept  a  large  number  of  milch  cows  and 
engaged  in  the  dairy  business,  and  during 
his  residence  in  Cheney  Grove  township 
has  made  a  specialty  of  the  raising  of  cattle 
and  also  draft  and  road  horses.  Although 
he  started  out  in  life  empty-handed  he  has 
through  his  well-directed  efforts,  untiring 
industry  and  perseverance  become  quite  well- 
to-do,  being  the  owner  of  a  large  and  valua- 
ble farm  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation 
and  well  improved. 

Seven  children  havq-  been  born  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Stauffer.  (|5  Lineas  B.  went  to 
Kansas,  where  he  took  up  a  homestead  and 
later  married,  but  subsequently  sold  out  and 
returned  to  McLean  county.  His  last  days, 
however,  were  spent  in  Missouri,  and  he 
died  at  Chillicothe,  that  state,  March  15, 
1899,  leaving  a  wife  and  three  children. 
(2)  David  M.  is  an  enterprising  and  sub- 
stantial farmer  and  stock-raiser  of  McLean 
county.  (3)  Harry  B.,  who  is  successfully 
engaged  in  the  operation  of  two  hundred 
and  forty  acres  of  land  in  Cheneys  Grove 
township,  is  married  and  has  two  children. 
(4)  Benjamin  Franklin  is  engaged  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits  on  one  hundred  and  sixty 


acres  of  land  in  the  same  township.  (5) 
Albert  assists  his  father  in  the  operation  of 
the  home  farm.  (6)  Anna  May,  the  oldest 
daughter,  died  in  childhood  in  Lancaster 
county,  Pennsylvania.  (7)  Lizzie  is  the 
wife  of  Burton  Scouten,  of  Cheneys  Grove 
township. 

Mr.  Stauffer  cast  his  first  presidential 
vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln  in  i860,  and  was 
an  ardent  supporter  of  the  Republican  party 
for  many  years,  but  being  a  strong  temper- 
ance man  he  is  now  identified  with  the 
Prohibition  party.  He  and  his  wife  were 
reared  in  the  Menonite  church,  but  now  at- 
tend and  support  the  United  Brethren 
church.  He  has  been  called  upon  to  fill  a 
number  of  local  offices  of  honor  and  trust, 
having  served  as  collector  in  Dry  Grove  and 
Old  Town  to%vnships,  and  as  township  clerk, 
and  during  his  residence  in  Pennsylvania, 
he  filled  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  for 
five  years,  and  as  assessor  for  some  time. 
He  has  also  been  a  member  of  the  school 
board  in  Normal,  Old  Town  and  Cheneys 
Grove  townships  and  his  official  duties  have 
always  been  most  faithfully  and  capably 
performed,  winning  the  commendation  of 
all  concerned. 


DAVID  N.  LONGWORTH,  section  34. 
Mt.  Hope  township,  is  the  owner  of  a 
valuable  farm  of  two  hundred  and  sixty 
acres,  which  is  kept  under  a  high  state  of 
cultivation.  He  is  a  native  of  the  town- 
ship, and  was  born  August  23,  1S45.  His 
grandfather,  John  Longworth,  was  a  native 
of  Virginia,  and  was  among  the  first  to  lo- 
cate in  Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  where  his 
son,  John  Longworth,  Jr.,  was  born  in  1809. 
The  latter  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native 
county  and    there  married    Miss  Prudence 


68o 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


Edwards,  a  native  of  Maine,  whose  parents 
were  also  early  settlers  of  Ohio.  In  1836, 
John  Longworth,  Jr.,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, came  to  McLean  county,  and  pur- 
chased a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  ninety- 
three  acres  in  Mt.  Hope  township,  erected 
a  dwelling  house,  and  commenced  to  further 
improve  the  place.  After  many  years  of 
active  labor,  he  moved  to  the  village  of  Mc- 
Lean and  there  lived  a  retired  life.  His 
wife  dying  in  1880,  he  later  married  again, 
but  his  second  wife  survived  him  but  a  short 
time.  He  subsequently  made  his  home 
with  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Farnsworth,  where 
his  death  occurred  in  1887.  He  was  quite 
prominent  in  local  affairs,  and  held  several 
township  offices,  including  supervisor  and 
assessor. 

On  the  home  farm  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  spent  his  boyhood  and  youth,  and  in 
the  district  schools  received  his  primary  ed- 
ucation. He  then  spent  one  year  at  Wes- 
leyan  University,  Bloomington,  and  later 
attended  Shurtleff  College,  Alton,  Illinois, 
for  four  terms.  After  attaining  his  major- 
ity he  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  adjoin- 
ing the  farm  of  his  father,  and  for  eight 
years  engaged  in  its  cultivation.  It  was 
during  this  time  that  he  attended  Shurtleff 
College.  In  May,  1864,  he  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany D,  One  Hundred  and  Forty-fifth  Illi- 
nois Volunteer  Infantry.  The  regiment  was 
sent  to  Springfield,  Illinois,  where  it  was 
mustered  out  of  service  and  the  men  dis- 
charged at  the  expiration  of  their  time. 

Returning  home,  Mr.  Longworth  re- 
sumed farming,  but  later  purchased  an  es- 
tablished drug  business  in  McLean,  and 
continued  in  that  line  for  three  years,  build- 
ing up  a  good  trade.  In  1875  he  went  to 
Kansas  and  engaged  in  the  cattle  business, 
purchasing  two  hundred  and  eighty  head  of 


Texas  steers,  which  he  prepared  for  the 
market.  After  keeping  them  over  a  year, 
he  disposed  of  the  stock  and  returned  home. 
He  then  sold  his  eighty-acre  farm  and  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  of  his  present  farm.  At 
that  time  there  were  no  improvements  on 
the  place,  but  in  due  time  he  erected  a  good 
residence,  barn  and  other  outbuildings. 
After  getting  all  things  in  order,  on  the  5th 
of  February,  1880,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Jennie  Oldaker,  a  native  of 
Ohio,  but  who  was  reared  in  Atlanta,  Illi- 
nois, and  daughter  of  Jesse  Oldaker,  a 
farmer  near  Atlanta,  but  formerly  from 
Ohio.  Mrs.  Longworth  received  a  good  ed- 
ucation, and  for  a  time  before  her  marriage 
was  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools. 

After  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Longworth  moved  into  the  house  which  he 
had  prepared  for  their  occupancy,  and  there 
they  have  since  continued  to  reside.  As 
his  means  increased,  Mr.  Longworth  added 
to  the  area  of  his  land  until  the  home  farm 
contains  two  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  and 
in  addition  to  the  family  residence,  he  has 
erected  two  tenement  dwellings,  barns,  car- 
riage house,  wind  mills,  and  made  many 
other  substantial  improvements.  In  her 
own  right,  Mrs.  Longworth  owns  sixty  acres 
of  the  old  home  place  of  her  father,  and 
eighty  acres  in  F"unk's  Grove  township.  In 
addition  to  general  farming,  Mr.  Longworth 
has  given  special  attention  to  raising  and 
handling  stock,  and  has  the  reputation  of 
being  one  of  the  most  successful  farmers  in 
the  township. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Longworth  have  been 
born  two  sons,  Varner  and  Clifford  R. ,  both 
of  whom  are  students  in  the  home  school. 
Politically  he  is  a  Republican,  with  which 
party  he  has  been  identified  since  casting 
his  first  ballot  for  General  Grant,  in  1868. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


68 1 


He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  church  of  McLean,  of  which 
he  is  a  member  of  the  official  board.  Fra- 
ternally he  is  a  member  of  McLean  Lodge, 
A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  also  of  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America.  A  life-long  resident 
of  the  county,  he  has  always  been  identified 
with  its  farming  and  business  interests,  and 
his  influence  has  always  been  on  the  side  of 
right,  doing  all  in  his  power  to  make  the 
county  occupy  its  present  proud  position  in 
the  great  prairie  state. 


JOHN  A.  SMITH,  was  born  in  Alle- 
gheny county,  Pennsylvania,  April  15, 
1840.  His  father,  John  Smith,  was  also  a 
native  of  that  state,  born  in  Butler  county, 
March  21,  180S,  and  in  Armstrong  county, 
Pennsylvania,  married  Miss  Rachel  Easley, 
whose  birth  occurred  there  in  1807.  For  a 
number  of  years  the  father  engaged  in  min- 
ing in  his  native  state,  but  on  coming  to 
Illinois,  in  1856,  turned  his  attention  to 
farming,  operating  the  Abraham  Jones  farm 
in  Towanda  township,  McLean  county,  for 
a  few  years.  He  then  purchased  eighty 
acres  of  land  in  Old  Town  township  of  W. 
H.  Dooley,  and  to  its  improvement  and  cul- 
tivation at  once  devoted  his  energies.  On 
selling  that  place  he  moved  to  Downs  town- 
ship, where  he  purchased  fifty-eight  acres 
of  land  for  twenty-five  dollars  per  acre,  and 
made  his  home  there  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  1885.  His  estimable  wife  had 
passed  away  in  August,  1883.  Our  subject 
is  the  third  in  order  of  birth  in  their  family 
of  six  children,  the  others  being  as  follows: 
George,  whose  home  is  near  Clinton,  Mis- 
souri, has  one  daughter  living,  Rebecca, 
now  the  wife  of  Har\ey  Slemons,  of  Bloom- 
ington,    Illinois,    his  wife  and   four  of    his 


children  having  perished  in  the  fire  which 
destroyed  his  home  some  years  ago.  Eliza- 
beth is  the  wife  of  Anson  Dart,  who  lives 
on  a  farm  near  Gibson  county,  Illinois,  and 
they  have  four  children,  Albert,  Mary,  Eu- 
gene and  Elwin.  Theodore,  whose  home 
is  near  Anchor,  this  county,  has  two  chil- 
dren, Ella  and  Albert.  William  lives  on 
the  home  farm  near  Downs,  which  he  has 
enlarged  by  the  purchase  of  other  land,  and 
he  has  five  children,  John,  Elizabeth,  Ray- 
mond, William  and  Helen.  Mary  is  the 
wife  of  James  Hickey,  a  farmer  near  Gib- 
son City,  and  they  have  six  children,  John, 
Morris,  Patrick,  William,  James,  Mamie 
and  Rachel. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  indebted  to 
the  public  schools  of  the  state  for  his  edu- 
cational advantages,  which  were  rather  lim- 
ited. He  lived  at  home  until  he  was  mar- 
ried, in  1866,  to  Miss  Delphine  Du  Boise, 
who  was  born  in  Canada,  January  29,  1849, 
and  when  seven  years  of  age  came  to  Peoria 
county,  Illinois,  with  her  parents,  Bartholo- 
mew and  Adaline  Du  Boise,  their  marriage 
being  celebrated  in  that  county.  Five  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  them,  namely: 
George  W. ,  a  farmer  near  Anchor,  who 
wedded  Mary  Hasty,  and  has  two  daugh- 
ters, Grace  and  Velna;  William  A.,  on  the 
home  farm,  who  married  Annie  Conley,  and 
has  one  daughter.  Pearl;  Charles  E.,  who 
also  assists  in  the  operation  of  the  home 
farm;  Olive,  now  the  wife  of  Dr.  Samuel 
Bane,  a  prominent  physician  of  Ellsworth, 
Illinois,  and  Perry  Lee,  who  was  born  Oc- 
tober 30,  1882,  and  is  at  home.  The  chil- 
dren have  been  given  good  educations. 

Soon  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Smith  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
swampy  land  in  Anchor  township,  for  which 
he   paid  ten  dollars  per  acre,  the  nearest 


682 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


market  at  that  time  being  Fairbury,  sixteen 
miles  distant.  He  has  since  laid  many  rods 
of  tiling,  has  placed  the  land  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation,  has  erected  a  comfort- 
able residence  and  all  necessary  outbuild- 
ings, and  made  many  other  improvements 
upon  the  place,  so  that  it  is  now  a  most  de- 
sirable farm.  He  has  also  extended  in 
boundaries  by  the  purchase  of  an  additional 
eighty-acre  tract  of  partially  improved  land, 
for  which  he  paid  fifty  dollars  per  acre.  He 
is  engaged  in  general  farming  and  stock- 
raising,  and  is  meeting  with  well  deserved 
success  in  his  labors. 


JAMES  BISHOP,  a  prominent  agricult- 
urist, who  resides  on  section  13,  Ran- 
dolph township,  owns  and  operates  a  valu- 
able farm  of  four  hundred  acres,  whose  neat 
and  thrifty  appearance  well  indicates  his 
careful  supervision.  Substantial  improve- 
ments are  surrounded  by  well-tilled  fields, 
and  all  the  accessories  and  conveniences  of 
a  model  farm  are  there  found.  He  has 
made  his  home  in  this  county  since  the  ist 
of  June,  1840,  and  throughout  the  greater 
part  of  his  active  business  life  has  given 
considerable  attention  to  raising  fine  stock. 
Mr.  Bishop  was  born  in  Champaign 
county,  Ohio,  November  12,  1821,  and  is  a 
representative  of  a  family  of  English  origin 
which  was  founded  in  Virginia  at  an  early 
day  in  the  history  of  this  country.  His 
great-grandfather  was  John  Bishop,  a  resi- 
dent of  that  state,  and  there  the  grand- 
father, James  Bishop,  was  born,  but  in 
early  life  went  to  Kentucky  and  later  to 
Clark  county,  Ohio.  Aquilla  Bishop,  father 
of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Virginia,  but 
was  reared  in  Kentucky,  and  when  a  young 
man  went   to   Ohio,  becoming   one  of  the 


substantial  farmers,  stock-raisers  and  drov- 
ers of  Champaign  county.  He  married 
Miss  Susanna  Wing,  a  native  of  Kentucky. 

During  his  boyhood  and  youth  James 
Bishop  attended  the  country  schools  of  his 
native  county  to  some  extent,  but  his  time 
was  mostly  devoted  to  farm  work.  In  1840, 
when  a  young  man  of  nineteen  years,  he 
came  to  McLean  county,  Illinois,  with  his 
uncle,  Martin  Bishop,  and  here  worked  by 
the  month  for  one  man  for  six  years,  re- 
ceiving one  hundred  dollars  per  year.  Out 
of  this  he  managed  to  save  four  hundred 
dollars,  which  he  invested  in  a  tract  of  one 
hundred  and  forty-seven  acres  of  land,  of 
which  a  few  acres  had  been  broken  and  a 
shanty  erected  there.  To  the  further  im- 
provement and  development  of  this  farm  he 
has  since  devoted  his  energies,  though  he 
has  since  extended  its  boundaries  from  time 
to  time  until  he  had  five  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  of  most  excellent  farming  land,  but 
has  given  away  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres.  Upon  the  place  he  has  erected  a 
good  set  of  buildings  and  made  many  other 
improvements.  For  years  he  has  engaged 
in  feeding  and  dealing  in  cattle,  usually 
shipping  two  or  three  car-loads  annually, 
besides  two  car-loads  of  hogs.  In  1896  he 
bought  some  pure-blooded  shorthorn  cattle 
of  the  imported  Caroline  stock,  and  now 
has  a  fine  herd  of  thirty-two,  with  Finan- 
cier, of  Cruikshank  stock,  a  beautiful  male, 
three  years  old  and  weighing  twenty-two 
hundred  pounds,  at  its  head.  This  herd 
includes  many  fine  cows  and  heifers,  besides 
other  males,  which  he  has  for  sale. 

In  Randolph  township  Mr.  Bishop  was 
married  March  26,  1846,  to  Miss  Mary 
Thompson,  a  daughter  of  George  Thomp- 
son and  a  sister  of  William  Thompson, 
whose  sketch  maybe  found  on  another  page 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


683 


of  this  work.  She  was  born  in  Hamilton 
county,  Ohio,  but  was  reared  and  educated 
in  this  county.  Our  subject  and  his  wife 
have  the  following  children:  George,  a 
planter  of  Mississippi;  Jane,  wife  of  James 
Welsh,  who  is  also  represented  elsewhere 
in  this  volume;  Arthur,  a  farmer  of  Ran- 
dolph township;  James  A.,  a  resident  of 
Bloomington;  Charles,  a  farmer  of  Ran- 
dolph township;  and  Mary  Ida,  wife  of  Ray 
Baramore,  of  Downs.  They  lost  four  chil- 
dren either  in  infancy  or  early  childhood, 
and  Chloe,  wife  of  Absalom  Funk,  is  also 
deceased. 

On  attaining  his  majority,  Mr.  Bishop 
became  identified  with  the  Whig  party,  and 
since  voting  for  Fremont  in  1856  has  been 
a  stanch  supporter  of  the  Republican  party. 
His  record  is  that  of  a  man  who,  by  his  own 
unaided  efforts,  has  worked  his  way  upward 
to  a  position  of  affluence.  His  life  has  been 
one  of  industry  and  perseverance,  and  the 
systematic  and  honorable  business  methods 
he  has  followed  have  won  him  the  support 
and  confidence  of  many.  This  honored 
citizen  and  his  estimable  wife,  who  are 
sincere  members  of  the  Methodist  church, 
are  held  in  high  respect  and  esteem  by  all 
who  know  them. 


THOMAS  B.  PUMPELLY,  who  resides 
on  section  4,  Mount  Hope  township,  is 
the  owner  of  a  fine  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
si.xty  acres,  which  is  kept  under  an  excellent 
state  of  cultivation.  He  is  a  native  of 
Maine,  born  in  O.xford  county,  July  i,  182S, 
and  is  the  son  of  Bennett  and  Mary  (Irish) 
Pumpelly,  both  of  whom  were  also  natives 
of  Maine.  The  paternal  grandfather,  also 
named  Bennett  Pumpelly,  was  a  native  of 
Maine,  and  a  soldier  in  the   Revolutionary 


army,  serving  under  Lafayette  and  Wash- 
ington. He  went  into  the  service  a  young 
man  of  seventeen,  and  during  the  entire 
struggle  of  seven  years  did  his  duty  faith- 
fully. 

Bennett  Pumpelly,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  married  in  his  native  state,  and  in 
1835,  with  his  family,  moved  to  Kentucky, 
settling  near  Maysville,  Mason  county, 
where  he  purchased  mill  property  and  a  farm, 
and  in  connection  with  his  farming  oper- 
ations was  engaged  in  running  both  a  saw 
and  grist  mill.  He  was  a  very  active  and 
enterprising  citizen  of  Mason  county,  and 
there  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  dying 
about  1857. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  svas  seven 
years  old  when  he  accompanied  his  parents 
to  Mason  county,  Kentucky,  and  in  that 
state  he  grew  to  manhood,  receiving  a  lim- 
ited education  in  the  common  schools.  He 
remained  with  his  father  until  after  he  at- 
tained his  majority,  but  believing  the  broad 
prairies  of  Illinois  would  be  a  better  place 
for  him  in  which  to  make  his  way  in  the 
world,  he  decided  on  coming  here.  In  1854 
he  came  to  McLean  county  and  purchased 
one  hundred  and  si.xty  acres  of  wild  land  in 
Mount  Hope  township;  he  undertook  to 
bring  it  under  cultivation,  and  make  of  it  an 
excellent  farm.  In  1855  he  built  on  the 
place  a  small  frame  house,  and  made  other 
improvements.  Later  he  returned  to  Ken- 
tucky, and  was  married  near  Maysville, 
December  2,  1856,  to  Miss  Harriet  E. 
Pumpelly,  a  native  of  New  Hampshire,  born 
in  Windham  county,  and  daughter  of  Ben- 
jamin E.  Pumpelly,  a  native  of  Maine,  who 
moved  to  Lowell,  Massachusetts,  where  he 
married  Miss  Mary  Cochrane,  who  was  born 
in  Windham  county,  New  Hampshire,  and 
who  traced  her  ancestry  back  to  the  early 


684 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


part  of  the  seventeenth  century,  her  people 
being  among  the  Pilgrims  of  that  day.  The 
mother  of  Mary  Cochrane  was  a  Dins- 
more,  and  her  grandfather,  Robert  Dins- 
more,  was  a  poet  of  no  mean  ability,  the 
author  of  the  "  Rustic  Bard." 

The  next  morning  after  their  marriage, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pumpelly  started  for  their 
future  home  in  McLean  county,  and  began 
their  domestic  life  in  the  house  which  he 
had  prepared  for  the  reception  of  his  bride 
the  previous  year.  There  they  have  since 
continued  to  reside,  and  on  that  farm  their 
four  children  were  born.  Each  of  their 
children  have  been  well  provided  for,  and 
all  have  received  collegiate  educations. 
William  N.  is  married,  and  with  his  wife 
and  daughter  he  now  resides  in  Quincy,  Illi- 
nois, where  he  has  a  good  business  position. 
Mary  E.  is  the  wife  of  Thomas  A.  Minier, 
of  Craig,  Nebraska,  where  he  is  engaged  in 
the  raising  and  breeding  of  fine  stock. 
George  L.  resides  in  St.  Louis,  Missouri, 
where  he  holds  the  position  of  cashier 
for  the  Vermont  Life  Insurance  Company. 
Harriet  C,  a  graduate  of  the  McLean  high 
school,  and  of  St.  Mary's  Academy,  Notre 
Dame,  Indiana,  still  remains  at  home.  She 
completed  the  course  in  the  latter  institu- 
tion in  1893,  since  which  time  she  has  taken 
a  course  in  the  Wesleyan  University,  Bloom- 
ington,  Illinois.  At  present  she  is  engaged 
in  teaching  in  the  schools  of  McLean. 

Mr.  Pumpelly  has  never  been  a  politi- 
cian in  the  current  acceptation  of  the  term, 
but  he  has  always  manifested  an  interest  in 
current  political  events,  and,  believing  the 
principles  of  the  Republican  party  better 
suited  to  the  wants  of  the  whole  people,  he 
has  always  given  his  support  to  that  party. 
For  some  years  he  served  as  a  member  of 
the  school  board,  the  only  office  which  he 


would  ever  consent  to  hold.  He  joined  the 
Masonic  order  in  1852,  but  is  now  a  demit- 
ted  member. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pumpelly  have  resided  in 
McLean  county  a  period  of  forty-three 
years.  They  are  well  known,  especially  in 
the  southwestern  part,  and  all  who  know 
them  entertain  for  them  the  highest  regard. 
While  they  have  lived  quiet,  unassuming 
lives,  they  have  left  the  impress  of  their 
character  and  lives  on  the  community,  and 
that  only  for  good. 


BENJAMIN  L.  LUCAS.  Few  of  Mc- 
Lean county's  native  sons  can  claim  a 
longer  residence  here  than  Mr.  Lucas,  now 
the  well  known  real-estate  dealer  of  Bloom- 
ington.  He  was  born  January  9,  1831,  his 
parents,  William  and  Gooden  (Hendrix) 
Lucas,  having  come  to  the  county  in  1826. 
They  were  both  natives  of  North  Carolina, 
and  having  married  in  the  south  started  for 
Illinois  in  the  year  mentioned,  making  the 
journey  across  the  country  with  ox  teams. 
At  length  they  arrived  at  their  destination 
and  located  upon  a  squatter's  claim  south  of 
Blooming  Grove.  When  the  land  came 
into  market  Mr.  Lucas  entered  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  from  the  government  and 
continued  its  cultivation  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  December,  1839.  The 
mother  was  left  with  ten  children,  but  she 
survived  only  until  the  March  following  her 
husband's  death  and  the  children  were  thus 
left  alone.  The  older  ones,  however,  man- 
aged to  keep  the  family  together  for  a  time. 
The  eldest  brother,  Richmond  Lucas,  was 
appointed  guardian  to  our  subject,  who  is 
the  youngest  of  the  family.  He  purchased 
the  interests  of  the  other  heirs  in  the  home 
place  and  thus  became  the  owner  of  the 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


68  s 


property,  which  then  comprised  three  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  of  land. 

Upon  that  farm  Benjamin  L.  Lucas  was 
reared  to  manhood,  remaininj^  with  his 
brother  until  he  had  attained  his  majority. 
He  acquired  his  education  in  the  district 
schools  of  that  day  and  at  the  age  of  fifteen 
entered  upon  his  business  career.  "The 
boy  is  father  to  the  man,"  and  the  industry 
and  enterprise  which  Mr.  Lucas  thus  early 
manifested  have  characterized  his  entire 
career.  He  continued  to  live  on  the  old 
homestead  but  followed  farming  on  his  own 
account  and  also  engaged  in  dealing  in  cat- 
tle. He  began  with  forty  acres  of  land, 
but  rented  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
his  brother,  and  fed  all  that  he  raised  to  his 
stock.  He  managed  his  interests  with  such 
ability  and  labored  so  untiringly  that  at 
the  age  of  twenty-one  he  was  the  owner  of 
eight  hundred  acres  of  land  and  had  a  cash 
capital  of  twelve  thousand  dollars.  A  re- 
markable record  for  a  young  man. 

On  attaining  his  majority  he  came  to 
Bloomington  with  the  intention  of  pursuing 
a  full  course  of  study  in  the  Illinois  Wesley- 
an  University,  but  after  five  months  he 
had  traded  for  a  stock  of  dry  goods  on  the 
southside  of  Front  street,  between  Main 
and  Center  streets,  and  thus  began  general 
merchandising  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Everly  &  Lucas.  This  connection  was  con- 
tinued for  four  years,  when  Mr.  Lucas  pur- 
chased his  partner's  interest  and  continued 
alone  in  business  for  a  short  time,  when  he 
sold  out  to  a  California  firm.  In  the  finan- 
cial panic  of  1856  he  lost  all  that  he  had 
made  and  had  to  start  in  anew,  hampered 
by  an  indebtedness  of  several  thousand  dol- 
lars. In  the  course  of  years  these  debts 
were  outlawed,  but  he  paid  every  dollar, 
nevertheless,  and  won  the  esteem  of  his  fel- 


low men  as  one  whose  honor  is  unimpeach- 
able. He  first  accepted  a  position  as  a 
salesman  and  was  thus  employed  for  four 
years.  Then  he  once  more  began  merchan- 
dising for  himself,  forming  a  partnership 
with  J.  L.  Rice,  in  1861,  at  the  beginning 
of  the  war.  The  terms  of  agreement  were 
that  Mr.  Lucas  should  have  entire  charge 
of  the  business  for  one-fourth  the  profits. 
He  dealt  in  dry  goods  and  carpets,  and 
though  he  began  with  a  few  thousand  dollars 
capital,  he  cleared  thirty-two  thousand  dol- 
lars the  first  year.  The  ne.xt  year,  in  the 
midst  of  successful  operations,  Mr.  Rice 
died  of  typhoid  fever,  and  Mr.  Lucas  then 
closed  out  the  business,  selling  to  Mr.  Nic- 
olls,  for  whom  he  worked  for  six  months. 
At  the  expiration  of  that  period  he  bought 
out  his  employer  and  enjoyed  a  prosperous 
trade  for  two  years  as  a  member  of  the  firm 
of  B.  L.  Lucas  &  Company,  his  partner 
being  Mr.  Wyatt.  He  then  sold  out  and 
accepted  a  position,  temporarily  as  he 
thought,  at  a  salary  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  dollars  per  month,  but  for  eight- 
een years  he  remained  in  that  place,  and  in 
all  that  time  never  lost  a  day's  pay.  That 
was  the  largest  salary  ever  paid  a  dry-goods 
salesman  in  Bloomington, — certainly  a  high 
tribute  to  his  marked  ability  and  one  which 
indicates  in  an  unmistakable  manner  his 
trustworthiness,  ability  and  fidelity  to  duty. 
In  1889  Mr.  Lucas  retired  from  the  store, 
sold  his  property  in  Bloomington,  and  re- 
moved to  St.  Paul,  Minnesota,  where  he 
engaged  in  the  real  estate,  loan  and  insur- 
ance business  during  a  time  of  "  boom  "  in 
that  city.  Later,  when  the  reaction  came, 
he  returned  to  Bloomington  and  has  since 
engaged  in  the  same  line  of  business  in  this 
place,  handling  both  farm  and  city  property, 
owned  by  himself  and  by  others.      His  wide 


686 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


acquaintance  gave  him  an  advantage  in  this 
direction,  and  his  reliable  judgment  and 
watchful  care  of  business  interests  have  en- 
abled him  to  pursue  the  advantage  and  work 
up  a  good  business.  He  is  now  meeting 
with  prosperity  in  the  undertaking,  and  his 
success  is  certainly  well  merited,  for  his  busi- 
ness methods  are  above  (juestion. 

On  the  4th  of  January,  1853,  Mr.  Lucas 
wedded  Miss  Mary  L.  Wilson,  a  daughter 
of  Robert  Wilson.  She  is  a  native  of 
Washington  Courthouse,  Ohio,  and  accom- 
panied her  parents  on  their  removal  from 
that  place  to  Terre  Haute,  Indiana,  whence 
they  came  to  Bloomington.  The  father 
was  a  harness  and  saddlery  manufacturer 
and  died  in  this  city.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Lucas  have  been  born  four  children:  Adella, 
wife  of  John  Ollis,  of  Pittsburg,  Kansas,  by 
whom  she  has  four  children,  Ethel,  Clara, 
Genevieve  and  Benjamin;  Lewis  W. ,  a  real- 
estate  dealer,  who  married  Miss  Jennie 
Cannon,  of  Bloomington,  and  has  a  daugh- 
ter. Myrtle;  Minnie  May,  wife  of  W.  B. 
Davis,  of  St.  Paul,  Minnesota,  by  whom 
she  has  three  children,  Helen,  Alice  and  an 
infant;  and  Lawrence  R. ,  who  is  now  in 
Minnesota.  He  enlisted  in  the  Fourteenth 
Minnesota  Regiment  during  the  Spanish- 
American  war,  but  owing  to  the  speedy  ter- 
mination of  the  war,  after  remaining  in  camp 
at  Chickamauga  for  a  time,  the  command 
was  ordered  home  and  mustered  out  at  Fort 
Snelling. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lucas  are  faithful  and 
prominent  members  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church.  He  became  a  member  at  the 
age  of  fifteen,  has  been  church  treasurer 
and  a  member  of  the  board  of  stewards  for 
a  number  of  years,  and  a  teacher  in  the 
Sunday-school  for  many  years.  He  was  at 
one  time  a  leading  member  of  the  Temple 


of  Honor,  a  temperance  organization,  and 
although  he  does  not  hold  active  connection 
with  the  society  now,  his  adherence  to  tem- 
perance principles  is  just  as  strong.  He 
belongs  to  Bloomington  Lodge,  No.  43,  F. 
cS:  A.  M. ;  Bloomington  Lodge,  No.  T],  I.  O. 
O.  F.,  and  the  Knights  of  Honor.  He  has 
twice  served  as  city  alderman,  and  was  fill- 
ing the  position  when  the  city  water-works 
were  put  in  and  the  stand-pipe  built.  He 
has  been  at  all  times  a  loyal  and  progressive 
citizen,  supporting  all  measures  for  the  pub- 
lic good  along  educational,  moral,  social 
and  material  lines.  He  has  met  with  re- 
verses and  difficulties  in  his  business  career, 
yet  by  perseverance  and  straightforward 
effort  he  has  overcome  these,  and  is  now 
accounted  a  substantial  resident  of  I51oom- 
ington;  but  above  all  and  through  all  he  has 
retained  that  priceless  jewel — a  good  name, 
which  is  rather  to  be  chosen  than  great  riches. 


GEORGE  SWINEHART.  In  time  to 
come  this  volume  will  acquire  added 
value  as  a  repository  of  records  whose  his- 
torical significance  will  then  be  fully  appre- 
ciated, but  readers  will  doubtless  pursue 
with  special  interest  the  stories  of  gallant 
service  in  that  great  struggle  which  settled 
once  for  all  that  this  nation  is,  in  truth, 
"one  and  indivisible."  It  has  often  been 
been  said  that  the  letters  sent  home  during 
the  war  by  the  soldiers  of  all  grades,  would 
make,  if  published,  a  better  history  of  the 
war  than  has  yet  been  given,  and  the  sug- 
gestive views  of  the  conflict  in  the  individ- 
ual experiences  contained  in  this  book  cer- 
tainly give  new  color  to  many  historic 
scenes.  One  of  McLean  county's  most 
valiant  soldiers  was  the  gentleman  whose 
name  introduces  this  record,  now  a  leading 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


687 


and  prosperous  farmer  of  Martin  township, 
his  home  being  on  section  18. 

Mr.  Swinehart  was  born  in  Wayne  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  May  4,  1S40,  and  is  a  son  of  Sam- 
uel Swinehart,  and  grandson  of  George 
Swinehart,  a  native  of  Germany  and  Penn- 
sylvania. The  father  was  born  near  Lan- 
caster, Pennsylvania,  in  18 14,  and  when  a 
young  man  removed  to  Ohio,  where  he  mar- 
ried Barbara  A.  Snavely,  also  a  native  of 
the  Keystone  state.  To  them  were  born 
ten  children,  five  sons  and  five  daughters, 
namely:  George,  Elizabeth,  Samuel,  Bar- 
bara, Nancy  A.,  Emanuel,  William  H., 
Susan,  John  and  Sarah  L.  Samuel,  Nancy 
A.  and  Susan  are  now  deceased.  The  fa- 
ther, who  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  died 
December  2r,  1SS8,  and  the  mother  de- 
parted this  life  March  6,  1879. 

Our  subject  obtained  the  greater  part  of 
his  education  in  the  county  of  his  nativity, 
but  also  attended  school  to  some  extent 
after  the  removal  of  the  family  to  Funks 
Grove,  McLean  county,  Illinois,  in  1856. 
He  remained  at  home  until  after  the  break- 
ing out  of  the  civil  war,  when,  prompted  by 
a  spirit  of  patriotism,  he  enlisted,  August 
7,  1862,  in  Company  A,  One  Hundred  and 
Seventeenth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry. 
With  his  command  he  went  to  Helena,  Ar- 
kansas; then  chased  Forrest  and  his  forces 
from  western  Tennessee;  was  in  the  Meridian 
campaign,  and  after  that  returned  to  Vicks- 
burg  on  the  4th  of  March,  1863.  The  regi- 
ment then  took  part  in  the  Red  river  ex- 
pedition, assisted  in  the  battle  and  capture 
of  Fort  De  Russya  March  14,  1864;  was  in 
the  battle  of  Pleasant  Hill,  April  9,  and 
later  was  in  the  engagements  at  Cloutier- 
ville,  Come  river.  Bayou  Rapids  and  Gov- 
ernor Moore's  plantation.  They  were  at 
Bayou  Roberts  from   the   30   to  the  7th  of 


May,  in  the  battle  of  Yellow  Bayou  May 
18,  arrived  at  the  Mississippi  river  on  the 
20th  of  that  month,  and  reached  V'icksburg 
on  the  27th.  They  assisted  in  chasing  Gen- 
eral Marinaduke  from  Chicot  lake  and 
Columbus,  Arkansas,  and  arrived  at  Mem- 
phis June  10,  1864.  On  the  14th  of  that 
month  they  marched  to  the  relief  of  General 
Sturgis,  and  on  the  23d  began  the  Tupelo 
campaign,  which  lasted  up  to  August  5. 
They  were  in  the  engagement  at  Hurricane 
creek,  August  18,  19  and  20,  and  returned 
to  Memphis  on  the  30th.  They  arrived  at 
Jefferson  Barracks,  St.  Louis,  September 
18,  were  in  the  engagement  at  Franklin 
October  i,  and  returned  to  St.  Louis  No- 
vember 19.  The  command  next  moved  to 
Nashville,  Tennessee,  taking  position  in  the 
trenches  December  i,  1864,  and,  under 
General  Thomas  and  Major-General  A.  J. 
Smith,  took  part  in  the  battle  where  Gen- 
eral Hood's  rebel  army  was  annihilated 
December  15  and  16.  They  went  in  pur- 
suit of  that  general's  forces  and  captured  a 
rebel  battery  of  three  guns,  which  they  used 
against  the  enemy.  They  reached  Clifton 
January  4,  1865,  embarked  at  Eastport  for 
New  Orleans,  where  they  arrived  January 
17,  and  on  March  7  re-embarked  at  Chal- 
mette  and  moved  to  Dauphin  Island,  and 
from  there  to  Fish  river  with  the  Sixteenth 
Army  Corps,  Major-General  A.  J.  Smith 
commanding.  They  were  in  the  engage- 
ment at  Spanish  Fort  from  March  27  until 
April  2,  and  were  then  at  Fort  Blakely 
until  the  9th,  taking  part  in  its  capture. 
On  the  13th  of  April  they  marched  to 
Montgomery,  Alabama,  and  from  there  re- 
turned to  Camp  Butler,  Springfield,  Illinois, 
where  Mr.  Swinehart  was  mustered  out  and 
honorably  discharged  August  5,  1S65.  Dur- 
ing  his    service  he   traveled  two  thousand 


688 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


three  hundred  and  seven  miles,  mostly  on 
foot,  participated  in  six  important  battles 
and  thirty-three  skirmishes,  and  was  always 
found  at  his  post  of  duty,  bravely  defending 
the  old  flag  and  the  cause  it  represented. 

Returning  to  his  home  in  McLean  coun- 
ty, he  has  since  devoted  his  attention  to  the 
honorable  occupation  of  farming  with  most 
gratifying  results.  After  operating  rented 
land  for  several  years,  he  purchased  two 
hundred  and  forty  acres  on  section  i8, 
Martin  township,  in  1882;  five  years  later 
bought  eighty  acres  on  section  7;  and  in 
1897  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
adjoining,  making  four  hundred  and  eighty 
acres  of  as  valuable  farming  land  as  is  to  be 
found  in  this  section  of  the  county.  On 
the  original  purchase  he  erected,  in  1892,  a 
fine  residence,  has  remodeled  his  barns  and 
made  many  other  substantial  improvements, 
which  add  greatly  to  its  attractive  appear- 
ance as  well  as  value. 

On  the  1 6th  of  September,  1866,  Mr. 
Swineheart  wedded  Miss  Mary  J.  Mattocks, 
of  Stanford,  Illinois,  who  died  September 
8,  1873,  leaving  two  sons,  William  L.  and 
S.  Edward.  The  older,  who  is  now  oper- 
ating one  of  his  father's  farms,  married 
Annie  B.  Davis,  of  Mackinaw,  and  they 
have  two  children,  Vivian  D.  and  Una  F. 
Our  subject  was  again  married,  February 
21,  1875,  his  second  union  being  with  Miss 
Elizabeth  J.  McConkey,  of  Stanford,  by 
whom  he  has  four  children,  two  sons  and 
two  daughters,  namely:  Winnie  M.,  Bar- 
bara L. ,  Bertrum  O.  and  George,  Jr.  Bar- 
bara L.  married  Richard  Ward,  of  Martin 
township,  who  is  now  engaged  in  the  furn- 
iture business  with  Burt  Hoover,  at  Colfax, 
this  county. 

Mrs.  Swinehart's  father,  William  Mc- 
Conkey,  was    born    in    Ohio,    January   11, 


1803,  and  was  a  son  of  William  and  Eliza- 
beth (McCelvey)  McConkey,  both  natives 
of  Pennsylvania.  In  their  family  were 
eight    children:      James,  Sarah,  Elizabeth, 

Martha,  Mary,  Jennie,  William  and . 

William  McConkey,  Jr.,  was  educated  in 
the  common  schools  of  his  day  and  through- 
out life  devoted  his  attention  to  the  cultiva- 
tion of  the  soil.  In  1827  he  married  Miss 
Jennie  McCordy,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  six  children  were  born  of  that  union, 
five  sons  and  one  daughter,  as  follows: 
James,  who  was  a  soldier  in  the  volunteer 
army  of  the  north  for  the  suppression  of  the 
rebellion  and  when  last  heard  of  was  in  a 
hospital,  where  he  probably  died;  Daniel, 
who  was  also  a  soldier  of  the  civil  war,  and 
was  honorable  discharged  on  a  surgeon's 
certificate  of  disability  in  1863;  Robert; 
George,  and  Elizabeth  J.,  wife  of  our  sub- 
ject. The  father  of  these  children  died 
January  28,  1880,  and  the  mother  passed 
away  October  12,  1874. 

Mr.  Swinehart  and  his  family  hold  mem- 
bership in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
of  Cooksville,  in  which  he  is  serving  as 
steward  and  trustee.  His  political  support 
is  always  given  the  men  and  measures  of 
of  the  Republican  party,  and  his  aid  is  never 
withheld  from  any  enterprise  which  he  be- 
lieves calculated  to  advance  the  moral, 
social  or  material  interests  of  his  township 
and  county.  He  has  manifested  the  same 
loyalty  in  days  of  peace  as  in  days  of  war, 
and  all  who  know  him  have  for  him  the 
highest  regard. 


MARION  McCORMICK,  who  resides  on 
section  4,  Mt.  Hope  township,  has 
been  one  of  the  active  farmers  and  stock 
raisers  of  McLean  county  since  1864.      In 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


689 


his  home  farm  he  has  one  hundred  and  sixty- 
five  acres,  which  is  under  the  highest  culti- 
vation, and  which  is  within  two  miles  of 
the  village  of  McLean.  He  also  owns  one 
hundred  and  ninety-three  acres  in  sections 
31  and  32,  and  sixty-four  acres  in  section  2, 
town  21,  all  of  which  is  well  improved. 

Mr.  McCormick  was  born  in  Brown 
county,  Ohio,  March  3,  1834,  and  is  the 
son  of  Conrad  H.  McCormick,  a  native  of 
Ohio,  born  in  18 13,  and  the  grandson  of 
John  McCormick,  a  native  of  England,  and 
one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Ohio.  He  was  a 
soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  fought 
to  secure  the  independence  of  the  colonies. 
He  lived  to  the  ripe  old  age  of  one  hundred 
and  three  years. 

Conrad  H.  McCormick  grew  to  manhood 
in  Ohio,  and  there  married  Miss  Jane  Por- 
ter, a  native  of  Brown  county,  that  state. 
He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  en- 
gaged in  that  calling  both  in  Highland  and 
Brown  counties,  Ohio.  In  1850,  he  came 
to  Illinois  with  his  family,  driving  through 
•  with  teams  to  Tazewell  county,  and  locating 
near  Groveland.  In  1854  he  bought  a 
tract  of  wild  land  in  Delevan  prairie  and 
opened  up  a  farm.  To  his  original  pur- 
chase he  added  more  land,  giving  him  a 
good  farm  of  three  hundred  and  twenty 
acres.  He  was  a  very  active  and  enterpris- 
ing farmer,  and  after  residing  in  that  county 
for  some  years  he  sold  out  and  moved  to 
Kansas,  buying  land  and  locating  in  Sedg- 
wick county,  where  he  yet  resides.  His 
family  consisted  of  seven  sons,  six  of  whom 
grew  to  maturity,  four  of  whom  are  now 
living — James,  David  and  Joseph,  residing 
in  Sedgwick  county,  Kansas;  and  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch. 

Marion  McCormick  spent  his  boyhood 
in  his  native  state,  and  was  a  youth  of  sev- 


enteen when  he  accompanied  his  parents 
to  Tazewell  county,  Illinois.  He  there  as- 
sisted his  father  in  opening  up  the  farm  and 
continued  with  him  until  after  attaining  his 
majority.  His  education  was  limited  to 
the  common  schools,  but  he  made  good  use 
of  the  opportunities  afforded  him.  He  was 
married  in  McLean  county,  January  29, 
1 86 1,  to  Miss  Belinda  C.  Longworth,  a  na- 
tive of  Ohio,  who  came  to  this  county,  a 
child  of  three  years,  with  her  father,  John 
Longworth,  who  settled  in  Mt.  Hope  town- 
ship in  1836.  Soon  after  marriage  he  loca- 
ted on  a  farm  in  Tazewell  county,  where 
he  remained  until  he  answered  his  country's 
call  for  men,  in  August,  1862,  when  he  en- 
listed as  a  private  in  Company  B,  Seventy- 
third  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry.  He  was 
soon  afterwards  appointed  sergeant  in  his 
company,  and  as  such  served  until  his  dis- 
charge for  disability  in  February,  1863. 
While  in  the  service  he  participated  in  nu- 
merous skirmishes  and  raids  after  Morgan 
through  Kentucky  and  Ohio.  He  was  in 
the  battle  of  Perryville,  Kentucky,  but  was 
soon  after  sent  to  the  hospital  on  account  of 
sickness,  and  there  remained  until  his  dis- 
charge. 

Returning  home,  Mr.  McCormick  re- 
sumed farming  in  Tazewell  county,  but  in 
1 864  came  to  McLean  county  to  the  farm 
where  he  now  resides,  and  which  then  con- 
sisted of  but  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres. 
It  was  unimproved  land,  but  he  went  at 
once  to  work  in  its  cultivation.  On  the 
place  not  a  furrow  had  ever  been  turned. 
He  built  a  small  house  on  the  place  in  1 864. 
An  orchard  was  soon  set  out,  shade  and 
ornamental  trees  were  added,  and  in  due 
time  a  larger  and  better  residence  replaced 
the  old  one,  and  barns  and  outbuildings 
were  built.       From    time   to    time,   as    his 


690 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


means  increased,  he  bought  more  land  and 
now  owns  three  good  farms.  All  that  he 
has  is  the  result  of  his  own  industry  and 
good  management,  with  the  advice  and  as- 
sistance of  his  good  wife. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  McCormick  have  had  two 
children:  a  daughter,  Louie  M.,  is  now  the 
wife  of  Joseph  W.  Stubblefield,  a  farmer  of 
Mt.  Hope  township,  and  they  have  four 
children — Marion  G.,  Eunice,  Myrtle  and 
Ansel  D.  Isaac  C.  died  in  infancy.  They 
later  took  a  young  child,  P'rank  F.  Moore, 
when  but  three  months  old,  reared  and  edu- 
cated him,  and  he  is  now  farming  in 
Kansas. 

The  first  presidential  election  after  Mr. 
McCormick  attained  his  majority  was  in 
1856,  and  at  that  election  he  cast  his  ballot 
for  John  C.  Fremont,  and  from  that  time  to 
the  present,  he  has  given  his  allegiance  to 
the  Republican  party.  He  has  taken  quite 
an  active  part  in  local  politics,  and  since 
1 891  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  board 
of  supervisors  from  his  township,  making  a 
most  valuable  member  of  that  body.  A 
friend  of  the  public  schools  he  has  served  as 
school  director  for  three  years. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  McCormick  are  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  Mc- 
Lean, of  which  he  is  a  member  of  the  board 
of  trustees  and  chairman  of  the  same.  Fra- 
ternally he  is  a  member  of  McLean  Lodge, 
No.  — ,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  also  of  the  G. 
A.  R.  Post  of  McLean,  of  which  he  is  past 
commander.  For  fifty  years  he  has  been  a 
resident  of  Illinois,  and  for  thirty-five  years 
a  resident  of  McLean  county,  residing  dur- 
ing that  time  on  the  farm  where  he  still 
lives.  He  has  witnessed  much  of  the  growth 
of  the  state,  and  has  experienced  something 
of  the  toils  and  privations  of  pioneer  life. 
He  has  hauled  grain  to  Pekin  and  Peoria, 


selling  his  corn  for  eight  cents  per  bushel, 
and  his  wheat  for  thirty-four  cents.  In  the 
development  of  the  section  in  which  he 
lives  he  has  borne  well  his  part. 


CHARLES  MARTENS.  In  proportion 
to  its  population  the  city  of  Blooming- 
ton  numbers  among  its  men  of  wealth, 
standing,  character  and  business  enterprise 
as  many  as  any  city  in  the  land.  Among 
those  recognized  as  being  in  the  front,  and 
whose  skill  and  ability  is  unquestioned,  is 
the  man  whose  name  heads  this  sketch,  one 
who  came  to  this  country  from  across  the 
water  thirty  years  ago,  empty-handed. 
However,  he  brought  with  him  a  stout  heart, 
willing  hands  and  a  determination  to  suc- 
ceed, and  success  has  crowned  his  efforts  in 
a  remarkable  degree. 

Mr.  Martens  was  born  in  the  village  of 
Kasehaw,  Pomeranian  Province,  Prussia, 
December  18,  1840,  and  is  a  son  of  Charles 
Jacob  Martens,  who  was  also  born  and 
reared  there.  Our  subject  was  educated  in" 
his  native  village,  and  there  learned  the 
tailor's  trade,  for  which  privilege  his  father 
paid  a  certain  amount  and  this  being  the 
case  his  apprenticeship  was  shortened  to 
three  years.  He  then  engaged  in  business  on 
his  own  account  in  Germany  for  four  years 
and  a  half.  In  the  meantime  he  was  mar- 
ried, December  13,  1864,  to  Miss  Christina 
Vosz,  and  in  that  country  two  children  were 
born  to  them,  one  of  whom,  Charles  died 
there.  The  other,  Sophia,  is  now  the  wife 
of  Ma.x  Gottschelk,  of  Bloomington.  Since 
coming  to  America  the  family  circle  has 
been  increased  by  the  birth  of  two  children, 
but  one  of  these,  Caroline  is  now  deceased. 
Those  living  are  Conrad  F.,  who  is  being 
educated  for  the  German  Lutheran  ministry 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


691 


at  Concordia  College,  Milwaukee,  Wis- 
consin. 

In  1869,  Mr.  Martens  and  his  family,  ac- 
companied by  his  parents,  came  to  the  new 
world,  and  after  a  short  time  spent  in  Ran- 
dolph county,  Illinois,  all  took  up  their  resi- 
dence in  Bloomington  in  the  spring  of  1870. 
Here  the  father  engaged  in  farming  and 
teaming,  but  is  now  living  retired  with  our 
subject.  He  was  born  January  i,  1820. 
The  mother  died  in  18S7.  Both  were  mem- 
bers of  the  old  Missouri  synod  of  the  Ger- 
man Lutheran  church. 

For  a  year  and  nine  months  after  his 
arrival  here  Mr.  Martens  worked  for  others 
at  his  trade,  and,  learning  the  English  lan- 
guage during  that  time,  he  was  then  able  to 
engage  in  business  on  his  own  account.  He 
formed  a  partnership  with  Frederick  Meyer, 
and  under  the  firm  name  of  Meyer  &  Mar- 
tens they  opened  a  shop  at  No.  209  West 
Jefferson  street,  but  three  j-ears  later  re- 
moved to  No.  1 10  South  Main  street,  where 
they  soon  built  up  a  large  and  profitable 
trade.  Together  they  engaged  in  business 
for  fifteen  years,  five  of  which  were  spent 
at  No.  105  East  Front  street.  During  this 
time  Mr.  Martens  had  charge  of  the  cutting 
department.  In  1883  he  purchased  a  two- 
story  brick  building  at  No.  1 1 5  East  Front 
street,  known  as  the  old  Major  block,  in  the 
upper  story  of  which  the  Republican  party 
was  formed.  Here  the  firm  of  Meyer  & 
Martens  carried  on  operations  until  1888, 
when  the  partnership  was  dissolved,  our 
subject  taking  the  business,  which  had  be- 
come quite  large,  employment  being  fur- 
nished si.xteen  men.  He  still  enjoys  a  fine 
trade,  and  is  recognized  as  the  leading  mer- 
chant tailor  in  the  city,  as  well  as  the  old- 
est in  years  of  continuous  business.  As  his 
financial  resources  have  increased  he  has  in- 


vested some  of  his  capital  in  real  estate. 
His  first  purchase  was  twenty  acres  at  edge 
of  town.  His  second  purchase  consisted  of 
an  eighty-acre  farm  in  Blue  Mound  town- 
ship, McLean  county,  which  he  later  sold, 
but  now  owns  a  fine  farm  of  two  hundred 
and  fifty-two  acres  in  Randolph  and  Downs 
townships,  which  he  has  greatly  improved 
as  well  as  thoroughly  tiled,  and  he  also  has 
four  hundred  acres  elsewhere  in  McLean 
county.  In  1898  he  purchased  a  valuable 
piece  of  property  at  the  corner  of  Grove 
and  Centre  streets  for  ten  thousand  dollars. 
He  has  torn  down  the  old  building  standing 
thereon,  and  is  now  erecting  a  fine  brick 
block  fifty  and  a  half  feet  front  and  ninety- 
nine  feet  deep,  to  be  used  for  stores  with 
residences  above.  Besides  the  property 
already  mentioned,  he  owns  three  lots  on 
Olive  street,  his  home  being  on  two  lots, 
while  on  the  other  lot  he  has  a  cottage.  He 
has  owned  a  large  amount  of  real  estate  in 
Bloomington  which  he  has  disposed  of  at  a 
profit.  He  has  a  correct  judgment  as  to 
values,  together  with  admirable  foresight, 
and  his  investments  have  invariably  proved 
successful.  He  is  interested  in  the  National 
State  Bank  of  Bloomington,  and  through 
his  own  well-directed  efforts  he  has  become 
one  of  the  most  prosperous  and  substantial 
business  men  of  his  adopted  city.  He  is  an 
active  member  and  liberal  supporter  of  the 
German  Lutheran  church,  served  as  treas- 
urer when  the  house  of  worship  was  erect- 
ed, and  has  since  been  trustee  of  the  same 
a  number  of  times. 


JAMES  MOTTISFONT  VINCENT  is  a 
prominent  and  honored  citizen  of  Blue 
Mound  township,  who  has  through  his  own 
well-directed    efforts    gained    a    handsome 


692 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


property  and  is  now  enabled  to  lay  aside 
business  cares  and  enjoy  the  fruits  of  his 
former  toil.  He  was  born  November  14, 
1825,  in  Mottisfont  Monastery,  near  Rom- 
sey,  Hampshire,  England,  seven  miles  from 
Southampton,  and  a  peculiar  fact  in  rela- 
tion to  his  birth  that  is  worthy  of  notice  is 
as  follows:  There  was  a  superstition  among 
the  English  nobility  that  no  child  born  in 
that  monastery  could  live,  as  such  had  been 
the  case  for  two  hundred  years,  and  no  heir 
living  having  been  born  there,  the  property, 
as  is  customary  in  England,  reverted  back 
to  the  crown.  At  the  time  of  the  birth  of 
our  subject  it  was  owned  by  Sir  Charles 
and  Lady  Georgiana  Mills,  who  were  the 
employers  of  William  Vincent,  our  subject's 
father,  and  knowing  that  a  child  was  to  be 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Vincent,  they  persuad- 
ed them  to  occupy  the  place  until  after 
the  birth  of  the  child,  which  they  consented 
to  do,  as  they  had  no  faith  in  the  supersti- 
tion. There  our  subject  was  born,  and 
when  the  owners  received  word  that  the 
child  was  alive  and  prospering,  they  re- 
turned to  the  monastery  and  the  parents 
again  took  up  their  abode  at  their  own 
home.  Lady  Mills  stood  as  godmother  to 
our  subject  and  named  him  Mottisfont  in 
remembrance  of  this  event.  This  proved 
to  others  that  the  superstition  was  entirely 
groundless. 

William  Vincent  was  born  in  Lands- 
down,  near  Bath,  England,  as  was  also  his 
father,  Jonathan  Vincent,  who  was  bailiff 
to  the  Marquis  of  Landsdown  and  after- 
ward, in  1832,  to  Lord  Delaware  at  Font 
Hill  Abbey.  He  married  a  Miss  Vincent, 
who  was  no  relative,  and  both  died  in  En- 
gland near  their  birthplace.  Their  children 
were  Samuel,  John,  Nathan,  Robert,  Will- 
iam and  Rachel.   William  Vincent  followed 


the  occupation  of  gardener  and  nurseryman, 
owning  a  small  amount  of  land  himself  but 
always  renting  other  tracts.  He  married 
Jane  Longman,  who  belonged  to  an  old 
English  family,  and  they  held  membership 
in  the  Church  of  England  or  the  Episcopal 
church.  Their  children  were  William,  who 
died  in  infancy;  Maria;  Victoria,  who  was 
born  on  the  same  day  and  year  as  the 
Queen;  Emma;  James  M.  and  William. 
Only  the  last  two  named  came  to  Amer- 
ica, and  William  is  at  present  a  painter  in 
Louisville,  Kentucky. 

James  M.  Vincent,  of  this  review,  at- 
tended school  at  Christ's  Church  until 
twelve  years  of  age,  and  then  apprenticed 
himself  to  a  painter.  After  working  for 
others  in  that  line  for  seven  years,  he  began 
business  on  his  own  account.  In  1854,  in 
company  with  his  brother,  he  came  to 
America  on  the  sailing  vessel  Southampton, 
shipping  from  London  and  landing  in  New 
York,  whence  he  proceeded  to  Albany. 
There  he  followed  his  trade  for  about  two 
years,  and  then  went  to  Chicago,  where  he 
worked  for  the  same  length  of  time.  While 
at  that  place  he  painted  the  first  water-tank 
erected  in  the  city.  The  brothers  next  went 
to  Louisville,  Kentucky,  where  William  still 
•lives.  After  working  there  for  a  time  James 
went  to  New  Orleans,  where  he  was  em- 
ployed on  the  government  water-works  for 
about  two  years,  but  not  meeting  with  suc- 
cess, he  decided  to  return  to  England.  On 
reaching  Chicago  he  met  a  painter  who  told 
him  to  come  to  Bloomington  before  leaving, 
as  he  thought  this  was  the  place  for  him. 
Following  his  advice,  Mr.  Vincent  came  to 
Bloomington,  and  has  since  made  his  home 
in  this  section  of  the  state. 

In  1858  he  married  Miss  Maria  Ward, 
who  was  born  in  1837,  a  daughter  of  Rich- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


693 


ard  T.  and  Susan  Ward,  old  settlers  of 
McLean  county.  Six  sons  have  been  born 
to  them,  namely:  Harry  W. ,  a  photog- 
rapher of  Bloomington,  who  married  Addie 
Hughes,  and  has  one  child.  Burton;  Frank- 
lin C. ,  who  married  Bessie  B.  Banton,  and 
lives  in  Pullman,  Illinois;  William,  of 
Bloomington,  who  married  Laura  Reardon, 
and  has  two  children,  Hershal  and  Leo; 
Richard,  who  is  on  the  home  farm  with  his 
father;  James,  who  married  Belle  Banton, 
and  has  five  children.  Earl  C,  Frank  R., 
James  M.,  Thomas  C.  and  Maria  (the  only 
girl  in  the  Vincent  family  born  in  America), 
and  John,  at  home  with  his  parents.  The 
three  oldest  sons  were  born  in  Tolono, 
Illinois,  the  others  on  the  home  farm  in 
Blue  Mound  township,  this  county. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Vincent  went  to 
Champaign  county,  where  he  worked  at  his 
trade,  and  meeting  with  good  success  there, 
he  purchased  a  house  and  lot  in  Tolono. 
He  finally  sold  his  property  there  and  re- 
turned to  Bloomington,  and  in  1861  pur- 
chased forty  acres  of  railroad  land  on  sec- 
tion 30,  Blue  Mound  township,  paying  for 
the  same  twelve  dollars  per  acre.  In  1884 
he  bought  another  tract  of  forty  acres,  ad- 
joining his  first  purchase,  and  has  made  all 
the  improvements  on  the  place,  including 
the  erection  of  good  buildings  and  the  set- 
ting out  of  trees.  In  1876  he  purchased 
eighty  acres  on  section  32,  the  same  town- 
ship, and  in  1893  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  on  section  29,  where  his  son  now 
lives.  For  many  years  he  was  actively  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits,  but  is  now 
living  retired  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  well- 
earned  rest,  surrounded  by  all  the  comforts 
and  many  of  the  luxuries  of  life. 

On  first  coming  to  this  county,  Mr.  Vin- 
cent found  most  of  this  region  still  in  its 


primitive  condition,  and  the  wild  prairies 
were  the  haunts  of  wolves,  deer  and  snakes. 
At  one  time  the  wolves  were  so  numerous 
and  bold  that  they  came  within  about  thirty 
rods  of  his  house,  and  were  in  pursuit  of  one 
of  the  children,  who  had  strayed  some  dis- 
tance from  the  house.  The  others  were  at- 
tracted by  the  child's  screams  and  suc- 
ceeded in  frightening  the  animals  away  by 
screaming  and  running  at  them.  This  was 
but  one  of  the  many  perils  and  hardships 
with  which  the  early  settlers  had  to  con- 
tend. Mr.  Vincent  bravely  met  with  diffi- 
culties, and  has  been  rewarded  by  a  hand- 
some property.  He  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Episcopal  church  of  Blooming- 
ton, and  have  the  respect  and  esteem  of  all 
who  know  them.  In  politics  he  and  his 
sons  are  strong  Republicans,  but  he  has 
never  aspired  to  office,  preferring  to  give 
his  undivided  attention  to  his  business  in- 
terests. He  has  ever  taken  a  great  interest 
in  educational  work,  however,  and  has 
served  as  school  director  for  twenty-eight 
years,  and  as  clerk  of  the  school  board. 
He  was  a  charter  member  of  the  Grange  of 
Blue  Mound,  but  is  not  a  member  of  any 
secret  society,  desiring  rather  to  devote  his 
time  to  his  family  and  many  friends. 

While  living  in  Tolono,  Mr.  Vincent 
heard  the  last  speech  President  Lincoln 
made  in  Illinois.  He  was  then  returning 
to  Washington,  just  before  his  assassina- 
tion, and  it  was  made  from  the  car  window. 
At  first  he  refused  to  speak,  but  our  subject, 
knowing  one  of  the  men  in  the  party.  Ward 
H.  Lamon,  called  upon  him  to  persuade 
the  president  to  make  a  speech,  and  he  at 
last  consented.  It  was  delivered  in  the 
following  words,  as  can  be  testified  to  by 
mariy  of  the  citizens  of  Tolono  who  heard 
it:     "  Fellow   citizens,    there   is   a    heavy 


694 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


cloud  hanging  over  our  country,  but  there  is 
bright  sunshine  behind  it,  and  when  that 
cloud  blows  away,  this  country  will  see  it 
in  all  its  brightness."  This  was  so  im- 
pressed on  the  mind  of  Mr.  Vincent  during 
the  events  that  so  closely  followed  it,  that 
the  memory  of  that  .speech  has  never  left 
him.  He  took  an  active  part  in  other  stir- 
ring events  which  transpired  in  Tolono  dur- 
ing those  dark  days.  When  the  soldiers 
were  away  at  the  front,  endeavoring  to 
crush  out  the  rebellion  in  the  south,  the 
people  left  behind  held  meetings  to  see  what 
was  to  be  done  with  the  southern  sympa- 
thizers living  in  the  north.  At  one  of  these 
meetings  a  man  got  up  and  said  his  sympa- 
thies were  on  the  other  side.  The  doors  of 
the  building  were  at  once  closed,  and  some 
of  the  young  men  went  for  ropes  with  which 
to  hang  him,  but  the  older  ones  prevented 
them  from  doing  that.  The  man  was  put 
out  of  the  meeting  and  a  delegation  was 
sent  to  wait  upon  him.  Mr.  Vincent  was 
made  speaker  of  the  same,  and  was  in- 
structed to  say,  "  Take  that  speech  back  or 
you  will  have  to  leave  the  country."  He 
was  given  si.\  hours  to  decide,  and  in  three 
he  had  gone. 

HONORABLE  MATTHEW  ROBB,  de- 
ceased, who  was  familiarly  known  as 
Squire  Robb,  was  for  many  years  one  of  the 
best  known  citizens  of  McLean  county.  He 
was  a  pioneer  among  pioneers  and  the  first 
justice  of  peace  in  the  county.  He  was  born 
in  Washington  county,  Kentucky,  July  15, 
1 80 1 ,  and  was  the  son  of  Thomas  and  Lydia 
(Waller)  Robb,  the  former  a  native  of  Ire- 
land, born  August  16,  1769,  and  the  latter  a 
native  of  Wales,  born  April  23,  1795.  They 
were  among  the  pioneers  of  Kentucky,  and 
were    also    pioneers    of    Indiana,   to  which 


state  they  removed  when  our  subject  was  a 
small  boy.  Thomas  Robb  was  killed  in  a 
runaway,  and  left  a  widow  and  twelve  chil- 
dren, eleven  of  whom  grew  to  maturity, 
afterwards  married  and  reared  families. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  grew  to  man- 
hood in  Indiana,  and  was  reared  to  farm 
life.  His  education  was  received  in  the 
pioneer  subscription  school,  which,  as  was 
customary,  he  attended  during  the  winter 
months.  In  August,  1821,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  McClure,  daugh- 
ter of  Thomas  McClure,  a  pioneer  of  In- 
diana. By  this  union  there  were  six  chil- 
dren, three  of  whom  grew  to  maturity. 
Eliza  J.  is  the  widow  of  Abraham  A.  Stans- 
bury,  and  now  resides  in  Bloomington.  Ly- 
dia E.  is  the  widow  of  Hiram  L.  Phillips, 
who  was  a  resident  of  Tazewell  county,  Illi- 
nois. She  now  makes  her  home  in  Bloom- 
ington, but  spends  the  most  of  her  time  in 
traveling.  Susan  M.  died  when  eighteen 
years  of  age. 

In  the  spring  of  1824,  Mr.  Robb  came 
with  his  wife  and  young  child  to  Illinois  and 
located  in  Postville,  near  where  the  city  of 
Lincoln,  Illinois,  now  stands,  but  which  was 
then  unknown.  He  there  purchased  eighty 
acres  of  government  land,  and  commenced 
the  development  of  a  farm.  After  remain- 
ing there  three  years,  he  sold  out  and  came 
to  what  is  now  McLean  county,  and  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  si.xty  acres  of  land, 
a  part  of  which  now  comprises  the  village  of 
Danvers.  After  the  erection  of  a  couple  of 
log  cabins  on  his  place,  with  his  team,  he 
commenced  the  cultivation  of  the  land. 
When  he  first  came  to  the  place  there  was 
an  Indian  camp,  where  he  later  set  out  his 
orchard.  They  remained  there  quite  a 
length  of  time,  but  gave  little  trouble  to  the 
new  comers.     There  were   then  but  three 


I'^^l 


MATTHEW   ROBB. 


LIDRARY 

OF   THE 

IMVERSIjy  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


697 


families  within  a  radius  of  many  miles,  and 
the  prospect  was  dreary  enough  indeed 
for  a  flourishing  settlement  at  any  time  in 
the  near  future.  One  by  one  the  settlers 
came  in,  and  it  was  not  many  years  before 
all  was  changed.  But  Matthew  Robb  was 
pioneer  of  the  locality,  and  as  already 
stated  he  was  the  first  justice  of  the  peace 
in  the  county,  and  in  that  early  day  when 
ministers  of  the  gospel  were  few  in  number, 
he  was  frequently  called  on  to  perform  the 
marriage  ceremonj'.  It  is  related  that  on 
one  dark  night,  when  the  creek  was  full  of 
ice  and  crossings  dangerous,  a  couple  came 
to  the  opposite  side  of  the  creek  from  his 
house,  and  calling  him  wished  to  be  united 
in  marriage.  Willing  to  accommodate  them 
he  waded  out  into  the  stream  as  far  as  he 
dared,  and  to  where  he  could  recognize  their 
faces,  he  performed  the  ceremony,  and  they 
went  on  their  way  rejoicing.  On  another 
occasion  he  was  in  a  great  hurry  to  get  off 
to  Springfield  to  mill,  when  a  couple  came 
up  and  wished  to  be  married.  Mrs.  Robb 
and  one  of  her  daughters  were  in  the  barn, 
and  before  they  could  reach  the  house, 
which  was  but  a  little  ways  off,  the  cere- 
mony was  performed  and  the  couple  pro- 
nounced man  and  wife. 

Soon  after  coming  to  McLean  county 
Mr.  Robb  and  his  brother-in-law,  Robert 
McClure,  took  the  contract  for  the  erection 
of  a  jail  at  Mackinaw,  Tazewell  county, 
the  first  institution  of  the  kind  in  any  of  the 
present  surrounding  counties.  Although 
completed  according  to  contract,  Mr.  Robb 
asserted  that  it  was  not  strong  enough  to 
hold  any  prisoner  that  might  have  the  desire 
to  escape,  and  to  prove  his  assertion  re- 
quested that  he  might  be  locked  up,  with 
the  privilege  of  breaking  out  if  he  could. 
He  had  no  difficulty  whatever  in  doing  so. 


When  Mr.  Robb  settled  in  Stout's  Grove, 
McLean  county,  about  the  nearest  milling 
point  in  which  there  was  any  certainty  of 
getting  waited  on  in  any  reasonable  time 
after  his  arrival  was  Springfield.  To  that 
point  he  would  go  and  often  be  gone  an 
entire  week.  He  later  hauled  his  grain  to 
Chicago,  leaving  his  wife  and  little  children 
alone.  To  make  that  trip  required  nearly 
two  weeks.  His  daughter,  Mrs.  Stansbury, 
has  in  her  possession  a  leghorn  hat,  which 
he  bought  in  Chicago  on  one  of  his  earliest 
trips,  the  hat  retjuiring  the  proceeds  of  a 
load  of  wheat. 

Mrs.  Robb,  whose  death  occurred  August 
23,  1868,  was  a  woman  of  remarkable 
courage.  One  day  when  on  horseback  the 
dogs  with  her  started  up  a  wolf,  and  after 
a  chase  cornered  it.  She  dismounted,  and 
with  the  stirrups  of  her  saddle  succeeded  in 
killing  it.  She  was  a  good  woman,  a  kind 
neighbor,  and  an  affectionate  wife  and 
mother.  She  was  a  consistent  member  of 
the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  church  and 
died  in  that  faith,  her  membership  being 
with  the  church  in  Danvers. 

Mr.  Robb  was  a  man  of  more  than 
average  ability  and  always  had  the  confi- 
dence of  the  people  among  whom  he  lived. 
He  was  likewise  a  member  of  the  Cumber- 
land Presbyterian  church  in  Danvers,  and 
he  and  his  wife  were  numbered  among  its 
charter  members.  He  always  lived  an  up- 
right life,  honoring  the  Master  whom  he 
served.  In  politics  he  was  originally  a 
Whig,  and  on  that  ticket  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  legislature  in  1846,  and 
acceptably  served  during  the  session  of 
1846-7.  He  held  other  minor  offices,  and 
was  justice  of  the  peace  for  many  years, 
and  always  went  by  the  name  of  Squire 
Robb  wherever  known.     On  the  dissolution 


698 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


of  the  Whig  party  he  became  identified 
with  the  Republican  party,  and  espoused  its 
principles  and  voted  its  ticket  until  his 
death,  February  24,  1870.  He  was  quite 
successful  in  business  and  became  the  owner 
of  over  twelve  hundred  acres  of  fine  land 
in  McLean  county,  and  on  his  original  farm 
the  village  of  Danvers  was  located.  He 
was  a  good  man  and  his  death  was  deeply 
mourned.  There  are  yet  many  persons  in 
McLean  county  who  retain  a  warm  place  in 
their  hearts  for  Squire  Robb,  the  pioneer. 


ANSEL  D.  HOWARD,  a  representative 
business  man  of  McLean,  Illinois,  has 
been  a  resident  of  Illinois  since  1858,  and 
of  McLean  county  since  1861.  He  was 
born  in  Taunton,  Bristol  county,  Massa- 
chusetts, August  18,  1 83 1,  and  comes  of 
good  old  Massachusetts  stock,  but  traces  his 
ancestry  back  to  England,  from  which 
country  some  of  the  family  came  early  in 
the  seventeenth  century.  His  father,  An- 
sel Howard,  was  born  in  Bridgewater, 
Massachusetts,  June  24,  1803,  and  died  in 
McLean  county,  Illinois,  January  26,  1890, 
in  his  eighty-seventh  year.  He  was  the  son 
of  Simeon  Howard,  also  born  in  Bridge- 
water,  Massachusetts,  the  son  of  Eliakim 
Howard,  who  was  also  in  all  probability 
born  in  Bridgewater.  For  many  years 
Eliakim  Howard  was  crier  of  the  court  in 
Bristol  county,  Massachusetts.  The  male 
members  of  the  family  have  always  been 
possessed  of  good  business  ability,  and  in 
all  its  history  there  is  no  record  of  a  busi- 
ness failure  of  one  bearing  the  name. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  grew  to  man- 
hood in  his  native  city,  and  there  received 
a  good  common-school  education.  In  his 
youth  he  learned  the  trade  of  wagon  and 


carriage  making  with  his  father,  who  was 
engaged  in  that  business  for  many  years. 
He  later  served  an  apprenticeship  of  two 
years  in  a  locomotive  machine  shops,  after 
which  he  entered  into  partnership  with  his 
father  in  wagon  and  carriage  making,  which 
partnership  continued  for  four  years.  He 
then  sold  his  interest  to  his  father,  and  in 
August,  1858,  came  to  Illinois,  and  lo- 
cated in  Waynesville,  where  he  worked  in 
a  wagon  shop  until  February,  i860,  when 
he  went  to  Independence,  Buchanan  county 
Iowa,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade  for  nine 
months,  and  then  returned  to  Waynesville, 
Illinois,  and  remained  until  the  fall  of  1861, 
when  he  came  to  Heyworth,  McLean  coun- 
ty, and  opened  a  carriage  and  wagon  shop, 
and  carried  on  business  there  until  the 
spring  of  1866,  when  he  sold  out  and  re- 
turned to  Taunton,  Massachusetts,  and 
worked  one  year  in  his  father's  shops  His 
father  then  sold  out  his  business  interests 
and  residence,  and  came  to  Illinois  with  his 
son,  and  together  they  bought  what  was 
known  as  the  McFarland  farm,  about  one 
and  a  half  miles  from  the  village  of  McLean, 
and  which  consisted  of  eighty-seven  acres. 
On  that  farm  our  subject  resided  until  1875, 
engaged  in  general  farming  and  stock-rais- 
ing. Selling  the  farm  at  a  decided  advance 
on  the  purchase  price,  he  removed  to  the 
village  of  McLean  and  started  a  furniture 
store  and  undertaking  establishment,  in 
which  lines  he  continued  until  1881,  when 
he  bought  a  hardware  establishment,  and 
took  into  partnership  his  son-in-law,  Laban 
F.  Gifford,  since  which  time  both  branches 
of  the  business  have  been  continued  with 
gratifying  success,  a  large  trade  having  been 
built  up  with  the  surrounding  country. 
They  carry  a  full  line  of  shelf  and  heavy 
hardware,   stoves,   house  furnishing  goods, 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


699 


windmills,  pumps,  furniture  and  undertak- 
ing goods,  and  have  an  excellent  reputation 
(or  the  reliability  of  their  stock. 

The  mother  of  Mr.  Howard  was  a  Miss 
Louisa  Wilbur,  and  she  was  of  one  of  the 
most  noted  families  in  Taunton,  Massachu- 
setts. Her  brother,  Joseph  Wilbur,  held 
the  office  of  recorder  of  Taunton,  Massachu- 
setts, for  over  fifty  years.  H  e  was  also  a 
deacon  in  the  Congregational  church  of  that 
city  for  about  the  same  length  of  time.  He 
was  a  very  popular  man  and  could  have  had 
any  position  in  the  gift  of  the  people  there 
for  the  asking.  When  he  decided  that  he 
would  no  longer  hold  the  office  of  recorder 
his  son  was  elected  and  has  now  held  the 
office  for  about  thirty  years. 

At  Rehoboth,  Massachusetts,  in  1835, 
Mr.  Howard  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Mary  B.  Hunter,  a  native  of  \^'ar^en, 
Rhode  Island,  who  there  grew  to  woman- 
hood, and  daughter  of  William  S.  Hunter, 
who  was  master-mechanic  in  the  ship  yards 
at  Warren,  Rhode  Island.  By  this  union 
two  children  were  born.  Mamie  is  the  wife 
of  Laban  F.  Gifford,  an  enterprising  busi- 
ness man  of  McLean,  and  a  partner  of  our 
subject  in  business.  They  have  one  son, 
Merritt  A.,  a  j'oung  man  of  good  business 
ability,  who  holds  a  position  with  Mr. 
Aldrich,  of  McLean.  Ella  M.  is  the  wife  of 
Willis  D.  Snow,  of  Bloomington,  and  they 
have  three  children,  Cora,  Vera,  and 
Charles. 

In  early  life  Mr.  Howard  was  politically 
a  Whig,  and  cast  his  first  presidential  ballot 
for  the  last  nominee  of  that  party,  in  1852, 
General  Winfield  Scott.  Since  the  organ- 
ization of  the  Republican  party,  he  has  ad- 
vocated its  principles  and  supported  the 
party  ticket.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Con- 
gregational church,  of  which  his  wife  is  also 


a  member.  For  many  years  he  has  held 
official  position  in  the  church,  serving  as 
deacon  and  church  treasurer.  He  is  a  man 
of  exemplary  habits,  of  upright  character 
and  worth,  and  is  one  of  the  public-spirited 
citizens  of  McLean  county,  and  his  residence 
of  forty-one  years  in  this  state  has  enabled 
him  to  become  well  known,  and  wherever 
known  he  is  greatly  esteemed. 


ALEXANDER  D.  LAWRENCE,  a  prac- 
tical farmer  and  stock  raiser,  residing 
on  section  5,  Funk's  Grove  township,  owns 
and  operates  a  farm  of  four  hundred  acres, 
located  within  two  miles  of  the  village  of 
McLean.  He  was  born  in  Clarke  county, 
Ohio,  December  22,  1846.  The  Lawrence 
family  are  of  English  ancestry,  and  were 
among  the  early  settlers  of  New  England, 
from  where  they  moved  to  different  parts  of 
the  country.  Clark  Lawrence,  the  grand- 
father of  our  subject,  was  a  native  of  New 
York,  who  at  an  early  day  moved  to  Green 
county,  Ohio,  and  there  Hiram  Lawrence 
was  born  in  18 16.  He  grew  to  manhood  in 
his  native  county,  and  there  married  Lucin- 
da  Harper,  also  a  native  of  Green  county, 
Ohio.  They  later  removed  to  Clarke  coun- 
ty, in  the  same  state,  where  they  remained 
until  1863,  when  they  came  to  Illinois,  lo- 
cating in  Atlanta,  Logan  county.  In  his 
native  state,  he  learned  the  trade  of  carpen- 
ter and  joiner,  which  he  followed  for  a 
time,  but  usually  engaged  in  farming  and 
in  the  butcher  business.  On  coming  to 
Illinois  he  engaged  in  carpentering  in  con- 
nection with  the  meat  business.  The  last 
years  of  his  life  were  spent  in  Atlanta,  his 
death  occurring  in  Clinton,  while  on  a  visit, 
February   24,    1897.     His   wife  died  some 


700 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


fifteen  years  previous,  dying  August  30, 
1882.  They  were  both  laid  to  rest  in  the 
Atlanta  cemetery. 

The  early  life  of  our  subject  was  spent 
in  his  native  county,  and  his  education  was 
received  in  the  common  and  high  schools. 
On  the  loth  of  October,  1862,  he  enlisted 
as  a  musician  in  the  One  Hundred  and 
Tenth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  playing  the 
fife  and  acting  as  drummer  boy.  He  re- 
mained in  the  service  until  in  February, 
1863,  when  his  father  secured  his  discharge 
and  he  returned  home  and  accompanied  the 
family  to  Illinois.  He  remained  at  home 
the  greater  part  of  the  time  after  coming  to 
the  state  for  about  three  years.  He  was, 
however,  used  to  looking  out  for  himself, 
and  since  the  time  he  was  fifteen  years  old 
he  has  made  his  own  way  in  the  world. 
While  he  learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  he 
followed  it  but  very  little,  but  being  familiar 
with  the  meat  business  from  being  around 
his  father's  establishment,  he  naturally 
drifted  into  it,  and  opened  a  shop  in  Mc- 
Lean. Subsequently  he  engaged  in  the 
business  at  Fanner  City,  and  still  later  at 
Leroy,  Illinois,  being  employed  in  it  in  all 
about  fifteen  years. 

In  McLean  county,  on  the  14th  of  May, 
1 87 1,  Mr.  Lawrence  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Josephine  Kidgway,  who  was 
born  in  New  Orleans,  Louisiana,  and  an 
adopted  daughter  of  Thomas  S.  and  Frances 
Ridgway.  When  a  child  of  three  years  she 
was  taken  by  Thomas  S.  and  Frances  Ridg- 
way, by  whom  she  was  reared  and  educated, 
coming  with  them  to  McLean  county,  Illi- 
nois, in  1864.  She  was  educated  in  the 
schools  of  Indianapolis  and  St.  Louis.  Mr. 
Ridgway  located  on  the  farm  where  our 
subject  now  resides,  and  there  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life,  his  death   occurring  in 


1 89 1.      His  wife    preceded    him    one   year, 
dying  in  1890. 

After  returning  from  Le  Roy  Mr.  Law- 
rence located  in  the  village  of  McLean, 
where  he  engaged  in  the  stock  business, 
buying  and  shipping,  until  1889,  when  he 
took  charge  of  the  farm  and  business  con- 
nected therewith.  Since  moving  to  the 
farm  he  has  erected  one  of  the  best  farm 
residences  in  the  township,  and  has  made 
other  improvements  of  a  substantial  char- 
acter. In  addition  to  general  farming  he 
has  been  engaged  in  breeding  and  dealing 
in  stock.  For  some  years  he  has  been 
breeding  and  dealing  in  pure  blood  Jerseys, 
and  has  now  on  his  place  over  fifty  head  of 
that  breed,  including  thirty  cows. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lawrence  five  chil- 
dren have  been  born:  Thomas  R.  married 
Chattie  Eyestone-Taylor,  a  native  of  Mc- 
Lean county.  He  is  assisting  in  carrying 
on  the  home  farm.  Frances  L.  is  the  wife 
H.  M.  Cantrell.  and  they  have  one  son, 
Cecil  Lawrence.  They  reside  in  Waynes- 
ville,  Illinois.  Ruby  E.  and  Alder  E.  are 
at  home.  Bertha  E.  died  in  early  child- 
hood. 

Mr.  Lawrence  is  a  "  true  blue  "  Repub- 
lican, and  cast  his  first  presidential  ballot 
for  U.  S.  Grant  in  1868.  He  has  given 
some  attention  to  local  politics,  but  never 
with  a  view  of  official  honors.  For  six  years 
he  was  chairman  of  the  Republican  central 
committee  of  his  township,  and  done  all  in 
his  power  to  advance  the  interests  of  his 
party.  Fraternally  he  is  a  Mason,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  blue  lodge  and  Eastern  Star,  of 
McLean,  Illinois.  He  is  also  a  member  of 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
subordinate  lodge  and  Rebecca,  of  McLean, 
and  of  the  G.  A.  R.  Post,  of  McLean,  in 
which  he  has  served  as  junior  commander. 


THF    BIOGR.\PHICAL   RECORD. 


701 


Mrs.  Lawrence  is  a  member  of  the  relief 
corps  of  the  same  place,  the  Eastern  Star 
and  the  Rebecca  lodge.  She  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Presbyterian  church.  Both  are 
highly  respected  in  the  community  in  which 
they  have  so  long  made  their  home,  and 
their  friends  are  numerous  in  McEean  and 
DeWitt  counties. 


ISAAC  WILSON,  who  is  engaged  in  the 
livery  business  in  the  village  of  Dan- 
vers,  dates  his  residence  in  McLean  county 
since  1849.  He  was  born  in  Posey  county, 
Indiana,  January  7,  1845,  and  when  but 
four  years  of  age  came  with  his  parents  to 
McLean  county.  His  father,  Joseph  Wil- 
son, was  born  in  Gallatin,  Sumner  county, 
Tennessee,  September  23,  18 19,  and  was 
the  son  of  Thomas  and  Polly  (McCrunnells) 
Wilson,  the  former  a  native  of  Virginia, 
and  the  latter  of  Tennessee.  Thomas  Wil- 
son followed  the  occupation  of  a  farmer 
both  in  Tennessee,  and  after  his  removal  to 
Posey  county,  Indiana,  in  1S22.  He  was 
one  of  the  first  settlers  of  that  county,  and 
there  his  family  of  eleven  children  were 
reared — Xancy,  James,  Sally,  William, 
Polly,  Joseph,  Thomas,  Betsy,  Jane  and 
John.      One  child  died  in   infancy. 

Joseph  Wilson  was  but  three  years  of 
age  when  he  was  taken  by  his  parents  to 
Posey  county,  Indiana,  and  there  he  grew 
to  manhood  and  engaged  in  farming.  In 
1842  he  married  Miss  Elizabeth  McClure,  a 
native  of  Indiana,  born  in  1823,  and  a 
daughter  of  John  McClure.  By  this  union 
were  eight  children.  Melvina  married  Fred 
Friday,  and  died  at  the  age  of  thirty- 
five  years,  leaving  one  son,  Frank.  Isaac 
is  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Jennie  is  the 
wife  of   Eli     Phillips,    and    they    reside     in 


Danvers,  Illinois.  Frank  died  at  the  age 
of  four  years.  Susan  is  the  wife  of  C. 
Stevens,  and  they  have  two    children,   Le- 

roy  and   Edna.     They    reside   in  

township,  McLean  county.  John  married 
Susan  Morrison,  and  they  have  four  chil- 
dren, Abbie,  William,  Ella  and  Myrtle. 
They  reside  in  Danvers  township,  of  which 
he  is  the  present  assessor.  Ophelia  is  the 
wife  of  Benjamin  Wilson,  and  their  five 
children  are  Ada,  Etta,  Myra,  Jennie  and 
Nina.  They  reside  in  Tremont  township, 
Tazewell  county.  One  child  died  in  infancy. 

After  his  marriage  Joseph  Wilson  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  Posey  county,  Indiana, 
in  which  he  continued  until  1849,  when  he 
came  with  his  family  to  McLean  county, 
Illinois,  and  located  in  Danvers  township, 
where  he  first  purchased  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres,  to  which  he  added  by  subse- 
quent purchase  until,  in  1S88,  when  he  re- 
moved to  the  village  of  Danvers,  he  had 
over  seven  hundred  acres  of  as  fine  land  as 
can  be  found  in  the  Prairie  state.  He  has 
forty  acres  of  his  first  purchase,  for  which 
he  paid  four  dollars  per  acre,  and  which 
has  never  been  broken. 

In  1S63,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Wilson  depart- 
ed this  life  and  on  the  19th  of  May,  1S70, 
Joseph  Wilson  married  Miss  Susan  Dean, 
a  native  of  Knox  county,  Ohio,  born  in 
1840,  and  daughter  of  Jonathan  and  Mary 
(Elwell)  Dean,  the  former  born  in  1800, 
and  the  latter  in  1801,  both  being  natives 
of  Baltimore  county,  Maryland.  Jonathan 
Dean  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  but  on 
coming  to  McLean  county,  in  1850,  he  en- 
gaged in  farming,  in  which  he  continued  the 
remainder  of  his  life.  Mr.  Wilson  is  one  of 
eight  children,  of  whom  six  grew  to  matu- 
rity. While  residing  on  his  farm,  Joseph 
Wilson  gave   much    attention  to  stock  rais- 


702 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


ing,  and  was  quite  successful.  In  politics 
he  is  a  Democrat.  Mrs.  Wilson  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Presbyterian  church. 

Isaac  Wilson  spent  his  boyhood  and 
youth  on  the  farm  in  Danvers  township, 
and  attended  the  district  schools  of  the 
township,  usually  during  the  winter  months. 
When  twenty-four  years  of  age.  in  company 
with  Mahlon  Culbertson  and  Robert  Dan- 
ley,  he  purchased  a  portable  saw  mill,  and 
they  traveled  all  over  the  county,  stopping 
for  some  months  at  a  time  in  a  place,  and 
continuing  to  work  in  McLean  county  for 
about  two  years.  They  then  moved  the 
mill  into  Tazewell  county,  within  four  miles 
of  Pekin,  where  they  sawed  several  hundred 
thousand  feet  of  bridge  timber  for  the  Big 
Four  railroad,  which  was  then    being  built. 

Mr.  Wilson  continued  in  the  milling 
business  for  about  five  years,  and  then  sold 
his  interest  to  Robert  K.  Jones,  and  pur- 
chased a  farm  of  eighty  acres,  together  with 
ten  acres  of  timber  land,  and  engaged  in 
farming.  On  the  14th  of  December,  1874, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Eliza 
E.  Howell,  a  native  of  McLean  county, 
born  September  2,  1854.  and  daughter  of 
Jacob  and  Lucy  Ann  Howell,  who  were 
natives  of  Kentucky,  but  early  settlers  of 
McLean  county,  locating  in  Danvers  town- 
ship. Jacob  Howell  died  in  1872,  after 
which  his  wife  married  again,  her  second 
husband  being  William  Rathburn.  She  died 
in  1890. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Wilson  settled 
on  the  farm  which  he  had  purchased  and 
remained  there  until  1S85,  when  he  went  to 
Kingman  county,  Kansas,  and  engaged  in 
the  stock  business.  While  there  he  pur- 
chased property  in  Watertown,  and  a  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  si.xty  acres  about  two 
and  a  half   miles    from   that  place,    which 


property  and  land  he  still  owns.  In  1892, 
after  a  sojourn  of  seven  years  in  sunny 
Kansas,  he  returned  to  McLean  county,  and 
purchasing  the  livery  stable  and  stock  of 
John  Gardner,  he  has  since  engaged  in  that 
business. 

On  all  national  issues,  Mr.  Wilson  votes 
the  Democratic  ticket,  but  in  local  elections 
he  votes  for  the  man  he  regards  as  best  qual- 
ified for  the  office,  regardless  of  his  political 
belief.  Mrs.  Wilson  is  a  member  of  the 
Christian  church.  Both  have  many  friends 
in  Danvers  and  vicinity,  and  are  worthy  of 
the  esteem  in  which  they  are  held. 


JOHN  W.  SCOTT  has  done  much  toward 
promoting  the  commercial  activity,  ad- 
vancing the  general  welfare  and  securing  the 
material  development  of  Bloomington.  As 
a  business  man  he  is  energetic,  enterprising 
and  always  abreast  of  the  times  and  has  been 
rewarded  by  an  ample  competence.  W^ith 
one  exception  he  is  now  the  oldest  music 
dealer  of  McLean  county,  and  his  record  for 
honorable  dealing  and  unassailable  methods 
furnishes  an  example  that  is  indeed  worthy 
of  emulation. 

Mr.  Scott  was  born  at  Long  Point,  De- 
witt  county,  Illinois,  November  5,  1846,  a 
son  of  JohnO.  and  Sarah  Frances  (Webber) 
Scott.  His  father  was  born  near  Hams- 
burg,  Pennsylvania,  in  1808,  and  with  his 
parents  removed  to  Goshen,  Ohio,  where 
his  father  soon  died.  At  that  place  John 
O.  Scott  completed  his  education  and  then 
devoted  his  energies  to  farm  work.  When 
a  young  man  he  came  to  Illinois  and  entered 
an  eighty-acre  farm  in  Dewitt  county. 
While  here  he  met  Miss  Webber,  whose 
father  was  one  of  the  early  residents  of  Ur- 
bana,    Illinois.      He    had    removed    to   this 


THE   BIOGR.\PHICAL   RECORD. 


703 


state  from  Kentucky,  bringing  with  him 
some  negro  slaves  whom  he  freed  after  his 
arrival.  It  was  about  the  year  1839  that 
John  Scott  entered  his  land  in  Dewitt 
county,  but  for  a  short  time  he  resided  on 
the  Rutledge  farm,  east  of  Heyworth.  He 
then  spent  a  limited  period  in  Mcl^ean 
county,  after  which  he  built  a  one- room  log 
house  upon  his  land  and  began  the  develop- 
ment of  his  farm,  which  he  cultivated  until 
1854,  when  death  ended  his  labors.  He  had 
nearly  completed  a  new  residence  when 
called  to  the  home  beyond.  In  early  life 
he  was  identified  with  the  Presbyterian 
church,  his  wife  with  the  Baptist,  but  in  the 
days  of  their  early  residence  in  central  Illinois 
they  united  with  the  Methodist  church  and 
became  very  prominent  and  active  members. 
The  hospitality  of  their  home  was  always 
extended  to  the  ministers  who  visited  the 
neighborhood,  and  before  the  erection  of  a 
house  of  worship  their  residence  served  as  a 
place  of  meeting.  At  the  time  of  his  death 
the  father  had  acquired  two  hundred  acres 
of  good  land  and  upon  that  farm  the  mother 
reared  her  children.  She  had  a  family  of 
seven,  but  the  youngest,  Sarah  F.,  died  at 
the  age  of  two  years.  The  others  are: 
Joseph  W. ,  Mary  J.,  George  W.,  Elizabeth 
A.,  John  W.  and  Martin  A.  After  rearing 
the  children  on  the  homestead  farm  the 
mother  removed  to  Leroy,  where  her  death 
occurred. 

In  taking  up  the  personal  history  of  John 
W.  Scott  we  present  to  our  readers  the  life 
record  of  one  who  is  widely  and  favorably 
known  in  this  county.  He  was  only  two 
years  old  when  his  spine  was  accidentally 
injured  and  he  was  thus  permanently  crip- 
pled. In  the  district  school  he  mastered 
the  common  English  branches  of  learning, 
and  then    engaged    in    teaching   school   and 


studying  music,  for  which  he  had  special 
aptitude.  He  was  instructed  by  the  best 
local  teachers  of  the  community,  and  then 
entered  the  Wesleyan  College,  where  he 
pursued  a  three-years'  classical  and  musical 
course.  Subsequently  he  taught  both  vocal 
and  instrumental  music  for  eleven  years 
and  was  a  most  capable  instructor.  After 
his  marriage  he  located  in  Le  Roy,  where 
for  three  years  he  conducted  a  musical 
instrument  store,  building  up  an  excellent 
trade.  In  1883,  in  order  to  enlarge  the 
field  of  his  operations,  he  came  to  Bloom- 
ington  and  here  established  himself  in  the 
same  line  of  business  in  partnership  with 
Fred  Andrus,  of  the  Andrus  Brothers  music 
firm.  That  connection,  however,  was  soon 
dissolved,  and  he  has  since  been  alone  in 
business.  He  began  operation  in  a  small 
room  in  the  old  store  building  where  the 
Greisheim  building  now  stands,  but  after 
a  year  removed  to  the  Gerken  building  on 
Front  street,  and  a  month  later  to  Grove 
street,  near  Center  street.  He  also  spent 
one  year  in  the  Livingston  block,  on 
Center  street;  but  for  the  past  eight 
years  has  occupied  his  present  commodi- 
ous quarters  at  No.  406  North  Main 
street,  where  he  enjoys  a  large  and  con- 
stantly increasing  business.  With  one  ex- 
ception he  is  the  oldest  music  man  in 
Bloomington  in  years  of  continuous  connec- 
tion with  the  business,  and  his  sales  have 
extended  throughout  this  and  adjoining 
counties.  He  carries  an  excellent  line  of 
pianos,  organs  and  other  musical  instru- 
ments, and  his  thorough  understanding  and 
appreciation  of  the  art  of  music  enables  him 
to  intelligently  direct  his  patrons  in  their 
purchases.  He  has  also  added  a  sewing 
machine  department  to  his  store  and  enjoys 
a  good  trade  in  that  line. 


704 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


In  October,  1878,  Mr.  Scott  wedded  Miss 
Mary  A.  Arbuckle,  a  daughter  of  Robert  O. 
and  Charlotte  (Freeman)  Arbuckle,  of  Old- 
town,  which  place  was  then  known  as  the 
Stuniptown  settlement.  He  removed  from 
Pennsylvania  to  Guernsey  county,  Ohio, 
where  occurred  the  birth  of  Mrs.  Scott,  who, 
at  the  age  of  four  years,  was  brought  by  her 
parents  to  McLean  county,  where  her  father 
engaged  in  farming.  He  died  March  30, 
1 891.  His  wife  is  yet  living.  In  Septem- 
ber, 1897,  they  took  up  their  abode  in  the 
pleasant  home  at  No.  12 10  East  Grove 
street,  where  they  have  a  commodious  and 
beautiful  dwelling  in  what  is  one  of  the  best 
residence  portions  of  the  city.  They  have 
two  sons:  Pearl  Eugene,  who  is  associated 
with  his  father  in  business,  and  Lloyd 
Emerson,  who  is  now  in  the  Illinois  Wes- 
leyan  University.  Both  have  marked  mu- 
sical taste  and  show  decided  skill  in  evoking 
sweetest  melody  from  stringed  instruments. 
The  cultured  taste  of  the  parents  in  this 
direction  also  renders  the  Scott  household 
one  of  the  leading  musical  centers  of  the 
city,  and  in  many  country  districts  they 
have  given  delightful  concerts  and  recitals. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Scott  is  a 
stanch  Republican,  but  has  never  been  a 
candidate  for  office,  though  often  solicited 
to  accept  nomination.  His  tastes  are  do- 
mestic, and  this  has  led  him  to  refrain  from 
joining  musical  or  fraternal  organizations, 
as  he  finds  his  greatest  delights  among  his 
friends  at  his  own  fireside.  He  has  traveled 
considerably,  and  on  March  29,  1898, 
boarded  a  "  Big  Four  "  train  for  Leroy,  but 
when  nearing  Kickapoo  creek,  three  miles 
out,  the  tender,  from  some  unknown  cause, 
jumped  the  track.  The  engineer  saw  that 
to  stop  would  be  to  plunge  the  train  over 
the  trestle  into  the  creek;  so  putting  on  a 


full  head  of  steam,  he  pushed  ahead.  As 
soon  as  all  were  over,  the  cars,  going  at  full 
rate  of  speed,  toppled  over  down  a  fifteen- 
foot  embankment,  tearing  up  the  track  and 
causing  great  confusion  and  dismay  among 
the  passengers.  Mr.  Scott  grasped  the  seat 
ahead  of  him  and  held  on  firmly,  and  when 
the  coach  rested  on  the  solid  earth  he  was 
left  hanging  there.  He  was  only  slightly 
wounded,  but  forty  people  were  seriously 
hurt,  though  none  fatally  so.  The  shock 
which  he  sustained  nervously,  however, 
naturally  makes  him  dread  travel  by  rail. 
When  a  boy,  playing  with  his  comrades  on 
a  straw  stack  on  the  side  of  a  hill,  he  fell 
down  a  steep  embankment  and  was  picked 
up  for  dead,  but  finally  revived.  Thus  he 
has  met  many  mishaps  which  would  have 
discouraged  if  not  utterly  disheartened  many 
men,  but  his  resolute  spirit  and  unconquer- 
able will  has  enabled  him  to  put  aside  all 
difficulties  and  in  the  business  world  gain 
marked  success.  He  is  emphatically  a  man 
of  enterprise,  positive  character,  energy, 
strict  integrity  and  liberal  views,  and  is 
thoroughly  identified  in  feeling  with  the 
growth  and  prosperity  of  his  city  and  state. 
He  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  First 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  his  wife 
takes  a  very  active  part  in  the  work  of  the 
societies  connected  therewith,  while  he  con- 
tributes most  generously  to  the  support  of 
the  church. 


HON.  SAMUEL  B.  KINSEY,  who  re- 
sides on  section  12,  Mt.  Hope  town- 
ship, is  living  a  retired  life,  enjoying  the 
fruits  of  a  well  spent  life.  He  was  born  in 
Belmont  county,  Ohio,  September  19,  1824, 
and  in  his  native  state  grew  to  manhood. 
His    father,   John  Kinsey,  was  a   native  of 


THE   BIOGR.\PHICAL   RECORD. 


70s 


North  Carolina,  as  was  also  his  grandfather, 
Christopher  Kinsey.  The  latter  was  one 
of  the  very  early  settlers  of  Ohio,  and  in  the 
latter  state  John  Kinsej-  grew  to  manhood, 
and  in  Highland  county  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Eleanor  Bevan,  a  nati%e  of 
Virginia,  and  daughter  of  Stacey  Evans, 
also  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  an  early  set- 
tler of  Ohio.  After  his  marriage  he  located 
in  Belmont  county,  but  later  returned  to 
Highland  county,  and  still  later  to  Clinton 
county,  in  the  same  state.  He  was  a  car- 
penter and  joiner  by  trade,  and  followed 
that  occupation  during  his  active  life. 

The  subject  of  this  speech  spent  the 
greater  part  of  his  boyhood  and  youth  in 
Clinton  county,  Ohio,  but  later  lived  in 
Greene  county,  the  same  state.  He  had 
but  common  school  advantages,  and  is 
mostly  self-educated  since  arriving  at  ma- 
ture years.  In  1S43,  when  but  nineteen 
years  of  age,  he  came  to  Illinois  with  his  par- 
ents, who  first  located  in  Logan  county, 
where  his  father  worked  at  his  trade  in  the 
village  of  Delavan,  until  his  death  in  1852. 

On  coming  to  Illinois,  Mr.  Kinsey  en- 
gaged in  teaching  for  several  winters,  and 
during  the  summer  months  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. He  was  married  in  Logan  county  in 
1848,  to  Miss  Mary  Stephens,  who  was 
born  in  Logan  county,  a  daughter  of  Adam 
Stephens,  who  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  but 
who  came  to  Illinois  in  1829,  locating  in 
Logan  county.  By  this  union  four  chil- 
dren were  born.  Jarvis  H.  is  married  and 
resides  in  the  village  of  McLean.  He  has 
one  daughter,  Vina.  Nathan  is  married 
and  also  resides  in  McLean.  He  is  a  well 
educated  man,  and  a  teacher  by  profession. 
Efifie  married  Terah  Farnsworth,  who  is 
new  deceased.  She  makes  her  home  with 
her  father,  and  has  two  daughter,  lima  and 

38 


Vere.  The  youngest  daughter,  Maude, 
lives  at  home. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Kinsey  engaged 
in  farming  in  Logan  county,  while  at  the 
same  time  he  engaged  in  teaching  during  the 
winter  months.  In  the  spring  of  1852  he 
came  to  McLean  county  and  entered  a  tract 
of  one  hundred  and  si.xty  acres  on  section  1 2, 
town  21,  Mt.  Hope  township,  on  which  he 
located,  and  commenced  the  development  of 
a  fine  farm.  Erecting  a  small  frame  house, 
made  of  rough  lumber,  he  made  that  his 
home  for  several  years,  while  otherwise  im- 
proving the  place.  He  later  built  a  neat 
and  substantial  residence,  erected  a  good 
barn  and  other  outbuildings,  and  in  due  time 
had  one  of  the  best  farm  in  the  township. 
To  his  original  farm  he  added  one  hundred 
and  si.xty  acres,  which  he  improved,  but  has 
since  disposed  of  it.  In  addition  to  his 
home  farm,  he  owns  a  tract  of  timber  land 
in  Logan  county.  He  commenced  life  in 
quite  limited  circumstances,  but  by  his  in- 
dustry and  frugality,  he  has  acquired  a  com- 
petency. His  good  wife,  who  was  to  him 
a  most  faithful  and  devoted  wife  and  com- 
panion, was  called  to  her  final  rest  in  May, 
1896,  and  her  remains  were  laid  away  in  the 
Roach  cemetery,  in  Logan  county. 

In  early  Mr.  Kinsey  was  an  old  line 
Whig,  as  was  his  father  before  him.  He 
continued  to  vote  with  that  party  as  long  as 
it  was  in  existence,  its  principles  being  dear 
to  his  heart,  and  for  its  leaders  he  had  the 
highest  regard  and  admiration.  On  the  birth 
of  the  Republican  party,  he  espoused  its  prin- 
ciples, being  naturally  an  anti-slavery  man, 
and  for  its  first  presidential  candidate.  Gener- 
al John  C.  Fremont,  he  cast  his  ballot.  He 
has  continued  to  be  a  stanch  Republican  to 
the  present  time,  and  has  always  taken  an 
active  interest  in  party  affairs.      His  first  ofli- 


7o6 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


cial  position  was  while  living  in  Logan  coun- 
ty, being  elected  and  serving  two  terms  as 
assessor  and  as  county  treasurer  of  Logan 
county,  the  two  offices  being  combined.  On 
his  removal  to  McLean  county  he  was  first 
elected  township  school  trustee,  and  was 
the  first  assessor  of  Mt.  Hope  township  on 
its  organization.  He  was  next  elected  a 
member  of  the  county  board  of  supervisors, 
and  served  about  two  years  or  until  his  en- 
listment in  the  service  of  his  country  in  the 
civil  war. 

In  August,  1862,  Mr.  Kinsey  enlisted  in 
Company  A,  One  Hundred  and  Seventeenth 
Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  was  chosen 
as  captain  by  his  comrades,  and  duly  com- 
missioned as  such.  With  his  regiment  he 
went  first  to  Memphis,  Tennessee,  and  in 
that  vicinity  was  stationed  for  nearly  two 
years,  during  which  time  he  participated  in 
several  skirmishes,  and  was  in  the  battle 
near  Meridian,  Mississippi.  He  was  later 
with  General  Banks  in  the  Red  river  cam- 
paign, and  was  in  the  battle  of  Pleasant 
Hill.  On  account  of  physical  disability,  he 
resigned  from  the  service  and  was  discharged 
late  in  1864. 

Returning  to  his  home.  Captain  Kinsey 
resumed  his  farming,  and  was  soon  after- 
ward elected  supervisor,  and  by  re-election, 
served  as  a  member  of  the  board  for  about 
ten  years,  making  an  efficient  and  valuable 
member,  and  being  on  most  of  the  impor- 
tant committees.  In  1885,  he  was  elected 
a  member  of  the  legislature,  and  served 
through  that  long  term  in  which  General 
Logan  and  Colonel  Morrison  was  pitted 
against  each  other  as  candidates  for  United 
States  senator,  and  which  after  a  long  strug- 
gle resulted  in  the  election  of  Logan.  In 
1887  he  was  re-elected  to  the  legislature. 
During  his  service  of  two  terms  as  a  mem- 


ber of  the  legislature.  Captain  Kinsey  dis- 
charged his  duties  in  a  conscientious  and 
consistent  manner,  and  to  the  satisfaction 
of  his  constituents.  In  the  various  county, 
congressional  and  state  conventions  of  his 
party  he  has  frequently  been  sent  as  a  dele- 
gate, and  his  influence  has  always  been  felt 
on  the  side  of  right.  Fraternally,  the  Cap- 
tain is  a  member  of  McLean  Lodge,  No. — , 
A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  of  the  chapter  and  com- 
mandery  of  Bloomington.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  the  G.  A.  R.  post  at  McLean. 
For  fifty-si.\  years  he  has  been  a  resident  of 
Illinois,  and  in  all  that  time  he  has  discharged 
his  duties  of  citizenship  in  a  faithful  manner, 
with  credit  to  himself,  and  for  the  general 
good  of  his  friends  and  neighbors,  among 
whom  he  has  always  been  held  in  high  es- 
teem, as  is  evidenced  by  his  continual  elec- 
tion to  official  positions. 


OLIVER  H.  BUCK  is  the  owner  of  a 
well  improved  farm  of  eighty  acres  on 
section  7,  Funk's  Grove  township,  and 
which  lies  about  three  miles  east  of  the 
village  of  McLean.  He  was  born  in  Switz- 
erland county,  Indiana,  June  19,  1848,  and 
is  the  son  of  Judson  Buck,  a  native  of  New 
York,  born  in  1808,  and  a  grandson  of 
William  Sherman  Buck,  also  a  native  of 
New  York,  who  in  a  very  early  day  moved 
to  Ohio,  and  lived  on  the  General  Harrison 
farm  a  number  of  years.  On  that  farm 
Judson  Buck  spent  his  boyhood  and  youth, 
and  from  which  he  left,  a  young  man,  going 
to  Switzerland  county,  Indiana,  where  he 
married  Miss  Hannah  Johnston,  a  native  of 
New  York,  but  who  was  reared  in  Indiana. 
In  his  youth  he  learned  the  blacksmith 
trade,  which  he  followed  in  connection  with 
farming.     With  a  view  of  bettering  his  con- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


;o7 


ditton  in  life,  with  his  family  he  left  Indi- 
ana, and  driving  through  with  teams,  in 
1850,  located  on  the  north  line  of  DeWitt 
county,  purchasing  the  farm  known  as  the 
old  Bash  farm.  There  he  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life,  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits,  until  his  death,  July  18,  18S0. 
His  wife  passed  away  about  1878. 

Oliver  H.  Buck  was  nine  years  of  age 
when  his  parents  settled  on  the  farm  in  De- 
Witt  county,  and  there  he  grew  to  man- 
hood, remaining  with  his  father  until  after 
reaching  man's  estate.  He  was  married  in 
DeWitt  county,  December  16,  1869,  to 
Miss  Hannah  Hammitt,  who  was  born  and 
reared  on  the  farm  where  she  was  married. 
Her  father,  James  W.  Hammitt,  was  a 
native  of  Morgan  county,  Ohio,  and  came 
to  Illinois  in  boyhood,  and  later  married 
Miss  Susan  Brock.  He  is  yet  living  at  the 
age  of  eighty-two  years,  and  is  one  of  the 
substantial  farmers  of  DeWitt  county.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Buck  five  children  were  born. 
Oscar  O.,  married,  now  resides  in  Long 
Pine,  Nebraska,  where  he  is  engaged  in 
business.  Cora  A.,  who  was  married  June 
7,  1899,  to  George  H.  Youngman,  of  Mc- 
Lean. James  S. ,  Blanche  F.  and  Karl  S. 
are  also  at  home. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Buck  commenced  their  do- 
mestic life  on  the  old  home  farm  in  DeWitt 
county,  where  they  remained  some  five  or 
six  years.  Mr.  Buck  then  purchased  the 
farm  where  they  yet  reside,  to  which  they 
at  once  removed.  Since  coming  to  the 
farm  he  has  set  out  shade  and  ornamental 
trees,  built  a  neat  dwelling  and  good  barn, 
and  made  many  substantial  improvements. 
In  addition  to  a  general  line  of  farming,  he 
gives  special  attention  to  stock  raising,  the 
raising  of  small  fruit  and  poultry,  and  the 
operation  of  a  milk  and  butter  dairy. 


Politically  Mr.  Buck  is  a  life-long  Re- 
publican. He  first  voted  in  1864  for  Abra- 
ham Lincoln,  and  from  that  time  to  the 
present  has  invariably  voted  the  Republican 
ticket.  He  has  taken  quite  an  active  part 
in  local  politics,  and  has  often  served  as  a 
delegate  in  the  various  conventions  of  his 
party.  Some  years  ago  he  was  elected  and 
served  two  years  as  assessor  of  his  township, 
and  after  an  interval  was  again  elected,  and 
by  re-election  is  now  serving  his  third  year. 
He  has  a  good  idea  of  valuations  of  both 
personal  property  and  real  estate,  and  gives 
good  satisfaction  in  the  discharge  of  the 
duties  of  the  office.  He  believes  in  good 
schools,  and  to  that  end  has  served  on  the 
school  board,  and  as  clerk  of  the  district. 
A  practical  farmer,  a  good  business  man, 
and  one  having  the  best  interests  of  his 
adopted  county  and  state  at  heart,  he  is 
well  known  and  has  many  friends  in  DeWitt 
and  McLean  counties. 


WILLIAM  PAUL,  a  leading  banker  and 
prominent  financier  of  McLean  county, 
Illinois,  is  now  president  of  the  Stanford 
State  Bank,  of  Stanford,  and  a  director  of 
the  Corn  Belt  Bank,  of  Bloomington. 
Genuine  success  is  not  lik'ely  to  be  the  result 
of  mere  chance  or  fortune,  but  is  something 
to  be  labored  for  and  sought  out  with  con- 
secutive effort.  Ours  is  a  utilitarian  age 
and  the  life  of  every  successful  man  bears 
its  lessons,  and  as  told  in  contemporary 
narration,  perhaps  is  productive  of  the  great- 
est good.  Mr.  Paul  has,  through  his  own  well- 
directed  efforts,  attained  a  position  of 
prominence  in  the  business  world  and  his 
success  in  life  may  be  attributed  to  self- 
reliance,  perseverance,  energy  and  honesty. 
A  native  of  Ohio,  Mr.  Paul  was  born  in 


7o8 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Martinsburg,  Clay  township,  Knox  county, 
April  29,  1827,  and  is  a  son  of  James  and 
Sarah  (Bane)  Paul,  who  were  both  born  near 
Amity,  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania, 
the  former  March  12,  1803,  the  latter  May 
3,  1805.  In  the  county  of  his  nativity  the 
father  grew  to  manhood,  and  in  October, 
1823,  went  to  Knox  county,  Ohio,  to  inspect 
some  land  which  his  father  had  purchased 
there  but  had  never  seen.  He  located  upon 
the  place  and  after  clearing  away  a  portion 
of  the  heavy  timber  and  erecting  a  house 
thereon,  he  returned  to  Pennsylvania,  in 
July  or  August,  1 824,  and  was  there  married. 
With  his  bride  he  then  returned  to  the  home 
he  had  prepared  for  her  in  Ohio,  making 
the  journey  in  a  wagon  drawn  by  four 
horses,  and  taking  with  them  what  house- 
hold furniture  they  could  carry.  There  Mr. 
Paul  owned  and  operated  a  section  of  land, 
and  as  one  of  the  prominent  citizens  of  his 
community  he  was  called  upon  to  fill  differ- 
ent township  offices,  being  elected  justice  of 
the  peace  in  1839,  and  serving  as  such  for 
six  years.  The  last  thirty  years  of  his  life 
were  spent  in  Morrow  county,  Ohio,  where 
he  died  April  20,  1897,  at  the  age  of 
ninety-four,  and  his  wife  departed  this  life 
November  7,  1892,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
seven  years.  Both  were  consistent  members 
of  the  Christian  church,  and  highly  esteemed 
by  all  who  knew  them.  In  their  family 
were  seven  children,  of  whom  our  subject  is 
the  second  in  order  of  birth  and  oldest  son, 
and  five  of  the  number  are  still  living. 
William  Paul,  the  paternal  grandfather  of 
our  subject,  was  born  in  Washington  county, 
Pennnylvania,  and  spent  his  entire  life  near 
his  birthplace.  He  was  an  extensive  and 
prominent  farmer  and  besides  his  property 
in  that  state  he  owned  western  lands.  His 
father,  James  Paul,  the  great-grandfather  of 


our  subject,  was  of  old  Scotch-Irish  stock, 
and  emigrated  to  this  country  from  the  north 
of  Ireland  about  1770,  locating  in  Washing- 
ton county,  Pennsylvania.  James  and  Anna 
(Peck)  Bane,  our  subject's  paternal  grand- 
parents, were  of  Scotch  and  English  extrac- 
tion, and  made  their  home  on  a  farm  near 
Amity,   Washington  county,    Pennsylvania. 

William  Paul,  of  this  sketch,  received 
but  a  limited  common-school  education,  but 
he  made  the  most  of  his  advantages,  and  by 
subsequent  reading  and  observation  has 
gained  a  broad  general  knowledge.  He  re- 
mained under  the  parental  roof  or  near  his 
old  home  in  Ohio,  until  1851,  when  he  came 
to  Hudson,  McLean  county,  Illinois,  where 
he  spent  one  winter.  The  following  spring 
he  started  with  a  flock  of  sheep  from  Wash- 
ington county,  Pennsylvania,  in  the  latter 
part  of  April  and  in  traveling  five  hundred 
and  fifty  miles  almost  directly  west,  he 
crossed  but  two  railroads.  He  wintered 
the  sheep  at  Hudson  and  in  the  spring  moved 
to  Twin  Grove,  five  miles  west  of  Bloom- 
ington,  where  he  purchased  land  and  re- 
sided for  six  years.  He  then  went  south  to 
the  wilds  of  Texas  and  during  his  stay  there 
saw  a  great  deal  of  border  life,  returning 
north  March  6,  1861,  just  before  the  out- 
break of  the  civil  war. 

Locating  in  Danvers  township,  McLean 
county,  Mr.  Paul  was  married  there,  Octo- 
ber 13,  1 86 1,  to  Miss  Louisa  Harrison,  who 
was  born  in  Ohio  but  spent  six  years  of  her 
childhood  in  northwestern  Missouri.  Her 
father,  Abraham  Harrison,  came  to  this 
county  from  Ohio,  the  same  season  as  our 
subject,  and  her  grandfather,  David  Har- 
rison, was  a  pioneer  of  Knox  county,  Ohio. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Paul  have  three  children: 
Belle,  now  the  wife  of  J.  R.  Wright,  of 
Stanford,  by  whom   she   has   four  children. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


709 


Ada,  Leta,  Ralph  and  Dewey;  Nannie,  at 
home;  and  Sadie,  wife  of  Dr.  A.  E.  Rogers, 
of  Bloomington,  by  whom  she  has  one  son, 
Byron  S. 

Mr.  Paul  purchased  a  farm  of  four  hun- 
dred acres  in  Danvers  township  and  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  raising  and  feeding 
stock  for  some  years,  and  even  after  his  re- 
moval to  the  village  of  Stanford,  in  1882, 
he  continued  to  engage  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits, owning  and  operating  two  farms,  ag- 
gregating two  hundred  and  eighty  acres. 
While  living  in  the  country  he  served  as 
highway  commissioner  of  his  township.  In 
1889  he  bought  an  interest  in  a  general 
store  in  Stanford,  and  although  he  has  had 
one  or  two  partners  he  is  now  alone  in  busi- 
ness and  enjoys  an  excellent  trade.  About 
1883  he  started  in  the  coal  and  lumber  busi- 
ness, but  at  the  end  of  three  years  sold  out 
to  his  partner.  Prior  to  this  he  had  become 
interested  in  the  banking  business,  assisting 
in  organizing  the  Stanford  State  Bank  in 
1 89 1,  which  has  a  capital  of  thirty  thousand 
dollars,  a  surplus  of  nine  thousand,  and  has 
been  paying  dividends  for  some  years.  The 
corporation  bought  the  block  and  fi.xtures  of 
an  old  private  bank,  and  has  done  a  suc- 
cessful general  banking  business  from  the 
start.  Mr.  Paul  was  elected  its  first  presi- 
dent and  one  of  the  board  of  directors, 
which  positions  he  is  still  filling,  and  the 
success  of  the  bank  is  certainly  due  in  a 
large  measure  to  him  and  attests  his  emi- 
nent and  pronounced  ability  as  a  financier. 
Reared  in  the  Democratic  party,  Mr.  Paul 
continued  one  of  its  supporters  until  the 
civil  war,  since  which  time  he  has  usually 
affiliated  either  with  the  Republicans  or 
Prohibitionists.  He  has  never  been  an  as- 
pirant for  office,  though  he  has  served  on 
the  village  board  and  for   a  short   time  was 


justice  of  the  peace,  but  resigned  the  latter 
position  before  the  expiration  of  his  term. 
He  and  his  wife  are  faithful  members  of  the 
Christian  church,  and  their  beautiful  and 
well  kept  home  in  Stanford  is  the  center  of 
a  cultured  society  circle.  Mr.  Paul  has 
traveled  quite  extensively  over  the  west  and 
south,  and  has  gained  an  excellent  knowl- 
edge of  places,  men  and  affairs,  which  only 
travel  can  bring. 


ROSS  P.  DYE,  who  is  one  of  the  active 
and  enterprising  farmers  of  McLean 
county,  resides  on  a  farm  of  two  hundred 
and  forty  acres  on  section  12,  Mt.  Hope 
township,  which  has  been  his  home  for  the 
past  thirty  years.  He  was  born  in  Mason 
county,  Kentucky,  February  3,  1839,  and 
his  parents  dying  when  he  was  quite  young, 
he  was  taken  by  an  uncle  with  whom  he  re- 
mained until  he  was  fifteen  years  old,  dur- 
ing which  time  he  received  a  common-school 
education.  In  company  with  an  older 
brother  he  then  came  to  Illinois,  his  brother 
locating  near  Paris,  Logan  county,  where 
he  rented  a  farm  and  raised  two  crops.  In 
1 86 1  our  subject  returned  to  Kentucky  and 
worked  on  a  farm  for  an  uncle,  who  was 
engaged  principally  in  raising  tobacco.  He 
continued  with  this  uncle  until  the  close  of 
the  war,  and  in  1865  came  to  McLean 
county,  bringing  with  him  a  span  of  mares 
from  Cincinnati  for  his  brother,  who  had  re- 
moved to  this  county. 

Returning  to  Kentucky,  in  November, 
1865,  Mr.  Dye  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Fanny  Biggars,  a  native  of  Mason 
county,  that  state,  and  who  was  reared  on 
a  farm  near  the  county  seat.  In  1869,  with 
his  wife  he  came   to   Illinois,  and  renting  a 


7IO 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


house  in  Atlanta,  he  worked  on  a  farm  dur- 
ing the  summer,  and  in  the  fall  purchased 
a  tract  of  eighty  acres  in  Mt.  Hope  town- 
ship, McLean  county,  adjoining  his  present 
farm.  Moving  to  the  place  he  commenced 
its  improvement,  in  the  meantime  renting 
other  improved  lands,  and  engaged  exten- 
sively in  agricultural  pursuits.  He  later 
built  a  fair  house,  and  a  nice  small  barn, 
and  in  due  time  purchased  one  hundred  and 
si.xty  acres  adjoining  his  eighty,  giving  him 
a  fine  farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres. 
To  his  new  purchase  he  removed  with  his 
family,  converted  the  house  into  a  two-story 
structure,  and  made  many  other  valuable 
improvements  to  the  place.  The  two  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres  were  not  sufficient  for 
his  purposes,  and  he  usually  has  rented  more 
land,  usually  cultivating  from  four  to  five 
hundred  acres  each  year.  In  addition  to 
the  raising  of  the  various  cereals,  he  has 
given  much  attention  to  stock,  making  a 
specialty  of  hogs,  but  also  breeding  and 
dealing  in  Norman  and  road  horses,  in  which 
line  for  some  years  he  met  with  unqualified 
success.  In  1896  he  formed  a  business  part- 
nership with  his  son-in-law,  C.  C.  Darnall, 
and  engaged  in  the  hardware  trade  in  Mc- 
Lean, in  which  he  continued  until  the  spring 
of  1899,  when  he  sold  his  interest  that  he 
might  give  his  undivided  attention  to  his 
farming  interests.  While  in  the  business 
he  did  a  fairly  profitable  business. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dye  have  five  children,  two 
sons  and  three  daughters.  ThurmanP.is  mar- 
ried andis  assisting  in  carrying  on  the  home 
farm.  Minnie  is  the  wife  of  C.  C.  Darnall,  of 
McLean.  Lilly  is  the  wife  of  EwingTrott. 
George  W.  and  Flossie  are  yet  at  home. 
The  latter  has  decided  music  ability,  and  is 
engaged  in  teaching  music.  Two  sons  were 
Jost  in  early  childhood,  Robert  at  the  age  of 


three  years,  and  Willie,  at   the   age  of  one 
year.     They  also  lost  an  infant  daughter. 

Politically  Mr.  Dye  is  a  life-long  Demo- 
crat, his  first  presidential  ballot  being  cast 
for  Stephen  A.  Douglas.  While  voting  his 
party  ticket  in  national  and  state  elections, 
in  local  contests  he  is  thoroughly  independ- 
ent, voting  for  the  one  he  considers  the 
best  man.  He  is  first  of  all  a  farmer,  and 
among  those  who  know  him  he  is  regarded 
asone  who  thoroughly  understands  his  busi- 
ness, which  is  attested  by  the  success  that 
has  crowned  his  efforts  since  coming  to  Mc- 
Lean county  in  1869.  To  his  farming  in- 
terests he  prefers  to  give  his  time  and  at- 
tention, leaving  to  others  the  honors  and 
emoluments  of  public  affairs. 


WILLIAM  REEVES,  who  owns  and 
operates  a  farm  of  two  hundred  and 
si.\ty-si.\  acres  on  section  7,  Funk's  Grove 
township,  within  three  miles  of  the  village 
of  McLean,  came  to  the  county  in  1854. 
He  was  born  in  Hamilton  county,  Ohio, 
near  Cincinnati,  August  8,  1836,  and  there 
spent  his  boyhood  and  youth,  receiving  a 
very  limited  education  in  the  public  schools. 
When  a  boy  of  twelve  years  he  was  placed 
on  the  saddle  horse  of  a  team,  usually  of 
four  and  six  horses,  and  for  several  years 
was  engaged  in  hauling  freight  from  Cin- 
cinnati to  Harrison,  Ohio.  In  1854,  his 
father,  Daniel  Reeves,  decided  on  coming 
to  Illinois,  and  with  a  four  horse  team  they 
drove  through  to  DeWitt  county,  locating 
on  the  northern  line  of  that  county  on  Prairie 
Creek,  purchasing  two  hundred  and  sixty- 
six  acres,  an  improved  farm.  He  there  re- 
mained for  several  years,  and  leaving  the 
farm  he  went  to  Atlana,  Logan  county, 
where  he  live^  but  a  short  time  when  he  was 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


711 


given  charge  of  the  poor  farm  of  the  county, 
as  superintendent.  While  still  on  the  farm 
his  death  occurred  in  1S70,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-four  years. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  came  to 
Illinois  with  his  parents,  and  remained  on 
the  farm,  assisting  his  father  in  its  cultiva- 
tion until  after  he  attained  his  majority. 
He  was  married  in  DeWitt  county,  in  1859, 
to  Miss  Amanda  Buck,  who  was  born  in 
Switzerland  county,  Indiana,  and  who  came 
with  her  father,  Judson  Buck,  to  Illinois,  in 
1850.  By  this  marriage  were  four  children. 
Judson  B.  is  married  and  is  engaged  in  farm- 
ing in  Funk's  Grove  township.  Thomas 
Ervin  is  married  and  is  also  engaged  in  farm- 
ing in  Funk's  Grove  township.  One  daughter 
died  in  infancy.  Kerry  D.  is  a  young  man, 
and  resides  at  home. 

After  marriage,  Mr.  Reeves  located  on  a 
farm  near  Wapella,  DeWitt  county,  pur- 
chasing a  piece  of  raw  brush  land  which  he 
proceeded  to  clear  and  cultivate.  On  that 
farm  he  raised  two  crops,  and  then  sold  at 
a  nice  advance  over  the  purchase  price.  In 
partnership  with  his  brother-in-law,  J.  J. 
Buck,  he  ne.xt  purchased  eighty  acres  of 
land  in  the  northern  part  of  DeWitt  county, 
which  after  working  one  season,  they 
divided.  On  his  forty  acres  Mr.  Reeves 
built  a  residence  and  proceeded  to  cultivate 
the  land.  In  due  time  he  purchased  thirty- 
three  acres  adjoining,  and  there  continued 
for  fifteen  years,  leaving  the  farm  in  good 
condition,  with  a  neat  residence,  good  barn, 
and  the  farm  under  a  high  state  of  cultiva- 
tion. In  1879  he  traded  that  farm  for  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  his  present  farm, 
paying  cash  difference.  Moving  to  tue  farm, 
he  has  here  since  continued  to  reside, 
engaged  in  general  farming,  and  has  never 
^oubted    the    wisdom  of   his  choice   of  a 


home.  In  1881  he  purchased  forty  acres 
adjoining  his  farm,  and  in  1892  bought  a 
tract  of  seventy-six  acres  just  across  the 
road.  The  place  was  fairly  well  improved 
when  he  moved  to  it,  but  in  the  twenty 
years  that  he  has  lived  here,  other  improve- 
ments have  been  made  increasing  materially 
the  value  of  the  farm. 

The  first  presidential  ballot  of  Mr. 
Reeves  was  cast  for  the  "Little  Giant," 
Stephen  A.  Douglas,  while  his  last  one  was 
cast  in  1896  for  William  McKinley.  While 
residing  in  DeWitt  county,  he  served  as 
constable  and  school  director,  and  in  1887 
he  was  first  elected  justice  of  the  peace  in 
Funk's  Grove  township,  and  by  re-election 
has  served  for  twelve  years.  Fraternally, 
he  is  a  charter  member  of  McLean  Lodge, 
I.  O.  O.  F.,  in  which  he  has  passed  all  the 
chairs,  being  now  past  grand.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  the  United  Workmen,  of  Atlanta, 
Illinois.  W^hile  not  always  a  citizen,  but 
always  residing  near  the  border  line  of  Mc- 
Lean county,  Mr.  Reeves  has  spent  here 
forty-five  years  of  his  life.  He  has  many 
friends  and  acquaintances  in  Logan,  De- 
Witt  and  McLean  counties,  and  is  a  man 
worthy  the  esteem  in  which  he  is  held.  He 
is  a  good  farmer,  a  worthy  citizen,  one 
always  willing  to  give  a  helping  hand  to 
every  worthy  enterprise. 


JAMES  J.  LOAR,  M.  D.  June  12, 
1894,  there  passed  away  at  his  home  in 
Bloomington  a  well-beloved  physician, 
whose  many  years  of  faithful  toil  in  his  pro- 
fession made  his  name  a  household  word  in 
the  community.  He  was  a  man  whose 
death  was  felt  as  a  loss  among  all  classes, 
and  the  following  brief  account  of  one  so 
esteemed  will  be  read  with  unusual  interest; 


712 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


The  Doctor  was  born  in  Greene  county, 
Pennsylvania,  February  9,  1830,  a  son  of 
John  Loar,  an  old  and  honored  resident  of 
that  county.  There  our  subject  passed  the 
first  twenty  years  of  his  life,  and  he  attend- 
ed school  in  both  Greene  and  Fayette  coun- 
ties, Pennsylvania.  In  the  latter  county  he 
commenced  reading  medicine  with  his 
brother.  Dr.  Appolos  Loar,  and  began  prac- 
tice in  Pennsville.  While  there  he  was 
married,  in  1850,  to  Miss  Maria  Stoffer,  a 
daughter  of  Abram  and  Mary  (Newcomber) 
Stoffer,  who  were  of  Pennsylvania  German 
ancestry.  His  father  was  a  prominent  farm- 
er in  his  community  and  was  honored  with 
a  number  of  township  offices.  Religiously 
he  was  a  member  of  the  Mennonite  church. 
His  entire  life  was  passed  in  the  old  Key- 
stone state. 

After  three  or  four  years  spent  in  Penns- 
ville, Doctor  Loar  removed  to  Mt.  Pleasant, 
Fayette  county,  where  he  soon  built  up  a 
good  practice,  and  later  he  successfully  fol- 
lowed his  chosen  calling  in  Mt.  Vernon, 
Ohio,  for  five  years.  Soon  after  his  mar- 
riage he  graduated  from  a  medical  college 
of  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  was  always  a  close 
student  of  his  profession.  In  1871  he  came 
to  Bloomington  when  it  was  still  a  small 
place,  and  as  his  skill  and  ability  were  soon 
widely  recognized  it  was  not  long  before  he 
was  at  the  head  of  a  large  and  lucrative 
practice  here,  which  he  continued  to  enjoy 
until  called  from  this  life.  During  almost 
his  entire  residence  in  Bloomington,  he 
made  his  home  at  No.  602  East  Front 
street. 

To  Doctor  and  Mrs.  Loar  were  born  five 
children,  one  son  and  four  daughters, 
namely:  Abram,  a  druggist,  of  Blooming- 
ton; Mrs.  Hettie  Bonnett,  now  a  widow,  of 
Bloomington,  who  has  two  sons,  James  and 


Yons;  Emma,  who  married  Delmar  Dar- 
rah,  and  died,  leaving  one  daughter,  Lo- 
raine;  Lucy,  who  is  with  her  mother;  and 
Sarah,  who  married  Doctor  Sitherwood, 
and  died,  leaving  two  children,  Grace  and 
Doane. 

Socially  the  Doctor  was  an  honored 
member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows  and  the  Masonic  fraternity.  He 
made  friends  wherever  he  went,  and  it  is 
safe  to  say  that  no  citizen  of  Bloomington 
was  held  in  higher  respect  or  esteem.  He 
was  an  earnest  and  consistent  member  of 
the  Christian  church,  to  which  his  family 
belong,  and  was  faithful  to  his  church,  to 
his  country  and  to  his  friends,  while  in  his 
home  he  was  a  most  exemplary  husband 
and  father. 


M 


RS.  ELIZA  STANSBURY,  who  now 
makes  her  home  in  the  city  of  Bloom- 
ington, is  the  eldest  daughter  of  Matthew 
Robb,  whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in 
this  volume,  and  to  which  the  reader's  atten- 
tion is  called.  She  was  born  in  Posey 
county,  Indiana,  May  30,  1823,  and  was 
but  one  year  old  when  she  came  with  her 
parents  to  Logan  county,  Illinois,  and  was 
but  four  years  old  when  they  moved  to  Mc- 
Lean county  and  located  in  Stout's  Grove, 
the  site  of  the  present  village  of  Danvers, 
which  was  laid  out  on  her  father's  farm. 
She  remembers  being  told  how  they  made 
the  journey  in  a  two-horse  wagon,  and  that 
when  her  father  made  his  purchase  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  he  had  but 
twenty-five  cents  left. 

In  the  pioneer  subscription  schools  of 
McLean  county,  Eliza  Robb  obtained  her 
education,  her  father  paying  so  much  per 
quarter  for  her  tuition.     She   remained  at 


MRS.   E.  J.  STANSBURY. 


OF  THE 
•VERS/Ty  Of  ILUmi 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


7'5 


home  until  her  marriage.  May  13,  1841,  to 
E.  E.  Matthews,  a  native  of  New  York, 
and  son  of  Asel  and  Hope  Matthews,  also 
natives  of  New  York,  who  located  in  La- 
Porte  county,  Indiana,  at  a  very  early  day. 
After  their  marriage  they  located  on  a  farm 
four  miles  north  of  Danvers,  where  Mr. 
Matthews  followed  his  trade  of  brick  mason 
in  connection  with  farming.  They  later 
returned  to  Stout's  Grove,  McLean  county, 
and  Mr.  Matthews  engaged  in  farming  in 
connection  with  his  trade,  usually  hiring  the 
farm  work  done,  while  he  engaged  at  his 
trade. 

^^'ith  the  desire  to  help  her  husband, 
Mrs.  Matthews  spent  much  of  her  time  in 
spinning  and  weaving,  and  then  selling  the 
cloth.  She  also  knit  socks,  which  she  sold, 
and  thus  added  to  their  income.  Her  hus- 
band was  very  much  opposed  to  her  work- 
ing, believing  that  it  was  the  husband's 
place  to  provide  for  his  family.  Before 
their  removal  to  Green  Lake  county,  Wis- 
consin, where  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
business  for  about  five  years,  when  she  was 
away  from  home,  he  sold  her  loom  and  she 
was  forced  to  quit.  He  died  August  21, 
1S66.  In  politics  he  was  a  Republican, 
and  religiously  he  was  a  member  of  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  church.  He  was 
quite  a  worker  in  the  Sunday  school  and 
was  a  teacher  for  many  years. 

On  the  23d  of  April.  1869,  Mrs.  Mat- 
thews again  married,  her  second  husband 
being  Abram  Stansbury,  a  native  of  Tennes- 
see, who  was  born  June  19,  1807.  He  was 
of  German  and  Welsh  parentage,  and  came 
to  Illinois  between  1830  and  1832.  For 
some  years  he  was  engaged  in  carrying  the 
mail  between  Peoria,  then  called  Fort 
Clarke,  and  Eugene,  on  horseback.  At 
that  time  there  were  no  bridges  across  the 


streams,  and  he  was  often  compelled  to 
swim  them  with  the  mail  bags  tied  to  his 
back.  He  often  met  Indians,  but  they 
never  molested  him.  Mr.  Stansbury  was 
married,  his  first  union  being  with  Miss 
Mary  Cheney,  by  whom  he  had  two  chil- 
dren. After  his  marriage  to  Mrs.  Matthews, 
he  engaged  in  buying  and  selling  stock,  a 
business  in  which  he  continued  until  within 
a  few  years  of  his  death.  He  died  August 
19,  1877.  He  was  a  consistent  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  died 
in  the  faith. 

Since  the  death  of  her  husband,  Mrs. 
Stansbury  has  made  her  home  in  Blooming- 
ton,  where  she  is  well  known  and  where  she 
has  many  friends.  She  is  a  member  of  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  church,  and  in 
her  younger  days  was  quite  active  in  church 
and  Sunday  school  work. 


T  EONARD  H.  BLISS,  an  esteemed  citi- 
19  zen  of  Bloomington,  now  actively  con- 
nected with  the  business  interests  of  the  city, 
is  known  throughout  this  entire  country,  in 
Canada,  and  in  many  of  the  leading  cities  of 
Europe,  in  connection  with  bicycling,  being 
the  heaviest  man  who  ever  rode  a  wheel. 
McLean  county  has  always  been  his  home, 
and  his  birth  occurred  in  Blue  Mound  town- 
ship, May  4,  1865,  his  parents  being  Elijah 
C.  and  Lucy  A.  (Harmon)  Bliss.  His  father 
is  a  native  of  Rehoboth,  Massachusetts,  his 
mother  of  Springfield,  that  state,  and  both 
are  representatives  of  old  New  England  fam- 
ilies. Coming  to  the  west  in  early  life,  they 
were  married  in  St.  Louis,  Missouri.  Mr. 
Bliss  is  a  carpenter  by  trade,  but  after  work- 
ing in  the  railroad  shops  in  the  Island  of 
Cuba  for  two  years  he  returned  to  the  United 
States,  worked  in  Wisconsin  for  a  time,  then 


7i6 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


went  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  was  married, 
and  then  removed  to  Morgan  county,  Ilh- 
nois;  began  farming;  remained  there  a  few 
years,  and  then  came  to  McLean  county,  in 
1862,  and  began  farming  in  Blue  Mound 
township.  The  following  year  he  purchased 
a  farm  and  continued  its  cultivation  and  im- 
provement until  1884,  when  he  put  aside 
agricultural  pursuits,  and  removed  to  Bloom- 
ington.  He  has  served  as  school  director, 
but  has  held  no  other  offices,  preferring  to 
devote  his  energies  to  his  business  interests. 
In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and  in  his  re- 
ligious faith  is  a  Presbyterian,  belonging  to 
the  Second  Presbyterian  church  of  Bloom- 
ington.  In  his  family  are  two  sons,  Herbert 
and  Leonard,  and  one  daughter,  Mary,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  ten  years. 

The  subject  of  this  review  acquired  his 
preliminary  education  in  the  district  schools, 
and  later  spent  one  year  as  a  student  in  the 
State  Normal,  and  one  year  in  the  Illinois 
Wesieyan  University,  in  the  commercial 
course.  Thus  fitted  for  the  practical  duties 
of  life,  he  entered  upon  his  business  career 
as  a  commercial  traveler  for  the  Chisholm 
Gray  Company,  wholesale  commission  mer- 
chants, with  whom  he  remained  for  a  num- 
ber of  years,  meeting  with  excellent  success 
in  his  work.  In  May,  1895,  however,  he 
began  bicycle  riding,  and  soon  took  that  up 
as  a  profession,  in  connection  with  the  sale 
of  wheels.  He  was  always  a  large  child,  and 
when  only  six  years  old  weighed  one  hundred 
and  fifty  pounds.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  he 
was  six  feet  five  and  a  half  inches  tall, and  had 
grown  in  weight  correspondingly.  In  1898 
he  weighed  five  hundred  and  fifty-five 
pounds,  which  gave  him  the  distinction  of 
being  the  largest  man  in  the  country  at  that 
time.  He  was  therefore  the  heaviest  bicy- 
cle rider,  ^nd  his  success  in  that  line  lead 


many  other  people  to  engage  in  wheeling. 
On  severing  his  connection  with  the  Chis- 
holm Gray  Company  he  became  connected 
with  the  America  Cycle  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany, of  Chicago,  as  a  rider  and  salesman, 
and  represented  that  house  for  three  years, 
traveling  through  the  United  States  and 
Canada.  He  also  spent  six  months  as  their 
representative  abroad,  visiting  the  principal 
cities  of  Europe  as  well  as  all  the  jobbing 
centers  of  this  country.  He  was  very  suc- 
cessful in  introducing  wheels  and  also  made 
some  very  creditable  racing  records.  He 
has  a  record  of  a  half  mile  in  1:42,  and  he 
won  a  gold  bicycle  medal  as  first  prize  at 
the  Tetotum  sports,  held  at  Stanford  Hill, 
London,  August  3,  1896.  It  was  the  day 
known  as  "bank  holiday,"  and  the  event 
was  an  international  contest  between  "the 
American  giant  and  the  English  midget," 
Mr.  Bliss  winning  in  the  contest. 

In  1898  he  returned  to  Bloomington  and 
has  since  been  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  patent  medicines  as  a  member  of  the  firm 
of  C.  B.  Castle  &  Company  and  the  repre- 
sentative in  the  sales  department.  They 
manufacture  the  Faloon  remedies,  first 
made  by  Dr.  Faloon  in  1840,  since  which 
time  they  have  been  on  the  market,  having 
a  large  sale  through  Illinois  and  Iowa. 
These  include  the  Faloon  instant  relief, 
Faloon  rosinweed  balsam,  Faloon  tonic  and 
Faloon  diarrohea  specific.  This  enterprise 
with  which  Mr.  Bliss  is  now  connected  is 
proving  a  profitable  one,  and  at  the  head 
of  the  sales  department  he  is  doing  much  to 
increase  the  success  of  the  house. 

Socially  he  is  a  representative  of  Bloom- 
ington Lodge  No.  161,  K.  P.  He  attends 
the  First  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and 
has  many  warm  friends  throughout  the  com- 
munity in  which  the  greater  part  of  his  life 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


717 


has  been  passed.  He  has,  however,  formed 
many  friendships  throughout  the  entire 
country,  and  his  genial  disposition  renders 
him  an  agreeable  companion. 


WILLIAM  H.  H.  ROSS,  who  is  now 
living  a  retired  life  in  the  village  of 
McLean,  was  for  years  one  of  the  most  en- 
terprising farmers  of  McLean  county.  He 
was  born  in  Mt.  Hope  township,  May  30, 
1840,  and  in  Funk's  Grove  and  Mt.  Hope 
township  has  spent  his  entire  life.  His 
father,  John  W.  Ross,  was  a  native  of  In- 
diana, and  came  to  this  county  when  a 
young  man,  here  joining  some  Indiana 
friends  who  had  preceded  him.  Soon  after 
his  arrival  he  married  Miss  Nancy  Funk, 
daughter  of  John  Funk,  who  was  one  ot  the 
first  settlers  of  McLean  county,  and  they  be- 
came the  parents  of  seven  children,  of 
whom  four  are  yet  living:  William  H.  H., 
the  subject  of  this  sketch;  John,  who  re- 
sides in  McLean;  Mrs.  Mary  Nichols,  of 
Mt.  Hope  township;  and  Mrs.  Margaret 
Brazell,  who  resides  in  California.  After 
residing  in  Mt.  Hope  township  for  some 
years,  John  W.  Ross  moved  to  Dale  town- 
ship, where  he  opened  up  a  farm  and  there 
resided  until  his  death,  in  1851.  His  wife 
survived  him  a  few  years,  dying  in  1861. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  grew  to  man- 
hood on  the  home  farm  and  in  the  schools 
of  the  county  received  a  common-school  ed- 
ucation. He  was  married  February  13, 
i860,  to  Miss  Palma  Ann  Price,  a  native  of 
Page  county,  Virginia,  and  daughter  of 
William  and  Mary  (Decker)  Price,  also  na- 
tives of  the  same  state.  In  about  1846 
William  Price  came  with  his  family  to  Mc- 
Lean county  and  located  in  Dale  township, 
where  the  last  years  of  his  lif§  were  spent. 


After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ross 
located  in  Dale  township,  where  he  rented 
a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres, 
which  he  farmed  for  three  years.  He  then 
moved  to  Funk's  Grove  township  and  rent- 
ed the  George  Funk  farm,  on  which  he  re- 
sided for  eighteen  years.  He  then  pur- 
chased a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  adjoining  the  Funk  farm,  to  which 
he  removed,  but  carried  on  both  farms  a 
number  of  years  more.  Giving  up  the  Funk 
farm  he  carried  on  his  own  farm  until  1898, 
when  he  rented  out  the  place  and  moved  to 
the  village  of  McLean,  where  he  has  since 
lived  a  retired  life.  While  on  the  farm  Mr. 
Ross  gave  special  attention  to  stock  raising, 
and  for  some  years  raised  and  shipped  from 
two  hundred  to  three  hundred  head  of  cat- 
tle annually,  together  with  many  head  of 
hogs.  He  was  regarded  as  one  of  the  best 
farmers  and  stock  raisers  in  the  county. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ross  four  children  were 
born.  Roxanna  Belle  is  the  wife  of  Will- 
iam Richardson,  a  farmer,  residing  near 
Ellsworth,  Illinois.  Charles  L.  married 
Miss  Rebecca  Stubblefield,  and  they  reside 
in  Mt.  Hope  township,  where  he  is  engaged 
in  farming.  Katie  is  the'wife  of  George  W. 
Halane,  of  Allin  township.  Lulu  May  is 
the  wife  of  Charles  Tyner,  of  Monroe  town- 
ship. There  are  now  five  grandchildren  in 
the  family.  Mrs.  Richandson  has  one 
daughter,  Allie  May.  Charles  F.  has  two 
daughters,  Lottie  Roxana  and  Jessie.  Mrs. 
Halane  has  one  daughter,  Lydia.  Mrs. 
Tyner  has  one  son,  Herbert  Ross. 

The  first  presidential  vote  cast  by  Mr. 
Ross  was  in  1864,  when  he  voted  for  Abra- 
ham Lincoln  for  his  second  term.  Since 
that  time  he  has  voted  for  each  nominee  of 
the  Republican  party  for  president  up  to 
the    present  time.      He  has   never   wanted 


7i8 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


public  office,  but  served  some  years  as  com- 
missioner of  highways,  and  having  an  inter- 
est in  the  pnblic  schools,  he  served  for 
about  ten  years  as  a  member  of  the  school 
board. 

As  already  stated,  Mr.  Ross  has  been  a 
life-long  ressdent  of  McLean  county,  and  is 
to-day  the  oldest  living  settler  of  Mt.  Hope 
township,  born  within  its  boundaries.  He 
has  helped  develop  the  county,  and  can 
look  back  with  pride  to  the  years  of  toil  in 
which  he  was  engaged,  and  have  the  satis- 
faction of  knowing  that  his  labors  were  not 
altogether  in  vain,  but  that  by  his  own  in- 
dustry, assisted  by  his  good  wife,  he  has 
been  enabled  to  lay  by  enough  to  keep  them 
comfortably  during  the  remainder  of  their 
lives.  They  are  both  held  in  the  highest 
esteem  by  all  who  know  them. 


CHARLES  A.  PRICE.  Much  of  the 
civilization  of  the  country  has  come 
from  the  Teutonic  race.  Continually  mov- 
ing westward,  they  have  taken  with  them 
the  enterprise  and  advancement  of  their 
eastern  homes  and  have  become  valued  and 
useful  citizens  of  various  localities.  In  this 
country  especially  have  they  demonstrated 
their  power  to  adapt  themselves  to  new  cir- 
cumstances, retaining  at  the  same  time 
their  progressiveness  and  energy,  and  have 
become  loyal  and  devoted  citizens,  true  to 
the  interests  of  their  adopted  country. 

Among  Hloomington's  most  honored  and 
highly-respected  citizens  who  have  come 
from  the  German  fatherland  is  Charles  A. 
Price,  who  was  born  in  Ragnit,  Prussia, 
October  28,  1825,  and  is  a  son  of  Frederick 
and  Minnie  (Reinke)  Price,  also  natives  of 
Ragnit,  where  they  spent  their  entire  lives. 
The  father  followed  the  trade  of  wood  turn- 


ing. Like  his  two  brothers,  our  subject 
was  reared  and  educated  in  his  native  town, 
and  having  learned  wood  turning,  he  fol- 
lowed that  trade  there  until  over  twenty- 
five  years  of  age. 

In  185 1  Mr.  Price  came  to  the  United 
States,  landing  in  New  York  September  6. 
He  proceeded  at  once  to  Milwaukee,  Wis- 
consin, but,  not  finding  employment  there, 
he  went  to  LaPorte,  Indiana.  In  the  lum- 
ber woods  near  the  latter  city  he  was  em- 
ployed in  a  sawmill  and  turning  shop  for 
one  winter,  during  which  time  he  began  to 
learn  the  English  language,  with  which  he 
was  previously  unfamiliar.  He  first  came 
to  Bloomington  in  1853,  but  after  a  short 
time  spent  here  he  went  to  Iowa,  where  he 
remained  two  years,  being  most  of  the  time 
in  Muscatine.  Returning  to  Bloomington 
in  1855,  he  again  entered  the  employ  of 
Mr.  Parkes,  in  whose  mills  in  Tazewell 
county,  Illinois,  he  had  previously  worked. 
Later  he  was  with  Hayes,  Evans  &  Co. 
until  1861,  when  he  started  in  business  for 
himself  at  the  corner  of  West  and  Market 
streets,  where  he  successfully  carried  on 
operations  until  1878.  Being  considered 
one  of  the  best  turners  in  the  city,  he  en- 
joyed an  excellent  trade  and  occupied  a 
good  position  in  business  circles.  In  1878 
he  retired  from  active  labor  and  has  since 
given  his  attention  only  to  his  investments, 
which  have  also  proved  quite  profitable. 
He  bought  a  fine  lot,  ninety  by  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  feet,  at  the  corner  of  Front 
and  Gridley  streets,  which  is  now  very 
valuable,  and  here  has  a  good  home.  He 
has  also  built  two  brick  blocks  on  West 
Chestnut  street,  and  at  different  times  has 
owned  four  good  farms,  which  he  has  sold 
at  a  profit. 

On   the    14th   of  June,  1856,  Mr.  Price 


THE    BIOGEL-^PHICAL    RECORD. 


719 


married  Miss  Johanetta  Jiinj:;,  of  Blooming- 
ton,  who  was  born  in  the  grand  duchy  o( 
Hesse,  Germany,  and  they  have  become  the 
parents  of  three  children,  namely:  Charles, 
who  is  married  and  is  connected  with  his 
brother,  Frederick  W.,in  the  clothing  busi- 
ness in  St.  Cloud,  Minnesota;  Minnie  E., 
wife  of  Henry  Behr,  of  the  West  Side, 
Bloomington,  by  whom  she  has  four  chil- 
dren, Carl, Walter,  Lottie  and  Lincolni-and 
Frederick  W. ,  who  is  married  and  has  three 
children:      Lottie,  Clarence  and  Helen. 

Mr.  Price  was  one  of  the  early  members 
of  the  Turners  society  and  the  German 
school  societies  of  Bloomington.  He  be- 
longs to  that  class  of  men  whom  the  w-orld 
terms  self-made,  for  coming  to  this  country 
with  only  a  twenty-dollar  gold  piece  and  a 
little  change,  he  has  conquered  all  the  ob- 
stacles in  his  path  to  success,  and  has  not 
only  secured  for  himself  a  handsome  com- 
petence, but  by  his  efforts  has  materially 
advanced  the  interests  of  the  community 
with  which  he  is  associated.  His  record  is 
one  that  any  young  man  may  read  with  ad- 
vantage, as  in  early  life  he  worked  for  from 
seventy-five  cents  to  a  dollar  and  a  quarter 
per  day,  but  has  been  able  to  live  retired 
for  twenty-one  years  through  his  own  well- 
directed  efforts.  Mr.  Price  has  for  many 
years  been  a  stanch  Republican. 


HON.  EDWARD  STUBBLEFIELD, 
whose  home  is  on  section  3,  Mt.  Hope 
township,  has  throughout  life  been  promi- 
nently identified  with  the  agricultural  and 
political  interests  of  this  county,  and  enjoys 
the  highest  respect  of  his  fellow  citizens  by 
reason  of  strict  integrity,  true  manhood  and 
intellectual  worth.  His  devotion  to  the 
public  welfare  has  made  him  a  valued  factor 


in  public  life,  and  he  has  been  honored  by 
his  community  with  a  number  of  important 
official  positions. 

A  native  of  McLean  county,  Mr.  Stub- 
blefield  was  born  in  Funks  Grove  township, 
August  15,  1834,  and  is  a  worthy  represen- 
tative of  one  of  its  most  prominent  pioneer 
families,  being  a  son  of  Robert  and  Dorothy 
(Funk)  Stubblefield.  The  mother  was  a 
daughter  of  Adam  Funk  and  a  sister  of 
Isaac,  Jesse  and  Jacob  Funk,  the  first  set- 
tlers of  this  county,  having  located  here  in 
December,  1824.  The  father  of  our  sub- 
ject was  a  native  of  Halifa.x  county,  Vir- 
ginia, and  a  son  of  Edward  Stubblefield, 
who  was  also  born  in  the  Old  Dominion. 
The  former  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native 
state  but  was  married  in  Ohio,  and  he  too 
came  to  this  county  in  December,  1824. 
He  took  up  several  hundred  acres  of  gov- 
ernment land  in  Funks  Grove  township  and 
there  made  his  home  throughout  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life.  He  was  twice  married, 
his  first  wife  being  a  sister  of  the  mother  of 
our  subject,  and  by  that  union  he  had  four 
children,  two  sons  and  tsvo  daughters. 
There  were  nine  children,  seven  sons  and 
two  daughters,  by  the  second  union,  of 
whom  Edward  is  the  si.xth  in  order  of  birth. 

The  knowledge  that  our  subject  acquired 
by  attending  the  public  schools  of  the  coun- 
ty during  his  boyhood  has  been  greatly  sup- 
plemented by  reading  and  observation  in 
later  years.  In  Bloomington,  he  was  married, 
September  17,  1856,  to  Miss  Eliza  Fossett, 
a  native  of  Ohio,  who  was  about  twelve 
years  of  age  when  brought  to  this  county  by 
her  father,  Lewis  Fossett,  in  1850.  The 
children  born  to  them  are  Anna,  now  the 
wife  of  S.  R.  Sterling,  of  McLean;  Marion 
L. ,  a  substantial  farmer  of  Mt.  Hope  town- 
ship; Emma  J.,    wife   of   David  Alexander, 


720 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


of  the  same  township;  and  Lincoln  Wayne, 
at  home.  They  also  have  six  grandchil- 
dren. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Stubblefield  lo- 
cated upon  a  part  of  his  present  farm,  his 
first  home  being  a  little  board  house,  si.x- 
teen  feet  square.  He  at  once  turned  his 
attention  to  the  improvement  and  cultiva- 
tion of  his  land,  breaking  the  wild  prairie 
with  five  yoke  of  oxen.  To  his  original 
tract  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  he  has 
added  from  time  to  time  until  he  now  has 
over  six  hundred  acres  in  the  home  farm. 
It  is  valuable  and  highly  improved  land,  un- 
der excellent  cultivation  and  well  improved 
with  good  buildings,  including  a  commo- 
dious two-story  residence.  Mr.  Stubblefield 
also  owns  two  hundred  acres  of  land  else- 
where in  the  county,  and  is  a  stockholder 
and  director  of  the  Peoples  Bank  of  At- 
lanta, which  he  assisted  in  organizing.  He 
commenced  life  for  himself  with  very  little 
and  his  success  is  due  entirely  to  his  well- 
directed  and  energetic  efforts.  He  is  a 
good  business  man  and  has  always  made 
the  best  use  of  his  opportunities  in  life. 

As  a  Republican  Mr.  Stubblefield  has 
ever  taken  an  active  and  prominent  part  in 
local  politics,  and  cast  his  first  presidential 
vote  for  John  C.  Fremont  in  1856.  His 
fellow  citizens,  recognizing  his  worth  and 
ability,  have  often  called  him  to  office.  He 
first  served  about  ten  years  as  highway 
commissioner;  was  supervisor  three  terms; 
and  in  1894  was  elected  to  represent  Mc- 
Lean county  in  the  state  legislature,  being 
re-elected  in  1896  for  another  term  of  two 
years.  During  his  first  term  he  served  on 
about  six  committees;  and  during  the  sec- 
ond term  was  chairman  of  the  county  and 
township  committees  and  a  member  of  other 
important  ones.      He  has  been  a  delegate  to 


numerous  county,  congressional  and  state 
conventions  of  his  party  and  has  also 
served  on  the  county  central  committee. 
In  whatever  position  he  has  filled  he  has 
made  a  faithful  and  efficient  officer.  He 
has  been  prominently  identfiied  with  the 
Atlanta  Union  Agricultural  Society  for 
twenty-six  years,  was  one  of  the  directors 
for  about  twelve  years,  and  has  been  the 
popular  president  of  the  same  for  sixteen 
years,  during  which  time  he  has  been  very 
successful  in  his  efforts  to  build  up  the 
society.  He  is  one  of  the  most  public- 
spirited  and  progressive  men  of  his  com- 
munity, and  gives  a  liberal  support  to  all 
enterprises  calculated  to  in  any  way  ad- 
vance the  interests  of  his  township  or 
county.  Socially  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  Lodge,  of  McLean,  in 
which  he  has  filled  all  the  chairs. 


CHRISTIAN  ROTH.  Germany  has 
furnished  to  America  many  of  her 
most  prominent  and  valued  citizens.  Almost 
every  town  in  the  Union  has  some  repre- 
sentatives of  the  Fatherland, — men  whose 
lives  are  characterized  by  diligence,  enter- 
prise, progressiveness  and  integrity.  Such 
a  one  is  Christian  Roth,  now  the  honored 
president  of  the  village  of  Stanford,  and 
one  of  the  leading  merchants  of  the  town. 
He  was  born  in  Rothenburg,  Wurtemburg, 
Germany,  August  9,  1850,  his  parents  be- 
ing Christian  and  Christiana  (Ihle)  Roth. 
The  father  was  a  farmer  and  a  prominent 
resident  of  his  community,  holding  an  office 
similar  to  that  of  village  president  for  the 
long  period  of  fifteen  consecutive  years. 
He  died  in  his  native  land  in  1864,  and  his 
wife  passed  away  two  years  later.  They 
were  consistent  members  of  the  Lutheran 


THE   BIOGFLVPHICAL   RECORD. 


721 


Church  and  people  of  the  highest  respecta- 
bility. Their  children  were  Andreas,  who 
is  still  living  at  the  old  home  place  in  Ger- 
many; Catherine  and  John,  who  are  resi- 
dents of  Mt.  Pulaski,  Illinois;  and  Mrs. 
Christina  Metzler,  of  Mackinaw. 

Christian  Roth,  the  other  member  of 
the  family,  and  the  subject  of  this  re- 
view, was  left  an  orphan  at  the  age  of 
sixteen  years.  He  had  acquired  a  good  ed- 
ucation in  his  native  tongue  and  in  1S66, 
accompanied  by  his  brother  John  and  sister 
Christina,  he  crosssed  the  Atlantic  to  Can- 
ada, having  determined  to  try  his  fortune 
in  the  new  world.  The  following  year  he 
located  in  Lincoln,  Illinois,  where  he 
learned  the  barber's  trade  and  also  acquired 
considerable  knowledge  of  the  English  lan- 
guage, learning  to  read  and  write.  As  he 
was  dependent  upon  his  own  resources  for 
a  living,  he  had  no  opportunity  to  attend 
school,  but  through  the  improvement  of  his 
leisure  hours  he  has  become  a  well-informed 
man.  For  a  year  and  a  half  he  worked  at 
his  trade,  but  not  finding  that  occupation 
satisfactory,  he  went  to  Cincinnati,  where 
he  learned  the  tinner's  trade,  serving  a  three- 
years'  apprenticeship.  He  spent  one  more 
year  in  that  city  and  after  the  big  fire  went 
to  Chicago,  where  he  was  employed  on  cor- 
nice work,  both  in  and  out  of  the  shop, 
working  on  the  roofs  of  many  of  the  new 
buildings  of  the  metropolis.  Service  of 
that  kind  was  in  great  demand  and  he  there- 
fore made  a  good  start.  In  1872  he  re- 
moved to  Bloomington  and  secured  a  posi- 
tion in  the  tin  shop  of  Fred  Voltz.  He 
afterward  worked  on  metallic  coffins  for  a 
Mr.  Major,  and  in  1874  came  to  Stanford, 
establishing  the  first  tin  shop  of  the  village. 
He  did  a  general  tinning  and  roofing  busi- 
ness and  from  the  beginning  success  attend- 


ed his  efforts,  so  that  after  two  years  he 
removed  to  the  site  of  his  present  store  and 
opened  a  little  hardware  stock,  thus  ex- 
tending the  field  of  his  labors.  Some 
years  subsequently,  his  business  having 
grown  to  large  proportions,  he  erected  his 
present  store,  which  is  sixty-eight  by  twen- 
ty-two feet.  He  occupies  all  of  the  floors, 
having  secured  a  very  liberal  patronage. 
He  carries  everything  found  in  a  first-class 
establishment  of  the  kind,  and  his  reasona- 
ble prices  and  honorable  business  methods 
have  gained  him  a  large  aud  desirable 
trade. 

Mr.  Roth  is  a  man  of  resourceful  busi- 
ness ability  and  his  efforts  have  not  been 
confined  to  the  hardware  and  tin  business. 
Fifteen  years  ago  he  formed  a  partnership 
with  Abel  Brooks  in  the  establishment  of  a 
farm  implement  store  and  has  since  carried 
on  a  successful  business  in  that  line,  Roth 
&  Company  being  now  the  oldest  firm  in  the 
trade  in  Stanford.  He  has  likewise  made 
judicious  investments  in  real  estate,  and  is 
the  owner  of  valuable  farming  property  in 
Kansas  and  Calhoun  county,  Iowa.  He 
was  also  one  of  the  original  stock-holders  in 
the  State  Bank  of  Stanford  and  has  served 
on  the  board  of  directors  for  a  number  of 
years,  and  also  is  a  stock-holder  of  the  Corn 
Belt  Bank  of  Bloomington. 

Mr.  Roth  was  married  January  26,  1876, 
to  Miss  Mary  L.  Krueger,  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, and  a  daughter  of  William  Krueger, 
a  well-known  resident  of  Stanford.  They 
now  have  eight  children,  namely:  Clara, 
Christina,  Amelia,  Fred,  Mamie,  Elsie,  Otto 
and  Alvina.  The  family  attend  the  Chris- 
tian church,  of  which  Mrs.  Roth  is  a  mem- 
ber, and  Mr.  Roth  contributes  liberally  to 
its  support.  In  politics  he  is  a  stalwart 
Democrat,  and  for  a  number  of  terms  served 


72i 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


as  trustee  of  the  village.  In  April,  1899,  he 
was  elected  president  of  the  village  board, 
and  has  entered  upon  a  progressive  admin- 
istration. He  has  been  a  member  of  the 
school  board  for  a  term  of  years.  A  new 
city  well  is  being  bored  and  other  excellent 
improvements  are  being  made.  Mr.  Roth 
supports  every  measure  for  the  public  good 
and  is  a  representative  citizen  whose  life 
stands  in  evidence  of  the  opportunities  af- 
forded to  young  men  in  America.  He  has 
worked  his  way  steadily  upward  by  deter- 
mined effort,  and  now  occupies  a  prominent 
position  in  business,  political  and  social 
circles. 


J  WILLIAM  YOUNG.  Amongt  he  self- 
made  men  of  McLean  county  who  have 
succeeded  in  acquiring  a  comfortable  home 
and  competence  through  their  own  energy 
and  thrift  may  be  numbered  the  gentleman 
whose  name  introduces  this  sketch.  He  is 
a  resident  of  Mt.  Hope  township,  where  he 
owns  a  valuable  and  well-improved  farm  of 
two  hundred  acres,  on  section  20,  and  where 
he  is  engaged  in  general  farming,  meeting 
with  great  success  in  his  chosen  calling. 
He  has  been  a  resident  of  this  county  since 
the  loth  of  October,  1851. 

A  native  of  Kentucky,  Mr.  Young  was 
born  in  Logan  county,  August  17,  1841,  and 
is  a  son  of  John  H.  Young,  whose  birth  oc- 
curred in  Virginia,  in  18 16.  The  grand- 
father, John  Young,  was  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania in  1781,  and  when  a  child  of  two 
years  was  taken  by  his  father  to  Virginia, 
where  he  grew  to  manhood  and  married  a 
Miss  Grinter.  At  an  early  day  they  re- 
moved to  Kentucky,  locating  twelve  miles 
east  of  Russellville,  and  were  among  the 
first  settlers  of   Logan  county,  where  in  the 


midst  of  the  wilderness  the  grandfather 
cleared  and  developed  a  farm  of  about  six 
hundred  acres.  He  originally  entered  two 
hundred  acres  from  the  government,  and 
was  one  of  the  most  active  and  enterprising 
farmers  of  his  community. 

John  H.  Young,  father  of  our  subject, 
grew  to  manhood  in  Kentucky,  and  received 
a  fair  education.  He  assisted  in  opening 
up  and  carrying  on  the  home  farm  during 
early  life.  He  first  married  Miss  Margaret 
Ewing,  a  native  of  Logan  county,  Ken- 
tucky, who  died  there  December  11,  1842, 
during  the  infancy  of  our  subject.  In  1851 
the  father  came  to  McLean  county,  Illinois, 
driving  across  the  country  in  a  buggy,  and 
was  the  first  to  locate  in  Mt.  Hope  town- 
ship from  Kentucky,  though  later  several 
families  came  from  Logan  and  Butler  coun- 
ties, that  state,  and  settled  in  the  same 
neighborhood,  it  becoming  known  as  New 
Kentucky.  Mr.  Young  entered  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  land,  erected  a  frame 
house  thereon,  and  at  once  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  the  improvement  and  cultivation  of 
his  land.  After  operating  this  place  for 
about  sixteen  years  he  sold  out  and  re- 
moved, in  1867,  to  Bates  county,  Missouri, 
where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life, 
dying  there  in  1876. 

J.  William  Young  was  a  lad  of  ten  years 
when  he  came  to  the  county,  and  his  early 
life  was  passed  in  assisting  in  the  work  on 
the  farm  through  the  summer  months,  and 
in  the  winter  attending  the  country  schools, 
first  at  Mt.  Hope,  and  later  at  Armington, 
thus  acquiring  a  fair  education.  He  con- 
tinued to  give  his  father  the  benefit  of  his 
labors  until  twenty-five  years  of  age.  He 
was  then  married  in  Mt.  Hope  township, 
May  29,  1866,  to  Mrs.  Mary  J.  Ewing.  her 
first    husband,  John  H.  Ewing,  a  native  of 


J 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


^2i 


Kentucky,  was  engaged  in  farming  in  this 
county  until  after  the  civil  war  broke  out, 
when  he  enlisted  in  the  One  Hundred  and 
Forty-third  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantrj-,  and 
died  in  the  service  at  RoUo,  Missouri,  July 
13,  1864.  Mrs.  Young  is  a  native  of  Perry, 
Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of  John  G.  and  Eliza- 
beth (Gardner)  Moore,  who  came  to  Illi- 
nois in  1843,  ^nd  were  among  the  first  set- 
tlers of  Tazewell  county,  where  her  father 
entered  land  and  opened  up  a  farm;  there 
he  died  in  1853.  Mrs.  Young  had  one  son 
by  her  first  marriage,  E.  E.  Ewing,  now  a 
farmer  of  Allin  township,  McLean  county. 
There  are  three  children  by  the  second 
union:  May,  wife  of  Lee  Stubblefield,  a 
substantial  farmer  of  Mt.  Hope  township; 
Morris  M.,  who  is  married  and  engaged  in 
farming  in  the  same  township;  and  Ernest 
A.,  a  traveling  salesman,  residing  in  Sioux 
City,  Iowa. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Young  began  their  domes- 
tic life  upon  a  part  of  the  farm  where  they 
still  reside,  his  first  purchase  consisting  of 
forty  acres,  to  which  he  has  added  from 
time  to  time  as  his  financial  resources  have 
increased  until  he  now  has  two  hundred 
acres  of  rich  and  arable  land  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation  and  improved  with  a 
large,  neat  and  substantial  residence  and 
good  barn  and  outbuildings.  The  farm  is 
well  tiled  and  fenced  and  adorned  with  an 
orchard,  shade  an  ornamental  fruit  trees. 

In  his  political  affiliations  Mr.  Young  is 
a  stanch  Republican  and  cast  his  first  pres- 
idential ballot  for  Abraham  Lincoln,  in 
1864.  He  went  to  the  polls  with  his  father, 
but  the  latter  voted  for  General  McClellan. 
Our  subject  takes  an  active  interest  in  po- 
litical affairs,  but  has  never  cared  for  the 
honors  or  emoluments  of  public  office.  As 
a    friend    of   education,    however,    he   has 


served  some  years  on  the  school  board. 
For  almost  a  half  a  century  he  has  been 
identified  with  the  interests  of  McLean 
county  and  his  straightforward,  honorable 
course  in  life  has  secured  for  him  the  con- 
fidence and  high  regard  of  all  with  whom 
he  has  come  in  contact,  either  in  business 
or  social  life. 


RH.  BAKER,  section  11,  Funk's  Grove 
township,  familiarly  known  as  Harris 
Baker,  is  numbered  among  the  pioneers  of 
McLean  county,  dating  his  residence  here 
since  1835.  He  was  born  in  Morgan  coun- 
ty-, Ohio,  September  7,  1829,  and  is  the  son 
of  James  Baker,  also  a  native  of  the  same 
county  and  state,  who  there  married  Chris- 
tiana Roberts,  and  with  his  family  came  to 
this  county  in  1834,  arriving  in  Blooming 
Grove  in  the  fall  of  that  year.  He  soon 
afterward  entered  a  tract  of  forty  acres  ad- 
joining the  farm  where  our  subject  now  re- 
sides, erected  his  log  cabin,  and  commenced 
life  in  this  then  new  country.  Fencing  and 
breaking  his  tract,  he  soon  had  it  in  a  fine 
state  of  cultivation,  and  from  time  to  time 
added  to  its  area  until  the  farm  embraced 
about  two  hundred  acres.  He  was  not  con- 
tent to  remain  here,  however,  but  returned 
to  his  old  home  in  Morgan  county,  where 
his  death  occurred. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  five  years 
of  age  when  he  came  with  his  parents  to 
McLean  county,  and  here  he  grew  to  man- 
hood and  assisted  in  the  cultivation  of  the 
home  farm  and  attended  the  pioneer  schools 
as  the  opportunity  was  afforded  him,  which 
was  usually  a  short  time  in  the  winter 
months.  He  remained  with  his  parents  un- 
til he  attained  his  majority,  and  on  the  13th 
of  November,   185  i,  he  was  united  in  mar- 


724 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


riage  with  Miss  Mary  Taylor,  of  DeWitt 
county,  Illinois,  but  who  was  a  native  of 
Perry  county,  Ohio,  but  who  came  to  Illi- 
nois with  her  parents  when  a  small  child. 
Joseph  Taylor,  her  father,  was  a  native  of 
Virginia,  who  moved  to  Ohio  when  a  young 
man,  and  there  married  Miss  Letha  Gard- 
ner, who  was  a  native  of  Perry  county, 
Ohio. 

After  his  marriage,  in  the  spring  of  1852, 
Mr.  Baker  located  on  the  farm  where  he 
now  resides,  having  previously  purchased 
forty  acres  of  his  present  farm.  He  built  a 
small  house  in  which  he  lived  for  some 
years,  in  the  meantime  improving  the  place. 
As  his  means  permitted,  he  purchased  more 
land,  adding  thus  to  the  area  of  his  farm 
until  it  now  comprises  three  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  in  the  home  place,  all  of  which 
is  under  cultivation.  He  has  two  good  farm 
residences  on  the  place,  with  barns  and  out- 
buildings, a  good  orchard,  together  with 
small  fruit  in  abundance,  and  in  fact  has  a 
farm  of  which  he  may  well  be  proud.  He 
also  owns  a  farm  of  forty  acres  in  UeWitt 
county,  Illinois,  and  one  of  one  hundred  and 
si.xty  acres  in  Adair  county,  Iowa,  near  the 
city  of  Greenfield,  which  is  well  improved 
and  a  valuable  farm.  Commencing  life 
almost  empty-handed,  by  his  own  labor  and 
enterprise,  assisted  by  his  most  estimable 
wife,  he  has  succeeded  in  acquiring  three 
valuable  farms,  and  is  to-day  one  of  the 
most  enterprising  and  public-spirited  citizens 
of  McLean  county. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baker  seven  children 
were  born,  of  whom  four  are  now  living. 
Joseph  P.  is  a  substantial  farmer  of  Funk's 
Grove  township.  Mary  Alice  married  Mar- 
tin Hammett,  but  is  now  deceased.  El- 
mira  and  Almeda,  twins,  grew  to  woman- 
hood; Elmira   mtirried    Benjamin    Dunbar, 


who  is  farming  one  of  Mr.  Baker's  places. 
Almeda  married  William  Williamson,  but  is 
now  deceased.  Christiana  is  the  wife  of  G. 
Critchfield,  a  farmer  of  McLean  county. 
Letha  is  the  wife  of  James  Scott,  also  a 
farmer  of  this  county.  Sarah  Catherine 
married  Oscar  Samuels,  but  is  now  de- 
ceased. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baker  have  now 
twenty-three  grandchildren  and  five  great- 
grandchildren. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Baker  was  originally  an 
old-line  Whig,  but  on  the  organization  of 
the  Republican  party  became  identified  with 
it,  voting  for  its  first  nominee  for  president, 
the  great  "Pathfinder,"  John  C.  Fremont, 
in  1856.  Since  that  time  he  has  been  an 
earnest  advocate  of  the  principles  of  the 
party.  The  only  public  office  that  he  has 
ever  held,  or  that  he  ever  cared  to  hold, 
was  that  of  school  director.  He  was  one 
of  the  charter  members  of  the  Fairview 
Christian  church,  and  for  about  twenty 
years  served  as  one  of  its  elders.  His  wife 
is  also  a  member  of  that  church.  Fra- 
ternally, he  is  a  member  of  Heyworth 
Lodge,  No.  — ,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  The  great 
changes  that  have  been  made  in  the  coun- 
try since  he  came  here  sixty-five  years  ago 
are  almost  too  wonderful  to  believe.  From 
a  wilderness  has  sprung  up  thriving  cities 
and  villages,  every  acre  of  the  vast  domain 
has  been  placed  under  tribute  to  man, 
and  all  this  has  he  not  only  witnessed,  but 
he  has  done  much  to  accomplish  it,  and  as 
a  pioneer  he  deserves  honor  and  respect. 


JUDGE  COLOSTIN  D.  MYERS. 
Whether  the  elements  of  success  in  life 
are  innate  attributes  of  the  individual,  or 
whether  they  are  quickened  by  a  process  of 
circumstantial  development,  it  is  impossible 


I 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


725 


to  clearly  determine.  Yet  the  study  of  a 
successful  life  is  none  the  less  interesting  and 
profitable  by  reason  of  the  existence  of  this 
same  uncertainty.  So  much  in  excess  of 
that  of  successes  is  the  record  of  failures  or 
semi-failures  that  one  is  constrained  to  at- 
tempt an  analysis  in  either  case  and  to  de- 
termine the  method  or  causation  in  an  ap- 
proximate way.  The  march  of  improve- 
ment and  progress  is  accelerated  day  by  day 
and  each  successive  moment  seems  to  de- 
mand of  men  a  broader  intelligence  and  a 
greater  discernment  than  the  preceding. 
Successful  men  must  be  live  men  in  this 
age,  bristling  with  activity,  and  the  lessons 
of  biography  must  be  far-reaching  to  an  ex- 
tent not  superficially  evident.  Through  his 
own  efforts  Judge  Myers  has  advanced  to  a 
high  and  honorable  distinction  in  profes- 
sional circles,  and  has  gained  recognition 
and  prestige  as  one  of  the  most  prominent 
lawyers  of  this  section  of  the  state.  As  a 
jurist  he  also  ranks  among  the  best  and  is 
now  serving  as  judge  of  the  eleventh  judicial 
circuit  of  Illinois. 

The  Judge  was  born  in  Racine,  Meigs 
county,  Ohio,  May  7,  1847,  and  is  a  son  of 
Benjamin  Myers,  who  was  born  in  Monon- 
galia county.  West  Virginia,  his  father, 
Jacob  Myers,  being  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
that  region.  The  grandfather  was  from 
eastern  Pennsylvania,  where  the  family  had 
lived  for  several  generations,  but  as  a  farmer 
he  spent  the  greater  part  of  his  life  in  West 
Virginia,  where  his  death  occurred.  There 
the  father  of  our  subject  was  reared,  but 
when  a  young  man  he  went  to  Meigs  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  where  as  a  skilled  mechanic,  he 
worked  at  the  millwright's  and  cabinet- 
maker's trades.  He  had  previously  put  in 
operation  a  number  of  mills  in  the  Shenan- 
doah V'alley,  Virginia,  and  at  Racine,  Ohio, 


erected  mills,  in  which  he  owned  an  inter- 
est. While  there  he  married  Miss  Serena 
Elliott,  whose  father.  Fuller  Elliott,  was  a 
native  of  Massachusetts  and  one  of  the  or- 
ganizers of  Meigs  county,  Ohio. 

Fuller  Elliott  was  a  well-known  and  distin- 
guished, man  both  in  medicine  and  in  law. 
He  located  in  what  is  now  Meigs  county, 
some  time  before  the  year  1801.  He  was 
the  son  of  Aaron  and  Lydia  Elliott,  of  Wor- 
cester, Massachusetts.  He  was  a  graduate 
at  Boston,  Massachusetts,  and  chose  medi- 
cine as  his  profession.  Having  received  a 
diploma,  he  moved  to  Ohio,  and  located 
first  at  Marietta,  from  which  place  he 
moved  to  Graham  Station,  where  he  pur- 
chased a  section  of  land  and  made  for  him- 
self a  home.  He  then  met  and  married 
Miss  Serena  Jones,  August  6,  1801,  and 
reared  fourteen  children.  In  1817  he  was 
made  judge  of  what  was  the  Gallia  couuty, 
and  presided  in  the  court  at  Galliopolis. 
On  the  division  of  the  county  he  suggested 
the  name  of  Meigs  to  that  section  in  which 
he  resided,  and  continued  to  preside  as  judge 
until  elected  to  the  legislature.  After  serv- 
ing two  or  more  terms,  he  resumed  the 
practice  of  medicine  at  his  home,  where  he 
died  in  1832,  aged  sixty  years. 

About  1849,  Benjamin  Myers  moved  to 
Pomeroy,  the  county  seat  of  Meigs  county, 
where  he  was  connected  with  a  foundry  as  a 
designer  and  superintendent  of  the  pattern 
department.  He  died  in  that  city  in  1852. 
He  was  a  prominent  member  and  deacon  of 
the  Baptist  church,  and  practically  con- 
structed the  house  of  worship  for  that  de- 
nomination at  Racine,  Ohio,  the  material 
being  given  by  others.  Immediately  after 
his  death  the  mother  returned  to  Racine, 
and  after  her  second  marriage,  in  1856,  went 
to  Marion  county.    West   Virginia.      There 


"jzt 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


she  died  in  October,  1894.  By  her  first  un- 
ion she  had  four  children,  three  sons,  of 
whom  our  subject  is  the  youngest,  and  a 
daughter,  still  younger. 

Judge  Myers  began  his  education  in  the 
country  subscription  schools  of  West  Vir- 
ginia, and  worked  on  a  farm  until  1863. 
Leaving  home,  he  went  to  Pomeroy,  Meigs 
county,  Ohio,  where  he  was  employed  as 
errand  boy  and  clerk  in  a  general  store,  and 
in  1864,  at  that  place,  he  enlisted  for  four 
months  in  Company  K,  One  Hundred  and 
Fortieth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry.  With 
that  regiment  he  participated  in  the  Lynch- 
burg campaign,  and  later  re-enlisted  in  the 
Thirty-second  Ohio  Veteran  Infantry.  As 
his  regiment  was  with  Sherman,  and  there 
was  no  way  of  reaching  it,  he  was  placed  in 
the  transportation  service,  and  was  on  de- 
tached duty  most  of  the  time.  He  joined 
his  command  at  Rollo,  North  Carolina,  but 
still  remained  in  his  special  service  until 
honorably  discharged  at  Columbus,  Ohio, 
in  May,  1865. 

Prior  to  going  to  Ohio,  Judge  Myers  had 
attended  school  for  three  months  in  the 
county  seat  of  Marion  county.  West  Vir- 
ginia. After  being  mustered  out  he  returned 
to  West  Virginia  on  a  visit,  but  in  August, 
1865,  entered  the  preparatory  department 
of  the  Normal  University,  at  Lebanon,  Ohio. 
In  order  to  secure  the  money  with  which  to 
pay  his  expenses  while  in  school,  he  engaged 
in  teaching  or  at  work  on  a  farm  in  Vir- 
ginia. He  attended  the  university,  only  for 
a  term  or  two  at  a  time,  until  1869,  when 
he  was  able  to  take  two  terms.  This  was 
followed  by  a  year  at  work,  and  in  1871-72 
he  completed  the  scientific  course  at  that 
institution,  graduating  in  1872  with  the  de- 
gree of  B.  S.  He  stood  at  the  head  of  all 
his  classes.      In  the  fall  of  that  year  he  en- 


tered the  law  department  of  the  University 
of  Michigan,  at  Ann  Arbor,  where  he  took  a 
two-years'  course,  and  he  also  did  consider- 
able work  in  the  literary  department  at  the 
same  time.  He  was  graduated  in  the  class 
of  1874,  with  the  degree  of  LL.  B. ,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  Michigan  bar.  While  in 
school  he  had  the  opportunity  of  studying 
with  a  prominent  attorney,  who  aided  him 
not  a  little. 

On  the  5th  of  September,  1872,  Judge 
Myers  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Dora  Yeager,  of  Lebanon,  Ohio,  a  daughter 
of  Benjamin  and  Mary  Yeager,  of  Jackson 
county,  Ohio.  She  graduated  from  the  clas- 
sical department  of  the  Normal  University, 
at  Lebanon.  On  the  istof  April,  1874,  the 
Judge  and  his  wife  removed  to  Blooming- 
ton,  Illinois,  where  he  opened  an  office  and 
commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession 
alone.  A  year  later,  however,  he  formed  a 
partnership  with  Albert  Bushnell,  and  as 
Myers  &  Bushnell  they  successfully  engaged 
in  practice  for  three  or  four  years,  when  Mr. 
Bushnell  moved  away.  The  Judge  then  be- 
came connected  with  Isaac  W.  Stroud,  ex- 
county  treasurer,  and  a  well-known  lawyer 
of  Bloomington,  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Myers  &  Stroud,  and  they  remained  together 
until  Mr.  Stroud's  health  failed  in  1880, 
when  the  partnership  was  dissolved,  and  he 
died  soon  afterward. 

Since  that  time  Judge  Myers  has  been 
alone  in  practice.  He  has  always  taken  an 
active  and  prominent  part  in  political  af- 
fairs, and  from  the  time  of  the  Garfield 
campaign  in  1880  until  his  election  to  the 
office  of  county  judge  he  served  as  chair- 
man of  the  Republican  county  committee. 
Three  times  he  was  nominated  as  county 
judge  by  acclamation;  was  first  elected  in 
1886  for  a  four-years'  term,  and  was  twice 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


727 


re-elected  without  opposition  by  his  own 
party.  All  of  the  special  tax  cases  for 
Bloomington  improvement  and  much  of  the 
special  drainage  litigation  of  McLean  coun- 
ty were  first  tried  before  him,  and  when 
carried  to  the  higher  courts  his  decisions 
were  always  sustained,  so  that  he  made  for 
himself  a  fine  record  in  that  office.  In  1897 
he  was  nominated  for  circuit  judge  by  ac- 
clamation by  both  the  county  and  district 
conventions,  he  having  previously  resigned 
the  office  of  county  judge,  and  in  June  of 
that  year  he  was  elected  to  the  office  which 
he  is  now  so  acceptably  filling.  The  elev- 
enth judicial  district  comprises  McLean, 
Livingston,  Logan,  Ford  and  Woodford 
counties,  and  its  legal  business  has  never 
been  so  promptly  and  systematically  dis- 
posed of  as  it  has  been  since  he  came  into 
office. 

As  a  progressive  and  public-spirited  citi- 
zen Judge  Myers  has  given  his  support  to 
worthy  enterprises  for  the  good  of  his 
adopted  city.  He,  with  two  or  three  oth- 
ers, introduced  the  first  electric  light  in 
Bloomington,  and  was  connected  with  the 
company  until  its  success  was  established. 
He  is  also  a  director  and  treasurer  of  the 
Pantagraph  Printing  and  Stationery  Com- 
pany. For  ten  years  he  was  a  member  of  the 
faculty  of  the  law  department  of  the  Illinois 
W'esleyan  University,  filling  the  chair  of 
practice  and  pleadings  until  his  duties  as 
circuit  judge  compelled  his  resignation,  and 
he  is  a  member  of  and  trustee  of  the  bar 
library.  Socially  he  is  one  of  the  charter 
members  of  W.  T.  Sherman  Post,  G.  A.  R., 
and  was  one  of  the  active  promoters  in  es- 
tablishing the  post.  He  is  also  a  member 
of  Damon  Lodge,  No.  10,  K.  P.,  in  which 
organization  he  served  as  grand  chancellor 
for  the  state  in  1896,  and  is  now  one  of  the 


supreme  representatives  from  Illinois.  In 
the  Uniform  Rank  of  Knights  of  Pjthias,  he 
has  filled  all  the  offices  from  captain  to  col- 
onel of  the  regiment  and  member  of  the 
brigade  general's  staff.  He  attends  and 
supports  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  of  which  his  wife  is  a  member. 
They  have  a  beautiful  home  at  No.  214 
East  Grove  street,  which  has  become  the 
center  of  a  cultured  society  circle.  Socially 
the  Judge  is  deservedly  popular,  as  he  is 
affable  and  courteous  in  manner,  and  pos- 
sesses that  essential  qualification  to  success 
in  public  life,  that  of  making  friends  readily 
and  of  strengthening  the  ties  of  all  friend- 
ship as  time  advances. 


JOHN  CREBER,  a  prominent  and  suc- 
cessful contractor  and  builder  of 
Bloomington,  where  he  has  carried  on  oper- 
ations for  the  past  twenty-seven  years,  was 
born  in  Plympton,  Devonshire,  England, 
December  23,  1S34,  a  son  of  Walter  and 
Sarah  (Gullett)  Creber.  The  birth  place  of 
the  father  was  also  Plympton,  which  was 
the  home  of  the  family  for  many  generations, 
and  there  he  followed  farming  throughout 
life.  Our  subject  was  educated  in  the  schools 
of  Plymouth,  and  at  the  age  of  fourteen  he 
began  learning  the  bricklayers'  and  masons' 
trade  in  that  city,  serving  a  seven-years'  ap- 
prenticeship before  he  was  granted  his 
papers  as  a  full-fledged  mason.  After  work- 
ing as  a  journeymen  three  or  four  years,  he 
engaged  in  contract  work  in  that  place  until 
1870. 

In  the  meantime,  Mr.  Creber  was  mar- 
ried there,  September  18,  1856.  to  Miss 
Emma  Adams,  a  native  of  Plymouth,  and 
all   of   their   children    were    born    in    that 


728 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


i 


country.  Two  died  in  early  life,  and  the 
three  who  came  with  their  parents  to  Amer- 
ica are:  Walter  H.,  who  is  bookkeeper  of 
the  State  National  Bank  of  Bloomington, 
while  he  makes  his  home  with  his  parents; 
Emily  C.  is  now  the  wife  of  W.  T.  Monroe, 
of  Chicago,  by  whom  she  has  two  children, 
Walter  D.  and  Howard  Creber;  and  Bessie 
J.,  who  is  at  home. 

With  his  family,  Mr.  Creber  sailed  for 
America  in  1870,  and  first  located  in  Peoria, 
Illinois,  but  the  following  year  took  up  his 
residence  in  Bloomington,  where  he  has 
since  engaged  in  contracting  in  his  line.  He 
has  done  the  brick-work  and  plastering  on 
many  of  the  best  buildings  of  the  city,  and 
has  furnished  employment  to  many  men. 
He  has  also  took  contractions  for  the  erec- 
tion of  brick  churches  and  other  buildings 
outside  of  Bloomington,  and  for  the  past 
ten  years  has  made  a  specialty  of  tile  setting 
around  grates,  etc.,  and  has  done  a  large 
majority  of  such  work  in  this  locality.  He 
put  in  place  the  tiling  in  the  Eddy  building 
and  also  in  some  of  the  finest  residences  in 
the  city.  He  also  supplies  the  tile  used, 
being  a  dealer  in  that  article.  He  is  a  man 
of  good  business  ability,  sound  judgment 
and  progressive  ideas,  and  the  success  he 
has  achieved  in  life  is  due  entirely  to  his 
own  well-directed  efforts.  He  occupies  an 
enviable  position  in  business  circles,  owing 
to  his  straightforward,  honorable  course, 
and  he  has  the  respect  and  confidence  of 
the  entire  community.  He  and  his  family 
have  been  consistent  members  of  the 
Christian  church  for  many  years,  and  by  all 
who  know  them  they  are  held  in  high  re- 
gard. They  reside  at  No.  527  West  Grove 
street,  which  place  was  purchased  by  Mr. 
Creber  several  years  ago  and  greatly  im- 
proved by  him. 


WILLIAM  H.  RIGGS,  who  is  now 
living  a  retired  life  in  the  city  of 
Saybrook,  but  who  was  for  many  years 
actively  engaged  in  farming  and  stock  rais- 
ing in  Cheney's  Grove  township,  and  who 
later  engaged  in  the  banking  business  in 
Saybrook,  is  a  native  of  Cheney's  Grove 
township,  born  February  13,  1834.  His 
father,  William  M.  Riggs,  was  a  native  of 
Maryland,  born  in  1803,  and  was  a  son  of 
Samuel  Riggs,  also  a  native  of  Maryland, 
who  there  married  Miss  Priscilla  Marshall, 
and  in  1801  moved  to  Fleming  county, 
Kentucky,  and  there  engaged  in  farming. 
In  that  county  William  M.  Riggs  grew  to 
manhood  and  married  Miss  Nancy  Pitts, 
who  was  born  in  Fleming  county,  Ken- 
tucky. 

In  the  fall  of  1830,  William  M.  Riggs 
moved  with  his  family  to  McLean  county, 
Illinois,  and  located  in  Cheney's  Grove 
township,  and  was  one  of  the  first  six  set- 
tlers in  that  township  and  located  a  claim, 
which  he  deeded  in  1837.  Purchasing  some 
government  land,  he  opened  up  a  farm,  and 
there  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  dying 
January  28,  1887,  at  the  age  of  eighty-four 
years.  His  wife  passed  away  January  26, 
1881,  at  the  age  of  seventy-four  years. 
They  were  the  parents  of  four  sons  and  two 
daughters,  who  grew  to  maturity  and  who 
married  and  reared  families.  George  here 
grew  to  manhood,  but  returned  to  Ken- 
tucky and  there  married.  Later  he  came 
back  to  McLean  county,  purchased  land  and 
developed  a  farm,  and  died  in  Saybrook 
November  7,  1897,  at  the  age  of  seventy 
years.  Henry  M.,  after  his  marriage,  re- 
sided here  for  some  years,  but  is  now  living 
a  retired  life  in  Portland,  Oregon.  Margaret 
P.  married  John  D.  Lewis,  a  substantial 
farmer  of  Cheney's  Grove  township.     Will- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


729 


iam  H.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  next 
in  order  of  birth.  Mary  J.  married  M.  T. 
Hall,  and  they  now  reside  in  Colorado  City, 
Texas.  Samuel  R.,  who  was  married,  died 
June  9,  1883. 

The  boyhood  and  youth  of  our  subject 
were  spent  on  his  father's  farm,  and  in  the 
common  schools  of  his  day  he  rceived  his 
education.  He  remained  at  home  until 
1852,  when,  on  the  25th  of  February,  he 
started  for  California,  going  by  way  of  New 
Orleans  and  the  Nicaragua  route,  and  by 
the  Pacific  ocean  to  San  Francisco,  where 
he  arrived  June  10.  He  spent  some  three 
years  in  that  new  Eldorado,  two  j-ears  of 
which  time  he  was  engaged  in  mining.  For 
one  year  he  run  a  pack  train  to  the  mines. 
He  met  with  fair  success  and  returned  home 
by  Nicaragua  and  New  York,  arriving  in 
Bloomington  October  10,  1S54. 

While  in  California,  Mr.  Riggs  sent  his 
father  three  hundred  dollars  with  which  to 
purchase  some  land.  His  father  invested 
one  hundred  dollars  of  it  in  land  for  him, 
and  put  out  the  remainder  at  interest.  On 
the  land  purchased  by  his  father  for  him, 
and  which  comprised  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres,  he  commenced  farming,  first  pur- 
chasing some  ox  teams  with  which  to  break 
the  prairie.  He  later  purchased  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  adjoining,  giving  him  a 
fine  farm  of  three  hundred  and  twenty 
acres,  all  of  which  he  put  under  cultivation, 
and  which  he  improved  by  the  erection  of 
a  good  dwelling  house,  barns  and  other 
outbuildings.  After  remaining  on  that  farm 
for  thirteen  years,  during  which  time  he 
also  engaged  in  the  stock  business,  he  con- 
cluded to  move  into  the  village  of  Say- 
brook.  For  three  years  he  and  his  brother- 
in-law,  M.  T.  Hall,  handled  nearly  all  the 
stock  sold  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  county. 


In  1870  Mr.  Riggs  moved  to  Saybrook, 
and  in  company  with  his  brother,  Samuel 
R. ,  started  a  private  bank,  the  first  institu- 
tion of  the  kind  in  the  place.  They  erected 
a  bank  building  and  continued  in  the  busi- 
ness for  seven  years.  On  account  of  the 
ill  health  of  his  brother,  they  sold  out  and 
the  brother  moved  to  Jack  county,  Texas, 
where  his  death  occurred.  Since  selling 
the  bank,  our  subject  has  practically  lived  a 
retired  life,  but  stimulating  industries  by 
loaning  money.  On  his  removal  to  the 
village  he  purchased  residence  property  and 
later  erected  his  present  fine  residence, 
which  is  one  of  the  best  in  the  city. 

Mr.  Riggs  was  married  in  Bloomington, 
October  4,  1855,  to  Miss  Catherine  A.  Ball, 
who  was  born  in  Cheney's  Grove  township, 
and  daughter  of  Snowden  Ball,  a  native  of 
Kentucky,  and  who  was  also  among  the 
first  six  settlers  of  the  township,  but  who 
was  married  here.  While  they  have  had  no 
children  of  their  own,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Riggs 
took  a  child  of  three  years,  Sidney  Blake- 
man,  from  the  orphans'  asylum  of  Chicago, 
reared  and  educated  him.  He  is  now  mar- 
ried and  is  residing  near  Wichita,  Kansas, 
where  he  is  engaged  in  farming. 

In  early  life  Mr.  Riggs  was  a  Democrat, 
but  being  of  free  soil  tendencies,  he  natur- 
ally became  a  Republican  on  the  organiza- 
tion of  that  party,  and  has  since  been  a 
staunch  advocate  of  its  principles.  He  has 
served  as  a  member  of  the  county  board  of 
supervisors,  and  was  a  member  of  that 
body  at  the  time  the  bonds  of  the  township 
were  issued  to  the  amount  of  fifty  thousand 
dollars  for  the  building  of  the  Lake  Erie 
Railroad.  He  was  chielly  instrumental  in 
securing  the  road  and  was  one  of  its  first 
directors,  serving  until  it  changed  hands. 
For  twenty  years  he  has  served  as  treasurer 


73° 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


of  Saybrook,  and  is  now  serving  in  that 
position.  He  has  been  a  delegate  to  nu- 
merous conventions  of  his  party,  and  in 
such  conventions  has  always  exercised  a 
good  influence.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Saybrook, 
and  has  been  one  of  its  official  board  for 
years.  He  has  ever  taken  an  interest  in 
the  success  of  the  church,  and  was  one  of 
the  most  liberal  contributors  in  the  erection 
of  the  church  building.  Mrs.  Riggs  is  also 
a  member  of  the  same  church,  and  was 
formerly  very  active  in  all  departments  of 
its  work.  Both  are  well  known  and  highly 
esteemed.  They  are  lifelong  residents  of 
the  township,  and  have  done  much  in  its 
development. 


WILLIAM  HASENWINKLE  is  one  of 
the  public-spirited  citizens  of  Hud- 
son to  whose  energy  and  foresight  that 
locality  is  indebted  for  many  improvements. 
While,  as  a  prosperous  business  man,  he 
has  given  close  attention  to  his  private 
affairs,  he  has  never  forgotten  or  ignored 
that  bond  of  common  interest  which  should 
unite  the  people  of  every  community,  and 
has  always  been  ready  to  promote  progress 
in  every  line.  As  a  business  man  he  is  en- 
terprising, energetic  and  always  abreast  of 
the  times,  and  has  been  rewarded  by  a 
handsome  competence. 

Mr.  Hasenwinkle  was  born  November 
15,  1834,  in  Madgeburg,  Germany,  near  the 
city  of  the  same  name,  a  son  of  Frederick 
and  Mary  (Koontz)  Hasenwinkle.  He  was 
reared  in  his  native  land,  where  his  father 
was  engaged  in  business  as  a  baker  and 
grocer  until  September,  1857,  when  the 
parents,  with  their  seven  children,  took 
passage  on  a  sailing  vessel  bound  for  Amer- 


ica. After  a  long  and  tedious  voyage  of  six 
weeks  and  three  days  they  landed  at  New 
Orleans,  and  from  there  proceeded  up  the 
Mississippi  river  to  St.  Louis  and  later  to 
central  Illinois,  reaching  Bloomington  on 
the  17th  of  November.  For  a  year  they 
made  their  home  in  that  city,  and  then  our 
subject  rented  a  farm  of  one  hundred  acres 
of  William  Bettinger  in  Normal  township, 
four  miles  from  Bloomington,  on  which  he 
and  his  parents  resided  for  two  years.  Sub- 
sequently they  rented  more  land,  which, 
with  the  assistance  of  his  brother,  our  sub- 
ject carried  on.  The  third  year  of  their 
residence  here  he  and  his  youngest  brother, 
Herman,  rented  a  farm  of  two  hundred 
acres  two  miles  north  of  Normal,  which  was 
then  owned  by  George  McClung  but  now 
belongs  to  Judge  Scott. 

Mr.  Hasenwinkle  next  rented  the  three 
hundred  acre  farm  of  John  Magoon,  two 
miles  south  of  Hudson,  in  Hudson  town- 
ship, on  which  he  expected  to  locate  after 
his  marriage  and  operate  himself,  leaving 
the  other  farms  for  his  brothers.  At  the 
time  the  civil  war  broke  out  and  all  wished 
to  enlist,  and  a  contest  arose  between  our 
subject  and  his  eldest  brother  as  to  which 
should  remain  at  home  and  care  for  their 
aged  parents  and  their  own  families.  It 
was  decided  by  lot  that  our  subject  should 
remain,  and  for  one  year  he  had  charge  of 
the  three  farms  and  families.  At  the  end  of 
that  time,  however,  he  sold  off  every  thing 
except  on  the  farm  where  he  lived  in  Hud- 
son township.  Though  exempt  from  ser- 
vice by  fifteen  years,  the  father  enlisted  in 
the  Hecker  regiment,  and  for  a  year  and  a 
half  took  an  active  part  in  the  war  and  par- 
ticipated in  the  grand  review  at  Washing- 
ton, D.  C.  His  eldest  son,  Henry,  died 
while    in    camp   at    Springfield,    Missouri. 


WILLIAM    HASENWINKLE. 


LIBRARY 

or  THE 

':::vcRsiTV  or  ilumch 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


733 


Another  son,  Henry,  who  was  being  edu- 
cated at  Quincy  College,  left  school  at  the 
first  call  for  troops,  and  later  re-enlisted  in 
the  Ninety-fourth  Illinois  \'olunteer  Infan- 
try. At  the  battle  of  Prairie  Grove,  Ar- 
kansas, he  lost  an  eye.  The  mother  grieved 
to  death  at  the  loss  of  her  son,  passing  away 
at  the  home  of  our  subject  in  1863.  The 
father  also  died  there  in  1871.  In  order  of 
birth  their  children  were  as  follows:  (i) 
Frederick  died  as  before  mentioned.  (2) 
William  is  the  second  of  the  family.  (3) 
Harmon  removed  to  Iowa  in  1882,  and 
there  was  engaged  in  business  until  1S98, 
but  is  now  living  retired.  In  his  family 
were  seven  children,  the  youngest  of  whom 
is  Belle,  who,  since  the  death  of  her  mother 
when  she  was  two  years  old,  has  made  her 
home  with  our  subject.  (4)  Henry  re- 
moved to  St.  Paul,  Minnesota,  in  1868,  and 
at  that  place  is  now  successfully  engaged  in 
the  wholesale  hat  and  fur  business.  (5) 
August  was  educated  at  the  Wesleyan  Uni- 
versity, later  read  law  with  Mr.  Rowell,  of 
Bloomington,  and  finally  graduated  from  the 
law  school  at  Albany,  New  York.  Since 
then  he  has  been  on  the  stage  under  the 
name  of  Carl  Haswin,  and  has  met  with  de- 
cided success  in  the  theatrical  world.  By  a 
former  marriage  to  Louis  Koontz,  the  mother 
of  our  subject  had  two  children.  The  daugh- 
ter, Matilda  Koontz,  married  Gotlieb  Bruski 
in  Germany  and  came  to  America  in  1889. 
Here  her  husband  was  in  the  employ  of 
our  subject  until  1897,  when  he  returned  to 
Germany,  where  he  died  in  the  fall  of  that 
year.  The  son,  Louis  Koontz,  enlisted  in 
the  Union  army  during  the  civil  war  and 
served  all  through  that  struggle. 

On  the  15th  of  February,  1861,  Mr. 
Hasenwinkle  led  to  the  marriage  altar  Miss 
Louisa  Stall,  who  was  born  in  Wertemburg, 


Germany,  April  22,  1839,  and  was  reared 
there.  She  was  one  of  a  family  of  seven 
children,  the  others  being  Sophia,  who  died 
in  Germany;  a  brother,  who  died  young; 
George,  a  resident  of  Bloomington;  and 
Maggie,  wife  of  Silas  Baker,  of  Hudson. 
Our  subject  and  his  wife  have  no  children 
of  their  own. 

After  renting  the  Magoon  farm  in  Hud- 
son township  forsi.x  years,  Mr.  Hasenwinkle 
purchased  one  hundred  and  si.xty  acres  of 
it,  and  for  a  time  successfully  engaged  in 
farming  and  stock  raising.  In  the  spring  of 
1867  he  sold  the  place  and  erected  the  first 
gristmill  at  Hudson,  to  the  operation  of 
which  he  devoted  his  entire  attention  for 
two  years.  He  then  built  the  first  elevator 
at  that  place  and  began  shipping  grain  quite 
extensively.  In  1874  his  mill  and  elevator 
were  both  destroyed  by  fire  at  a  loss  of 
twelve  thousand  dollars,  but  with  character- 
istic energ}%  he  promptly  rebuilt,  and  in 
April,  1895,  when  they  were  again  burned 
to  the  ground  he  replaced  them  by  new 
structures.  He  now  has  three  elevators, 
one  in  Hudson,  one  in  Kerrick  and  one  in 
El  Paso,  with  a  capacity  of  thirty  thousand 
bushels  each.  He  is  also  engaged  in  ship- 
ping stock.  Besides  his  own  comfortable 
residence,  which  was  erected  in  1886  and  in 
one  of  the  best  in  the  village,  he  has  built 
four  others  in  Hudson,  three  of  which  he 
still  owns.  Politically  he  is  a  stanch  sup- 
porter of  the  Republican  party,  and  he  has 
been  honored  with  several  local  offices, 
having  served  as  mayor  of  the  town  three 
years  and  a  member  of  the  council  two 
years.  In  1899  he  was  elected  school  trus- 
tee. He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  of  Bloomington,  and  of 
Bloomington  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.  His  life 
illustrates  that  the  qualifications  necessary 


734 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


for  success  are  a  high  ambition  and  a  reso- 
lute honorable  purpose  to  reach  the  exalted 
standard  that  has  been  set  up.  He  began 
life  for  himself  in  limited  circumstances  but 
has  worked  his  way  steadily  upward  until 
he  is  now  one  of  the  most  prosperous  and 
substantial  citizens  of  his  community,  as 
well  as  one  of  the  most  honored  and  highly 
esteemed  residents  of  Hudson. 


WILLIAM  SCOTT,  a  retired  farmer, 
and  highly-esteemed  citizen  of  Ar- 
rowsmith,  Illinois,  was  born  in  Northamp- 
tonshire, England,  December  3,  1832,  a 
son  of  William  and  Charlotte  (Holt)  Scott, 
also  natives  of  that  country.  In  early  life 
the  father  followed  the  occupation  of  farm- 
ing, but  later  conducted  a  hotel  at  Ban- 
bury, 0.\fordshire,  England.  He  died  at 
the  age  ot  fifty-six  years,  and  his  wife  at  the 
age  of  seventy-five.  In  their  family  were 
eleven  children,  of  whom  ten  grew  to  man 
and  womanhood,  namely:  Mary  Ann,  Fan- 
nie, Sarah,  Elizabeth,  Thomas,  William, 
Richard,  Susan,  Adelaide  and  Emma.  Six 
are  still  living.  Richard,  a  resident  of  Aus- 
tralia; Thomas,  of  Woodford  county, 
Illinois;  Susan,  wife  of  George  Orgiil,  of 
Australia,  Sarah,  widow  of  John  Gibbard, 
of  Banbury,  England;  Elizabeth,  wife  of 
Thomas  Holt,  of  Barton,  Hartshorne,  Buck- 
inghamshire, England;  and  William,  our 
subject. 

W^illiam  Scott  was  educated  in  the 
schools  of  his  native  land.  He  continued 
to  reside  with  his  father  for  a  short  time 
after  leaving  school,  and  when  the 
latter  died  he  went  to  London,  where  he 
was  employed  as  an  omnibus  conductor. 
In  1856  he  emigrated  to  America  and  loca- 
ted in  Woodford  county,  Illinois,   where  he 


at  first  worked  as  a  farm  hand  by  the  month 
for  two  years.  The  following  year  he  en- 
gaged in  farming  on  the  shares,  and  then 
operated  rented  land  for  several  years.  His 
first  purchase  consisted  of  eighty  acres  in 
Panola  township,  Woodford  county,  to  the 
cultivation  and  improvement  of  which  he 
devoted  his  energies  for  fourteen  years. 
Coming  to  McLean  county,  in  1883,  he 
purchased  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  acres 
in  Arrowsmith  township,  on  which  he  re- 
sided until  the  spring  of  1899,  when  he  re- 
moved to  the  village  of  Arrowsmith.  He 
still  owns  his  farm,  however,  on  sections  32 
and  33,  Arrowsmith  township,  where  he  now 
has  two  hundred  and  fifteen  acres  under  a 
high  state  of  cultivation  and  well  improved. 
He  was  a  thorough  and  systematic  farmer 
and  a  man  of  good  business  ability,  and  the 
success  that  he  has  achieved  in  life  is  cer- 
tainly justly  merited. 

On  the  28th  of  March,  1867,  Mr.  Scott 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Sarah  A. 
Amos,  who  was  born  in  Northamptonshire, 
England,  January  4,  1838,  a  daughter  of 
William  and  Elizabeth  (Carpenter)  Amos, 
also  natives  of  England.  The  father,  who 
for  a  few  years  conducted  a  hotel  in  Ban- 
bury, England,  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-six 
years,  when  Mrs.  Scott  was  only  nine 
months  old,  leaving  two  children,  the  older 
being  William  Amos,  now  a  resident  of 
Jasper,  Iowa.  After  the  death  of  her  hus- 
band Mrs.  Amos  came  with  a  brother  to 
America  in  1854,  and  she  passed  away  at 
the  home  of  our  subject,  in  August,  1892, 
at  the  age  of  eighty-four  years.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Scott  have  three  children,  namely. 
Emma  L.,  born  February  18,  1868,  is  now 
the  wife  of  Samuel  Farley  Harsha,  by  whom 
she  has  two  children,  Mamie  E.  and  Rus- 
sell S. ,    and  they  reside  upon  our  subject's 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


735 


home  place  in  Arrowsmith  township;  Wal- 
ter A.,  born  October  20,  1S69,  also  lives  on 
the  home  farm  in  Arrowsmith  township;  and 
Frederick  \V.,  born  November  22,  18S0, 
is  a  resident  of  the  same  township,  also  on 
the  home  place.  Since  casting  his  first 
presidential  vote  for  U.  S.  Grant,  Mr. 
Scott  has  been  an  ardent  supporter  of  the 
Republican  party,  and  for  six  years  he  was 
an  efficient  member  of  the  school  board  in 
his  district.  His  life  has  ever  been  such  as 
to  command  the  confidence  and  respect  of 
all  with  whom  he  has  come  in  contact,  and 
he  has  made  a  host  of  friends  during  his 
residence  in  McLean  county. 


JAMES  THORNTON  SNELL,  deceased, 
for  many  years  the  well-known  president 
of  the  DeWitt  County  National  Bank,  Clin- 
ton, Illinois,  was  a  financier  of  more  than 
average  ability,  and  a  most  successful  busi- 
ness man.  He  was  born  in  \\'ashington, 
Tazewell  county,  Illinois,  March  27,  1S41, 
and  was  the  son  of  Colonel  Thomas  and 
Sarah  E.  (Church)  Snell,  the  former  a  native 
of  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where  he  was  born  on 
the  26th  of  December,  1818.  The  Colonel 
was  fourth  in  a  family  of  five  sons  born  to 
Thomas  and  Eliza  Snell.  His  father  was  a 
native  of  New  Jersey  and  was  a  pioneer  of 
Illinois,  locating  in  Tazewell  county,  where 
his  death  occurred  many  years  ago.  His 
mother  later  moved  to  Iowa  where  her  death 
occurred. 

Colonel  Snell  spent  his  boyhood  and 
youth  in  Tazewell  county,  and  in  the  pioneer 
schools  of  that  county  received  a  limited 
education.  This  was  supplemented,  how- 
ever, in  after  years,  by  much  reading  and 
study,  making  him  a  well-informed  man.  In 
1845  he  moved  from  Washington,  Tazewell 


county,  to  Clinton,  DeWitt  county,  where 
he  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business,  in 
which  he  continued  until  1852,  at  which 
time  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  was  in 
process  of  construction.  He  secured  several 
large  contracts  for  the  construction  of  that 
road,  and  later  engaged  in  the  construction 
of  portions  of  the  Chicago  &  Southwestern, 
Racine  &  Mississippi,  Ohio  &  Dayton,  Bloom- 
ington,  Lafayette  &  Mississippi,  and  the 
Lafayette  and  Muncie  Railroad,  in  each  of 
which  he  was  quite  successful.  In  1859  he 
engaged  in  the  wagon-making  business  in 
Aurora,  Illinois,  in  which  he  continued  until 
1865,  employing  at  times  some  two  hundred 
and  fifty  men.  Originally  the  colonel  was 
a  Democrat,  and  in  i860  ran  for  lieutenant 
governor  of  Illinois  on  the  Breckenridge 
ticket.  Stephen  A.  Douglas  tried  hard  to 
win  him  over  to  his  way  of  thinking  on  the 
slavery  and  other  questions,  and  in  company 
with  General  McClellan,  who  was  then  in 
the  service  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad, 
visited  him  for  that  purpose.  When  the 
south  attempted  to  disrupt  the  Union  on 
the  election  of  Lincoln  to  the  presidency,  it 
did  not  take  him  long  to  decide  where  he 
should  cast  his  lot.  He  was  for  the  Union 
every  time,  and  denounced  in  the  strongest 
terms  his  late  associates  in  their  attempts  to 
secede  from  the  Union.  In  August,  1862, 
he  raised  the  One  Hundred  and  Seventh 
Regiment,  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  and 
was  commissioned  its  colonel.  \\'ith  his 
regiment  he  marched  to  the  front.  While 
in  Kentucky  he  was  ordered  to  protect  some 
rebel  property,  but  he  gave  notice  that  he 
entered  the  service  to  fight  rebels  and  not 
to  protect  them  in  their  property  rights. 
For  disobedience  he  was  forced  to  resign. 
From  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  to  the 
present  time  he  has  been  an  uncompromising 


736 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Republican.  By  his  union  with  Miss  Sarah 
E.  Church,  five  children  were  born.  His 
wife  died  October  ii,  1875. 

Soon  after  the  birth  of  our  subject  the 
family  moved  to  Clinton,  Illinois,  and  in 
the  public  schools  of  that  place  he  received 
his  primary  education.  He  later  attended 
Knox  College,  at  Galesburg,  Illinois,  but 
finished  his  literary  course  in  Williston  Sem- 
inary, Easthampton,  Massachusetts.  His 
father  being  a  successful  railroad  contractor, 
he  determined  on  the  same  line  of  business 
as  soon  as  he  should  complete  his  studies. 
About  the  time  he  was  ready  to  leave  school, 
the  firm  of  Snell,  Taylor  &  Company  had  a 
large  number  of  railroad  contracts  in  which 
he  became  interested,  and  to  which  he  gave 
his  entire  time.  From  these  contracts  he 
laid  the  foundation  of  his  fortune,  investing 
his  earnings  in  farm  lands.  In  1 872  the  De- 
Witt  County  National  Bank  was  organized 
with  a  paid-up  capital  of  ninety  thousand 
dollars,  and  some  four  years  later  he  was 
elected  president  of  the  same,  in  which 
position  he  continued  until  his  death.  The 
capital  stock  was  after  a  time  reduced  to 
fifty  thousand  dollars,  of  which  he  owned 
three-fifths  of  the  shares,  while  in  addition 
several  shares  were  owned  by  his  daughter, 
Lena. 

Always  loyal,  in  1864  he  enlisted  in  the 
One  Hundred  and  Forty-fifth  Illinois  Vol- 
unteer Infantry  of  which  he  was  commis- 
sioned quartermaster  with  the  rank  of  lieu- 
tenant, and  in  which  capacity  he  served  un- 
til the  close  of  the  war.  Returning  home 
after  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  service, 
he  settled  down  to  business,  and  in  all  his 
undertakings  he  met  with  unqualified  suc- 
cess. While  he  had  a  wealthy  father,  he 
had  the  proud  satisfaction  of  knowing  that 
he  was  the  architect  of  his  own  fortune.    A 


fortunate  investment  in  Iowa  lands  netted 
him  over  one  hundred  thousand  dollars, 
which  was  but  one  of  his  fortunate  specula- 
tions. 

In  1869  Mr.  Snell  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Hannah  Conklin,  a  daughter  of  Cap- 
tain John  Conklin,  of  Clinton,  Illinois,  and 
by  this  union  three  children  were  born,  one 
daughter  and  two  sons.  The  daughter, 
Lena,  is  now  the  wife  of  Will  V.  Dinsmore, 
and  they  reside  in  San  Jose,  California. 
The  sons,  Thomas  Thornton  and  Harry 
Conklin,  yet  remain  at  home. 

Becoming  impressed  with  the  beauty 
and  attractiveness  of  Bloomington  as  a 
residence  center,  and  Mr.  Snell  decided  to 
erect  a  home  here,  the  palatial  residence  on 
North  Main  street,  which  was  built  in  1891, 
is  one  of  the  handsomest  in  the  city.  The 
family  were  warmly  welcomed  by  Bloom- 
ington society,  and  at  their  home  the  acme 
of  hospitality  always  prevailed.  The  family 
were  successful  and  artistic  entertainers, 
and  many  notable  events  in  society  have 
taken  place  inside  of  the  walls  of  their 
handsomely  appointed  residence.  Wealth 
in  their  case  went  hand  in  hand  with  happi- 
ness, and  nothing  seemed  lacking  to  bring 
enjoyment. 

Still  retaining  his  interest  in  the  De- 
Witt  County  National  Bank,  on  coming  to 
Bloomington,  Mr.  Snell  invested  in  the 
stock  of  the  Corn  Belt  Bank,  and  later  was 
made  vice-president  of  the  concern,  and  was 
a  valuable  member  of  its  board  of  directors. 
Like  his  father  before  him,  he  was  a  man 
of  positive  character,  and  was  outspoken  on 
every  subject  in  which  he  felt  an  interest. 
His  long  connection  with  the  Bank  of  Clin- 
ton, as  president,  had  made  him  known  to 
nearly  every  man  in  DeWitt  county.  He 
was  genial  and  pleasant  in  his  business  rela- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORt). 


m 


tions  with  friends,  for  whom  he  would 
make  any  sacrifice.  He  never  took  ad- 
vantage of  the  necessities  of  the  unfortunate, 
as  is  often  the  case  with  rich  men,  and  no 
farm  tenents  ever  had  a  more  liberal  or 
generous  landlord.  It  was  in  the  home 
circle,  however,  that  he  shone  at  his  best. 
He  loved  his  wife  and  children,  and  never 
denied  them  any  rational  pleasure  that 
money  or  love  could  procure.  No  wife  or 
children  could  have  a  more  affectionate 
husband  or  father,  and  his  wife  and  children 
repaid  his  love  in  kind. 

Thornton  Snell  never  sought  office,  or 
desired  prominence  or  notoriety  of  any  kind. 
He  preferred  to  conduct  his  business  in  a 
quiet,  unostentatious  manner,  and  carried 
this  principle  through  all  the  walks  of  life. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Clinton  Lodge, 
K.  of  P.,  but  never  took  an  active  interest 
in  the  routine  work  of  the  lodge.  In  re- 
ligious matters  he  was  a  warm  admirer  of 
the  Presbyterian  faith,  and  a  regular  attend- 
ant of  the  Second  Presbyterian  church,  of 
Bloomington,  of  which  his  wife  is  a  member. 
In  politics,  he  was  an  ardent  Republican, 
at  all  times  giving  his  support  to  the  men 
and  measures  of  that  party. 

The  death  of  Mr.  Snell  was  quite  sud- 
den and  entirely  une.xpected  on  the  i8th  of 
April,  1896.  He  made  a  business  trip  to 
Clinton  on  the  morning  of  that  day,  return- 
ing home  at  11:30  a.  m.  In  the  afternoon 
he  felt  ill,  but  nothing  serious  was  thought 
of,  and  he  insisted  that  his  wife  should  make 
some  social  calls  that  she  had  planned. 
While  she  was  absent  the  summons  came, 
and  his  spirit  returned  to  the  God  who  gave 
it.  His  sudden  death  was  a  surprise  to 
every  citizen  of  Bloomington  and  Clinton. 
E.xpressions  of  regret  were  heard  on  every 
hand.     The  funeral  services  were  held  on 


the  24th  of  April,  being  postponed  to  await 
the  arrival  of  the  only  daughter.  The 
services  was  conducted  by  Rev.  John  B. 
Wolfe,  D.  U.,  assisted  by  Rev.  W.  A. 
Hunter,  D.  D.,  and  Rev.  James  Shaw.  Dr. 
Wolfe  paid  an  eloquent  and  grand  tribute 
to  his  old-time  friend  and  boyhood  com- 
panion. His  remains  were  then  laid  to  rest 
in  the  Clinton  cemetery. 

Thornton  Snell  was  a  man  held  in  the 
highest  esteem  by  those  who  knew  him. 
He  was  one  of  those  public-spirited  and  en- 
terprising citizens  who  are  the  life  of  a  com- 
munity, and  without  whom  it  is  impossible 
to  build  up  a  country  or  locality.  His 
energy  and  enterprise  placed  him  in  the 
front  rank  with  the  business  men  of  Bloom- 
ington and  Clinton,  and  he  was  always  the 
substantial  supporter  and  encourager  of 
every  measure  tending  to  the  credit  and 
welfare  of  either  city.  As  a  man,  citizen, 
husband,  father  and  friend,  the  life  of  Thorn- 
ton Snell  was  rounded  into  perfect  man- 
hood. In  the  various  walks  of  life  in  which 
he  was  prominent  he  was  always  the  same 
courteous  gentleman,  with  the  air  and  man- 
ner which  at  once  impressed  one  with  his 
true  character.  The  manner  in  which  the 
affairs  of  the  banking  firms  with  which  he 
was  connected  were  conducted,  was  a  fair 
indication  of  his  tact  and  ability  as  a  finan- 
cier. He  was  also  a  thorough  business  man, 
and  his  straightforward  methods  of  conduct- 
ing his  operations,  and  promptness  in 
meeting  obligations  gained  him  the  confid- 
ence and  respect  of  all. 


JOHN  H.  V'REELAND  is  a  prominent 
and  successful  citizen  of  Saybrook,  Illi- 
nois, who  is  now  living  retired  from  business 
cares.      His  career  proves  that  the  only  true 


738 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


success  in  life  is  that  which  is  accomplished 
by  personal  effort  and  consecutive  industry. 
It  proves  that  the  road  to  success  is  open  to 
all  young  men  who  have  the  courage  to 
tread  its  pathway,  and  the  life  of  such  a 
man  should  serve  as  an  inspiration  to  the 
young  of  this  and  future  generations,  and 
teach  by  incontrovertible  facts  that  success 
is  ambition's  answer. 

Mr.  Vreeland  was  born  in  Bergen  coun- 
ty, New  Jersey,  December  29,  1826,  and 
on  the  paternal  side  is  of  German  descent, 
the  Vreeland  family  having  been  founded  in 
the  new  world  by  four  brothers,  natives  of 
the  fatherland,  who  located  here  prior  to 
the  Revolutionary  war.  Our  subject's 
great-grandfather,  Vreeland,  married  a  Miss 
Walls,  of  English  ancestry,  whose  grandfa- 
ther was  a  sailor  in  the  British  navy, and  for 
his  service  in  the  battle  of  the  Plains  of 
Abraham  received  his  freedom,  after  which 
he  settled  in  New  Jersey. 

Martin  J.  Vreeland,  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  New  Jersey,  in  1805,  a  son 
of  Jacob  Vreeland,  also  a  native  of  that 
state.  On  reaching  manhood  the  former 
married  Jane  Terhune,  of  New  Jersey,  and 
they  located  on  a  farm  in  Bergen  county, 
within  ten  miles  of  New  York  City,  where 
they  reared  their  family.  Later  the  father 
came  to  McLean  county,  Illinois,  and  spent 
his  remaining  days  with  his  sons,  dying  here 
in  1883,  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight  years 
and  three  months.  In  his  family  were  four 
sons,  all  still  living,  namely:  John  H.,  our 
subject;  Martin  M.,  a  resident  of  Saybrook, 
Illinois;  Peter,  of  Gibson  City,  Illinois  and 
George  W.,  of  Stafford  county,  Kansas. 
The  only  daughter,  Jane,  married  and  died 
at  the  age  of  twenty-seven  years. 

During  his  youth  John  H.  Vreeland  was 
given  the  advantages  of  a  good  common- 


school  education,  and  he  remained  on  the 
home  farm  assisting  in  its  operation  until 
reaching  manhood.  He  was  married  in  Ber- 
gen county,  New  Jersey,  in  1851,  to  Miss  Abi- 
gail Wigant,  a  native  of  Ulster  county.  New 
York.  For  three  years  thereafter  he  con- 
tinued to  work  with  his  father  on  the  home 
farm,  but  in  the  fall  of  1856  went  to  Colum- 
bus, Ohio.  In  October  of  the  same  year 
he  came  to  McLean  county,  Illinois,  and 
rented  a  place  near  Heyworth,  but  returned 
to  Columbus  for  the  winter.  In  February, 
1857,  he  moved  to  this  county  with  two 
teams,  and  for  fourteen  years  was  engaged 
in  farming  in  Randolph  township.  In  1868 
he  bought  one  hundred  acres  of  raw  prairie 
land  in  Bellflower  township,  on  which  he 
located  two  years  later,  turning  his  atten- 
tion at  once  to  breaking,  improving  and  cul- 
tivating his  land.  To  the  original  tract  he 
later  added  forty  acres  and  converted  the 
place  into  a  fine  farm,  which  he  finally  sold 
in  1882.  In  February  of  the  following 
year  he  took  up  his  residence  in  Saybrook 
and  engaged  in  the  grocery  business,  which 
he  successfully  carried  on  for  eleven  years, 
during  which  time  he  built  a  good  brick 
block  which  is  now  occupied  by  a  drug  store 
with  a  hotel  above.  He  also  bought  a  lot 
in  the  residence  portion  of  the  village  and 
built  thereon  a  comfortable  house  for  his 
own  use.  In  1894  he  sold  out  his  business 
and  has  since  lived  retired,  but  he  and  his 
brother  Martin  still  own  several  good  busi- 
ness houses  in  Saybrook  from  which  he  de- 
rives a  good  income.  He  ever  uses  his  in- 
fluence to  advance  the  interest  of  the  com- 
munity, and  is  numbered  among  the  most 
enterprising,  public-spirited  and  valued  citi- 
zens of  Saybrook. 

Mr.  Vreeland  has  been  called  upon  to 
mourn  the  loss  of  his   estimable    wife,   who 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


739 


departed  this  life  in  August,  1888,  and  was 
laid  to  rest  in  Saybrook  cemetery.  They 
had  no  children  of  their  own,  but  from  the 
age  of  four  years  reared  and  educated  Helen 
Crantz,  now  the  wife  of  William  Barnett, 
of  California.  Politically  Mr.  \'reeland  is  a 
Jeffersonian  Democrat,  and  cast  his  first  vote 
for  Zachary  Taylor  in  1848.  Being  in  favor 
of  a  gold  standard  he  supported  Palmer  in 
1896,  and  at  local  elections  he  votes  for  the 
best  men  regardless  of  party  ties.  For  nine 
years  he  most  creditably  and  acceptably 
served  as  trustee  of  Bellflower  township, 
but  has  never  cared  for  official  honors,  pre- 
ferring to  give  his  undivided  attention  to 
his  business  interests.  For  over  forty-two 
years  he  has  been  identified  with  the  growth 
and  development  of  this  county,  and  in 
that  time  has  become  widely  and  favorably 
known,  winning  the  confidence  and  esteem 
of  all  with  whom  he  has  come  in  contact, 
either  in  business  or  social  life. 


RUSSELL  \V.  CROSBY,  a  successful, 
enterprising  and  energetic  business  man 
of  Saybrook,  Illinois,  and  one  of  the  lead- 
ing citizens  of  that  place,  where  he  has  made 
his  home  for  seven  years,  was  born  in  Sum- 
mit county,  Ohio,  June  11,  1834.  The 
Crosby  family  is  of  English  extraction  and 
the  ancestors  of  our  subject  were  among  the 
original  settlers  of  Vermont.  His  paternal 
great-grandfather  was  a  soldier  of  the  Revo- 
lutionary war.  The  grandfather,  Simeon 
Crosby,  was  a  native  of  Connecticut  and  a 
pioneer  of  Ontario  county.  New  York,  where 
the  father  of  our  subject.  Captain  Simeon 
Crosby,  was  born  and  reared.  There  he 
married  Ro.\ey  Pitts,  a  native  of  Bristol, 
New  York,  and  a  daughter  of  Henry  Pitts. 
In  1830,  soon  after   his   marriage.   Captain 


Crosby  removed  to  Summit  county,  Ohio, 
of  which  he  became  a  prominent  and  in- 
fluential citizen.  He  served  as  captain  of  a 
company  in  the  Ohio  militia.  There  he 
opened  up  and  improved  a  farm,  becoming 
a  successful  agriculturist  and  stock-dealer 
and  drover  in  that  state  and  later  in  Illinois, 
whither  he  removed  in  1852.  He  settled 
in  Tazewell  count}',  where  he  improved  a 
fine  farm  of  four  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
and  was  also  one  of  the  most  prominent 
and  successful  stock  men  of  that  county. 
There  he  spent  the  last  years  of  his  life  and 
died  about  1885.  His  first  wife  had  passed 
away  during  their  residence  in  Ohio,  and  he 
was  later  married  in  Indiana  to  a  Mrs. 
Davis. 

Our  subject  is  the  third  in  order  of  birth 
in  the  family  of  si.\  sons  born  of  the  first 
union.  The  oldest,  Henry  Pitts,  died  in  in- 
fancy; R.  M.  became  a  resident  of  Taze- 
well county,  where  he  died  in  1889,  leaving 
a  family  of  four  children;  Webster  R.,  a 
farmer  of  that  county,  is  married  and  has 
five  children;  S.  H.  makes  his  home  in 
Tazewell  county,  and  has  a  family  of  six 
children;  and  Vernon  C.  continued  to  reside 
on  the  old  homestead  after  his  marriage  and 
there  died  in  April,  1899. 

In  his  native  state  Russell  W.  Crosby 
grew  to  manhood.  He  attended  the  neigh- 
boring schools  and  assisted  his  father  in  car- 
rying on  the  farm  and  in  handling  stock. 
He  was  a  young  man  of  eighteen  years  when 
the  family  came  to  this  state,  and  he  bore 
an  active  part  in  the  development  of  the 
home  farm  in  Tazewell  county,  where  he 
remained  until  thirty-two  years  of  age.  On 
the  27th  of  October,  1869,  in  Medina  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  he  led  to  the  marriage  altar  Miss 
Emma  C.  Hard,  who  was  born  in  that  coun- 
ty and  was  educated  in  Wadsworth  Acade- 


I 


Uo 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


my.  Prior  to  her  marriage  she  successful- 
ly engaged  in  teaching  school  for  some  years 
in  Ohio  and  Tazewell  county,  Illinois.  Her 
father,  L.  N.  Hard,  is  a  native  of  Vermont 
and  a  son  of  Abraham  Hard,  who  was  of 
English  parentage  and  who  emigrated  to 
Ohio  in  i8i6,  becoming  one  of  the  first  set- 
tlers of  Medina  county,  where  he  cleared 
and  developed  a  farm.  There  L.  N.  Hard 
was  reared,  his  education  being  obtained  in 
the  Medina  County  Academy.  In  early  life 
he  learned  the  carpenter's  and  joiner's  trade 
and  was  afterward  successfully  engaged  in 
contracting  and  building,  but  is  now  living 
retired  in  Wadsworth,  Ohio.  He  married 
Rebecca  Snyder,  who  was  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania but  was  principally  reared  and  edu- 
cated in  Ohio. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Crosby  located  on 
a  farm  near  the  old  homestead  in  Tazewell 
county,  where  he  was  successfully  engaged 
in  general  farming  and  stock  raising  for  sev- 
eral years.  He  also  shipped  stock  for 
seven  years  and  steadily  prospered  in  his 
undertakings.  Upon  his  place  he  erected 
a  pleasant  residence,  two  good  barns,  set 
out  an  orchard,  shade  trees  and  small  fruit, 
and  made  many  other  valuable  improve- 
ments, so  that  he  had  one  of  the  most  de- 
sirable farms  of  the  locality.  Selling  that 
property  in  1891  he  moved  to  Saybrook  the 
following  year,  and  purchased  a  good  home. 
For  five  years  he  practically  lived  retired, 
though  he  handled  some  real  estate  and 
owned  three  different  farms.  In  1897  he 
again  embarked  in  the  stock  business,  buy- 
ing, feeding  and  dealing  in  stock,  and  now 
handles  ten  car  loads  of  cattle  and  hogs  an- 
nually. Besides  his  property  in  the  village, 
he  now  owns  a  three  hundred  and  twenty 
acre-farm  in  White  county,  Indiana,  which 
is  a  well-improved  and  valuable  place. 


Politically  Mr.  Crosby  has  been  a  life- 
long Republican,  casting  his  first  presiden- 
tial ballot  for  Fremont  in  1856  and  sup- 
porting Lincoln  in  i860.  He  always  dis- 
charges his  duties  at  the  polls  and  at  local 
elections  votes  for  the  man  whom  he  believes 
qualified  to  fill  the  office  regardless  of 
party  affiliations.  For  three  years  he  served 
as  a  member  of  the  school  board,  but  has 
never  cared  for  official  position,  desiring  rath- 
er to  give  his  full  time  and  attention  to  his  busi- 
ness interests.  He  is  an  uprightand  reliable 
business  man,  is  energetic  and  progressive, 
and  his  success  in  life  is  attributable  to  his 
good  management,  enterprise  and  perse- 
verance. As  one  of  the  pioneers  of  this 
state  he  has  watched  with  interest  its  won- 
derful growth  and  development  and  he  has 
never  withheld  his  support  from  any  enter- 
prise which  he  believed  would  prove  of  pub- 
lic benefit.  His  wife  is  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  church,  and  both  are  held  in 
high  regard  by  all  who  know  them. 


ENOS  ARBOGAST  is  a  retired  farmer 
and  honored  citizen  of  Saybrook,  who 
has  made  his  home  in  this  state  since  1838 
and  has  been  a  resident  of  McLean  county 
since  1855.  He  was  born  in  Clark  county, 
Ohio,  October  13,  1825,  a  son  of  Henry  and 
Mary  (Huffman)  Arbogast,  natives  of  Vir- 
ginia, where  their  marriage  was  celebrated. 
Soon  after  that  event  they  removed  to  Ohio 
and  were  among  the  first  settlers  of  Clark 
county,  where  the  father  cleared  the  timber 
from  a  tract  of  land,  and  in  the  midst  of  the 
wilderness  developed  a  farm.  In  1838  he 
brought  his  family  to  Illinois  and  purchased 
a  small  farm  in  De  Witt  county,  where  he 
also  entered  land  from  the  government,  be- 
coming the  owner  of  a  place  of  five  hundred 


THE   BIOGR.\PHICAL   RECORD. 


74 1 


acres,  upon  which  he  spent  his  last  years, 
dying  there  in  1879.  His  wife  had  passed 
away  some  years  pre%'iously.  In  his  family 
were  fourteen  children,  seven  sons  and  seven 
daughters,  of  whom  the  followinj^  are  still 
living:  Henry,  Daniel,  Enos,  Mrs.  Eliza- 
beth \'an  Devender,  Mrs.  L}dia  Aim  Wood 
and  Mrs.  Mary  McKinley. 

Enos  Arbogast  was  a  lad  of  thirteen 
years  when  he  came  with  the  family  to  Illi- 
nois, and  in  DeWitt  county  he  grew  to  man- 
hood, giving  his  father  the  benefit  of  his 
labors  upon  the  home  farm  until  twenty- 
four  years  of  age.  He  was  married  in  De 
Witt  county,  in  October,  1849,  to  Miss 
Mary  Morgan,  a  native  of  Tennessee  and  a 
daughter  of  Stephen  Morgan,  who  came  to 
this  state  from  Tennessee  but  had  formerly 
lived  in  Kentucky.  After  his  marriage  Mr. 
Arbogast  operated  the  home  farm  for  one 
year,  and  then  came  to  McLean  county, 
buying  a  tract  of  unimproved  land  in  Che- 
neys Grove  township,  on  which  he  moved  a 
new  log  house  which,  he  had  also  purchased. 
As  time  passed  he  placed  acre  after  acre  of 
his  farm  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation 
and  was  not  long  in  transforming  the  wild 
tract  into  a  fine  farm.  Upon  the  place  he 
erected  a  good  frame  house,  the  lumber  for 
which  he  hauled  from  Bloomington,  also 
built  a  good  barn  and  other  outbuildings; 
set  out  an  orchard,  small  fruit,  shade  and 
ornamental  trees  and  a  nice  grove  of  wal- 
nuts by  the  house;  and  fenced  and  tiled  his 
land.  He  met  with  excellent  success  in  his 
farming  operations  and  became  quite  well- 
to-do,  although  he  started  out  in  life  for 
himself  in  rather  limited  circumstances. 
Laying  aside  business  cares  in  1894,  he  re- 
moved to  Saybrook  and  has  since  sold  his 
farm  and  purchased  a  nice  home  in  the  vil- 
lage, where  he  e.xpects  to  spend  his  remain- 


ing daj'S   in   ease   and   quiet,  free  from  the 
turmoil  and  an.xiety  of  business  life. 

Mr.  Arbogast's  first  wife  died  on  the  farm 
in  1870.  Five  children  were  born  of  that 
union,  namely:  Louisa,  who  married 
Thomas  Strayor  and  died  in  Missouri,  leav- 
ing si.\  children;  Lewis,  a  farmer  of  Kan- 
kakee county,  Illinois;  Ella,  wife  of  Isaac 
Wood,  whose  home  is  near  Webster  City, 
Iowa;  and  Myra  and  Millie,  who  both  died 
when  young  ladies.  In  McLean  county, 
Mr.  Arbogast  was  again  married,  July  14, 
1S72,  his  second  union  being  with  Mrs. 
Sophia  Shaw,  who  was  born  and  reared  in 
Monroe  county,  Indiana.  Her  father,  John 
M. Dunning,  was  a  native  of  North  Carolina 
and  when  a  young  man  removed  to  Monroe 
county,  Indiana,  where  he  married  Miss  Sarah 
Wampler.  He  became  quite  a  prominent 
farmer  and  merchant  of  that  time,  but  final- 
ly came  to  McLean  county,  Illinois,  where 
he  spent  his  last  days  upon  a  farm.  Mrs. 
Arbogast  was  a  young  lady  on  the  removal 
of  the  family  to  this  county,  and  here  she 
gave  her  hand  in  marriage  to  Hiram  Shaw, 
a  farmer  of  Martin  township,  where  his 
death  occurred.  By  that  marriage  she  had 
two  sons:  Alfred,  a  resident  of  Saybrook, 
who  is  married  and  has  one  daughter, 
Goldie;  and  James  A.,  a  farmer  of  Ford 
county,  Illinois.  Our  subject  has  one 
daughter  by  his  second  union,  Mary,  now 
the  wife  of  Truman  Stark,  of  Des  Moines, 
Iowa,  by  whom  she  has  a  daughter,  Gen- 
eveive. 

Originally  Mr.  Arbogast  was  a  Demo- 
crat in  politics,  but  in  1864  he  voted  for 
Abraham  Lincoln,  and  has  since  been  iden- 
tified with  the  Republican  party.  He  has 
never  been  an  aspirant  for  political  honors, 
though  he  takes  a  deep  and  commendable 
interest  in  public  affairs.      Both   he  and  his 


742 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


wile  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church,  with  which  he  has  been  con- 
nected since  the  age  of  twenty-three  years 
and  she  since  fourteen  years  of  age.  Now 
in  his  dechning  years  Mr.  Arbogastcan  look 
back  over  an  honorable  and  well-spent  life, 
in  which  he  has  been  faithful  to  every  trust 
reposed  in  him,  and  has  gained  the  confi- 
dence and  respect  of  ail  with  whom  he  has 
come  in  contact. 


GEORGE  W.  WHITE.  For  almost 
half  a  century  this  gentleman  has  re- 
sided in  McLean  county  and  his  name  is 
inseparably  connected  with  its  agricultural 
interests.  His  thoroughly  American  spirit 
and  great  energy  has  enabled  him  to  mount 
from  a  humble  position  to  one  of  affluence. 
One  of  his  leading  characteristics  in  busi- 
ness affairs  is  his  fine  sense  of  order  and 
complete  system  and  the  habit  of  giving 
careful  attention  to  details  without  which 
success  in  any  undertaking  is  never  an  as- 
sured fact.  He  is  a  man  of  intrinsic  worth, 
esteemed  in  all  the  relations  of  life,  and  is 
now  one  of  the  highly-respected  citizens  of 
Bloomington,  though  he  still  carries  on  his 
farming  operations  in  the  country. 

Mr.  White  was  born  in  Laramie  town- 
ship, Tippecanoe  county,  Indiana,  fifteen 
miles  from  Lafayette,  August  19,  1842,  a 
son  of  George  C.  W^hite,  who  was  born  in 
New  York  state,  February  i,  1804,  but  in 
1812,  he  became  a  resident  of  Springfield, 
Clark  county,  Ohio.  There  he  was  mar- 
ried January  18,  1827,  to  Miss  Julia  Ann 
Noel,  a  native  of  Randolph  county,  Ohio, 
and  in  1828  they  removed  to  Tippecanoe 
county,  Indiana,  where  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing until  coming  to  McLean  county,  Illinois, 
in    1850.      Here   he   entered  one  hundred 


and  sixty  acres  of  land,  and  from  the  wild 
prairie  developed  a  good  farm.  Most  of 
this  region  at  that  time  was  still  in  its  primi- 
tive condition,  lew  improvements  having 
been  made  and  until  1853,  when  the  Illi- 
nois Central  was  built,  Peoria  was  the 
nearest  railroad  station.  Mr.  White  de- 
voted considerable  attention  to  stock  rais- 
ing in  connection  with  general  farming,  and 
here  he  prospered  as  time  advanced,  becom- 
ing the  owner  of  four  hundred  acres  of  valu- 
able land  in  McLean  county.  Politically, 
he  was  first  a  strong  Whig  and  later  a  Re- 
publican, but  never  an  aspirant  for  office, 
his  time  and  attention  being  wholly  taken 
up  by  his  business  affairs.  He  was  an  ear- 
nest Christian,  being  one  of  the  first  mem- 
bers of  the  Baptist  church  in  his  community. 
He  died  January  2,  1890,  aged  eighty-five 
years,  eleven  months  and  one  day,  having 
long  survived  his  wife,  who  passed  away 
March  25,  1865,  aged  fifty-eight  years,  nine 
months  and  seventeen  days.  Of  the  twelve 
children  born  to  them,  ten  are  still  living, 
namely:  Mary  is  the  wife  of  John  H.  King, 
and  they  live  in  Anchor  township.  Harriet 
married  Lyman  Williams,  who  is  now  de- 
ceased. She  makes  her  home  in  Colfax, 
Illinois.  Rachel  is  the  widow  of  Sanford 
Williams,  and  resides  in  Bloomington,  Illi- 
nois. Malinda  married  John  W.  Abbott, 
and  they  live  in  Republic,  Kansas.  William 
married  Miss  Donovan,  and  they  reside  in 
Bloomington,  Illinois.  John  married  Miss 
Hamilton,  and  they  live  in  Bloomington. 
Ellen  married  A.  H.  Conger,  and  resides  at 
Fletcher,  Blue  Mound  township.  George 
W.  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Adaline 
married  William  Meyers,  and  they  live  in 
Centerville,  South  Dakota.  Frank  married 
Miss  Williams,  and  they  live  in  Kansas. 
The  deceased  are  Eliza,   who  married  Nel- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


743 


son  Jones,  who  is  also  deceased;  and  Ed- 
ward, who  died  May  24,  1888,  aged  forty- 
two  years,  three  months  and  seven  days, 
was  a  resident  of  Blooniington,  Illinois. 

The  early  education  of  George  W. 
White  was  acquired  in  the  common  schools 
of  Towanda,  where  he  pursued  his  studies 
from  twelve  to  sixteen  weeks  each  winter 
until  about  twenty  years  of  age,  all  grades 
being  in  one  room.  Later  he  attended  the 
Wesleyan  University  for  a  time  and  this 
completed  a  good  practical  education.  He 
remained  with  his  father  until  attaining  his 
majority,  and,  becoming  thoroughtly  famil- 
iar with  all  the  duties  which  fall  to  the  lot 
of  the  agriculturist,  he  then  embarked  in 
farming  on  his  own  account  upon  a  place 
which  he  purchased.  He  also  became  the 
owner  of  the  old  homestead.  He  has 
bought  and  sold  quite  a  number  or  farms, 
and  is  still  the  owner  of  eleven  hundred  and 
thirty-five  acres  of  fine  farming  land,  all  in 
McLean  county.  Stock  raising  and  deal- 
ing has  occupied  a  considerable  portion  of 
his  time,  and  each  year  be  ships  many  car 
loads  of  cattle  and  hogs  to  the  Chicago 
markets.  He  has  also  given  special  atten- 
tion to  the  raising  of  fine  horses,  and 
has  made  five  importations  of  Percheron 
and  Englishshire  horses,  being  among 
the  first  to  bring  them  into  the  coun- 
ty. For  several  years  he  always  had  from 
fifty  to  one  hundred  fine  horses  upon  his 
place,  and  has  done  much  toward  raising 
the  grade  of  horses  in  the  county.  Com- 
ing to  Bloomington  in  1896,  he  bought  and 
remodeled  a  beautiful  home  at  No.  loC  East 
Chestnut  street,  where  he  now  lives,  but 
still  carries  on  the  home  farm  in  Towanda 
in  connection  with  his  eldest  son.  While 
husking  corn  in  1863,  he  fired  at  a  hawk, 
and  the  gun  bursting  cost  him  his  left  hand. 


On  the  6th  of  April,  1870,  Mr.  White 
married  Miss  Flora  Raridon,  who  was  born 
in  Indiana,  March  11,  1855.  She  traces 
her  ancestry  back  to  Jeremiah  Raridon,  a 
native  of  Scotland,  who  was  the  father  of 
five  children,  three  sons  and  two  daughters. 
One  of  these,  James  Raridon,  was  Mrs. 
White's  grandfather.  He  was  born  in  North 
Carolina  in  1792,  and  was  one  of  the  vali- 
ant defenders  of  the  country  in  the  war  of 
181 2.  He  married  Elinore  Chandler,  who 
was  born  in  Tennessee  in  1798,  a  daughter 
of  David  and  Polly  (Stuart)  Chandler,  who 
were  natives  of  England,  and  the  parents  of 
seven  children,  four  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters. These  early  ancestors  of  Mrs.  White 
were  all  either  Methodists  or  Quakers  in  re- 
ligious faith.  Her  father,  James  Stuart  Rar- 
idon, was  born  in  Nashville,  Tennessee,  May 
22,  1825,  and  was  married  near  Indianapo- 
lis, in  Morgan  county,  Indiana,  June  i ,  i  S47, 
to  Miss  Martha  J.  Evans,  who  was  born  near 
that  city,  December  11,  1830,  and  was  a 
daughter  of  Samuel  Evans,  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky, who  died  near  Selma,  in  Lexington 
township,  McLean  count}',  Illinois,  in  1866, 
at  the  age  of  sixty-two  years.  He  was  one 
of  the  leading  men  in  organizing  the  Union 
church  in  Blue  Mound,  and  was  one  of  the 
mostly  highly-respected  and  enterprising 
citizens  of  his  community.  His  father 
was  probably  robbed  and  murdered  while 
driving  some  horses  across  the  country 
to  market,  as  he  never  returned,  and  his 
mother  later  married  John  Martin.  Samuel 
Evans  was  married,  in  1825,  to  Elizabeth 
Smith,  who  was  born  near  Pittsburg,  Penn- 
sylvania, in  1800,  and  died  at  the  age  of 
eighty-three  years.  Her  parents,  John  and 
Elizabeth  Smith,  were  also  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania, and  Methodists  in  religious  belief. 
On   their  removal  from  that   state  to  New 


744 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Albany,  Indiana,  a  raft  was  constructed, 
and  on  it  the  household  goods  were  floated 
down  the  Ohio  river  to  their  destination. 
Mrs.  White's  parents  came  to  McLean  coun- 
ty in  1858,  and  took  up  their  residence  in 
Lexington  township,  where  the  father  en- 
gaged in  farming  until  1878,  but  is  now  liv- 
ing in  Fairbury,  Livingston  count}',  Illinois, 
an  honored  and  highly-respected  citizen 
of  that  place.  Our  subject  and  his  wife 
have  a  family  of  six  children.  Warren,  the 
eldest,  attended  the  Wesleyan  University  a 
number  of  terms,  and  later  graduated  from 
Brown's  Business  College.  He  still  resides 
on  his  father's  farm,  occupying  an  elegant 
country  home  which  was  erected  by  our  sub- 
ject in  1882  at  a  cost  of  five  thousand  dol- 
lars and  is  one  of  the  finest  residences  out- 
side of  the  city  in  McLean  county.  E.  Grace 
is  at  home  with  her  parents.  Maude  A. 
has  been  a  student  in  the  Wesleyan  Univer- 
sity for  three  years.  Chloe,  John  L.  and 
Rolland  are  also  at  home. 

Mr.  White  was  made  an  Odd  Fellow  in 
Bloomington  Lodge,  No.  "jj,  and  later  be- 
came a  charter  member  of  Towanda  Lodge, 
No.  636,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  which  he  was  the 
first  vice  grand,  and  has  been  one  of  its 
most  active  and  prominent  members.  He 
held  the  office  of  supervisor  of  his  township 
for  five  years  and  the  duties  of  public  and 
private  life  have  always  been  most  faithfully 
and  satisfactorily  performed.  He  has  twice 
been  to  Europe,  combining  business  and 
pleasure  both  times,  and  he  visited  the 
World's  Fair  in  Paris,  in  1S8S,  and  also  Lon- 
don and  other  places  in  England  and  France, 
but  still  believes  that  the  United  States  is  the 
best  place  to  live.  Travel  and  his  social,  gen- 
ial nature  have  made  him  an  entertaining 
companion,  and  he  is  a  stanch  and  loyal 
friend,  fond  of  good  fellowship  and  devoted 


to  those  who  have  his  confidence.  His  es- 
timable wife  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  and  to  that  and  other 
churches  he  gives  liberally. 


CHARLES  W.  MATHENY,  a  highly- 
respected  and  honored  resident  of 
Chenoa,  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  being  born  on 
the  29th  of  June,  1841,  and  was  the  first 
white  child  born  in  Bentonville,  Adams 
county.  He  is  a  son  of  John  W.  and  Mary 
(WycofT)  Matheny,  of  Adams  county,  Ohio. 
John  was  a  blacksmith,  and  worked  at  his 
trade  the  greater  part  of  his  life.  In  1852 
he  removed  his  family  to  Illinois,  locating 
in  Pleasant  Hill,  McLean  county,  where  he 
took  up  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land. 
Being  the  first  settler  in  this  part  of  the 
country,  his  friends  in  Ohio  discouraged  the 
undertaking,  arguing  that  he  would  be  with- 
out neighbors,  and  compelled  to  face  hard- 
ships singlehanded.  They  little  realized  the 
great  future  of  this  state  of  Illinois,  and 
little  thought  that  it  would  so  soon  be  dotted 
with  great  cities,  thriving  towns  and  villages 
and  waving  fields  of  grain.  After  coming 
to  Illinois,  the  father  of  our  subject  worked 
for  a  time  at  his  trade,  but  shortly  aband- 
oned it.  His  age  preventing  his  carrying 
on  agricultural  pursuits  to  an  extensive  de- 
gree, he  sold  his  farm  and  purchased  a 
smaller  one  which  he  conducted  for  a  period, 
and  then  sold  and  removed  into  Chenoa, 
where  he  resided  until  his  death.  He  was 
a  strong  adherent  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church,  and  was  one  of  its  most  ardent 
supporters.  He  was  a  hard-workingman 
and  one  whose  honesty  could  never  be 
doubted.  A  prominent  member  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  which  always  found  in  him 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


745 


a  stanch  supporter  and  upholder  of  its  prin- 
ciples. He  died  in  1S95,  at  the  age  of 
eighty  years,  and  his  wife  in  1890,  in  her 
seventy-sixth  year. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  introduces 
this  review,  is  one  of  six  children,  and  is 
third  in  order  of  birth.  He  was  reared  and 
educated  in  McLean  county,  being  but 
eleven  years  of  age  when  his  parents  came 
to  Illinois.  Four  years  of  his  life,  after 
reaching  this  state,  were  devoted  to  break- 
ing prairie  land  and  farming,  and  the  fol- 
lowing thirteen  years  were  spent  on  a  farm 
in  Lawndale  which  he  inherited  from  his 
father.  At  the  expiration  of  this  time  he 
removed  to  Fulton  county,  Illinois,  and  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  of  timber  land,  which 
he  improved  and  built  upon.  Here  he  lived 
for  thirteen  years,  selling  at  the  end  of  that 
time,  and  removing  to  Chenoa,  where  he 
has  since  lived  a  retired  life.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows, and  politically,  is  a  Republican.  He 
has  held  a  number  of  positions  in  public 
office,  and  at  one  time  was  elected  justice 
of  the  peace,  but  was  not  qualified. 

On  the  22d  of  September,  1861,  Mr. 
Matheny  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Williams,  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Nancy  Williams.  She  is  a  native  of  Win- 
nebago county,  born  June  13,  1838,  and 
was  the  first  white  child  born  in  that 
county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Matheny  are  the 
parents  of  six  children,  namely:  Leola  Sa- 
lena,  deceased;  William  L.,  deceased; 
Charles,  deceased;  Andrew  N. ;  and  Myrtle, 
also  deceased.  When  war  was  declared 
between  Spain  and  the  United  States,  and 
a  call  for  volunteers  was  issued,  W'illiam 
L.,  the  eldest  son  of  our  subject,  respond- 
ed, enlisting  in  Company  F,  Third  Illinois 
Volunteer  Infantry,   under   Captain   Reno, 


Colonel  Bennett  commanding.  He  received 
his  death  in  Porto  Rico,  whether  his  regi- 
ment had  been  sent,  a  martyr  to  the  cause 
of  humanity  which  his  country  had  so  gal- 
antly  espoused. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Matheny  are  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  in  full  mem- 
bership, and  are  prominent  in  all  its  chari- 
table and  social  organizations.  They  are 
popular  residents  of  Chenoa,  and  their  hos- 
pitable home  is  always  open  to  their  friends 
and  acquaintances. 


DAVID  HURLEY,  a  well-known  lum- 
ber merchant  and  influential  citizen  of 
Saybrook,  is  a  native  of  Illinois,  born  in 
DeWitt  county,  December  2,  1833,  and  is 
a  worthy  representative  of  one  of  the  prom- 
inent pioneer  families  of  this  state,  being  a 
son  of  Dennis  Hurley,  the  first  settler  of 
Hurley's  Grove,  DeWitt  county,  where  he 
located  in  1829.  The  father  was  born  in 
New  Jersey,  and  was  a  son  of  James  Hur- 
ley, also  a  native  of  that  state.  When  a 
young  man  Dennis  Hurley  went  to  Ohio, 
where  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Mary  Connell  of  that  state.  As  pioneers  of 
Illinois,  they  experienced  all  of  the  trials 
and  hardships  incident  to  life  on  the  front- 
ier. They  were  living  in  their  little  log 
cabin,  sixteen  by  sixteen  feet,  at  Hurley's 
Grove,  near  Farmer  City,  during  the  "  win- 
ter of  the  deep  snow."  That  whole  winter 
the  family  lived  wholly  on  corn  bread,  the 
meal  being  made  by  pounding  the  corn  in 
the  end  of  a  log,  and  wild  game,  such  as 
venison,  turkey  and  prairie  chickens,  which 
at  that  time  could  be  obtained  in  abund- 
ance. The  first  church  services  held  in  the 
neighborhood  were  conducted  in  the  log 
cabin    of    Mr.    Hurley   once   a   month,   but 


746 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


finally  a  log  house  was  built  and  meetings 
were  held  there.  The  father  succeeded  in 
developing  a  fine  farm  from  the  wild  land, 
and  near  Farmer  City  spent  the  remainder 
of  his  life. 

Amid  pioneer  scenes  David  Hurley  grew 
to  manhood,  becoming  a  self-educated  as 
well  as  a  self-made  man.  He  remained  at 
home  with  his  parents  until  his  marriage, 
which  was  celebrated  in  DeWitt  county, 
March  2,  1854,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being 
Miss  Lucinda  E.  Packwell,  who  was  born 
and  reared  in  Tennessee.  They  began 
their  domestic  life  upon  a  farm  near 
Farmer  City,  where  he  successfully  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits  until  1871. 
He  then  came  to  Saybrook,  McLean  coun- 
ty, where  for  the  first  two  years  he  engaged 
in  teaming,  and  then  in  partnership  with  a 
Mr.  Reddick  embarked  in  the  lumber  busi- 
ness, on  a  small  scale,  under  the  firm  name 
of  Reddick  &  Hurley.  Three  years'  later 
our  subject  bought  out  Mr.  Reddick's  inter- 
est and  has  since  been  alone.  He  has  en- 
larged his  business  from  time  to  time  to 
meet  the  growing  demands  of  his  trade, 
and  now  carries  a  large  stock  of  lumber 
and  building  material  of  all  kinds,  handling 
lime,  cement  and  plaster  by  the  car  load. 
He  has  gained  an  enviable  reputation  for 
good  goods  and  fair  dealing,  and  has  suc- 
ceeded in  building  up  an  excellent  trade. 
He  is  one  of  the  most  enterprising  and 
progressive  business  men  of  Saybrook,  and 
has  materially  advanced  the  interests  of  the 
town  by  the  erection  of  three  good  resi- 
dences, which  he  still  owns. 

In  response  to  his  country's  call  for  aid 
during  the  civil  war,  Mr.  Hurley  enlisted 
August  2,  1862,  in  Company  I,  One  Hun- 
dred and  Seventh  Illinois  Volunteer  Infan- 
try, under  command  of  Colonel  Snell.     He 


participated  in  the  engagement  at  Huff's 
Ferry,  the  siege  of  Knoxville,  Tennessee; 
Sherman  campaign  in  Georgia,  including 
the  battles  of  Buzzard  Roost,  Dalton,  Re- 
saca  and  Kenesaw  mountain,  and  the  siege 
of  Atlanta;  with  his  command  he  then  re- 
turned to  Tennessee  in  pursuit  of  Hood, 
and  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Franklin  and 
Nashville.  He  was  also  in  a  large  number 
of  smaller  engagements  and  skirmishes, 
being  always  found  at  his  post  of  duty, 
valiantly  defending  the  old  flag  and  the 
cause  it  represented.  He  underwent  all 
the  hardships  and  privations  of  army  life, 
and  for  a  short  time  was  ill  in  the  hospital 
at  Atlanta.  When  hostilities  ceased  and 
his  services  were  no  longer  needed,  he  was 
honorably  discharged  at  Salisbury,  North 
Carolina,  and  returned  home. 

Mr.  Hurley  lost  his  first  wife  December 
2,  1883.  She  left  two  daughters,  Levina, 
wife  of  C.  P.  Easterbrook,  a  prominent 
business  man  of  Saybrook;  and  Harriet, 
wife  of  H.  F.  Plummer,  of  San  Jose,  Cali- 
fornia. In  Syracuse,  New  York,  Mr.  Hur- 
ley was  again  married,  in  1885,  his  second 
union  being  with  Betsy  E.  Hughson,  who 
was  born,  reared  and  educated  in  that 
state. 

Religiously,  Mr.  Hurley  has  been  an 
active  and  prominent  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  for  many  years, 
having  served  as  class  leader  for  nearly 
forty  years.  Socially,  he  is  also  quite 
prominent  and  is  past  master  in  the  Ma- 
sonic Lodge,  past  grand  in  the  Odd  Fellows 
Lodge,  and  also  an  honored  member  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias.  His  political  support 
has  ever  been  given  the  Republican  party 
since  casting  his  first  presidential  vote  for 
John  C.  Fremont  in  1856,  and  he  has  most 
creditably  served  his   fellow   citizens   as  a 


1 
I 


THE    BIOGR,\PHICAL   RECORD. 


747 


member  of  the  village  board.  He  has  made 
for  himself  an  honorable  business  record, 
and  by  his  well-directed  efforts  has  ac- 
quired a  comfortable  competence.  As  a 
citizen,  friend  and  neighbor  he  is  true  to 
every  duty  and  justly  merits  the  esteem  in 
which  he  is  held. 


EDWARD  BYERS,  a  pioneer  of  Cham- 
paign county.  Illinois,  but  who  has  been 
a  resident  of  McLean  county  for  nearly  half 
a  centurj',  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  March 
I,  1S26,  and  is  a  son  of  Isaac  Byers,  a 
blacksmith  by  trade,  and  who  followed  that 
occupation,  in  connection  with  farming,  for 
many  years.  About  1836,  he  came  with 
his  family  from  Ohio,  locating  in  Champaign 
county,  which  was  his  home  during  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  ten  years 
old  when  he  accompanied  his  parents  to 
Champaign  county.  He  remained  them  with 
until  he  attained  his  majority,  and  assisted 
his  father  in  opening  up  and  developing  the 
farm.  His  educational  advantages  were  rath- 
er limited,  but  he  made  the  best  use  of  them 
possible,  and  is  now  a  well-informed  man. 
Soon  after  attaining  his  majority  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Clara  Hempen- 
stall,  also  a  native  of  Ohio.  He  then  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  Champaign  county,  in 
which  occupation  he  was  employed  until 
1852,  when,  in  company  with  his  wife  and 
other  families,  he  started  across  the  plains 
for  Oregon.  While  en  route  his  wife  sickened 
and  died  on  the  plains.  He  then  returned 
to  his  home  in  Champaign  county,  where  he 
remained  a  short  time,  and  in  1852  came  to 
McLean  county,  locating  on  the  place  where 
he  now  resides.  About  one  year  later  he 
married  Mrs.  Anna  Ball,  who  was  born  near 


New  Albany,  Indiana,  and  who  came  with 
her  father,  Robert  Cunningham,  to  McLean 
county.  This  was  in  pioneer  times,  Mr. 
Cunningham  being  one  of  the  very  earliest 
settlers  of  the  eastern  part  of  McLean  coun- 
ty. Here  she  grew  to  womanhood  and  mar- 
ried Henry  Ball,  who  entered  the  land  and 
opened  up  the  farm  which  is  now  occupied 
by  our  subject.  He  was  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky. After  residing  here  a  few  years,  he 
lost  his  health,  and  with  a  view  of  its  restor- 
ation, he  took  his  bride  to  Kentucky.  The 
trip  was,  however,  without  avail,  as  he  con- 
tinued to  grow  worse,  died,  and  was  there 
buried.  Mrs.  Ball  then  returned  to  Illinois, 
and  again  took  up  her  life  on  the  home  farm 
near  Saybrook. 

After  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Byers 
took  up  their  home  and  began  their  domes- 
tic life  on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides. 
It  is  a  fine  farm  of  one  hundred  and  fifty- 
five  acres  in  and  adjoining  the  corporate 
limits  of  Saybrook.  Here  he  has  since  con- 
tinued to  reside,  and  upon  the  place  has 
made  many  improvements.  Mrs.  Byers  died 
upon  the  home  farm  July  8,  1897,  and  her 
remains  were  laid  to  rest  in  the  cemetery  at 
Saybrook.  She  was  the  mother  of  three 
children,  of  whom  but  one  now  survives: 
Nelson,  who  is  a  young  man  of  good  busi- 
ness ability,  has  now  charge  of  the  home 
farm,  which  he  keeps  under  a  high  state  of 
cultivation.  Julia  grew  to  womanhood,  but 
is  now  deceased.  Melvina  died  in  early 
childhood. 

Politically,  Mr.  Byers  has  been  identified 
with  the  Democratic  party  during  his  en- 
tire life.  He  has  never  desired  office,  and 
has  never  given  of  his  time  in  public  office. 
His  son  is  also  a  Democrat.  Religiously, 
he  is  connected  with  the  United  Brethren 
church  of   Saybrook,  of  which   his  wile  is 


748 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


also  a  member.  His  residence  of  sixty- 
three  years  has  brought  him  in  contact  with 
many  of  the  best  people  of  the  state,  and 
the  changes  that  have  occurred  in  that  time 
are  indeed  remarkable.  He  has  lived  to  see 
wild  game  of  all  kinds  disappear  and  to 
see  the  whole  country  dotted  over  with 
cities,  villages,  farm  houses,  churches  and 
school  houses,  and  his  adopted  county  cov- 
ered by  a  perfect  network  of  railroads, 
making  every  part  easily  accessible.  In  the 
work  that  has  been  accomplished  he  has 
borne  his  part. 


ASA  W.  SKINNER.  The  world  in- 
stinctively pays  deference  to  the  man 
whose  success  has  been  worthily  achieved, 
who  has  acquired  a  high  reputation  in  his 
chosen  calling  and  whose  social  prominence 
is  not  less  the  result  of  an  irreproachable 
life  than  of  recognized  natural  gifts.  It  is  a 
pleasing  indulgence  to  write  the  biography 
of  a  man  of  this  character,  such  as  Mr. 
Skinner  is  known  to  be.  He  is  one  of  the 
most  highly  esteemed  citizens  of  Hudson, 
and  is  a  prominent  factor  in  business  circles. 
He  was  born  at  Clay  Lick,  Licking 
county,  Ohio,  July  21,  1852,  a  son  of  Mark 
and  Martha  (Kennedy)  Skinner.  His  father 
was  born  in  Fauquier  county,  Virginia, 
February  24,  1824,  and  was  a  child  of  only 
five  years  when  he  removed  to  Licking 
county,  Ohio,  with  his  parents,  Asa  W.  and 
Martha  (Haley)  Skinner.  There  he  con- 
tinued to  make  his  home  until  the  fall  of 
1853,  when  he  came  to  Illinois.  After 
spending  the  winter  at  Sand  Prairie,  Taze- 
well county,  in  the  spring  of  1854,  he  re- 
moved to  this  county  and  located  on  sec- 
tion 26,  Hudson  township,  where  he  devoted 
the  remainder  of  his  life   to   farming,  dying 


there  June  11,  1877.  He  was  one  of  the 
intUiential  and  prominent  citizens  of  his 
community,  but  outside  of  school  positions 
he  would  never  accept  public  office.  For 
many  years  he  was  a  member  of  the  school 
board  and  was  active  in  organizing  the 
school  in  his  district,  which  is  still  known 
as  the  Skinner  district,  being  named  in  his 
honor.  He  was  one  of  the  principal  pro- 
moters in  its  organization  and  the  first 
school  election  was  held  at  his  house.  He 
also  assisted  in  the  formation  of  the  Repub- 
lican party  in  his  locality  and  remained  one 
of  its  stanch  adherents.  In  religious  faith 
he  was  a  Baptist,  and  in  early  life  held 
membership  in  the  Masonic  fraternity.  His 
wife  survived  him  several  years,  dying  in 
February,  1891.  All  of  their  seven  chil- 
dren, four  sons  and  three  daughters,  are 
still  living,  namely:  Albert  a  resident  of 
Normal;  Asa  W. ,  our  subject;  Elizabeth 
A.,  wife  of  \V.  H.  Shiner,  of  Hudson;  Mary 
C,  wife  of  C.  Frederick  Bishop,  of  Wool- 
stock,  Iowa;  John  C. ,  a  school  teacher  and 
traveling  salesman  of  Hartsburg,  Logan 
county,  Illinois;  Harvey,  a  farmer  of  Grid- 
ley,  Illinois;  and  Malvena,  wife  of  John 
Hanson,  of  El  Paso,  Illinois. 

Asa  W.  Skinner  was  only  fourteen 
months  old  when  brought  by  his  parents  to 
Illinois,  and  has  made  his  home  almost  con- 
tinuously in  McLean  county  since  his  second 
year.  He  was  reared  upon  the  home  farm, 
and  his  early  education  was  acquired  in  the 
common  schools.  At  the  age  of  nineteen 
he  commenced  teaching,  and  successfully 
engaged  in  educational  work  in  McLean 
and  Tazewell  counties  for  ten  years.  In 
the  meantime  he  attended  the  State  Nor- 
mal for  a  while,  and  in  1879  accepted  a  po- 
sition as  teacher  in  the  village  schools  of 
Hudson,  where  he  remained  in  charge  for 


A.  W.   SKINNEK. 


UBRfM 
OF  TME 


THE   BIOGILVPHICAL   RECORD. 


7S> 


two  years.  In  the  fall  of  1877  he  had  pur- 
chased a  farm  adjoining  his  father's,  and 
after  he  retired  from  school  teaching  he  de- 
voted his  time  and  attention  to  the  opera- 
tion of  that  place  until  the  fall  of  1883, 
when  he  remo%'ed  to  Hudson,  and  erected  a 
factory  for  the  manufacture  of  drain  tile, 
carrying  on  the  same  quite  successfully  un- 
til 1894.  In  1 89 1  he  succeeded  to  the 
grain  business  of  Hazenwinkle  &  Cox  at 
Hudson,  and  also  purchased  one  of  their 
elevators,  which  he  has  since  carried  on. 
In  February,  1899,  his  new  elevator,  erected 
only  the  fall  previous,  was  destroyed  by 
fire,  but,  with  characteristic  energy,  he 
promptly  rebuilt.  He  also  conducts  the 
only  lumber  yard  in  the  village,  and  in  that 
line  has  also  built  up  an  excellent  trade. 
He  is  an  upright,  reliable  and  conscientious 
business  man,  and  carries  forward  to  suc- 
cessful completion  whatever  he  undertakes. 
Besides  the  propert\'  already  mentioned,  he 
owns  a  good  farm  of  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  in  Woodford  county,  Illinois, 
on  which  is  a  sawmill,  where  he  is  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  lumber. 

On  the  31st  of  December,  1878,  was 
celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Skinner  and 
Miss  Amanda  Blough,  who  was  born  in 
Summerset  county,  Pennsylvania,  Decem- 
ber 23,  1855,  a  daughter  of  Abraham  and 
Sally  (Forney)  Blough,  also  natives  of  that 
state.  In  1866  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Blough,  with 
their  family,  removed  to  McLean  county, 
and  are  now  living  in  the  village  of  Hudson, 
the  former  at  the  age  of  seventy-four  years, 
the  latter  at  the  age  of  sixty-five.  Of  their 
ten  children,  the  following  are  also  living: 
William,  a  farmer  of  Benton  county,  Iowa; 
Mary,  widow  of  Daniel  Buck,  of  Benton 
county,  Iowa;  Amanda,  wife  of  our  subject; 
Belinda,  wife  of  K.    E.  Stephens,  of   Hud- 


son; Sadie,  wife  of  James  Esler,  of  Colfax, 
Illinois;  Ella,  wife  of  John  Willard,  of 
Bloomington;  John  W. ,  a  farmer  of  Hudson 
township;  Emma,  wife  of  Elmer  Zook,  of 
Danvers;  Lydia,  wife  of  James  Barnhart,  a 
farmer  of  Iowa.  The  children  born  to  our 
subject  and  his  wife  are  Guy  W.,  Daisy  A., 
Earl  M.,  Asa  W.,  Glen  C.  and  Abe  Lincoln, 
all  at  home.  The  last  named  was  born  on 
the  1 2th  of  February — the  birthday  of  the 
martyr  president. 

In  politics  Mr.  Skinner  is  independent, 
supporting  principle  rather  than  party.  He 
gives  his  aid  and  influence  to  the  temper- 
ance movement  and  often  casts  his  ballot 
with  the  Prohibition  party.  He  takes  an 
active  interest  in  public  matters,  and  has 
filled  a  number  of  local  offices,  such  as  as- 
sessor and  school  trustee.  He  is  a  promi- 
nent and  influential  member  of  the  Baptist 
church  of  Hudson,  in  which  he  has  served 
for  many  years  as  deacon,  and  has  been  es- 
pecially active  in  Sunday-school  work  for 
forty  years,  filling  the  office  of  superintend- 
ent the  greater  part  of  the  time  for  the  past 
twenty  years  and  is  the  present  incumbent. 
His  support  is  always  cheerfully  given  any 
enterprise  calculated  to  advance  the  moral, 
social  or  material  welfare  of  his  town  or 
county  and  he  is  justly  numbered  among 
the  most  useful  and  valued  citizens  of  the 
community  in  which  he  lives. 


DANIEL  G.  O'KANE.  the  genial  and 
popular  proprietor  of  the  Barker  Ho- 
tel and  one  of  the  leading  business  men  of 
Bloomington,  has  shown  in  his  successful 
career  that  he  has  the  ability  to  plan  wisely 
and  execute  with  energy,  a  combination 
which,  when  possessed  by  men  in  any  walk 
of  life,  never  fails  to  effect  notable  results. 


752 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Mr.  O'Kane  was  born  in  county  Tyrone, 
Ireland,  June  23,  1841,  and  was  reared  as 
a  farmer  boy,  remaining  in  his  native  land 
until  twenty  years  of  age,  when  he  crossed 
the  broad  Atlantic  and  took  up  his  residence 
in  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania.  There  he 
first  found  employment  in  the  drug  store  of 
Morris,  Perott  &  Ogden,  on  Market,  between 
Sixth  and  Seventh  streets,  one  of  the  lead- 
ing drug  stores  of  the  city;  but  the  close 
confinement  did  not  agree  with  his  health, 
and  he  was  forced  to  give  up  his  position  at 
the  end  of  a  year.  In  the  fall  of  1863  he 
came  to  Ottawa,  Illinois,  where  he  worked 
in  a  brewery  for  fifteen  or  sixteen  years. 
For  a  time  he  represented  the  same  com- 
pany on  the  road  as  a  traveling  salesman, 
and  later  was  similarly  employed  by  White 
&  Henneberry.  He  was  a  very  successful 
salesman  and  succeeded  in  accumulating 
considerable  capital,  which  he  invested  in 
1883,  in  the  Barker  House  of  Blooming- 
ton.  This  valuable  property,  which  is  near 
the  Union  depot,  comprises  the  block  be- 
tween Front  and  Loehr  streets,  and  the  Chi- 
cago &  Alton  and  the  Big  Four  Railroads. 
Genial  and  pleasant  in  manner,  Mr.  O'Kane 
has  become  a  very  popular  landlord,  and  his 
hotel  is  a  great  favorite  with  the  traveling 
public.  Since  coming  to  Bloomington  he 
has  steadily  prospered,  and  besides  his  hotel 
he  now  owns  other  property  on  West  Front 
street,  and  an  eighty-acre  farm  in  La  Salle 
county,  Illinois. 

Before  leaving  his  native  land,  Mr. 
O'Kane  was  married  to  Miss  Margaret  Uu- 
gan,  also  a  native  of  county  Tyrone,  who 
died  in  Bloomington,  in  June,  1898.  She 
left  two  children:  James,  who  for  the  past 
two  years  has  been  a  successful  agent  for 
the  Indianapolis  Brewing  Company;  and 
Mollie,   who  is   at   home   with  her    father. 


The  family  are  communicants  of  Holy  Trin- 
ity Catholic  church,  and  the  son  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Foresters  and  the  Ancient  Order 
of  Hibernians,  and  an  active  worker  in  the 
ranks  of  the  Democratic  party. 

Our  subject  is  also  an  ardent  advocate 
of  the  principles  of  the  Democratic  party 
and  during  his  residence  in  Ottawa  took 
quite  a  prominent  and  influential  part  in 
local  politics,  holding  a  number  of  impor- 
tant official  positions  and  serving  as  a  dele- 
gate to  the  different  conventions  of  his  party. 
In  1896  he  was  the  Democratic  candidate 
for  alderman  in  the  seventh  ward,  but  as 
the  city  is  strongly  Republican,  he  was  de- 
feated and  has  since  refused  to  accept  offi- 
cial honors.  As  a  public-spirited,  progress- 
ive citizen,  he  gives  his  support  to  all  en- 
terprises for  the  good  of  the  city,  and  has 
been  very  liberal  in  his  subscriptions  to  new 
industries,  giving  two  hundred  and  fifty  dol- 
lars to  the  caramel  factory,  one  hundred  and 
fifty  to  the  fair  grounds  and  fifty  to  the 
cereal  mills.  He  is  also  a  stockholder  in 
the  Coliseum,  and  from  none  of  these  does 
he  expect  any  returns.  Mr.  O'Kane  began 
life  in  the  new  world  on  a  capital  of  one 
shilling,  and  that  he  is  now  the  possessor  of 
a  handsonie  income  is  due  entirely  to  his 
own  industry,  perseverance  and  good  man- 
agement. 


LAUTON  GREENE  is  an  enterprising 
farmer,  residing  near  Saybrook,  in 
Cheney's  Grove  township,  and  is  the  owner 
of  two  well-improved  farms.  He  was  born 
in  Peoria  county,  Illinois,  March  9,  1S48. 
His  father,  Isaac  A.  Greene,  was  born  in 
Saratoga  county.  New  York,  April  28,  1808. 
Philip  Greene,  the  grandfather,  was  born  in 
one  of  the  New  England  states,  and  was  of 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


753 


English  parentage.  Isaac  A.  Greene  was 
reared  in  his  native  county,  and  there  mar- 
ried Miss  Sally  Pettit,  who  was  born  May  6, 
iSoS,  in  Saratoga  county,  New  York,  and  a 
daughter  of  Elisha  Pettit,  a  representative 
of  one  of  the  old  families  of  that  county. 

After  his  marriage,  Isaac  A.  Greene  en- 
gaged in  boating  on  the  Erie  canal,  and  was 
in  that  business  until  his  removal  to  Peoria 
county,  Illinois,  in  1S36.  He  there  engaged 
in  farming,  at  which  he  was  quite  success- 
ful, and  in  1855  he  removed  to  Marshall 
county,  Illinois,  where  he  continued  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits,  opening  up  two  or  three 
farms.  He  later  removed  to  the  village  of 
Henry,  and  with  his  brothers  engaged  in  the 
banking  business,  and  also  engaged  in  part- 
nership with  his  brothers  in  the  lumber  busi- 
ness. He  continued  in  that  line  for  some 
years,  and  then  removed  to  Saybrook,  where 
his  death  occurred  August  24,  1896,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-nine  years.  His  wife  also  died 
in  Saybrook  some  two  years  previously,  and 
their  remains  were  interred  in  the  cemetery 
at  that  place.  They  were  the  parents  of 
nine  sons,  of  whom  five  grew  to  mature 
years,  though  but  three  are  now  living. 
Oscar  A.  resides  in  Bloomington,  where  he 
is  living  a  retired  life.  W.  L.  makes  his 
home  in  Saybrook.  Lauton  is  the  subject 
of  this  sketch.  Loren,  a  twin  brother  of 
Lauton,  died  when  fourteen  years  old.  E.  P. 
grew  to  manhood,  and  enlisted  in  Company 
B,  Eighty-si.xth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry, 
and  served  until  disabled  by  sickness,  when 
he  received  a  furlough,  returned  home,  and 
was  soon  afterward  discharged.  He  some 
years  later  married,  and  spent  his  last  years 
in  Marshall  county. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  spent  his  youth 
in  Marshall  county,  and  in  the  common 
schools  and  high  school   of  Henry  received 


his  education.  He  remained  with  his  father 
until  he  reached  man's  estate,  and  on  the 
22d  of  July,  1874,  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Marianna  Clark,  who  was  born 
in  Bureau  county,  Illinois,  but  reared  in 
Marshall  county.  Her  father,  Stephen  M. 
Clark,  came  west  from  Rhode  Island,  in  an 
early  day,  located  in  Bureau  county,  Illinois, 
where  he  became  an  extensive  farmer  and 
stock  raiser.  He  later  moved  to  the  village 
of  Henrj',  Marshall  county,  in  order  to  edu- 
cate his  children,  and  there  lived  a  retired 
life.  He  died  in  that  village,  June  22, 
1874.  His  wife  died  while  the  family  were 
yet  living  in  Bureau  county. 

After  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Greene  took  up  their  residence  on  a  farm  of 
eighty  acres  near  the  village  of  Henry,  and 
there  remained  for  several  years.  In  1883 
he  sold  that  place  and  moved  to  McLean 
county,  purchasing  a  farm  of  two  hundred 
acres  near  the  village  of  Saybrook.  After 
residing  there  a  few  years  he  traded  the 
place,  and  has  since  made  several  trades, 
and  now  owns  two  farms,  comprising  two 
hundred  and  seventy  acres  of  well  improved 
land.  He  is  rated  among  the  well-to-do  and 
successful  farmers  of  the  township  and 
county. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Greene  two  children 
were  born.  Maude  is  the  wife  of  James 
Ruggles,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Jenea 
Adella.  He  is  one  of  the  prominent  busi- 
ness men  of  Saybrook.  Harry  is  a  young 
man  and  yet  remains  at  home,  assisting  his 
father  in  managing  the  home  farm.  He  re- 
ceived a  good  education  in  the  schools  of 
Saybrook. 

Politically  Mr.  Greene  is  a  stanch  and 
true  blue  Republican,  his  first  presidential 
ballot  being  cast  for  Gen.  Grant  in  1872. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Saybrook  Methodist 


754 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Episcopal  church,  as  is  also  his  wife.  Both 
have  the  confidence  and  respect  of  the 
entire  community,  and  are  well  known  in 
the  eastern  part  of  the  county. 


JOSEPH  TOWNSEND,  a  well-known 
citizen  of  Bloomington,  is  the  master 
car  builder  for  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Rail- 
road, with  which  he  has  been  connected 
since  March,  1880,  and  is  one  of  its  most 
trusted  employes.  He  eminently  deserves 
classification  among  the  purely  self-made 
men  who  have  distinguished  themselves  for 
their  ability  to  master  the  opposing  forces 
of  life  and  to  wrest  from  fate  a  large  meas- 
ure of  success  and  an  honorable  name.  He 
had  his  nativity  encompassed  by  those  en- 
vironments which  have  ever  fostered  the 
spirit  of  personal  independence  and  self- 
reliance  which  have  furnished  the  bulwarks 
of  our  national  prosperity  and  wonderful 
industrial  development. 

Mr.  Townsend  was  born  in  Rugby,  Eng- 
land, November  15,  1825,  and  is  a  son  of 
Henry  and  Mary  (Fall)  Townsend,  ajso 
natives  of  Rugby,  where  the  father  was 
proprietor  of  a  large  carriage  factory  for 
some  time.  About  1828,  with  his  wife  and 
seven  children,  he  emigrated  to  America 
and  first  located  in  Albany,  New  York.  He 
spent  some  time  there  and  in  Troy,  but 
when  our  subject  was  eight  years  old,  re- 
moved to  Utica,  New  York,  where  he  car- 
ried on  business  as  a  house  carpenter  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  in  1838  or  1839. 
The  mother  survived  him  for  many  years 
and  died  in  the  same  city  at  the  age  of 
eighty-six.  Both  were  Episcopalians  in 
early  life,  but  becoming  dissatisfied  with  the 
high  church,  they  united  with  the  Method- 
ist  Episcopal  denomination.       The   mater- 


nal grandfather  of  our  subject,  William  Fall, 
spent  his  entire  life  in  Rugby,  England. 

Joseph  Townsend  attended  the  common 
schools  at  Utica,  New  York,  until  ten  years 
of  age,  when  he  was  whipped  unmercifully 
by  the  teacher  for  writing  with  his  left 
hand,  as  he  was  left-handed,  and  as  his 
father  whipped  him  for  staying  away  from 
school,  he  left  home  and  found  shelter  with 
a  Mr.  Steele,  a  farmer  of  Steele's  Hill,  just 
outside  the  city  limits.  With  that  gentle- 
man he  remained  for  seven  years  and  five 
months,  during  which  time  he  attended 
school  during  the  winter  months.  Here 
he  had  a  good  home  and  careful  training. 

Later  Mr.  Townsend  served  a  three- 
years  apprenticeship  to  the  carpenter's  trade 
in  Utica,  receiving  his  board  and  thirty  dollars 
the  first  year,  forty-five  dollars  the  second, 
and  sixty  the  third.  After  working  for  a 
short  time  in  that  city,  he  went  to  Oneida, 
New  York,  and  entered  the  repairing  depart- 
ment of  the  car  shops  of  the  Syracuse  & 
Utica  Railroad,  now  the  New  York  Central. 
While  there  he  was  married,  December  18, 
1848,  to  Miss  Amy  Wratten,  of  Utica,  a 
daughter  of  Jacob  Wratten,  who  was  also  of 
English  birth  and  with  whom  our  subject 
learned  his  trade.  They  began  their  do- 
mestic life  in  Oneida,  where  Mr.  Townsend 
built  for  himself  a  good  home.  Four  chil- 
dren blessed  that  union,  namely:  James  A., 
who  now  has  charge  of  the  car  department 
and  round  house  for  the  Chicago  &  Alton 
Railroad  at  Kansas  City;  Elizabeth,  wife  of 
L.  B.  Barnard,  of  Kansas  City,  Kansas; 
Frankie,  of  Lyons,  Iowa;  and  Julia,  wife  of 
Henry  McGrew,  of  Wyandotte,  Kansas. 
The  wife  and  mother  died  at  Wyandotte 
and  our  subject  later  married  Mrs.  Harriet 
Allen,  of  Bloomington. 

On  first  coming  west  Mr.  Townsend  lo- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


^55 


cated  in  Adrian,  Michigan,  and  for  a  year 
or  two  worked  in  the  shops  of  what  is  now 
the  Lake  Shore  and  Michigan  Southern  Rail- 
road, in  southern  Michigan  and  northern 
Indiana.  He  then  went  to  Chicago,  where 
he  had  charge  of  the  car  works  of  the  same 
company  at  that  end  of  the  road  for  two 
years.  At  Racine,  \\'isconsin,  he  was  with 
the  Racine  &  Mississippi  Railroad,  now  the 
Chicago  &  Northwestern,  as  general  fore- 
man, having  charge  of  the  building  of  cars 
for  the  new  road  until  the  breaking  out  of 
the  civil  war,  when  he  resigned  his  position. 
He  tried  to  enlist  at  the  first  call  for  troops, 
but  was  rejected  on  account  of  an  injured 
ankle,  and  went  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  met 
the  superintendent  of  the  Northern  Missouri 
railroad  who  gave  him  a  letter  to  the  master 
mechanic  at  St.  Charles,  Missouri,  and  trans- 
portation to  that  place.  He  remained  there 
for  two  years,  during  which  time  he  was  of- 
fered a  position  on  the  Hannibal  &  St.  Joe 
Railroad,  which  he  refused.  For  one  year 
he  was  general  foreman  of  the  car  building 
department  of  the  Iron  Mountain  Railroad 
under  John  Hewitt,  and  then  as  the  Chicago 
&  Great  Eastern  wanted  him  he  went  to 
Richmond,  Indiana,  as  master  car  builder, 
building  new  cars  for  that  line  during  the 
short  time  he  remained  with  the  company. 
He  was  ne.xt  called  to  Wyandotte,  Kansas, 
as  master  car  builder  for  the  Kansas  & 
Pacific  Railroad  at  Kansas  City,  Kansas, 
where  he  remained  some  years.  He  became 
one  of  the  leading  and  prominent  citizens  of 
the  place,  and  was  called  upon  to  serve 
as  alderman.  His  next  position  was  with 
the  Missouri,  Kansas  &  Te.xas  Railroad, 
under  R.  S.  Stevens,  general  manager,  at 
Junction  City,  but  during  the  six  years  he 
remained  with  that  company  the  headquart- 
ers of  the  road   were  changed   to   Sedalia, 


Missouri,  though  his  residence  remained  in 
Wyandotte,  Kansas.  When  Mr.  Stevens 
entered  the  service  of  the  Hannibal  &  St. 
Joe  Railroad  our  subject  accompanied  him 
to  Hannibal.  Later  he  was  with  the  central 
branch  of  the  Union  Pacific  at  Atchison, 
Kansas,  as  master  car  builder,  and  in  March, 
iSSo,  came  to  Bloomington  to  accept  his 
present  position,  which  he  has  since  so  ef- 
ficiently and  satisfactorily  filled.  Here  he 
has  charge  of  all  the  new  work  and  the  re- 
pairing, has  overseen  the  building  of  thou- 
sands of  cars,  and  has  about  two  hundred 
and  fifty  men  working  under  him.  He  is 
one  of  the  best  known  and  most  reliable 
men  with  the  Chicago  &  Alton  road,  and  is 
also  well  and  favorably  known  throughout 
the  city  of  Bloomington,  where  he  has  made 
many  warm  friends,  who  appreciate  his  sterl- 
ing worth. 


PROFESSOR  ROBERT  O.  GRAHAM. 
Men  of  marked  ability,  forceful  char- 
acter and  culture  leave  their  impress  upon 
the  world,  written  in  such  indelible  charac- 
ters that  time  is  powerless  to  obliterate 
their  memory  or  sweep  it  from  the  minds  of 
men.  Their  commendable  acts  live  long 
after  they  have  passed  from  the  scene  of 
their  early  careers.  Professor  Graham,  who 
is  now  filling  the  chair  of  chemistry  in  the 
Wesleyan  University,  has  identified  himself 
prominently  in  many  ways  with  the  devel- 
opment and  prosperity  of  Bloomington, 
where  he  has  made  his  home  for  the  past 
eleven  years,  and  has  taken  an  active  part 
in  the  development  of  the  university  and  of 
the  city. 

The  Professor  was  born  in  Butler  county, 
Pennsylvania,  January  lO,  1853,  a  son  of 
Malcolm  and  Mary  (Boggs)  Graham.     The 


756 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


father  was  also  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
born  February  22,  1820,  not  far  from  the 
birthplace  of  our  subject,  and  there  he  was 
reared  as  a  farmer  boy.  After  his  marriage 
he  lived  on  a  farm,  but  having  learned  the 
trade  of  a  carpenter  he  followed  contract- 
ing and  building.  About  1865  he  moved  to 
New  Brighton,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  was 
an  e,\tensive  builder  for  a  number  of  years, 
but  later  as  a  contractor  was  interested  in 
railroad  work,  putting  in  turntables,  etc.,  for 
the  Pennsylvania  Railroad.  He  also  rebuilt 
the  Butler  County  Court  House  and  erected 
several  of  the  largest  churches  at  Butler, 
having  a  large  force  of  men  in  his  employ. 
During  his  last  years  he  engaged  in  the 
same  business  at  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania, 
his  home  being  in  Wilkinsburg,  where  he 
died  in  August,  1896.  In  the  country  he 
filled  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  for  a 
time,  and  was  an  elder  in  the  United  Pres- 
byterian church,  of  which  he  was  an  active 
and  influential  member.  The  mother,  who 
is  still  living  in  Wilkinsburg,  was  born  near 
Evans  City,  Butler  county,  in  1827,  and  is 
a  daughter  of  James  Boggs,  a  farmer  by 
occupation  and  a  representative  of  an  old 
and  well-known  Scotch-Irish  family.  On 
the  paternal  side  our  subject  is  also  of 
Scotch  descent,  his  great-great-grandfather, 
Malcolm  Graham,  having  spent  his  entire 
life  in  Scotland.  The  great-grandfather, 
who  also  bore  the  name  of  Malcolm,  emi- 
grated to  America  with  his  family  during 
the  childhood  of  his  son  Joseph,  the  grand- 
father of  our  subject. 

Doctor  Graham  is  the  third  in  order 
of  birth  in  a  family  of  seven  children,  the 
others  being  as  follows:  Levenia  is  the  wife 
of  Frederick  Buhl,  of  Evans  City,  Pennsyl- 
vania, a  brother  of  the  Mr.  Buhl  of  the  firm 
of  Boggs  &  Buhl,  of  Allegheny;  Agnes  is  the 


wife  of  Herbert  Harper,  a  merchant  of  But- 
ler, and  a  representative  of  a  prominent 
family  of  that  city;  Curtis  A  is  a  prominent 
contractor  and  builder  of  Wilkinsburg; 
Leilia  is  the  wife  of  George  Denholm,  a 
grocer  of  East  End,  Pittsburg;  James  L.  is 
the  Pittsburg  representative  of  a  Philadel- 
phia tea  and  coffee  house;  and  Ada  married 
James  Wilson,  a  wealthy  and  prominent 
citizen  of  Wilkinsburg,  who  is  owner  of 
large  planing  mill  interests  there.  Mrs. 
Wilson  died  in  1888,  leaving  one  daughter. 
May,  a  student  in  the  Baltimore  Female 
College. 

Professor  Graham  pursued  his  studies  in 
country  schools  for  some  time,  and  for  two 
years  attended  the  academy  at  Prospect, 
Pennsylvania.  In  1865,  at  the  age  of 
twelve,  he  entered  the  Iron  City  Business 
College,  Pittsburg,  where  he  completed  the 
prescribed  business  course.  After  the  re- 
moval of  the  family  to  New  Brighton,  he 
attended  the  high  school  there,  and  pre- 
pared for  college  in  Witherspoon  Academy 
when  the  family  located  in  Butler.  He 
then  entered  the  freshman  year  at  Amherst 
College,  where  he  was  graduated  in  1877, 
with  the  degree  of  B.  A.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Delta  Upsilon  Fraternity  and  of 
the  Phi  Betta  Kappa,  and  was  a  member  of 
the  first  Walker  division  made  up  of  the 
first  ten  men  selected  on  examination  at 
the  close  of  Freshman  year,  to  be  given 
special  advantages  in  mathematics.  After 
leaving  that  institution  he  taught  at  Monson 
Academy,  Massachusetts,  for  one  year,  and 
was  then  elected  to  the  chair  of  chemistry 
at  Westminster  College,  New  Wilmington, 
Pennsylvania.  The  second  fall  after  his 
graduation,  he  took  a  post  graduate  course 
in  chemistry  at  Amherst  and  secured  the 
M.   A.   degree.      He  continued  teaching  at 


THF    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


757 


Westminster  until  1886,  and  then,  being 
granted  a  year's  leave  of  absence,  he  en- 
tered Johns  Hopkins  University,  where  he 
further  pursued  his  studies  in  chemistry. 
At  the  end  of  the  year  Professor  Kemsen 
gave  him  the  encouragement  that  he  could 
complete  his  work  for  the  Ph.  D.  degree  in 
another  year,  and  he  therefore  resigned  his 
professorship  at  Westminster  College  and 
completed  the  course,  being  granted  the  de- 
gree in  May,  1888.  While  a  student  there 
he  took  as  his  thesis  subject  a  study  of 
Diazo  compound,  and  in  conjunction  with 
Professor  Remsen,  prepared  a  treatise 
thereon,  which  was  published  in  the  Ameri- 
can Chemical  Journal,  and  extracts  there- 
from in  the  German  "  Berichte. " 

Immediately  thereafter,  Doctor  Graham 
was  tendered  a  position  at  St.  John's  Col- 
lege, Annapolis,  Maryland,  and  at  the  same 
time  was  elected  to  the  professorship  of 
chemistry  at  the  Illinois  Wesleyan  Uni- 
versity. He  accepted  the  latter  and  came 
to  Bloomington.  On  his  arrival  here  the 
college  had  but  one  small  chemical  labora- 
tory; but  it  now  has  three  good  ones,  sup- 
plied with  several  thousand  dollars  worth  of 
chemical  apparatus.  One  of  these  is  a  re- 
search laboratory,  the  property  of  our  sub- 
ject, he  having  been  interested  in  the  same 
in  connection  with  Henry  S.  Swayne.  It, 
together  with  a  good  chemical  library,  was 
given  to  Professor  Graham  by  Mr.  Swayne's 
widow,  a  daughter  of  the  late  Judge  David 
Davis,  on  the  death  of  her  husband.  In 
connection  with  his  work  in  the  college,  the 
board  has  made  him  dean  of  the  graduate 
department;  and  in  1897-8  he  was  elected 
acting  president  of  the  college.  Doctor 
Graham  has  had  charge  of  all  the  work  in 
legal  chemistry  and  expert  chemistry  for 
court    and  criminal   cases,    and   has   had   a 


large  practice  in  mineral,  water  and  soil 
analyses.  The  present  year  the  college  has 
given  him  an  assistant  in  chemistry  that  he 
may  give  time  to  the  editing  of  The  Winon- 
ian,  together  with  W.  P.  Kane,  D.D. ,  for- 
merly of  Bloomington.  The  Winonian  is  a 
monthly  magazine  on  the  Chautauqua  plan, 
and,  being  practically  the  Presbyterian 
Chautauquan,  it  is  largely  subscribed  for  by 
Presbyterians,  as  also  by  other  families. 
Professor  Graham  was  made  one  of  the  three 
directors,  and  treasurer  of  the  Winona  Pub- 
lishing Company,  and  is  also  treasurer  of  the 
University  Press,  which  publishes  the 
Winonian  and  does  all  the  college  publish- 
ing as  well  as  outside  work.  He  is  one  of 
the  directors,  and  treasurer,  of  the  Lilly 
Orchard  Company,  of  Lilly,  Illinois,  where 
the  company  has  a  three-hundred-and-forty- 
acre  orchard  containing  at  present  fifteen 
thousand  trees.  He  was  one  of  the  organ- 
izers of  this  company,  which  has  met  with 
well-merited  success. 

Dr.  Graham  has  ever  taken  an  active  in- 
terest in  public  affairs;  and  by  the  mayor 
of  Bloomington  was  appointed  one  of  the 
directors  of  the  Withers  public  library  when 
it  came  into  the  possession  of  the  city  in 
1893,  and  served  as  chairman  of  the  library 
committee  which  had  charge  of  the  pur- 
chase of  books  and  magazines  until  the 
present  year,  when  he  was  elected  presi- 
dent. It  is  one  of  the  best  libraries  found 
in  any  city  of  its  size  in  the  country,  has  an 
income  of  eight  thousand  dollars  a  year, 
and  is  well  patronized.  The  Professor  has 
also  taken  much  interest  in  city  affairs  along 
sanitary  lines,  especially  with  respect  to  the 
water  used  and  the  local  drainage,  and  has 
written  many  articles  on  the  same  for  the 
Pantagraph  and  local  papers,  which  have 
done  much  to  develop  a  plan  to  protect  the 


75^ 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


water  basin.  He  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  city  council  from  the  sixth  ward  in 
1897  for  a  two-years  term,  and  both  years 
was  elected  actinfj  mayor  by  that  body.  He 
was  re-elected  to  that  body  in  1899.  He 
was  also  elected  chairman  of  the  water 
board  and  a  member  of  the  finance  and 
light  committees.  Politically  he  is  a  Re- 
publican, and  socially  is  a  member  of  the 
Royal  Arcanum.  He  is  also  a  member  of 
the  College  Alumni  Club  of  Bloomington, 
which  is  limited  to  forty-five  members  and 
whose  membership  now  represents  twenty- 
two  colleges.  He,  with  Dr.  Dinsmore  and 
Professor  Moss,  of  the  State  University, 
and  Professor  Heidel,  of  Beloit  College, 
Wisconsin,  organized  this  now  noted  club, 
and  he  has  held  in  turn  every  office  of  the 
same,  and  has  represented  the  club  as 
orator  before  the  Literary  Congress.  He 
belongs  to  the  Longfellow  Club  and  is  also  a 
member  of  the  American  Chemical  Society, 
and  in  literary  and  educational  circles  occu- 
pies an  enviable  position.  He  is  a  pleas- 
ant and  genial  gentleman,  and  has  an  ex- 
tensive circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances, 
by  whom  he  is  held  in  high  esteem. 

In  1881  Professor  Graham  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Ella  Campbell,  of  New 
Wilmington,  Pennsylvania,  a  daughter  of 
Rev.  William  A.  Campbell,  and  they  now 
have  two  sons,  Chester  Campbell  and  Ro- 
land Boswell.  The  family  have  a  pleasant 
home  at  No.  1108  North  East  street,  and 
the  parents  are  active  and  prominent  mem- 
bers of  the  Second  Presbyterian  church,  in 
which  Professor  Graham  has  served  as 
superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school  for  two 
years,  and  is  now  a  teacher.  Mrs.  Graham 
is  a  lady  of  culture  and  refinement,  a  grad- 
uate of  Westminster  College,  and  has  also 
spent  one  year  in  the   Boston  Conservatory 


of  Music.  She  and  her  two  boys  are  at 
present  pursuing  their  studies  in  Leipsic, 
Germany.  She  is  vice-president  and  one  of 
the  most  active  workers  in  the  Amateur 
Musical  Club  of  Bloomington,  and  is  quite 
prominent  in  musical  circles.  She  has 
served  as  president  of  the  Ladies  Aid  So- 
ciety, connected  with  the  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association,  and  is  a  member  of 
the  Margaret  Fuller  Club  and  the  Long- 
fellow Club,  both  literary  organizations. 


WILLIAM  E.  CUNNINGHAM,  one  of 
the  honored  pioneers  and  highly-re- 
spected citizens  of  Cheney's  Grove  town- 
ship, McLean  county,  his  home  being  on 
section  22,  has  been  a  resident  of  the  coun- 
ty for  seventy  years.  The  difference  be- 
tween the  past  and  the  present  can  scarcely 
be  realized,  even  by  those  who  have  been 
active  participants  in  the  development  of 
the  county.  The  present  generation  can 
have  no  conception  of  what  was  required 
by  the  early  settlers  in  transforming  the 
wilderness  into  a  well-settled  and  highly- 
cultivated  county. 

Mr.  Cunningham  was  born  in  Clarke 
county,  Indiana,  May  11,  1826,  but  since 
October,  1829,  he  has  made  his  home  in 
this  county.  His  father,  Robert  Cunning- 
ham, was  born  in  North  Carolina,  June  3, 
1780,  and  was  a  son  of  Joseph  Cunning- 
ham, also  a  native  of  that  state,  who  in 
1788  moved  with  his  family  to  Virginia. 
In  the  Old  Dominion  Robert  grew  to  man- 
hood and  married  Miss  Aphia  Cleveland,  a 
native  of  New  York.  With  them  his  mother, 
who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Green, 
made  her  home  for  many  years  and  died  in 
Illinois,  being  the  first  to  be  laid  to  rest  in 
the  old  Cheney's  Grove  township  cemetery. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


759 


After  his  marriage  Robert  Cunningham  re- 
moved to  Indiana  and  located  near  Albany, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  freighting  and 
hauling  goods  from  Louisville  to  Terre 
Haute  for  twenty  years.  He  served  as  a 
soldier  in  the  early  Indian  wars  under  Gen- 
eral Harrison,  and  was  in  the  battle  of  Tip- 
pecanoe. In  1829  he  came  to  Illinois  and 
in  October  took  up  his  residence  in  Cheney's 
Grove,  McLean  county,  his  being  the  third 
family  to  locate  there.  Later  he  built  a 
gristmill  on  the  Sangamon  river  about  1831 
or  1832.  He  put  in  operation  a  sawmill  in 
1838,  which  he  conducted  for  a  number  of 
years.  He  also  took  up  about  four  hun- 
dred acres  of  government  land  adjoining  the 
farm  where  our  subject  now  resides  and  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits.  Upon  his 
place  he  built  a  good  hewed-log  house,  in 
which  the  family  lived  for  several  years 
while  he  opened  up  his  farm.  There  he 
continued  to  make  his  home  until  near  his 
death,  which  occurred  September  28,  1858, 
and  his  wife  passed  away  in  April,  1859. 
To  them  were  born  fifteen  children,  five 
sons  and  ten  daughters,  and  the  parents 
lived  to  see  all  grown  and  married.  Of  this 
family,  four  sons  and  four  daugnters  are 
still  living. 

William  E.  Cunningham  passed  his  boy- 
hood and  youth  on  the  home  farm,  sur- 
rounded by  scenes  very  common  in  pioneer 
life,  and  he  assisted  his  father  in  the  arduous 
task  of  transforming  the  wild  land  into  rich 
and  productive  fields.  He  had  compara- 
tively no  school  advantages  and  is  almost 
wholly  self-educated.  In  Moultrie  county, 
Illinois,  he  was  married  November  6,  1849, 
to  Miss  Irena  Cunningham,  a  native  of  In- 
diana and  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Cunning- 
ham. She  died  on  the  2Gth  of  April,  1887. 
Of  the  eight  children  born  to  them,  four  are 


still  living,  namely:  Joseph,  who  is  married 
and  resides  at  Grand  Junction,  Iowa; 
George  T. ,  who  now  conducts  the  home 
farm  for  his  father;  P.  D.,  a  resident  of 
Saybrook;  and  Ella,  wife  of  J.  K.  Follick, 
of  Ford  county.  Those  deceased  were: 
David,  who  died  in  childhood;  Albert,  who 
died  at  about  the  age  of  ten  years;  Cora 
L. ,  who  died  when  about  one  year  old;  and 
Naomi  B.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  two 
years. 

\\'hen  a  young  man,  Mr.  Cunningham 
entered  forty  acres  of  land  adjoining  his 
father's  farm,  and  upon  that  place  he  and 
his  wife  began  their  domestic  life  in  a  small 
frame  house  which  he  erected  thereon  in 
1850,  and  on  the  8th  day  of  August  he  and 
his  wife  moved  in,  and  it  has  been  his 
home  ever  since.  He  hewed  the  sills,  cut 
the  logs,  and  helped  saw  the  lumber  at  his 
father's  saw-mill.  Their  eight  children  were 
born  in  the  same  house  and  four  of  them 
died  in  it,  and  also  the  mother.  Later  he 
entered  forty  acres  more,  and  by  purchase 
has  added  to  his  farm  until  he  now  has  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  valuable  land, 
on  which  he  has  erected  good  and  substan- 
tial buildings,  set  out  an  orchard  and  made 
many  other  improvements  which  add  greatly 
to  the  value  and  beauty  of  the  place.  Mr. 
Cunningham  has  e.xperienced  all  the  hard- 
ships and  difficulties  of  pioneer  life.  In 
early  days  he  made  two  or  three  trips  to 
Chicago  to  market  his  farm  produce.  When 
he  first  came  to  the  county  Indians  were 
often  seen,  deer,  wolves  and  wild  game  of 
all  kinds  abounded,  and  much  of  the  county 
was  a  vast  wilderness  and  swamp.  The 
few  settlements  were  widely  scattered  and 
the  country  was  still  in  its  primitive  con- 
dition. In  the  work  of  development  and 
progress  he  has  borne  an  active  part,  and 


760 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


his  name  should  be  among  the  foremost  on 
the  rolls  of  McLean  county's  honored 
pioneers.  He  is  a  consistent  and  faithful 
member  of  the  United  Brethren  church  of 
Saybrook,  and  he  has  been  a  stanch  sup- 
porter of  the  Democratic  party  and  its 
principles  since  casting  his  first  presidential 
vote  for  Franklin  Pierce  in  1S52.  He  has 
served  as  a  member  of  the  school  board, 
but  has  never  sought  public  office. 


JACOB  WYCKOFF  is  a  representative 
and  influential  citizen  of  Arrowsmith 
township,  who  is  now  living  retired  upon  his 
farm  on  section  22,  but  was  for  many  years 
actively  identified  with  the  agricultural  in- 
terests of  McLean  county.  In  his  labors  he 
met  with  well-deserved  success  which  has 
enabled  him  to  lay  aside  all  business  cares 
and  spend  his  declining  years  in  ease  and 
quiet. 

Mr.  Wyckoff  was  born  in  Fairfield 
county,  Ohio,  September  29,  1840,  a  son  of 
Matthew  and  Nancy  (Finckbone)  Wyckoff. 
The  father  was  born  in  Virginia,  August  27, 
1 8 14,  and  was  the  oldest  in  a  family  of  eight 
children.  His  father,  Simon  Wyckoff,  a 
farmer  by  occupation,  was  also  a  native  of 
the  Old  Dominion,  whither  he  removed  to 
Ohio  when  Matthew  was  a  lad  of  eight 
years  and  settled  in  Fairfield  county,  where 
the  son  grew  to  manhood  and  was  educated. 
In  1 861,  at  the  opening  of  the  civil  war, 
Matthew  Wyckoff  enlisted  in  an  Ohio  regi- 
ment, but  after  serving  nine  months,  during 
which  time  he  participated  in  the  battle  of 
Shiloh,  he  was  honorably  discharged  on  ac- 
count of  physical  disability.  Returning  to 
his  home  in  Ohio,  he  resumed  his  farming 
operations  there,  but  on  the  ist  of   March, 


1864,  came  to  McLean  county,  Illinois,  and 
located  in  Empire  township,  near  Le  Roy, 
where  he  continued  to  engage  in  agricultural 
pursuits  until  two  years  previous  to  his 
death,  when  he  removed  to  Le  Roy,  living 
retired  at  that  place  until  called  to  his  final 
rest,  September  25,  1878.  His  first  wife, 
and  the  mother  of  our  subject,  was  born  in 
Ohio,  October  5,  18 17,  and  was  a  daughter 
of  Jacob  Finckbone,  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, who  at  an  early  day  removed  to  Ohio 
and  followed  farming  there  until  his  death. 
She  died  September  10,  1868,  and  for  his 
second  wife  Matthew  Wyckoff  married  Mrs. 
Hannah  Swartz,  of  Missouri.  All  of  his 
children,  nine  in  number,  were  born  of  the 
first  union,  and  were  as  follows:  William; 
Elizabeth  S.,  deceased;  Jacob;  Susan;  Caro- 
line; Elizabeth;  John;  Mary  C,  and  Stephen. 
In  the  county  of  his  nativity,  Jacob 
Wyckoff,  our  subject,  passed  the  days  of 
his  boyhood  and  youth  in  much  the  usual 
manner  of  farmer  boys  of  his  day,  and  after 
leaving  school  worked  by  the  month  as  a 
farm  hand  there  until  coming  west  in  1864. 
On  the  4th  of  December,  1863,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Margaret  J. 
Stauffer,  who  was  born  in  Licking  county, 
Ohio,  September  8,  1841,  a  daughter  of 
Benjamin  and  Elizabeth  (Haggy)  Staufler, 
both  natives  of  Switzerland.  The  father 
followed  the  trade  of  a  carpenter  through- 
out life.  After  residing  in  Ohio  for  several 
years  he  removed  to  California,  and  during 
the  civil  war  belonged  to  a  California  regi- 
ment known  as  the  Mounted  Dragoons, 
which  was  in  service  on  the  western  plains. 
He  was  commissioned  lieutenant-colonel  of 
his  regiment  and  served  with  distinction  in 
the  volunteer  army  of  his  adopted  country. 
He  was  born  March  25,  1813,  and  died  in 
July,  1S94,  while  his  wife  was  born  March 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


761 


31,  1817,  and  died  October  14,  1889.  To 
them  were  born  nine  children,  of  whom 
Mrs.  Wyckoff  is  third  in  order  of  birth. 

The  children  born  to  our  subject  and  his 
wife  are  as  follows:  Lillis  is  now  the  wife 
of  Elmer  Brown,  of  Saybrook,  Illinois,  and 
they  have  two  children,  Clyde  and  Lillard; 
Charles  is  engaged  in  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness in  Arrowsmith;  William,  a  farmer  of 
West  township,  married  Lillian  Mo.xie  and 
they  have  three  children,  Clare,  Lola  and 
Harland;  Mollie  is  the  wife  of  John  Rod- 
man, a  farmer  of  Foosland,  Champaign 
county,  Illinois;  Carl  is  engaged  in  business 
with  his  brother  in  Arrowsmith;  and  Pearl 
is  at  home  with  her  parents. 

Leaving  his  old  home  in  Ohio,  Mr.  Wyck- 
off came  west  with  his  father  in  1864  and 
located  in  Empire  township,  McLean  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  where  he  remained  for  two 
years.  During  the  following  three  years  he 
rented  a  farm  of  James  Love  in  West  town- 
ship, and  then  removed  to  Arrowsmith  town- 
ship, where  he  purchased  forty  acres  of 
land  in  March,  1892.  Upon  that  place 
which  is  near  the  village  of  Arrowsmith  he 
has  erected  a  fine  residence  and  engaged  in 
the  grain  business  at  that  place  for  si.\  years 
with  good  success,  but  is  now  living  retired. 
Besides  his  property  here  he  owns  two  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres  on  section,  i  and  2, 
West  township,  which  is  now  operated  by 
his  son,  William. 

In  his  political  views.  Mr.  \\'yckofT  is  a 
stanch  Democrat  and  takinga  deepinterest  in 
educational  affairs,  he  most  efficiently  served 
as  school  director  in  Arrowsmith  township 
for  nine  years.  Socially  he  belongs  to  Ar- 
rowsmith Lodge,  No.  737,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and 
religiously  his  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Bap- 
tist church  of  that  place.  They  are  held 
in  high  regard  by  all  who  have  the  pleasure 


of  their  acquaintance  and  have  many  warm 
friends  in  the  community  where  they  make 
their  home. 


DA\IU  M.  MATTHEWS,  who  resides 
on  section  23,  Cheney's  Grove  town- 
ship, is  a  representative  farmer  of  McLean 
county  in  every  sense  of  the  word,  indus- 
trious and  enterprising,  and  one  who  be- 
lieves in  keeping  up  with  the  times.  He 
was  born  in  Morgan  county,  Illinois,  March 
9,  1843,  and  is  the  son  of  Israel  Matthews, 
a  native  of  Virginia,  born  in  18 12,  and  the 
grandson  of  Levi  Matthews,  who  was  prob- 
ably a  native  of  the  same  state.  When  a 
young  man  Israel  Matthews  went  to  Ohio 
and  located  in  Pike  county,  where  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Jane  Caudy,  a  native  of  Virginia, 
and  daughter  of  David  Caudy,  who  was  an 
early  settler  in  Pike  county,  Ohio,  from 
\'irginia. 

Soon  after  his  marriage  Israel  Matthews 
moved  with  his  young  bride  to  Morgan 
county,  Illinois.  This  was  about  1836.  On 
locating  there  he  purchased  government 
land  and  opened  up  a  farm  of  four  hundred 
and  forty  acres,  and  became  one  of  the 
most  successful  farmers  of  that  county.  He 
continued  to  reside  on  that  farm  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life,  his  death  occurring  in 
1892,  at  the  age  of  eighty  years.  He  was 
twice  married,  his  first  wife  dying  in  1847. 
She  was  the  mother  of  three  children. 
John  grew  to  manhood,  married,  and  con- 
tinued to  reside  in  Morgan  county,  where 
his  death  occurred  some  years  ago.  David 
M.,  the  second  born,  is  the  subject  of  this 
sketch.  Zacharias  is  a  resident  of  Okla- 
homa territory.  By  his  second  union  Israel 
Matthews  became  also  the  father  of  three 
children.       H.    Frank   makes   his  home    in 


762 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Lincoln,  Illinois.  May  Allie  married  Daniel 
Spangler,  of  Lincoln,  Illinois.  Eledith  is 
the  wife  of  Frank  Turley,  also  of  Lincoln, 
Illinois. 

David  M.  Matthews  spent  his  boyhood 
and  youth  on  the  old  farm  in  Logan  county, 
where  his  parents  moved  when  he  was  seven 
years  of  age,  and  assisted  in  its  cultivation 
from  the  time  he  was  old  enough  to  be  of 
any  service.  His  education,  obtained  in 
the  common-schools,  was  principally  secured 
by  attendance  during  the  winter  months. 
In  August,  1862,  answering  the  call  of  the 
President  of  the  United  States  and  the  Gov- 
ernor of  his  own  state,  he  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany C,  One  Hundred  and  Si.xth  Illinois 
Volunteer  Infantry,  and  with  his  regiment 
went  to  the  front.  During  his  term  of  service 
he  was  actively  engaged,  and  lost  but  little 
time  by  sickness.  Among  the  engagements 
in  which  with  his  regiment  he  participated 
were  the  battle  of  Jackson,  Tennessee,  and 
the  siege  of  Vicksburg.  From  the  latter 
place  the  regiment  was  sent  to  Little  Rock, 
Arkansas,  and  assisted  in  the  capture  of 
that  place.  It  was  ne.xt  in  the  engagement 
at  Clarindon,  on  the  White  river,  and  then 
in  the  battle  of  Duval's  Bluff.  It  continued 
in  the  service,  principally  in  Arkansas,  until 
in  August,  1865,  when  it  was  mustered  out 
at  Pine  BlufT,  Arkansas,  and  sent  to  Spring- 
field, Illinois,  for  final  discharge. 

After  receiving  his  discharge,  Mr.  Mat- 
thews returned  to  his  home  in  Logan  county, 
and  on  the  4th  of  November,  1869,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Margaret  Reed, 
of  Pike  county,  Ohio.  Soon  after  marriage 
he  purchased  forty  acres  of  land  in  Logan 
county,  Illinois,  to  which  he  removed  with 
his  bride  and  they  there  commenced  their 
domestic  life.  In  addition  to  the  forty 
which  he  purchased,  he  rented  land  from  his 


father  and  continued  in  farming  and  stock 
raising  on  that  place  until  1874.  He  then 
sold  his  farm,  and  moving  to  McLean  coun- 
ty, purchased  the  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
si.xty  acres  where  he  now  resides.  The 
place  was  a  partially  improved  one,  but 
since  taking  up  his  residence  there  he  has 
built  a  neat  residence,  put  up  a  barn,  tiled 
the  land,  making  it  one  of  the  best  farms  in 
Cheney's  Grove  township.  In  the  twenty- 
five  acres  in  which  he  has  lived  in  McLean 
county,  he  has  met  with  a  good  degree  of 
prosperity,  and  in  addition  to  the  home  farm, 
owns  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
in  Dix  township,  Ford  county,  Illinois,  an- 
other farm  of  eighty  acres  in  the  same  neigh- 
borhood in  which  he  resides,  and  has  inher- 
ited ninety-three  acres  of  the  old  homestead 
in  Logan  county.  While  he  commenced 
life  with  but  limited  means,  he  has  made  of 
it  a  success,  and  he  is  now  numbered  among 
the  most  successful  and  enterprising  farmers 
of  his  adopted  county. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Matthews  three  chil- 
dren were  born.  Lucian  L.  grew  to  man- 
hood, married,  and  is  now  engaged  in  farming 
in  Ford  county,  Illinois.  Bessie  B.,  a  young 
lady,  and  John  W. ,  a  young  man,  are  yet 
at  home. 

The  first  presidential  ballot  cast  by  Mr. 
Matthews  was  in  1868,  when  he  voted  for 
Horatio  Seymour,  of  New  York,  the  Demo- 
cratic candidate.  Since  that  time  he  has 
been  a  consistent  supporter  and  advocate  of 
Democratic  principles.  There  has  been 
but  one  office  within  the  gift  of  the  people 
that  he  would  hold,  that  of  school  director, 
and  in  this  office  he  served  twelve  years, 
rendering  efficient  aid  to  the  public  schools. 
For  much  of  the  time  he  was  president  of 
the  board.  It  is  as  a  farmer  that  he  has 
made  a  record,  and  everything  pertaining  to 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


763 


the  interests  of  farmers  will  meet  with  his 
co-operation.  He  is  now  a  stock-holder, 
and  for  some  years  was  a  director  in  the 
Fair  Association.  Fraternally  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows, holding  membership  with  the  lodge  in 
Saybrook.  A  life-long  resident  of  the  state, 
he  has  an  interest  in  its  material  welfare, 
and  ever  stands  ready  to  do  his  part,  espe- 
cially where  it  concerns  the  county  of  his 
adoption,  of  which  he  has  now  been  a  resi- 
dent a  quarter  of  a  century. 


HENRY  L.  JACKSON,  a  well-known 
and  highly  respected  citizen  of  Che- 
nej"s  Grove  township,  is  now  living  retired 
upon  his  fine  farm  of  one  hundred  and  si.\ty 
acres  on  section  25,  three  miles  east  of 
Saybrook.  He  has  been  a  resident  of  Mc- 
Lean county  since  April,  1863,  and  was  for 
many  years  actively  identified  with  its  agri- 
cultural interests. 

Mr.  Jackson  was  born  in  Laurel  county, 
Kentucky,  November  24,  1828,  and  is  a 
son  of  H.  T.  Jackson,  who  was  born  in  the 
same  county,  in  1806.  The  grandfather, 
John  Jackson,  was  one  of  the  first  settlers 
of  Kentucky,  having  located  there  in  the 
time  of  Daniel  Boone.  He  served  in  the 
Revolutionary  war  for  three  years.  In 
Madison  county,  that  state,  he  wedded  Miss 
Mary  Forrest  Hancock,  who  helped  to  run 
bullets  in  the  block  house  where  they  were 
besieged  by  the  Indians  in  the  early  settle- 
ment of  Kentucky.  She  was  a  native  of 
Virginia  and  a  niece  of  John  Hancock,  one 
of  the  signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence. Mr.  Jackson  owned  a  large 
tract  of  land  in  Madison  county,  which  he 
sold  on  his  removal  to  Laurel  county,  and 
in  the  midst  of  the  forest   took  up  a  tract  of 


government  land  and  opened  up  a  large 
farm.  His  son  Jarvis  was  the  first  white 
male  child  born  in  Madison  county. 

H.  T.  Jackson,  father  of  our  subject, 
was  reared  in  Laurel  county  and  there 
married  Miss  Adaline  Pearl,  who  was  also 
born  there  a  daughter  of  John  Pearl,  a  native 
of  Virginia  and  one  of  the  first  settlers  of 
Laurel  county,  Kentucky.  After  his  mar- 
riage H.  T.  Jackson  located  near  his  father, 
where  he  operated  a  good  farm  of  about 
one  hundred  and  fiftj'  acres,  but  owned 
some  nine  hundred  acres  of  land.  During 
the  civil  war  he  joined  the  Home  Guards 
and  was  taken  prisoner  by  the  Confederate 
troops,  who  carried  him  farther  south  and 
held  him  there  for  ten  months.  He  was 
one  of  the  well-to-do  and  substantial  farm- 
ers of  his  locality  and  one  of  its  most  prom- 
inent citizens,  and  served  as  justice  of  the 
peace  for  some  years.  He  died  at  his  home 
in  Kentucky  in  1862,  and  his  wife  passed 
away  in  1877.  Our  subject  is  the  oldest  of 
their  ten  children  who  reached  years  of 
maturity:  John  A.  is  a  resident  of  Madison 
county,  Kentucky;  George  lives  near  Fort 
Worth,  Texas;  H.  K.  is  a  resident  of 
Livingston  county,  Missouri;  Stephen  H. 
makes  his  home  in  Laurel  county,  Ken- 
tucky; William  Harvey  lives  in  Livingston 
county,  Missouri;  N.  P.  and  A.  B.,  twins, 
make  their  home  in  Shirley,  Illinois;  Sally 
C.  and  Mrs.  Mary  F.  Ryan  are  also  resi- 
dents of  Shirley. 

In  the  county  of  his  nativity  Henry  L. 
Jackson  grew  to  manhood,  aiding  his  father 
in  the  cultivation  and  improvement  of  the 
home  farm.  His  wedding  was  rather  a  ro- 
matic  affair  and  was  quite  a  surprise  to  the 
friends  of  both  parties.  He  and  Miss  Mar- 
garet R.  Thomas  crossed  the  state  line  into 
Tennessee,  where  they  were  quietly  married 


764 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


January  10,  1852.  Her  parents,  Lloyd  and 
Mary  R.  (Brown)  Thomas,  were  born,  reared 
and  married  in  Maryland  and  Virginia,  re- 
spectively, and  both  belonged  to  old  and  hon- 
ored families  of  that  state.  Her  mother  died 
in  Frederick  county,  Maryland,  after  which 
her  father  gave  up  farming  and  accepted  a 
government  position  in  Baltimore,  where  he 
made  his  home  for  some  years,  but  his  death 
occurred  in  Virginia.  After  the  death  of  her 
mother,  Mrs.  Jackson  was  taken  to  Virginia 
where  she  made  her  home  with  her  mother's 
people,  being  reared  and  educated  there. 
Later  she  \vent  with  her  uncle,  G.  W. 
Brown,  and  family  to  Laurel  county,  Ken- 
tucky. Prior  to  her  marriage,  her  maternal 
grandmother  was  a  Miss  Rutherford,  whose 
father,  Robert  Rutherford,  was  a  personal 
friend  of  General  Washington,  and  for  the 
services  rendered  his  country  during  the 
Revolutionary  war,  he  received  a  large  grant 
of  land  in  Laurel  county,  Kentucky,  on  a 
portion  of  which  his  grandson,  G.W.  Brown, 
located. 

Our  subject  and  his  wife  began  their  do- 
mestic life  on  the  old  Jackson  homestead  in 
Laurel  county,  which  he  conducted  for  a 
few  years.  Later  he  worked  at  the  black- 
smith trade  in  Madison  county,  for  two 
years,  having  learned  the  same  before  his 
marriage,  and  then  returned  to  the  home 
farm.  In  1863  he  came  to  McLean  county, 
Illinois,  and  for  one  year  lived  in  Shirley. 
During  the  following  three  years  he  rented 
a  farm  three  miles  and  a  half  north  of  the 
village,  and  for  five  years  occupied  the  James 
Quinn  farm,  two  miles  west  of  Shirley'.  He 
then  located  on  a  farm  in  Funks  Grove 
township  belonging  to  D.  M.  Funk,  and  in 
partnership  with  that  gentleman  he  engaged 
in  the  cattle  business  for  twenty  years. 
Their  business  relations  were  always  most 


pleasant,  and  although  there  was  never  any 
written  contracts  between  them,  all  settle- 
ments were  made  most  satisfactory  to  both 
parties.  Mr.  Jackson  speaks  in  highest 
terms  of  Mr.  Funk  as  a  straightforward  and 
honorable  business  man  and  esteems  him  as 
one  of  his  best  friends.  In  the  spring  of 
1892,  our  subject  removed  to  Saybrook  and 
purchased  his  present  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  si.xty  acres  in  Cheneys  Grove  township, 
which  he  at  once  commenced  to  tile  and 
improve.  He  built  a  neat  and  substantial 
residence  upon  the  place,  into  which  he 
moved  in  1895.  He  now  has  a  valuable 
and  well-improved  farm  and  is  living  retired 
from  active  business  cares,  enjoying  the 
fruits  of  former  toil. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jackson  have  four  chil- 
dren living,  namely:  Mary  T.,  now  the 
wife  of  Edward  Cutting,  of  Chattanooga, 
Tennessee;  Emily  K.,  wife  of  W.  L.  Gra- 
ham, who  lives  near  Shirley,  Illinois;  Ada- 
line  D.,  wife  of  Lafayette  Quinn,  of  Man- 
hattan, Kansas;  and  George  L. ,  of  Choteau 
county,  Montana.  Five  children,  Hum- 
phrey T. ,  Frances,  Virginia,  James  H.  L., 
all  died  in  childhood,  and  two  died  in  in- 
fancy. 

Originally  Mr.  Jackson  was  a  Whig  in 
politics,  voting  for  General  Zachary  Taylor 
and  later  for  Fillmore.  In  i860  he  supported 
Bell  and  Everett;  in  1865,  General  George 
B.  McCellan,  and  has  since  been  identified 
with  the  Democratic  party.  He  joined  the 
Masonic  fraternity  in  Kentucky,  and  on 
first  coming  to  this  state  united  with  Wade 
Barney  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Blooming- 
ton,  but  on  the  organization  of  the  lodge 
at  Shirley  transferred  his  membership  there. 
He  has  been  master  of  the  lodge  at  that 
place  for  four  years,  and  is  also  a  member 
of  the   Bloomington  Chapter,   No.   25,    R. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


765 


A.  M.,  and  De  Molay  Commandery,  No. 
24,  K.  T. ,  of  Bloomington,  and  Blooming- 
ton  Council,  No.  43,  R.  &  S.  M.  His  wife 
is  a  faithful  member  of  the  Christian  church 
of  Saybrook. 


JOHN  M.\RSH  is  a  well-known  and  hon- 
ored citizen  of  Arrowsmith  township,  re- 
siding on  section  17,  who  has  met  with  well- 
deserved  success  in  life,  and  is  to-day  one  of 
the  most  prosperous  and  substantial  men  of 
the  county,  although  he  came  here  forty- 
seven  years  ago  with  but  little  capital.  Suc- 
cess in  any  line  of  undertaking  is  an  indica- 
tion of  earnest  endeavor  and  persevering 
effort — characteristics  that  he  possesses  in 
an  eminent  degree. 

Mr.  Marsh  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Romulus,  Seneca  county.  New  York,  March 
14,  1828.  His  father,  Darius  Marsh,  was 
born  in  New  Jersey,  August  2,  1800,  and  is 
the  eldest  in  a  family  of  four  sons,  whose 
father  was  Thomas  Marsh,  also  a  native  of 
New  Jersey,  and  a  farmer  by  occupation. 
He  removed  to  Seneca  county,  New  York, 
in  iSii,  becoming  one  of  the  early  settlers 
there.  Darius  Marsh  grew  to  manhood  in 
that  county,  and  when  sixteen  years  of  age 
commenced  learning  the  cooper's  trade, 
which  he  followed  until  twenty-eight,  and 
then  took  up  the  vocation  of  farming.  In 
early  manhood  he  married  Miss  Mary  A. 
Brown,  who  was  born  in  New  York  in  1803. 
Her  father,  John  Brown,  was  also  a  native 
of  New  Jersey,  from  which  state  he  moved 
to  New  York  when  a  young  man,  becoming 
a  pioneer  of  Seneca  county,  where  he  cleared 
and  developed  a  farm,  making  his  home 
there  until  his  death.  Mrs.  Marsh  was  the 
eldest  of  his  thirteen  children,  all  of  whom 
reached  years  of  maturity.      Darius  Marsh 


continued  his  residence  in  Seneca  county. 
New  York,  until  forty  years  of  age,  when  he 
removed  to  Madison,  Lake  county,  Ohio, 
where  he  followed  the  pursuit  of  farming 
throughout  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He 
died  at  the  age  of  eighty-seven  years,  and 
his  wife  passed  away  at  about  the  age  of 
eighty.  The  children  born  to  them  were: 
Jane,  John,  Margaret,  Anson,  William, 
Susan,  Louisa,  George  and  Samuel,  all  of 
whom  are  still  living,  with  the  exception  of 
Susan  and  Louisa. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  about 
twelve  years  of  age  when  he  accompanied 
the  family  on  their  removal  to  Ohio.  His 
education,  which  was  begun  in  the  schools 
of  New  York,  was  completed  in  Madison, 
Ohio,  at  the  age  of  seventeen.  He  gave 
his  father  the  benefit  of  his  labors  until 
twenty-two,  and  then  operated  a  farm  be- 
longing to  a  Mr.  Wood  on  shares  through 
the  summer,  while  he  worked  in  a  sawmill 
during  the  winter  months. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1852,  Mr.  Marsh 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Eliza 
Hobart,  who  was  born  in  Lake  county, 
Ohio,  May  19,  1830,  a  daughter  of  Nathan 
and  Cynthia  (Page)  Hobart,  natives  of  New 
Hampshire.  She  was  but  six  years  old 
when  she  lost  her  mother,  who  died  leaving 
a  family  of  five  small  children,  namely: 
George,  Thomas,  Eliza,  Jackson  and  Har- 
vey. Throughout  life  her  father  followed 
the  occupation  of  farming.  Eight  children 
have  been  born  to  our  subject  and  his  wife, 
namely:  (t)  John  F.,  who  resides  at  home, 
married  Amanda  Wampler  and  had  one 
child,  Goldie,  deceased.  (2)  Rena  Belle  is 
the  wife  of  George  Elsam,  of  Kearney 
county,  Nebraska.  (3)  George  A.  died  at 
the  age  of  thirty  years.  (4)  Mary  A.  is  the 
wife  of  John  H.  Buylta,  of  Sumner  county. 


jm 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Kansas,  and  to  them  were  born  the  follow- 
ing children:  Charles,  Benjamin,  Janie, 
Tracy,  Gussie,  Fred,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  a  year  and  a  half;  Ida  and  John.  (5) 
Ella  C.  is  the  wife  of  William  Ritter,  of 
Martin  township,  McLean  county,  and  they 
have  three  children,  Lydia,  Leona  and 
Flossie.  (6)  Harvey  Hobart,  a  resident  of 
Arrowsmith  township,  married  Delia  Dun- 
lap  and  they  have  three  children,  Don  L. , 
Euna  F.  and  Gladys.  (7)  Eunice  A.  died 
at  the  age  of  fourteen  years.  (8)  Ruth  A. 
is  the  wife  of  Thomas  H.  Greenfield,  of 
Arrowsmith  township,  and  they  have  one 
child,  Guy  E. 

In  October  following  his  marriage,  Mr. 
Marsh  and  his  wife  started  for  Illinois  in  a 
covered  wagon,  and  were  six  weeks  in 
reaching  their  destination,  having  been  de- 
layed about  three  weeks  on  account  of  the 
lameness  of  one  of  the  horses  composing  the 
team.  They  arrived  in  Old  Town  town- 
ship, McLean  county,  December  15,  and 
made  their  home  there  for  two  years 
and  a  half  while  Mr.  Marsh  operated 
rented  land.  On  his  arrival  here  he  took 
up  two  hundred  acres  of  land  in  Ar- 
rowsmith township,  but  did  not  locate  there- 
on until  1855.  At  that  time  not  a  furrow 
had  been  turned  or  an  improvement  made 
upon  the  place.  After  building  a  small 
house  upon  his  place,  he  commenced  to 
break  his  land  and  place  it  under  cultiva- 
tion. He  entered  another  tract  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres,  making  three 
hundred  and  twenty,  comprising  the  west 
half  of  section  17,  Arrowsmith  township. 
To  this  he  has  added  until  he  has  six  hun- 
dred acres,  all  in  one  body,  and  one  hun- 
dred acres  only  a  half  mile  away.  Besides 
this  valuable  property  he  owns  twenty-two 
acres  of  timber  land   in  Dawson  township, 


McLean  county;  nine  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  cultivated  and  improved  land  in 
Sumner  county,  Kansas;  and  a  good  farm 
of  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  in 
Kearney  county,  Nebraska.  Throughout 
his  active  business  life  he  always  gave  con- 
siderable attention  to  stock  raising,  and 
until  the  last  four  or  five  years  kept  from 
five  hundred  to  twelve  hundred  sheep  upon 
his  place.  He  also  raised  cattle,  horses, 
mules  and  hogs.  He  is  now  living  retired 
in  the  enjoyment  of  the  fruits  of  his  former 
toil.  Notwithstanding  he  has  a  crippled 
arm  that  he  cannot  straighten  or  use  to 
advantage,  he  has  met  with  most  excellent 
success  in  his  life  work,  and  the  prosperity 
that  has  come  to  him  is  due  entirely  to  his 
own  well-directed  efforts,  good  management 
and  untiring  perseverance.  He  is  a  capable 
business  man,  a  thorough  and  systematic 
farmer,  and  a  citizen  of  whom  any  com- 
munity might  be  justly  proud.  He  is  now 
the  only  resident  of  Arrowsmith  township 
who  is  still  living  upon  land  which  he  entered 
from  the  government.  In  his  political 
views  he  is  a  silver  Democrat,  and  he  takes 
an  active  and  commendable  interest  in  pub- 
lic affairs,  as  every  true  American  citizen 
should.  For  eighteen  years  he  served  as 
highway  commissioner,  was  school  trustee 
for  a  number  of  years,  and  has  filled  other 
minor  offices  in  a  most  satisfactory  manner. 


HON.  SIMEON  H.  WEST,  who  resides 
on  section  4,  West  township,  is  one  of 
the  best  known  citizens  of  McLean  county, 
which  has  been  his  home  for  almost  half  a 
century.  He  was  born  January  30,  1827, 
in  Bourbon  county,  Kentucky,  and  is  the 
son  of  Henry  and  Mary  (Liter)  West,  the 
former  a  native  of  Mason  county  and  the 


OF  THE 
'ulVERSITV  Of  ILLINOIJ 


S.   H.  WEST. 


MRS.   S.   H.   WEST. 


"  '     Ut 


'iUNOli 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


17^ 


latter  of  Bourbon  county,  in  the  same  state. 
The  family  are  of  \\'elsh  extraction,  and 
were  early  settlers  of  \'irginia,  where  Sim- 
meon  West,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
was  born,  and  where  he  married  Mrs.  Eliza- 
beth Hopkins  Bedell,  widow  of  Major  Be- 
dell, an  officer  in  the  Revolutionary  army. 
They  emigrated  to  Kentucky,  where  their 
family  of  ten  children  were  born  and  reared. 
Of  these  Maria  died  in  early  life.  Lysander 
moved  to  Indiana,  where  his  death  oc- 
curred. Simeon  lived  and  died  in  Tennes- 
see. Thomas  H.  was  among  the  early  set- 
tlers of  St.  Louis,  ^fissouri,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  the  lumber  business  and  accumu- 
lated a  handsome  fortune,  and  where  his 
death  occurred.  Henry  is  the  father  of  our 
subject.  John,  after  spending  the  greater 
part  of  his  life  in  Kentucky,  moved  to  Mis- 
souri, and  there  died.  Eliza  married  a  Mr. 
Fielder,  and  died  in  Missouri.  Cynthia  mar- 
ried Asa  Eades,  and  lived  and  died  in  Paris, 
Kentucky.  Elizabeth  married  Thomas 
Eades,  a  brother  of  Asa,  and  died  in  Kan- 
sas City,  Missouri.  Carolina  married 
Thomas  Stewart,  and  died  in  Indiana. 

Henry  West  was  born  February  15, 
1S04,  and  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years  was 
thrown  on  his  own  resources.  At  seven- 
teen he  commenced  to  learn  the  blacksmith 
trade,  and  when  twenty  married  Mary  Liter, 
after  which  he  engaged  in  farming  in  his 
native  state.  In  1851  he  came  with  his 
family  to  McLean  county  and  located  one 
mile  southeast  of  the  old  Indian  fort  at  Old 
Town,  where  he  purchased  land  and  en- 
gaged in  farming,  in  which  line  he  was  very 
successful.  He  became  a  very  prominent 
man  in  his  township  and  county,  and  was  a 
man  of  great  influence.  On  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  county  under  the  township  or- 
ganization law  he  became   its   first  super- 


visor, and  the  township  was  named  West 
in  his  honor.  He  served  as  supervisor  of 
the  township  for  a  number  of  years,  taking 
a  very  active  part  in  all  its  proceedings,  and 
during  the  progress  of  the  rebellion  he  was 
especially  active  in  sustaining  the  families  of 
enlisted  men.  His  greatest  work  in  the 
township,  and  to  which  great  credit  is 
now  rendered  him,  was  in  preventing  the 
sale  of  the  school  land  of  the  township 
at  a  time  when  it  would  have  brought  but  a 
small  sum.  Through  his  persistent  efforts 
the  land  was  retained,  and  has  since  been 
leased.  It  now  brings  the  township  nearly 
three  thousand  dollars  per  year,  which 
goes  far  toward  the  payment  of  the  school 
expenses,  and  which  is  quite  a  saving  to  the 
taxpayers.  It  was  also  through  his  efforts 
that  the  movement  was  defeated  looking  to 
the  separation  of  the  eastern  tier  of  town- 
ships from  McLean  county  and  attaching 
them  to  Ford  county.  After  residing  upon 
his  farm  until  1869,  he  moved  to  Blooming- 
ton,  where  he  lived  until  1S85,  when,  on  a 
visit  to  his  farm,  he  died  September  10, 
1885.  To  Henry  and  Mary  West  eight 
children  were  born:  Mary  A.  married 
Montgomery  Crumbaugh,  and  died  in  1861. 
Simon  H.,  our  subject,  was  second  in  order 
of  birth.  Catherine,  is  the  wife  of  Moses 
Cawby,  of  West  township.  Louisa  is  the 
widow  of  Dr.  Jackman,  of  Harrodsburg, 
Kentucky.  Lucinda  died  in  Kentucky  in 
early  childhood.  Martha  is  the  wife  of 
George  Hedrick,  of  Le  Roy,  Illinois.  John 
W.  died  in  1S61,  at  the  age  of  twenty-five 
years.      William  M.  died  in  infancy. 

In  the  common  schools  of  his  native 
county  the  subject  of  this  sketch  attended 
during  the  winters  until  he  was  si.xteen, 
when  he  engaged  in  farming  until  he  emi- 
grated   to    McLean    county,    Illinois,    and 


772 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


located  in  what  is  now  West  township,  in 
the  spring  of  1851.  One  year  later  he  went 
to  California,  going  down  the  river  to  New 
Orleans,  then  to  Vera  Cruz  by  sailing  ves- 
sel, then  on  horseback  via  the  City  of 
Mexico  to  Acapulco,  and  from  there  by 
steamer,  two  thousand  miles,  to  San  Fran- 
cisco, where  he  arrived  in  April  of  the  same 
year.  He  remained  in  California  and  en- 
gaged in  mining  until  1854,  when  he  re- 
turned home  by  the  Nicaragua  route,  being 
swamped  in  Virgin  Bay,  where  he  had  a 
narrow  escape  from  drowning,  forty  of  the 
ninety  passengers  being  lost. 

Returning  to  his  farm,  Mr.  West  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits  until  1859, 
when  he  again  went  to  California.  Pre- 
vious to  this,  however,  he  spent  some  time 
in  traveling,  and  was  in  Kansas  when 
"Ossawatomie  "  Brown,  Jim  Lane,  and  the 
free  state  men  were  hunting  the  Missouri 
sheriff,  "border  ruffians,"  and  Atchison, 
Stringfeliow,  and  others,  who  were  trying 
to  overthrow  the  elections  in  the  territory. 
He  had  been  an  emancipationist  in  Ken- 
tucky, but  a  Douglas  Democrat  in  Illinois. 
He  fell  in  with  parties  of  both  sides  very 
frequently,  but  had  no  difficulty  in  convinc- 
ing them  that  he  was  not  there  to  interfere 
in  the  Kansas  war.  His  second  trip  to 
California  was  by  the  overland  route,  going 
by  the  mail  stage  from  Tipton,  Missouri,  to 
San  Francisco,  California,  a  distance  of 
three  thousand  miles,  eleven  hundred  miles 
of  which  were  among  hostile  Indians,  and 
traveling  night  and  day.  He  followed 
mining  in  California  with  fair  success  until 
1861,  when  he  again  returned  to  his  farm, 
where  he  has  since  continued  to  reside. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  West  and  Miss 
Martha  Oneal  was  celebrated  June  21, 
1863.      She  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  daugh- 


ter of  Eleazur  and  Margaret  Oneal.  By 
this  union  there  were  nine  children,  as  fol- 
lows: Rosa  L.,  wife  of  George  E.  Dooley, 
of  McLean  county;  Henr}'  C,  who  married 
Laura  Horine,  of  McLean  county;  Lawrence 
J.;  Mary  E. ,  wife  of  Fred  Horine;  Carrie 
E.,  wife  of  Turner  Taylor,  of  Bellflower 
township;  and  Marcus  D.,  who  married 
Nora  Gibson;  Parker  W. ,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy; Charles,  an  uncommonly  promising 
boy,  born  July  29,  1884,  died  March  15, 
1898;  and  Luella. 

In  politics  Mr.  West  was  reared  a  Whig 
and  an  emancipationist,  and  in  his  early 
manhood,  while  yet  residing  in  Kentucky, 
voted  for  emancipation  in  that  state,  when 
it  amounted  to  social  ostracism,  and  when 
there  were  only  seventy  persons  in  his 
county  that  dared  brave  public  opinion  to 
that  extent.  Since  1858,  he  has  usually 
supported  Democratic  principles,  but  has 
always  been  independent,  being  as  broad 
and  liberal  in  his  politics  as  in  other  mat- 
ters. He  has  always  taken  an  active  part 
in  public  matters,  especially  of  an  educa- 
tional nature,  and  for  the  greater  part  of 
his  residence  in  West  township  he  has  been 
officially  connected  with  the  school  board, 
either  as  director  or  trustee.  He  has  used 
his  influence  to  perpetuate  the  measure  in- 
stituted by  his  father  in  the  preservation  of 
the  school  lands,  and  in  his  official  capacity 
of  school  trustee  he  drew  up  the  first  con- 
tract for  leasing  the  school  lands. 

In  1873  Mr.  West  was  elected  a  mem- 
ber of  the  county  board  of  supervisors  with- 
out opposition.  He  was  re-elected  and 
served  several  terms,  and  made  one  of  the 
most  efficient  members  of  the  board.  Al- 
ways alive  to  the  interests  of  the  people,  he 
gave  much  time  and  study  to  the  affairs  of 
the  county  and  was  always  able  to  vote  in- 


THE   BIOGIL\PHICAL   RECORD. 


773 


telligently  on  every  question  that  came  up 
for  consideration.  In  1882  he  was  elected 
a  member  of  the  general  assembly  of  the 
state  from  McLean  county,  and  while  a 
member  of  that  body  introduced  a  number 
of  important  measures,  among  them  the 
hard  road  law,  a  law  for  the  regulation  of 
traction  engines  on  public  highways.  He 
was  well  known  throughout  the  state  as 
one  who  refused  all  passes  or  other  obli- 
gations from  the  railroad  companies,  and 
his  action  met  with  much  unfavorable  com- 
ment among  interested  parties.  His  term 
of  office  was  signalized  by  his  efforts  for 
measures  for  conducting  state  business  on 
as  nearly  economical  lines  as  possible,  con- 
tending that  the  legislature  should  perform 
a  day's  service  for  a  day's  remuneration. 
In  18S4  he  was  again  elected  a  member  of 
the  legislature;  after  serving  that  term  he 
retired  to  private  life,  though  not  abating 
one  particle  of  his  interest  in  current  events. 
He  still  advocates  his  views  in  public  ad- 
dresses and  through  the  press,  and  being  a 
forcible  and  eloquent  speaker,  his  services 
are  often  in  demand  on  public  occasions, 
and  his  views  are  listened  to  with  respect. 
His  labors  have  always  been  in  the  interest 
of  humanity,  for  the  enlightenment  and  ad- 
vancement of  his  fellow  men.  His  contri- 
butions to  the  public  press  are  always  of 
interest,  even  when  his  views  may  be  con- 
trary to  those  of  the  general  reader. 

For  some  time  Mr.  West  has  been  inter- 
ested in  a  plan  which  he  conceives  will  re- 
sult in  the  solution  of  the  problem  that  has 
perplexed  statesmen  for  the  past  century- 
that  pertaining  to  the  race  question.  His 
plan  seems  feasible  and  practicable,  and 
consists  of  acquiring  possession  of  land  in 
the  Amazon  Valley,  and  colonizing  our  negro 
population  thereon,  giving  them  their  own 


government  and  officers,  under  the  protec- 
tion and  supervision  of  the  United  States. 
Mr.  West  has  also  given  some  thought  to 
the  Filipino  question,  and  has  contributed 
a  number  of  articles  to  the  press  setting 
forth  his  humane  ideas  in  regard  to  the 
rights  of  the  struggling  Filipinos. 

By  some  who  know  him  least  Mr.  West 
is  termed  eccentric.  He  is  one  of  those 
firm,  rugged  characters  who  is  not  tram- 
meled or  bound  by  old  forms  or  dogmas, 
one  who  does  not  hesitate  to  blaze  out  his 
own  path,  or  to  advocate  a  cause  which  his 
own  judgment  and  conscience  shows  to  be 
in  the  right,  even  though  his  position  be  un- 
popular. He  has  the  courage  of  his  con- 
victions and  insists  strongly  upon  according 
to  all  races  and  individuals  the  same  privi- 
lege he  claims  for  himself  in  liberty  of 
thought  and  action.  In  religious  belief  he 
is  a  firm  believer  in  spiritualistic  science, 
and  has  demonstrated  to  his  own  satisfac- 
tion its  truth,  and  knows  that  death  is  not 
an  inseparable  barrier  between  this  world 
and  the  ne.xt. 

Mr.  West  is  a  splendid  specimen  of  phys- 
ical and  intellectual  manhood.  Though  at 
an  age  when  the  average  man  is  willing  to 
rest  from  his  labors,  he  still  takes  personal 
supervision  of  his  extensive  business  inter- 
ests. His  property  interests  outside  of  his 
home  farm  consist  of  a  ranch  and  town 
site  of  Deer  Park,  on  Buffalo  Bayou,  fifteen 
miles  below  Houston,  Texas,  on  the  pro- 
posed canal  from  Houston  to  Galveston; 
also  ranch  property  in  Tulare  county,  Cali- 
fornia, and  a  half  interest  in  a  gold  mining 
claim  near  Sylvanite,  northwestern  Montana. 
These  interests  requiring  his  personal  atten- 
tion, take  him  from  his  home  almost  one- 
half  his  time.  In  his  travels  he  has  formed 
the   acquaintance  of    many  of   the    leading 


774 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


men  of  the  nation,  and  with  man}'  of  them 
he  has  had  the  pleasure  of  exchanging  views 
on  the  leading  issues  and  questions  of  the 
day. 


WILLIAM  A.  DUNN,  of  Bloomington, 
bears  the  enviable  record  of  being 
the  oldest  engineer,  in  point  of  service,  on 
the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad.  He  is  an 
Irishman  by  birth,  having  been  born  in 
Garrisontown,  five  miles  west  of  Cork,  on 
the  /th  of  February,  1830.  He  is  a  son  of 
John  and  Mary  (Batman)  Dunn,  who  died 
in  the  city  of  Cork,  Ireland.  The  former 
was  a  merchant  of  Cork,  and  was  at  one 
time  a  member  of  the  city  militia.  William 
attended  school  in  the  land  of  his  birth 
until  his  fourteenth  year,  then,  on  the  iith 
of  July,  1844,  sailed  for  Quebec  in  charge 
of  the  captain  of  a  brigantine,  reaching  that 
port  after  a  voyage  of  seven  weeks  and  three 
days.  He  went  at  once  to  his  brother-in- 
law  at  Isle  Crui.x  Noi,  which  is  located  on 
the  Richeleau  river,  into  which  Lake  Cham- 
plain  empties,  and  worked  for  him  for  some 
time  at  cabinet-making.  He  then  went  to 
Quebec  as  a  teamster,  but  disliked  the  busi- 
ness, gave  it  up,  and  in  1849  joined  Capt. 
Walter  Jones'  troop  of  the  Queen's  Light 
Dragoons,  and  did  frontier  service  for  a 
year,  until  Lord  Elgin  recommended  their 
discharge  for  disloyalty,  at  the  burning  of 
the  Parliament  House,  as  they  refused  to 
fire  on  the  loyal  citizens.  Their  horses  and 
accoutrements  were  their  own,  and  their 
regiment  was  the  pride  of  the  country. 

Mr.  Dunn  then  came  to  the  United 
States  and  was  foreman  of  a  gang  of  men 
who  were  e.xcavating  for  the  Northern  Og- 
densburg  Railroad,  now  a  part  of  the  Ver- 
mont   Central   Railroad.      He    was    at    the 


foremost  point  with  thirty  men  for  over  a 
3'ear,  and  during  that  time  made  Lawrence- 
ville  Postoffice  or  Deer  River  his  home.  In 
1 85 1  he  was  given  a  position  as  fireman  on 
the  Champlain  &  St.  Lawrence  Railroad, 
now  known  as  the  Grand  Trunk,  and  the 
following  year  was  sent  to  the  shops  at  St. 
Lambert  to  complete  his  knowledge  of 
tools.  St.  Lambert  is  at  the  east  end  of 
Victoria  bridge,  and  Mr.  Dunn  was  located 
there  at  the  time  of  the  funeral  of  the  Duke 
of  Wellington.  He  ne.xt  went  to  St.  John, 
Quebec,  and  from  there  went  to  La  Porte, 
Indiana,  and  entered  the  employ  of  the 
Lake  Shore  &  Michigan  Southern  Railroad, 
which  was  then  known  as  the  Lake  Shore 
&  Northern  Indiana.  E.  H.  Williams,  of 
the  Baldwin  Engine  Works,  was  at  that 
time  superintendent  of  the  road.  Our  sub- 
ject ran  engines  from  La  Porte  to  White 
Pigeon,  Illinois,  and  from  La  Porte  to  Chi- 
cago, burning  wood  instead  of  coal. 

In  1858  he  removed  to  Bloomington  and 
accepted  a  position  as  engineer  on  the  Chi- 
cago &  Alton  Railroad,  when  A.  H.  Moore 
was  superintendent  of  the  road.  His  first 
runs  were  made  to  Joliet  on  night  trains, 
but  owing  to  his  ability  and  sterling  worth 
he  was  soon  transferred  to  the  passenger 
service,  running  through  trains.  Few  men 
of  his  age  receive  so  great  a  trust  as  is  placed 
in  our  subject.  He  is  in  his  seventieth  year, 
and  still  has  charge  of  an  engine,  running  to 
Springfield  in  the  morning  and  back  to 
Bloomington  at  night.  In  i860  the  family 
moved  to  Alton,  where  they  lived  in  one 
house  for  twenty  years. 

On  the  14th  of  August,  1854,  Mr.  Dunn 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Agnes  Riley, 
a  native  of  Montreal.  Six  children  were 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dunn,  as  follows: 
Mary  Ward,  born  in  La  Porte,  Indiana,  is 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


775 


the  wife  of  Samuel  Towsley,  yardmaster  of 
the  Missouri,  Kansas  &  Texas  Railroad,  and 
resides  in  Nevada.  Missouri.  There  are  two 
bright  sons,  Joseph  B.  and  Albert.  Will- 
iam A.,  Jr.,  the  second  child  of  our  subject 
and  his  wife,  is  a  conductor  on  the  Mis- 
souri, Kansas  &  Texas.  The  third  child, 
Susan,  is  the  wife  of  F.  W.  Ward,  of  Rogers 
Park,  Illinois.  Of  their  four  children  two 
are  living,  \\'illiam  L.  and  Grace.  Laura 
F. ,  who  is  fourth  in  order  of  birth,  was  born 
in  Alton,  Illinois,  and  is  the  wife  of  Christian 
Loeffler,  of  Rockford,  Illinois.  They  have 
two  children,  Agnes  I.  and  Clarence.  Charles 
F.,  the  fifth  child  of  our  subject,  is  a  loco- 
motive engineer  on  the  Chicago  &  Eastern 
Illinois  Railroad,  his  home  being  at  Mo- 
mence,  Illinois.  He  married  Miss  Gussie 
Irene  Van  Allen,  by  whom  he  has  three 
daughters,  Mabel,  Mollie  and  Susan  E. 
Albert  E.,  the  youngest  child  of  our  subject, 
who  was  named  for  the  Prince  of  Wales, 
was  born  in  Bloomington.  He  is  a  con- 
ductor on  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad, 
and  makes  his  home  with  his  parents.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Dunn  are  prominent  members  of 
the  Episcopal  church,  where  they  are  much 
loved  and  honored.  Their  home,  at  the 
corner  of  Grove  and  Allin  streets,  is  one  of 
the  charming  homes  of  Bloomington,  re- 
flecting good  taste  and  domestic  luxury,  and 
here  in  his  attractive  home  our  subject  en- 
joys evenings  of  rest  and  comfort  after  the 
worries  and  cares  of  each  succeeding  day. 


CHRISTIAN  JACOBS.  It  has  been  said 
that  biography  yields  to  no  other  sub- 
ject in  point  of  interest  and  profit  and  it  is 
especially  interesting  to  note  the  progress 
that  has  been  made  along  various  lines  of 
business  by  those  of  foreign  birth  who  have 


sought  homes  in  America — the  readiness 
with  which  they  adapt  themselves  to  the 
different  methods  and  customs  of  America, 
recognize  advantages  offered  and  utilize  op- 
portunities which  the  new  world  affords. 
Prominent  in  this  class  is  the  gentleman 
whose  name  stands  at  the  head  of  this  re- 
view, and  who  was  born  in  Mecklenberg, 
Germany,  on  the  ist  of  May,  1833.  His 
parents  were  Frederick  and  Dora  Jacobs, 
who  left  their  German  home  for  America  in 
1854,  going  direct  to  Bloomington,  Illinois, 
where  they  made  their  home  for  two  years, 
moving  later  to  Yates  township,  McLean 
county,  where  Mr.  Jacobs  was  laid  to  rest 
in  1857,  when  but  fifty-five  years  of  age. 
His  wife  lived  to  be  seventy-six  years,  dying 
in  1876.  The  family  of  this  worthy  couple 
consisted  of  four  children.  Christian  being 
the  only  surviving  member.  His  education 
and  early  training  were  received  in  his  na- 
tive land,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-one 
years  he  came  to  America  with  his  parents, 
where  he  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits. 
In  1857  he  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  land  in  Yates  township,  in  company 
with  his  brother,  Frederick,  where  he  resided 
for  over  forty  years.  His  farming  was  of  a 
general  character,  and  by  his  frugality,  far- 
sightedness and  good  judgment  he  has  pros- 
pered, every  enterprise  being  successful  in 
a  pre-eminently  high  degree.  He  has  had 
in  his  possession,  at  one  time,  nine  hundred 
acres  of  land,  some  of  which  he  has  sold  and 
more  he  has  given  to  his  children.  At  the 
present  time  he  is  the  proprietor  of  five  hun- 
dred acres  of  valuable  land.  In  1896  he 
purchased  property  in  Chenoa,  where  he 
now  lives  a  retired  life,  reaping  the  fruits  of 
an  honorable  and  successful  business  career. 
On  the  9th  of  December,  1857.  Mr. 
Jacobs  was  joined   in  marriage  to  Miss  So- 


n 


776 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


phia  Vails,  a  native  of  Mecklenberg,  Ger- 
many, and  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Vails.  Of 
their  six  children,  four  are  living  namely: 
Lizzie;  Minnie;  Mary;  and  William.  Mr. 
Jacobs  votes  the  Republican  ticket,  believ- 
ing firmly  in  the  principles  of  that  party. 
He  has  served  as  school  director  for  a  num- 
ber of  terms,  filling  the  office  in  a  highly 
commendable  manner.  Mr.  Jacobs  and  his 
wife  are  prominent  members  and  earnest 
workers  in  the  Lutheran  church,  where  they 
are  held  in  the  highest  esteem. 


HENRY  BUTLER,  an  energetic  and 
successful  agriculturist,  owns  and  oper- 
ates a  well-improved  and  valuable  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  eighty  acres  on  section  10, 
Cheney's  Grove  township,  within  four  miles 
of  Saybrook.  He  is  a  native  of  New  York, 
born  in  Greene  county,  under  the  shadows 
of  the  Catskill  mountains,  October  16, 
1833.  There  he  grew  to  manhood,  with 
limited  school  advantages,  and  his  educa- 
tion has  been  mostly  acquired  by  reading 
and  observation  in  later  years. 

Mr.  Butler  remained  at  home  until  nearly 
twenty-one  years  of  age,  when  he  purchased 
his  time  of  his  father  and  came  to  Illinois 
in  October,  1850,  with  some  friends.  He 
first  located  at  Tonica,  La  Salle  county, 
where  he  worked  for  nearly  four  years  for 
W.  J.  Wilson,  who  proved  a  good  friend  to 
him.  He  was  engaged  in  teaming  and 
hauling  coal  most  of  the  time.  He  was 
married  in  that  county  in  February,  1861, 
to  Miss  Augusta  Thompson,  also  a  native  of 
Greene  county.  New  York,  who  came  to 
this  state  when  a  child  of  fourteen  years. 
After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Butler  went  to  Liv- 
ingston county,  Illinois,  where  he  rented  a 
farm  for  two  years,    and   then  returned  to 


La  Salle  county,  where  he  purchased  forty 
acres  of  land,  and  later  forty  acres  more, 
on  which  he  engaged  in  farming  for  ten 
years.  During  that  time  he  made  many 
improvements  upon  the  place,  erecting 
buildings  and  setting  out  fruit  and  shade 
trees,  and  he  finally  sold  the  place  in  1872 
at  a  good  profit.  Coming  to  McLean  county, 
he  purchased  two  hundred  and  forty  acres 
of  land  in  Cheney's  Grove  township,  all  of 
which  was  under  cultivation  and  fenced, 
but  the  buildings  standing  thereon  were  in 
rather  a  dilapidated  condition.  These  were 
all  improved  or  replaced  by  new  ones,  and 
he  continued  the  operation  of  that  farm 
until  1892,  when  he  sold  it  at  a  good  price 
and  purchased  the  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
eighty  acres  on  which  he  now  resides. 
There  are  two  sets  of  buildings  upon  this 
place,  and  it  is  one  of  the  best  improved 
farms  of  the  locality.  Here  he  successfully 
engaged  in  general  farming  and  stock  rais- 
ing, and  in  all  his  undertakings  he  has 
steadily  prospered,  becoming  one  of  the 
substantial  citizens  of  his  community. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Butler  are  the  parents  of 
eight  children,  three  sons  and  five  daugh- 
ters, namely:  Comelia,  wife  of  John 
Spindler,  of  Winfield,  Kansas;  Gussie  H., 
wife  of  Marion  Crawford,  of  McLean 
county;  Nettie,  wife  of  Harry  Ball,  of  Den- 
ver, Colorado;  Ida  May,  wife  of  Edward 
Crawford,  of  Cheneys  Grove  township; 
Bessie  L. ,  at  home;  Alvero  E.,  who  is  mar- 
ried and  holds  a  business  position  in  Gib- 
son City,  Illinois;  Charles,  who  is  married 
and  resides  on  the  home  farm,  and  Hugh  J. , 
who  also  assists  in  the  operation  of  the 
home  farm.  All  have  been  well  educated, 
and  two  of  the  daughters  have  been  suc- 
cessful teachers.  Mrs.  Butler  and  some  of 
the    children    are    members    of  the  United 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


m 


Brethren  church,  and  the  family  is  one  of 
prominence  socially  in  the  community 
where  they  reside.  Fraternally  Mr.  Butler 
belongs  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  for- 
merly held  membership  in  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  Politically  he  is  a 
stanch  Democrat,  and  cast  his  first  presi- 
dential vote  for  James  Buchanan  in  1856. 
He  began  life  a  poor  man,  but  by  indomi- 
table perseverance  and  the  able  assistance 
of  his  devoted  wife  he  has  acquired  a  com- 
fortable competence,  so  that  they  can  now 
spend  their  declining  years  in  a  nice  home, 
surrounded  by  all  that  makes  life  pleasant 
and  easy,  and  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  re- 
spect and  confidence  whfch  they  have  won 
from  their  neighbors  by  their  beneficent 
and  upright  lives. 


AUGUSTUS  GROVE.  Prominent 
among  the  early  settlers  of  McLean 
county  who  have  witnessed  the  marvelous 
development  of  this  section  of  the  state  dur- 
ing the  past  sixty-five  years,  and  who  have 
by  honest  toil  and  industry  succeeded  in 
securing  a  competence,  and  are  now  enabled 
to  spend  the  sunset  of  life  in  quiet  and  re- 
tirement, is  the  gentleman  whose  name 
heads  this  sketch,  and  who  is  a  resident  of 
the  pleasant  village  of  Saybrook. 

Mr.  Grove  was  born  in  Williamsport, 
Indiana,  June  14.  1833,  and  is  a  son  of  Da- 
vid Grove,  a  native  of  Virginia,  who,  when 
a  }-oung  man,  went  to  Ohio,  and  there  mar- 
ried Miss  Barbara  Harris,  a  native  of  Gallia 
county,  that  state.  The  father  was  an  all- 
round  business  man  who  run  a  still,  boated 
down  the  rivers,  and  dealt  in  stock  and 
grain.  He  moved  with  his  family  to  this 
state  in  1834  and  took  up  his  residence  in 
Homer,  Champaign  county,    where  he  en- 


gaged in  the  stock  and  grain  business.  He 
died  in  Bloomington  in  1850.  His  wife 
survived  him  many  years,  passing  away  in 
1885.  Augustus  is  the  oldest  son  in  their 
family  of  eight  children,  seven  sons  and  one 
daughter,  all  of  whom  reached  years  of  ma- 
turity with  one  exception.  Margaret,  the 
oldest  of  the  family,  is  the  wife  of  Levi 
Cavan  and  resides  in  California;  Perry  is  a 
resident  of  the  same  state;  Jackson  lives  in 
Saybrook,  Illinois;  Albert  is  a  farmer  of 
Arrowsmith  township;  David  lives  in  Ells- 
worth, Illinois,  and  James  is  in  the  west. 

Augustus  Grove  was  only  a  year  old 
when  the  family  removed  to  Illinois,  and  in 
1 85 1  they  came  to  McLean  county,  locating 
upon  a  rented  farm  in  Old  Town  township, 
which  the  sons  operated  for  two  or  three 
years.  Being  the  oldest,  our  subject  assist- 
ed his  mother  in  caring  for  the  younger  chil- 
dren. He  and  his  brother  Ja,ckson  at  length 
purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  and 
to  its  improvement  and  cultivation  they  de- 
voted their  energies  for  a  few  years.  On 
disposing  of  that  property,  our  subject  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  in  Arrowsmith  township, 
near  the  village  of  Arrowsmith,  and  he  soon 
transformed  the  wild  land  into  a  rich  and 
productive  farm,  on  which  he  made  a  num- 
ber of  improvements,  including  the  erection 
of  a  house.  After  operating  that  place  for 
two  years,  he  sold  and  purchased  one  hun- 
dred acres,  on  which  he  made  his  home  for 
three  years.  In  1872  he  went  to  Missouri, 
but  not  finding  a  suitable  location  there  he 
returned  to  Illinois  and  bought  eighty  acres 
of  well  improved  land  in  Arrowsmith  town- 
ship. To  its  further  development  and  cul- 
tivation he  devoted  his  time  and  attention 
for  several  years  and  enlarged  it  by  the  pur- 
chase of  another  eighty-acre  tract  and  later 
forty    acres.       He    remodeled    the    house, 


1 


77S 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


erected  outbuildings,  laid  many  rods  of  til- 
ing, set  out  fruit  and  shade  trees,  and  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  farming  and  stock 
raising  there  for  about  twenty  years,  but 
since  1889  he  has  rented  his  land  and  lived 
retired  in  Saybrook,  where  he  has  purchased 
a  pleasant  residence. 

On  the  1st  of  September,  1858,  in  Mc- 
Lean county,  was  celebrated  the  marriage 
of  Mr.  Grove  and  Miss  Sarah  Gray,  a  native 
of  Monroe  county,  Indiana,  who  came  to 
this  county  with  her  brother  and  sister. 
Three  children  were  born  of  this  union, 
namely:  Dr.  Levi,  a  dentist,  who  is  mar- 
ried and  resides  in  California;  Sarah  Alice, 
wife  of  William  Woods,  of  Calhoun  county, 
Iowa,  by  whom  she  has  four  daughters, 
Nellie,  Leah,  Laura  and  Evelyn;  and  Laura 
Belle,  wife  of  Charles  Means,  of  Saybrook, 
Illinois,  by  whom  she  has  two  children. 
Earl  and  Oakley.  Since  casting  his  first 
presidential  ballot  for  John  C.  Fremont,  in 
1 856,  Mr.  Grove  has  been  a  stanch  supporter 
of  the  men  and  measures  of  the  Republican 
party,  but  has  never  sought  nor  desired  of- 
fice. After  a  long  life  of  toil  he  is  now  rest- 
ing from  his  labors,  and  is  spending  the 
evening  of  life  pleasantly  at  his  home  in  Say- 
brook, surrounded  by  the  love,  respect  and 
esteem  of  a  large  circle  of  friends  and  ac- 
quaintances. 


ARTHUR  C.  HAMILTON.  The  career 
of  him  whose  name  heads  this  review 
illustrates  most  forcibly  the  possibilities  that 
are  open  to  a  young  man  who  possesses 
slerling  business  qualifications.  It  proves 
that  neither  wealth  nor  social  position,  nor 
the  assistance  of  influential  friends  at  the 
outset  of  his  career  are  necessary  to  place 
him  on  the  road  to  success.      It  also  proves 


that  ambition,  perseverance,  steadfast  pur- 
pose and  indefatigable  industry,  combined 
with  sound  business  principle,  will  be  re- 
warded, and  that  true  success  follows  indi- 
vidual effort  only.  Mr.  Hamilton  has  gained 
recognition  and  prestige  as  one  of  the  influ- 
ential representative  business  men  of  Bloom- 
ington,  and  is  now  treasurer  and  manager 
of  the  Co-operative  Stove  Company,  of 
which  he  was  one  of  the  founders. 

Mr.  Hamilton  was  born  in  Schenectady, 
New  York,  January  27,  1844,  and  is  a  son  of 
Farwell  H.  and  Ruth  (Vady)  Hamilton,  who 
were  married  in  Albany,  that  state.  The 
Hamiltons  are  an  old  Massachusetts  family, 
the  ancestors  of  our  subject  having  located 
there  soon  after  the  Mayflower  landed  her 
passengers  at  Plymouth  Rock.  To  this 
family  belonged  Alexander  Hamilton,  and 
also  Dr.  Hamilton,  of  New  York.  The 
father  of  our  subject  was  born  not  far  from 
Worcester,  Massachusetts,  and  when  a 
young  man  removed  to  Schenectady,  New 
York,  where  he  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  screws.  He  invented  and  patented  a 
number  of  things  for  the  manufacture  of 
screws,  but  ill  health  forced  his  retirement 
from  that  business  and  he  moved  to  Steu- 
benville,  Ohio,  where  he  had  a  contract  for 
laying  about  forty  miles  of  the  Pan-Handle 
Railroad  from  that  place  to  Cadiz.  He 
lived  there  during  the  civil  war,  in  which 
struggle  four  of  his  sons  engaged.  In  1876 
he  came  to  Bloomington  and  for  some  time 
was  connected  with  the  Bloomington  Stove 
Company,  but  during  his  last  days  lived  re- 
tired from  active  labor.  He  died  here  in 
18 — ,  his  wife  in  18 — .  Both  were  faith- 
ful members  of  the  Second  Presbyterian 
church  and  were  highly  respected  by  all 
who  knew  them.  In  the  family  were  five 
children,  one   daughter,  and    four  sons,    all 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


779 


of  whom  were  in  the  army  during  the  Rebel- 
lion. Edward  was  a  member  of  the  One 
Hundred  and  Fifty-seventh  Ohio  Volunteer 
Infantry  and  died  in  the  service  of  his  coun- 
try; Erskine  M.  is  now  an  attorney  of 
Bloomington;  Kate  W.  is  a  writer  of  note; 
Arthur  C.  is  next  in  order  of  birth,  and 
Chauncy  A.  is  foreman  of  the  Co-operative 
Stove  Company's  shops. 

Arthur  C.  Hamilton  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  Steubenville,  Ohio,  and 
during  his  youth  served  an  apprenticeship 
in  a  stove-plate  foundry,  completing  the 
same  about  the  time  of  the  opening  of  the 
civil  war.  Prompted  by  a  spirit  of  patriot- 
ism, he  enlisted  in  the  spring  of  1862,  for 
three  months  in  Company  F,  Eighty-fourth 
Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  participated 
in  a  number  of  skirmishes  during  Morgan's 
raid  through  Ohio.  He  still  has  in  his  pos- 
session a  revolver  he  picked  up  at  that  time. 
After  four  months  of  service  he  was  mus- 
tered out  in  September,  1862,  but  soon  re- 
enlisted  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-sev- 
enth Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  under  Col- 
onel George  McCook,  and  with  that  com- 
mand also  served  for  four  months,  re-enlist- 
ing on  the  expiration  of  that  time  in  Com- 
pany H,  One  Hundred  and  Ninety-fifth 
Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  for  one  year.  He 
was  sergeant  of  his  company,  which  was  a 
part  of  General  Hancock's  corps  and  was  on 
duty  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley  until  after 
the  close  of  the  war,  being  discharged  in 
December,  1865. 

After  returning  to  his  home  in  Steuben- 
ville, Mr.  Hamilton  was  ill  for  six  mont'hs, 
and  then  resumed  work  in  the  foundry.  In 
1 868  he  came  to  Bloomington  and  for  a 
time  worked  in  the  old  foundry  of  Kersey 
Fell,  after  which  he  was  employed  as  fore- 
man  by  the  Bloomington  Stove  Company 


for  a  short  time.  Resigning  his  position, 
he,  with  John  W.  Hayes  and  William  Part- 
ridge, a  wealthy  man  of  Normal,  formed 
the  Co-operative  Stove  Company,  of  whicH 
Mr.  Hayes  has  since  served  as  president  and 
our  subject  as  treasurer  and  superintendent. 
This  was  incorporated  in  1S8O,  with  a  capi- 
tal stock  of  twelve  thousand  dollars  and  the 
plant  was  first  located  at  Normal,  where 
they  manufactured  heating  and  cooking 
stoves  on  a  small  scale.  In  1892  they 
bought  what  is  called  the  Empire  Works  on 
the  Illinois  Central  Railroad,  and  converted 
it  into  a  stove  manufactory,  three  hundred 
by  forty  feet,  and  two  stories  in  height.  It 
is  one  of  the  largest  plants  in  central  Illinois, 
is  built  of  brick,  and  besides  the  main  build- 
ing there  are  the  cupalo  room  and  boiler 
room.  At  first  it  was  rather  a  hard  matter 
to  build  up  the  business,  but  seeing  the 
company  prosper,  men  took  stock,  and  the 
capital  has  twice  been  increased,  being  now 
fifty  thousand  dollars.  Mr.  Hayes  and  our 
subject  still  hold  the  offices  to  which  they 
were  first  elected  and  Chauncy  A.  Hamil- 
ton is  now  serving  as  foreman.  Twenty- 
five  skilled  workmen  are  now  employed  in 
the  foundry  and  receive  four  dollars  per  day, 
and  the  company  has  a  traveling  salesman 
upon  the  road.  They  have  a  good  Chicago 
trade.  Although  they  started  with  nothing 
but  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  business, 
and  a  large  amount  of  energy,  determina- 
tion and  perseverance,  the  officers  of  the 
company  are  now  ranked  among  the  well-to- 
do  business  men  of  the  city. 

Mr.  Hamilton  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Kate  R.  Boyce,  of  Bloomington, 
a  daughter  of  William  J.  Boyce,  who  is  at 
the  head  of  the  Bloomington  Dray  Line, 
and  they  now  have  two  children — Clifford  B. 
and  Kenneth.      The  family  have  a  beautiful 


7  So 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


home  at  the  corner  of  Empire  and  Clinton 
streets,  which  Mr.  Hamilton  erected  in  1894. 
He  and  his  wife  are  active  and  prominent 
members  of  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  in  which  he  is  now  serving  as  trus- 
tee and  assistant  superintendent  of  the  Sun- 
day school.  He  promised  his  oldest  brother, 
just  before  the  latter's  death,  that  he  would 
take  an  active  part  in  church  work,  and 
since  the  war  has  hardly  missed  a  Sunday. 
For  thirty  years  he  has  been  officially  con- 
nected with  the  church  most  of  the  time. 
Fraternally,  he  is  a  member  of  \V.  T.  Sher- 
man Post,  G.  A.  R.,  and  the  Modern  Wood- 
men of  America.  Those  who  know  him 
best  are  numbered  among  his  warmest 
friends,  and  his  upright,  honorable  life  com- 
mends him  to  the  confidence  and  esteem  of 
all  with  whom  he  comes  in  contact. 


CHAUNCEY  A.  HAMILTON,  superin- 
tendent of  the  Co-operative  Stove 
Company  and  one  of  its  incorporators,  has 
demonstrated  the  true  meaning  of  the  word 
success  as  the  full  accomplishment  of  an 
honorable  purpose.  Energy,  close  appli- 
cation, perseverance  and  good  management 
— these  are  the  elements  which  have  en- 
tered into  his  business  career  and  crowned 
his  efforts  with  prosperity. 

Mr.  Hamilton  was  born  March  26,  1846, 
in  Mohawkville,  near  Schenectady,  New 
York.  His  father,  Farwell  H.  Hamilton, 
was  born  near  Podunk  Pond,  Worcester 
county,  Massachusetts,  and  in  that  state  he 
learned  the  machinist's  trade,  which  he 
later  followed  in  Mohawkville,  New  York. 
He  married  Miss  Ruth  Cady,  of  the  latter 
place,  and  lived  there  for  some  time.  Later 
he  was  superintendent  of  a  large  screw  fac- 
tory  of   Taunton,   Massachusetts,   and    pat- 


ented the  best  method  of  manufacturing 
screws  at  that  time,  before  the  gimlet 
points  were  introduced.  He  was  also  con- 
nected with  a  screw  factory  at  Raritan, 
New  Jersey,  and  from  there  removed  to 
Steubenville,  Jefferson  county,  Ohio,  where 
he  had  the  contract  of  laying  the  track  of 
the  Steubenville  &  Indiana  Railroad,  now  a 
part  of  the  Pan  Handle  Railroad,  but  the 
company  failed  to  pay  him  for  his  work. 
He  next  built  the  reservoir  for  Steubenville 
on  a  large  hill,  but  here  also  lost  money. 
He  took  a  contract  to  get  out  ties  for  the 
Pan  Handle  Railroad  from  Steubenville  to 
Pittsburg,  but  as  the  company  failed  after 
he  had  furnished  them  with  a  number  of 
thousand  ties,  he  did  not  receive  any  pay 
for  his  work  for  six  or  eight  years.  Having 
lost  so  much,  he  finally  secured  employ- 
ment as  a  carpenter  in  a  stove  foundry, 
with  which  he  was  connected  until  1862. 
Later  he  again  worked  in  the  foundry  until 
coming  to  Bloomington  in  1870.  As  a  car- 
penter, he  was  also  connected  with  the 
Bloomington  Stove  Foundry  until  1875, 
when  he  retired  from  active  labor.  He  died 
in  1892,  at  the  age  of  eighty-six  years, 
his  wife  in  1886.  Both  were  earnest 
and  consistent  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  and  while  a  resident  of  Ohio,  the 
father  served  as  deacon  of  the  congregation 
to  which  he  belonged.  In  political  senti- 
ment he  was  a  Republican. 

During  his  boyhood  and  youth  Chauncey 
A.  Hamilton  pursued  his  studies  in  the  gram- 
mjir  and  high  schools  of  Steubenville,  Ohio, 
and  began  his  business  career  by  tending 
the  furnace  in  a  foundry,  being  thus  em- 
ployed when  he  enlisted  in  the  service  of 
his  country  during  the  civil  war.  In  March, 
1865,  he  joined  Company  H,  One  Hundred 
and    Ninety-fifth    Ohio  Volunteer    Infantry, 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


781 


and  was  sent  to  Charleston,  West  Virginia, 
in  which  %-icinity  the  regiment  engaged  in 
fighting  bushwhackers.  They  then  marched 
to  Stevenson  station,  where  Lee  surren- 
dered, and  later  went  to  Washington,  D. 
C,  and  on  to  Alexandria,  Virginia,  where 
they  were  mustered  out  December  18,  1865. 
Returning  to  his  home  in  Steubenville 
on  Friday  Mr.  Hamilton  resumed  work  at 
his  old  place  the  following  Monday,  but 
soon  afterward  began  serving  a  regular 
three  years'  apprenticeship  to  the  molder's 
trade,  at  which  he  then  worked  for  a  short 
time  before  coming  to  Bloomington  in  1869. 
Here  he  was  connected  with  the  Blooming- 
ton  Stove  Company  until  he  and  his  brother, 
Arthur  C.  Hamilton,  and  John  J.  Hayes, 
all  molders,  organized  a  regular  stock  com- 
pany with  twelve  thousand  dollars  capital, 
and  Mr.  Hayes  as  president,  A.  C.  Hamil- 
ton, treasurer,  and  himself  superintendent. 
They  bought  a  small  shop  at  Normal,  got 
up  new  models  for  stoves,  and  remained  in 
business  there  for  about  five  years,  during 
which  time  they  gave  employment  to  but 
few  men,  doing  most  of  the  work  themselves 
and  selling  their  own  goods.  About  the 
time  of  their  removal  to  Bloomington  the 
capital  was  increased  to  twenty-five  thou- 
sand dollars,  but  no  new  members  were  ad- 
mitted to  the  company.  The  capital  is  now 
fifty  thousand  dollars,  and  the  company  is 
strongly  supported  by  a  number  of  promi- 
nent business  men  of  Bloomington.  Their 
present  plant  of  three  hundred  by  forty  feet 
and  two  stories  in  height,  besides  the  engine 
house,  cupalo,  cleaners  and  molders'  rooms, 
is  built  of  brick,  and  is  situated  on  the  Illi- 
nois Central  Railroad,. with  which  it  is  con- 
nected with  a  switch.  The  company  has 
built  up  a  large  and  profitable  business, 
which  is  steadily  increasing,  and  they  now 


furnish  employment  to  about  twenty-five 
men,  while  they  turn  out  about  nine  stoves 
(cooking  and  heating)  per  day.  They  have 
been  a  very  conservative  and  successful 
firm  and  stand  high  financially.  From  the 
beginning  our  subject  has  been  one  of  the 
directors  and  manager  of  the  company,  and 
was  the  first  one  to  do  anything  in  the  way 
of  work  for  it,  making  the  first  stove  in  his 
barn  at  home. 

On  the  31st  of  March,  1874,  Mr.  Hamil- 
ton married  Miss  Lina  Reed,  of  Blooming- 
ton, a  daughter  of  Lucius  Reed,  and  they 
now  have  two  children:  Ina  and  Everett. 
In  1894  he  erected  a  fine  home  for  his  fam- 
ily at  No.  703  Empire  street.  Politically 
he  is  identified  with  the  Republican  party 
and  socially  affiliates  with  W.  T.  Sherman 
Post,  G.  A.  R.  He  and  his  wife  are  both 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
and  for  many  years  he  was  an  active  worker 
in  the  Sunday  school.  As  a  citizen  he  ever 
stands  ready  to  discharge  every  duty  devolv- 
ing upon  him,  and  as  a  business  man  he 
ranks  among  the  best  and  most  reliable  in 
his  adopted  city. 


JOSEPH  M.  EASTERBROOK,  a  retired 
farmer  and  highly-esteemed  citizen  of 
Saybrook,  has  made  his  home  in  this  county 
since  the  6th  of  November,  1865,  and  was 
for  many  years  one  of  the  most  active  and 
enterprising  agriculturists  of  Bellflower  town- 
ship, where  he  still  owns  a  fine  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres.  He  was  born  in 
Ross  county,  Ohio,  June  3,  1830,  and  is  a 
son  of  G.  W.  Easterbrook,  who  was  born 
on  the  Atlantic  ocean  while  his  parents  were 
coming  to  America.  The  grandfather,  John 
Easterbrook,  was  a  native  of  England,  and 
in  early  manhood  was  kidnapped  and  pressed 


782 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


into  the  British  navy.  Being  a  good  mu- 
sician, he  was  given  charge  of  the  marine 
band.  He  participated  in  some  of  the  en- 
gagements of  the  war  of  1812,  and  later  took 
an  active  part  in  the  Canadian  rebellion.  He 
was  captured  by  General  Harrison,  and 
after  being  given  his  freedom  took  charge 
of  the  military  band  in  the  American  army. 
He  had  married  in  Ireland,  and  there  he 
left  his  wife,  who  later  joined  him  in  the 
United  States,  sailing  down  the  St.  Law- 
rence river  and  Atlantic  ocean  to  New  York. 
While  on  this  trip  G.  W.  Easterbrook.  the 
father  of  our  subject,  was  born.  The  grand- 
father finally  located  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio, 
where  he  engaged  in  teaching  school,  and 
also  music.  He  died  at  the  advanced  age 
of  ninety-six  years. 

G.  W.  Easterbrook  grew  to  manhood  in 
Cincinnati,  and  was  provided  with  good  edu- 
cational advantages.  For  some  years  he, 
too,  followed  the  teacher's  profession,  and 
while  thus  employed  in  Ross  county,  Ohio, 
he  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Purcel,  a  native 
of  that  state,  and  a  daughter  of  Reuben  Pur- 
cel. For  a  time  he  continued  his  educa- 
tional work  in  Ross  county,  and  then  re- 
moved to  Fayette  county,  the  same  state, 
where  he  settled  on  a  farm,  which  his  sons 
operated  while  he  engaged  in  teaching. 
Some  years  later  he  came  to  Illinois,  and 
spent  his  last  years  with  our  subject,  where 
he  died  in  1875,  at  about  the  age  of  seventy 
years.  His  wife  passed  away  in  1893,  and 
both  were  laid  to  rest  in  Bellflower  ceme- 
tery. 

On  the  home  farm  in  Fayette  county, 
Ohio,  Joseph  M.  Easterbrook  passed  his 
boyhood  and  youth  in  much  the  usual  man- 
ner of  farmer  lads  of  his  day,  and  he  re- 
mained with  his  father  until  after  he  at- 
tained his  majority.      In  October,  1854,  he 


was  married  in  Ross  county,  to  Miss  Han- 
nah Middleton,  who  was  born,  reared  and 
educated  there,  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and 
Rebecca  (Bathhurst)  Middleton.  Her  fa- 
ther was  a  native  of  Philadelphia,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  in  that  state  he  was  married, 
but  finally  became  a  resident  of  Ross  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  where  he  made  his  home  for 
many  years.  Our  subject  and  his  wife  be- 
gan housekeeping  on  the  Easterbook  home- 
stead, Fayette  county,  which  he  operated 
until  1865,  when  he  sold  the  place  and 
came  to  McLean  county,  Illinois.  Here  he 
purchased  a  partially  improved  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Bellflower  town- 
ship, on  which  he  made  his  home  for  many 
years.  He  built  thereon  a  neat  and  com- 
modious residence,  a  good  barn  and  other 
outbuildings,  set  out  an  orchard  and  shade 
trees,  and  in  other  ways  added  to  its  value 
and  attractive  appearance.  He  was  one  of 
the  men  who  were  largely  instrumental  in 
getting  a  large  ditch  cut  through  this  sec- 
tion of  the  county,  by  which  several  thou- 
sand acres  of  land  were  drained  and  ren- 
dered very  productive.  Our  subject  con- 
tributed his  share  to  the  cost  of  the  ditch, 
which  amounted  to  over  three  thousand 
dollars. 

Five  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Easterbrook  before  leaving  Ohio,  and  since 
then  the  family  circle  has  been  increased 
by  the  birth  of  one  more.  They  are  as  fol- 
lows: Ada  is  the  wife  of  John  Brokaw,  a 
farmer  of  Bellflower  township,  and  they 
have  one  daughter,  Adelaide;  Harry  E.,  a 
resident  of  Saybrook,  is  married  and  has 
two  children,  Eleanor  Frances  and  John 
Lester;  C.  P.,  a  business  man  of  Say- 
brook,  is  married  and  has  four  children, 
Harry  D.,  Leo  J.,  Earl  C.  and  Mabel; 
George  W.,  who   is  in  partnership  with  his 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


783 


brother  C.  P.  in  the  furniture  and  under- 
taking business  in  Saybrook,  is  married 
and  has  one  son,  Floyd  W. ;  and  Jacob 
\V.,  who  lives  on  the  home  farm,  is  mar- 
ried and  has  one  son,  Russell. 

Originally  Mr.  Easterbrook  was  an  old- 
line  Whig  in  politics,  but  has  been  identi- 
fied with  the  Republican  party  since  its  or- 
ganization, voting  for  Fremont,  in  1856, 
and  for  every  presidential  candidate  of  the 
party  since  then.  He  and  his  wife  are 
earnest  and  consistent  members  of  the  Say- 
brook  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  are 
held  in  high  regard  by  all  who  have  the 
pleasure  of  their  acquaintance  on  account 
of  their  sterling  worth  and  many  excellen- 
cies of  character. 


THOMAS  WILSON  (deceased)  was  a 
well  known  citizen  of  Danvers  town- 
ship, where  he  followed  farming  and  stock 
raising  for  many  years  with  good  success. 
He  was  born  in  Sumner  county,  Tennessee, 
April  10,  1 82 1,  and  was  the  son  of  Thomas 
and  Polly  (McCrunnells)  Wilson,  the  former 
a  native  of  Virginia  and  the  latter  of  Ten- 
nessee. In  1822  the  family  moved  to  Posey 
county,  Indiana,  of  which  county  they  were 
pioneers.  There  Thomas  Wilson,  Sr.,  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  life  engaged  in  farming. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  spent  his  boy- 
hood and  youth  in  Posey  county,  and  in  the 
primitive  schools  of  that  early  day  received 
his  education.  While  still  residing  in  Posey 
county,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Elizabeth  McCrunnells,  and  to  them 
were  born  five  children:  Nancy  Elizabeth, 
now  the  wife  of  Maze  Potter.  They  reside 
in  Kansas.  Mary  Jane  married  James  Gor- 
man, and  they  removed  to  Kansas,  where 
he  now  resides.      She  is  deceased.      Benja- 


min F.  makes  his  home  in  Lincoln,  Illinois. 
Stephen  Douglas  is  living  in  Danvers, 
Illinois.  Alfred  Pierce  resides  in  Melvin, 
Illinois. 

In  1850,  Mr.  Wilson  came  with  his  family 
to  McLean  county  and  settled  in  Danvers 
township,  where  he  purchased  eighty  acres 
of  land  and  proceeded  to  open  up  a  farm. 
He  became  quite  successful  in  his  farming 
operations,  and  from  time  to  time  added  to 
the  area  of  his  farm  until  it  contained  three 
hundred  and  forty  acres,  all  of  which  he 
had  under  improvement.  Besides,  he  owned 
one  hundred  acres  in  the  home  place,  all 
in  the  corporation  of  Danvers,  and  about 
thirty  acres  of  timber  land.  He  continued 
to  engage  actively  in  farming  until  1891, 
when  he  moved  with  his  family  to  Bloom- 
ington  and  lived  retired.  One  year,  how- 
ever, sufficed  him  in  that  city  and  he  re- 
turned to  the  farm. 

In  1863,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Wilson  de- 
parted this  life,  and  for  his  second  wife 
Mr.  Wilson  married  Miss  Martha  J.  Mick- 
ens,  who  was  born  in  Warren  county,  Illi- 
nois, January  3,  1S44,  and  the  daughter  of 
A.  C.  and  Eliza  (Rowland)  Mickens.  Her 
father  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
came  to  Warren  county  at  a  very  early  day, 
where  he  engaged  in  the  meat  trade.  In 
1848  he  came  to  McLean  county  and  lo- 
cated in  the  village  of  Danvers,  where  he 
continued  in  the  same  Tine  of  business,  and 
also  during  the  season  ran  a  threshing  ma- 
chine. For  a  time  he  operated  a  saw  mill 
in  addition  to  his  other  lines  of  employ- 
ment. To  A.  C.  and  Eliza  Mickens  seven 
children  were  born:  John,  Abner,  Cornelia, 
Asa,  Mary,  Eliza  and  Martha.  The  mother 
of  these  children  died  when  the  latter  was 
an  infant,  and  for  his  second  wife  Mr. 
Mickens  married  Miss  Lavina  Holmes,   by 


784 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


whom  he  had  seven  children:  Sarah,  Min- 
erva, George,  James,  Henry,  Frances  and 
Joseph.  This  second  wife  died,  and  for  his 
third  wife  he  married  Mrs.  Kasor,  by  whom 
he  had  one  child:  Orin.  Mr.  Mickens  died 
at  the  age  of  sixty  years. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wilson  four  children 
were  born:  Fannie  Adella,  Ida  Cordelia, 
Lewis  Eli  and  Minnie  Lillian.  Of  these, 
Fannie  A.  and  Ida  C.  are  deceased.  The 
former  died  July  i,  1899.  She  was  a  young 
lady  of  fine  musical  ability  and  studied  har- 
mony and  theory  with  Dr.  Palmer,  of  New 
York,  and  instrumental  music  with  Prof. 
Mueller,  of  Bloomington.  For  a  number 
of  years  she  was  organist  in  the  Congrega- 
tional church  of  Danvers.  Her  death  was 
a  sad  loss  to  the  community  in  which  she 
lived.  Miss  Minnie  has  developed  much 
artistic  talent  and  studied  china  painting 
with  Miss  Miller,  of  Peoria,  Illinois,  and 
with  Miss  White,  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio;  and 
pastel  painting  under  the  instruction  of 
Prof.  O.  L.  Wilson,  of  the  Illinois  Wes- 
leyan  University. 

Mr.  \\'ilson  was  quite  fond  of  traveling, 
and  for  some  years  prior  to  his  death  in- 
dulged his  taste  in  that  direction.  He  spent 
considerable  time  in  the  south,  especially  in 
Florida.  In  politics  he  was  a  stanch  Demo- 
crat, having  an  abiding  faith  in  the  princi- 
ples of  that  party  as  advocated  by  Jefierson 
and  Jackson.  Mrs.  Wilson  is  a  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  church,  and  while  not  a 
member  Mr.  Wilson  gave  his  support  to 
that  church.  His  death  occurred  Septem- 
ber I,  1897,  snd  his  remains  were  laid  to 
rest  in  the  cemetery  at  Danvers.  For 
almost  fifty  years  he  was  a  resident  of 
McLean  county,  and  his  life's  history  was 
closely  interwoven  with  that  of  his  adopted 
county,  of  which  he  was  always  proud.      In 


the  home  circle  and  in  the  community  which 
was  so  long  his  home  his  presence  is  sadly 
missed. 


FRED  S.  PHOENIX,  a  well-known  and 
successful  nurseryman  of  Bloomington, 
was  born  in  that  city,  March  5,  1855,  a  son 
of  Franklin  Kelsey  and  Mary  E.  (Topping) 
Phoenix.  The  father  was  born  in  Perry, 
New  York,  March  3,  1825,  and  there  spent 
his  boyhood  until  1837,  when  he  accom- 
panied his  father,  Samuel  F.  Phcenix,  on 
his  removal  to  Delavan,  Walworth  county, 
Wisconsin,  being  numbered  among  the  pio- 
neer settlers  of  that  locality.  The  grand- 
father, with  a  brother,  laid  out  the  village 
of  Delavan,  and  died  there  when  the  father 
of  our  subject  was  a  young  man  of  fifteen 
years.  Samuel  Faulkner  Phoenix,  the  father 
of  F.  K.  Phoenix,  was  born  in  Dansville, 
New  York,  in  November,  1798.  He  was  a 
tanner  and  general  merchant,  and  was  ap- 
pointed a  colonel  of  infantry  by  DeWitt 
Clinton.  As  a  missionary  for  the  American 
Tract  Society  he  spent  two  winters  in  the 
south,  which  resulted  in  his  becoming  an 
ardent  abolitionist.  He  was  a  delegate  to 
the  first  convention  of  the  New  York  State 
Anti-Slavery  Society,  at  Utica,  New  York, 
October  21,  1835.  He  was  licensed  to 
preach  by  the  Baptist  church  of  Perry,  New 
York.  A  stanch  temperance  advocate,  it  is 
related  of  him  that  on  signing  the  pledge  he 
returned  to  his  home,  brought  from  the  cel- 
lar the  casks  and  barrels  of  liquors  and 
emptied  the  contents  in  the  street. 

Franklin  K.  Phoenix  grew  to  manhood 
in  Delavan,  and  in  1842  embarked  in  the 
nursery  business  at  that  place,  being  one  of 
the  pioneers  in  that  line  in  the  west.  After 
carrying  on  operations  there  for  a  few  years 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


785 


I 


he  transferred  his  business  to  Bloomington 
in  1852,  buying  out  Robert  Fell's  nursery, 
on  East  Jefferson  street,  about  a  half  block 
east  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad.  The 
spring  of  1852  the  Fell  nursery  was  removed 
to  the  Major  land  and  a  fine  brick  residence 
was  erected,  which  became  the  family  home- 
stead. His  landed  possessions  here  were 
quite  extensive,  owning  the  property  where 
the  Wesleyan  College  now  stands,  and  north 
to  the  present  site  of  the  Deaconess  Hospi- 
tal. Here  he  had  about  fifty  acres  cov- 
ered with  trees  which  he  had  set  out,  having 
first  cleared  the  land  himself.  These  trees 
were  of  the  varieties  most  in  demand  in  a 
new  country.  In  1855-6  the  nursery  cov- 
ered by  ten  acres  and  in  1858  eighty  acres, 
and  one  hundred  and  forty  feet  were  devoted 
to  green  houses.  He  was  not  the  first  nurs- 
eryman in  Bloomington,  but  was  the  first 
one  here  to  do  business  on  an  extensive 
scale.  His  catalogues  in  those  early  days 
showed  a  marked  bent  in  calling  atten- 
tion of  the  farmers  to  beautify  their 
homes  and  thus  hold  their  children  with 
them.  He  was  quite  prominent  in  horti- 
cultural circles,  and  in  1850,  at  a  meet- 
ing of  the  State  Horticultural  Society  in 
Princeton,  he  was  elected  its  secretary. 
For  many  years  he  was  one  of  its  most  act- 
ive and  influential  members,  and  wrote 
many  able  papers  for  it.  From  1858  he 
constantly  increased  his  plant,  until  about 
ten  years  later  he  had  six  hundred  acres  de- 
voted to  the  nursery  business,  all  adjoining 
and  contiguous  to  the  city,  and  it  was  rated 
as  the  second  largest  nursery  in  the  United 
States.  He  had  in  his  employ  an  enormous 
force  of  men,  besides  the  large  number  of 
salesmen  all  over  the  west.  Mr.  Phoenix 
was  a  man  of  good  executive  ability,  and 
]iad  unlimited   confidence   in    his    business, 


which  at  its  zenith  reached  the  enormous 
sum  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dol- 
lars a  year.  During  the  hard  times  of  1877 
he  failed,  his  trade  having  fallen  off  during 
the  past  few  years,  and  in  1879  he  returned 
to  Delavan,  Wisconsin,  where  he  established 
a  small  nursery  and  is  still  engaged  in  busi- 
ness to  a  limited  extent.  For  many  years 
he  has  been  active  in  the  Prohibition  move- 
ment, and  was  one  of  three  or  four  who 
carried  on  and  supported  the  old  "Temper- 
ance Standard,"  a  paper  conducted  by  a 
Mr.  Nichols.  In  his  catalogues  he  often 
enclosed  articles  and  tracts  on  temperance. 
He  also  wrote  many  articles  on  that  subject 
and  the  files  of  the  old  Bloomington  papers 
contain  many  fearless  articles  against  the 
churches  that  did  not  support  prohibition. 
He  was  one  of  the  early  leaders  of  the 
party,  and  stood  by  his  belief  regardless  of 
business  policy,  contributing  liberally  of  his 
means  to  its  advancement,  and  being  one 
of  the  first  to  call  a  meeting  of  the  party  in 
Bloomington.  He  is  a  man  of  strong  Chris- 
tian principles,  and  was  an  active  member 
of  the  Baptist  church  until  he  saw  how 
•many  there  were  in  that  denomination  that 
did  not  agree  with  him  on  prohibition,  when 
he  united  with  the  Independent  church,  but 
in  1864  left  that  for  the  same  reason.  In 
December,  1850,  Mr.  Phoenix  married  Miss 
Mary  E.  Topping,  a  daughter  of  Thomas 
Topping,  a  merchant,  first  of  Schoharie 
county,  New  York,  and  later  of  Delavan, 
Wisconsin,  of  which  place  he  was  also  a 
pioneer.  Mrs.  Phoenix  was  born  in  1830, 
and  is  still  living. 

Fred  S.  Phoenix,  of  this  sketch,  is  the 
second  in  order  of  birth  in  a  family  of  six 
children  who  are  still  living,  and  was  edu- 
cated in  the  Normal  University  and  the 
high  school  at  Normal.      His  education  com- 


786 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


pleted,  he  at  once  engaged  in  business  with 
his  father,  having  during  his  boyhood  be- 
come thorough  familiar  with  it.  After  his 
father  met  with  reverses,  he  was  retained 
at  the  old  place,  practically  serving  as  man- 
ager for  three  years.  In  the  spring  of  1881, 
he  and  his  brother  embarked  in  the  nursery 
business  under  the  firm  style  of  Phoenix 
Brothers  &  Emerson,  and  at  the  end  of  two 
years  he  purchased  his  brother's  interest, 
and  three  years  later  that  of  Mr.  Emerson, 
since  which  time  he  has  been  alone.  His 
nurseries  are  just  southeast  of  the  city  lim- 
its, where  he  has  quite  a  large  plant  and 
carries  all  kinds  of  hardy  trees,  shrubs  and 
roses,  gives  employment  to  a  large  number 
of  men.  Upright  and  reliable  in  business, 
he  has  won  the  confidence  and  esteem  of 
those  with  whom  he  has  come  in  contact 
and  is  meeting  with  a  well-deserved  success 
in  his  chosen  calling. 

On  the  17th  of  March,  1S82,  Mr.  Phoe- 
nix was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Sally 
Taylor  Lain,  of  Blue  Mound  township,  Mc- 
Lean county,  a  daughter  of  Isaiah  Lain, 
and  they  now  have  two  children,  Ollie  E. 
and  Harold  A.  The  family  have  a  pleasant 
home  at  No.  606  East  Olive  street,  and  at- 
tend and  support  the  Unitarian  church. 
Politically  Mr.  Phoenix  is  a  Republican,  but 
has  never  been  an  aspirant  for  office. 


TAMES  JOHNSTON,  a  well  known  farm- 
kJ  er  of  Ailin  township,  was  born  Novem- 
ber 15,  1828,  in  Greene  county,  Ohio,  of 
Irish-German  parentage.  His  father,  Joseph 
Johnston,  was  born  in  New  Jersey,  near 
Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  in  1802.  In 
1826  he  traveled  on  horseback  to  Ohio,  in- 
tending to  make  that  state  his  future  home. 
He  was  later  joined  by  his  father's  family, 


and  his  parents  dying  soon  after  their  ar- 
rival, he  was  left  with  the  care  of  five  chil- 
dren. In  1827  he  married  Miss  Martha 
Opdyke,  and  in  1834  they  moved  near  Ft. 
Wayne,  Indiana,  where  the  remainder  of 
their  lives  was  spent.  He  died  June  28, 
1870,  and  his  wife  in  February,  1887.  They 
were  both  members  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church  of  the  old  type. 

James  Johnston  was  six  years  of  age 
when  he  accompanied  his  parents  to  Indi- 
ana. In  the  common  schools  of  that  state 
he  received  his  education,  and  at  the  early 
age  of  nine  years  he  was  converted  at  a 
prayer  meeting,  and  united  with  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church,  of  which  he  has 
been  a  consistent  member  to  the  present 
time.  He  has  always  taken  an  active  in- 
terest in  the  work  of  the  church,  and  when 
his  health  would  admit  served  his  church  in 
an  official  capacity,  being  for  some  years  a 
class  leader  and  superintendent  of  the  Sun- 
day-school, and  for  thirty  years  trustee  in 
M.  E.  church. 

On  the  8th  of  December,  1852,  Mr. 
Johnston  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Eleanor  J.  Marrs,  daughter  of  William  and 
Roxcena  E.  Marrs,  the  former  born  in  Bour- 
bon county,  Kentucky,  in  1800,  of  Scotch- 
Irish  parentage,  and  the  latter  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania, on  the  Susquehanna  river,  of  New 
England  parentage,  her  parents  being  from 
Stockbridge,  Massachusetts.  Her  maternal 
grandfather,  Ensign  Mitchell,  was  a  sol- 
dier in  the  war  of  181 2.  He  married  Lucy 
Hubbard,  and  they  became  the  parents  of 
eleven  children,  six  sons  and  five  daughters. 
Several  of  the  sons  lived  to  be  octogenarians, 
one  or  more  living  to  be  more  than  ninety- 
five  years  of  age.  Joseph  Mitchell,  a  great- 
uncle  of  Eleanor,  was  a  traveling  itinerant 
Methodist  preacher,  and  traveled  for  a  time 


JAMES    JOHNSTON. 


OF  TWE 
'!''VF-RSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


789 


with  Lorenzo  Dow.  He  later  came  to  Illi- 
nois, and  was  assigned  a  circuit  covering 
four  hundred  miles,  and  for  his  services  he 
frequently  did  not  receive  over  si.xty  dollars 
cash  per  year.  He  died  in  1845,  ^"^  was 
buried  near  Peoria. 

Eleanor  J.  (Marrs)  Johnston  was  born 
near  Sidney,  Shelby  county,  Ohio,  June  13, 
1830,  and  in  1839  her  mother  died  leaving 
seven  children,  two  sons  and  five  daughters, 
all  of  whom  grew  to  maturity.  Eleanor 
commenced  attending  school  when  nearly 
ten  years  of  age,  and  so  improved  her  time 
that  she  received  a  certificate  as  a  teacher 
one  month  before  she  was  sixteen  years 
old.  She  taught  her  home  school  during 
the  summer  following,  and  then  went  to 
school  and  taught  alternately  for  six  years, 
or  until  her  marriage  with  Mr.  Johnston. 
In  September,  1853,  she  came  to  McLean 
count}-,  Illinois,  with  her  husband,  making 
the  journey  in  a  two-horse  wagon,  and  com- 
ing through  in  eleven  days.  When  near 
Valparaiso,  Indiana,  they  were  molested  by 
horse  thieves,  but,  owing  to  her  watchful- 
ness, their  property  was  saved,  and  the 
thieves  fled  for  their  own  safety.  On  ar- 
riving here  they  located  in  Allin  township, 
and  here  their  family,  consisting  of  four 
sons,  was  reared,  and  all  are  now  self-sup- 
porting temperance  men. 

Lucian  C,  the  eldest  of  the  family  was 
born  July  12,  1854,  in  Danvers,  Illinois. 
At  four  years  of  age,  he  could  read,  and  at 
sixteen,  was  far  enough  advanced  in  his 
studies  to  enter  Wesleyan  University,  which 
he  attended  for  three  years.  He  later 
taught  the  home  and  adjoining  schools  with 
great  success.  He  married  Miss  Ellen  B. 
Dickinson,  January  i,  1878,  President 
Adams  of  the  university,  officiating.  She 
is  a  daughter  of   J.  Q.    and   Eliza  (Major) 


Dickinson,  and  was  born  in  Danvers,  Illi- 
nois, in  1 849.  John  Quails  Dickinson  died  in 
Fresno,  California,  July  10,  1899,  and  was 
buried  in  Danvers.  Illinois,  July  15,  1899, 
besides  his  wife,  who  died  in  Danvers  in 
September,  1890;  both  were  highly  re- 
spected citizens,  members  of  the  Christian 
Church  and  natives  of  Kentucky.  In  Septem- 
ber, 1878,  Lucian  took  a  trip  to  Nebraska, 
and  decided  to  make  that  state  his  future 
home.  Returning  he  at  once  began  to  arrange 
his  business  preparatory  to  removal,  and 
despite  the  protests  of  his  many  friends, 
February  11,  1879,  he  left  Danvers,  Illi- 
nois, andone  month  later  his  wife  and  son  left 
to  join  him.  Their  household  goods  arriv- 
ing, they  were  unloaded,  they  began  their 
domestic  lives  in  a  little  "shack,"  devoid  of 
comforts. 

"But  in  ourselves  the  sunshine  dwells, 
And  in  ourselves  the  music  swells." 

He  has  dealt  largely  in  sheep  and  land 
and  horses,  all  with  his  own  money.  By 
close  attention  to  business,  they  have  be- 
come exceedingly  prosperous,  and  have  the 
management  of  twenty-five  improved  farms. 
Thsy  now  reside  in  a  comfortable,  happy 
home  in  the  city  of  Seward.  They  have 
one  child,  Walter  C. .  who  is  a  graduate  of 
city  high  school,  Seward,  Nebraska,  in  the 
classical  course,  and  is  also  a  graduate  of 
Lincoln  Business  College,  in  Lincoln, 
Nebraska. 

Alva  Edwin,  the  second  in  order  of  birth, 
was  born  March  16,  1859.'  After  receiving 
good,  common-school  advantages,  he  en- 
tered the  Illinois  Wesleyan  University,  at 
Bloomington,  and  made  rapid  progress.  He 
became  quite  proficient  in  short  hand,  and 
in  1885  visited  California,  and  in  1886 
went  to  Colorado  and  engaged  in  the  cattle 
business,  which  did  not  prove  very  success- 


790 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


ful.  While  in  Colorado  he  had  two  narrow 
escapes.  Once  he  was  thrown  from  a 
mule's  back  and  had  an  arm  broken,  at 
which  time  he  was  compelled  to  go  forty 
miles  to  secure  the  aid  of  a  surgeon,  reach- 
ing the  doctor  forty-eight  hours  after.  It 
took  three  men  to  hold  him  to  receive  the 
treatment.  He  was  next  attacked  by  a 
vicious  bull  which  pitched  him  over  a  wire 
fence,  and  he  lay  for  several  hours  uncon- 
scious. Returning  home,  on  the  21st  of 
February,  1894,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Emma  D.  Schellenberger,  daugh- 
ter of  Edward  and  Mrs.  (Porter)  Schellen- 
berger, of  Mackinew,  Illinois,  Mr.  Schellen- 
berger is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  both 
are  highly  respected  citizens.  Emma  D., 
was  born  in  August,  1873,  in  Mackinaw. 
She  is  a  lady  of  more  than  ordinary  literary 
culture,  and  a  teacher  of  ability.  They 
now  reside  in  Sacramento,  Nebraska,  where 
he  owns  a  quarter-section  of  well  improved 
land. 

Milo  D.,  born  May  30,  1866,  secured  a 
good  common  school  education,  then  at- 
tended high  school  for  three  years  under 
Prof.  Bangs,  a  teacher  of  marked  distinc- 
tion. In  1887  he  went  to  Colorado,  took 
up  land  on  a  large  scale,  and  after  sinking 
a  well  seventy-five  feet  deep,  planted  trees, 
plowed  and  planted  corn,  but  the  high 
winds,  and  the  blistering  rays  of  "Old  Sol" 
destroyed  all  his  hopes,  and  he  secured  but 
a  few  corn  stalks.  Leaving  Colorado,  in 
1888,  he  went  to  Nebraska,  where  he 
taught  school  with  great  success.  In  1891 
he  returned  to  Illinois,  where  he  has  since 
continued  to  remain.  He  is  still  unmar- 
ried, having  evaded  Cupid's  darts  to  the 
present  time.  He  owns  a  half-section  of 
land  under  good  cultivation,  together  with 
much  personal  property.      He    is    tenderly 


caring  for  his  invalid  father,  and  is  also 
smoothing  the  pathway  of  life  for  his  loving 
mother,  on  the  old  homestead,  near  Dan- 
vers,  Illinois. 

Virgil  W.,  born  March  15,  1871,  was  a 
stammerer  in  his  speech  until  seventeen 
years  old,  which  threatened  to  destroy  his 
usefulness  in  life.  Hearing  of  Prof.  Edwin 
Johnston,  of  Philadelphia,  he  went  to  that 
city,  and  after  five  weeks'  treatment  by  the 
professor,  he  returned  to  his  home  cured, 
and  a  very  happy  man.  By  the  same  treat- 
ment he  has  been  able  to  cure  many  who 
had  been  afflicted  as  he  had  been.  He 
graduated  from  Brown's  Business  College  in 
Chicago,  in  1891,  and  during  the  World's 
Fair  in  that  city,  acted  as  one  of  the  guards 
for  four  months,  and  then  in  a  clerical  posi- 
tion until  its  close.  In  1894  he  entered 
the  law  school  of  the  Illinois  Wesleyan  Uni- 
versity from  which  he  graduated  in  June, 
1896,  with  high  honors.  He  is  now  en- 
gaged in  the  practice  of  his  profession  at 
Champaign  and  Urbana,  Illinois,  and  is  on 
the  road  to  success.  On  the  3d  of  August, 
1898,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Vinnie  Vesta  Vennuni,  of  Normal,  Illinois, 
but  born  in  Bellilower,  Illinois,  August  21, 
1877,  and  daughter  of  F.  B.  and  Sarah 
(Marsh)  Vennum.  her  father  being  a  banker 
and  capitalist  of  Champaign,  Illinois.  She 
was  given  the  advantage  of  a  fine  musical 
and  literary  education.  They  reside  in 
Urbana,  Illinois,  where  he  is  in  the  abstract 
business,  having  two  offices,  one  of  which  is 
located  in  Champaign.  He  is  doing  a  large 
and  profitable  business  in  that  line. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnston  make  their  home 
on  the  old  homestead,  where  they  have 
lived  for  nearly  half  a  century.  In  1891 
Mr.  Johnston  was  stricken  with  paralysis, 
from  which  he  has  never  recovered,  but  he 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


79 1 


bears  his  sufferings  patiently,  knowing  that 
in  the  hfe  to  come  he  will  receive  the 
crown,  and  that  all  sufferings  will  be  at  an 
end.  Both  enjoy  the  respect  and  , esteem 
of  a  large  circle  of  friends,  while  their  chil- 
dren have  for  them  unbounded  love. 


HF.  COOPER,  who  resides  on  section 
thirty-two,  Danvers  township,  where 
he  is  engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising, 
is  a  native  of  the  township,  born  January 
13,  1862,  in  a  log  cabin  where  his  present 
home  now  stands.  He  is  a  son  of  Jacob 
and  Mary  J.  (Pierce)  Cooper,  the  former  a 
native  of  Virginia,  born  January  12,  182S, 
and  the  latter  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  April 
28,  1830,  and  daughter  of  John  Pierce,  a 
native  of  Ohio,  who  was  there  engaged  m 
farming,  and  who  never  came  to  Illinois, 
but  died  in  his  native  state. 

When  Jacob  Cooper  was  thirteen  years 
of  aga,  his  parents  moved  from  V^irginia  to 
Ohio,  and  located  in  Green  county.  There 
his  father,  John  Cooper,  purchased  a  tract 
of  timber  land,  which  he  proceeded  to  clear 
for  farming  purposes.  While  engaged  in 
that  work,  he  was  accidentally  killed,  and 
Jacob,  and  his  four  younger  brothers,  took 
up  the  work,  cleared  the  land  of  its  heavy 
timber,  and  in  due  time  had  a  fine  farm. 
Before  leaving  Ohio,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Mary  J.  Pierce,  and  in  Au- 
gust, 1849,  with  his  wife  and  one  child,  he 
came  to  McLean  county  in  a  covered  wagon, 
and  was  seventeen  days  on  the  journey. 
Arriving  here,  he  had  but  eleven  dollars, 
and  what  household  goods  he  brought  in  the 
wagon.  For  two  years  he  rented  land,  and 
in  185 1  he  took  up  eighty  acres  of  gov- 
ernment land  and  commenced  to  make  it  a 
tine  farm.    He  next  purchased  forty  acres,  and 


later  took  up  another  eighty-acre  tract,  and 
then  purchased  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres 
from  another  party,  and  then  an  eighty- 
acre  tract.  He  sold  an  eighty-acre  tract 
and  gave  to  his  eldest  son  eighty  acres,  leav- 
ing him  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  ninety 
acres.  On  that  farm  he  lived  until  1885, 
when  he  moved  to  the  village  of  Danvers, 
and  has  since  lived  a  retired  life. 

To  Jacob  Cooper  and  wife  were  born 
five  children.  Charles  William  married 
Miss  Mattie  Dehart,  and  with  their  two 
children,  they  make  their  home  in  Normal, 
Illinois.  Margaret  E.  married  Emmett 
Williams,  and  to  them  were  born  three 
children.  She  died  in  18S7,  at  the  age  of 
thirty-four  years.  Louisa  and  Parry  Zaid 
Agnes,  make  their  home  with  their  parents 
in  Danvers.  H.  F. ,  who  is  fifth  in  order 
of  birth,  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  In 
politics  Jacob  is  a  Republican,  and  among 
the  official  positions  held  were  road  com- 
missioner and  school  director.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  as  is 
also  his  wife. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  on 
the  old  home  farm,  where  he  yet  makes  his 
home,  and  after  receiving  his  education  in 
the  district  school,  he  took  charge  of  the 
farm  for  his  father.  On  the  31st  of  Decem- 
ber, 1885,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  McEUa  J.  Haines,  a  native  of  Ohio, 
born  February  i,  1864,  and  daughter  of 
Robert  Haines,  a  well-known  farmer  of  Allin 
township.  She  passed  to  her  reward  May 
26,  1898,  her  loss  being  mourned  by  a  be- 
reaved husband  and  many  friends. 

Mr.  Cooper  has  the  reputation  of  being 
a  good  farmer,  one  who  thoroughly  under- 
stands his  business.  In  addition  to  general 
farming,  he  has  given  attention  to  stock- 
raising,  and  has  upon  his  place  some  very 


792 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


fine  sheep,  which  have  won  a  number  of 
prizes  at  various  fairs.  He  has  also  on  his 
place  some  very  fine  horses  of  his  own  rais- 
ing. In  politics  he  is  a  stanch  Republican. 
Fraternally  he  was  formerly  a  member  of 
the  Knights  of  Pythias  at  Stanford. 


ISAAC  N.  RINEHART,  the  present  popu- 
1  lar  and  efficient  supervisor  of  Bellflower 
township,  was  born  in  Perry  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, March  i6,  1848,  a  son  of  F'rederick 
and  Mary  (Ulsh)  Rinehart,  also  natives  of 
that  county.  The  paternal  grandfather, 
Frederick  Rineheart,  Sr. ,  was  also  born 
there,  and  throughout  life  was  one  of  its 
leading  and  prominent  citizens,  represent- 
ing the  county  for  three  terms  in  the  Penn- 
sylvania legislature.  His  wife  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Susan  Cline.  The  maternal 
grandfather,  Capt.  Joseph  Ulsh,  served  with 
distinction  as  an  officer  in  the  war  of  181 2, 
and  in  1849  he  and  his  three  sons  were 
among  the  gold  seekers  who  went  to  Cali- 
fornia. By  occupation  the  father  of  our 
subject  was  a  farmer  and  stock  raiser,  and 
became  quite  an  e.xtensive  land  owner  in 
Perry  county.  He,  too,  was  prominent  in 
political  affairs  and  was  honored  with  a 
number  of  offices.  When  the  civil  war 
broke  out  he  enlisted  in  Company  C,  First 
Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  was 
elected  sergeant  of  his  company.  He  was 
wounded  at  the  battle  of  Antietam,  having 
his  left  arm  removed  from  the  socket,  and 
he  was  afterwards  appointed  by  the  govern- 
ment as  overseer  of  the  Soldiers'  Home 
at  Hampton  Roads,  Virginia.  He  died  in 
1883,  but  his  wife  is  still  living  at  the  age  of 
seventy-five  and  now  finds  a  pleasant  home 
with  our  subject.  To  them  were  born  six 
children  who  are  still  living,  namely:  Fred- 


erick, a  resident  of  Farmer  City,  Illinois; 
Isaac  N.,  our  subject;  Allen  R.  and  Charles 
.  D.,  also  of  Farmer  City;  Mary,  wife  of 
George  Rumbaugh,  of  Perry  county,  Penn- 
sylvania; and  Henry  W. ,  of  the  same 
county. 

In  the  county  of  his  nativity,  Isaac  N. 
Rineheart  grew  to  manhood  on  the  home 
farm  and  received  a  common  school  educa- 
tion. On  starting  out  in  life  for  himself  he 
chose  the  occupation  to  which  he  had  been 
reared,  and  for  si.xteen  years  rented  land 
of  Governor  Beaver  in  Perry  county.  In 
1883  he  came  to  DeWitt  county,  Illinois, 
where  his  brothers  had  previously  located, 
and  after  operating  rented  land  there  for 
two  years,  he  removed  to  Franklin  county, 
Kansas,  where  he  purchased  eighty  acres 
within  two  miles  and  a  half  of  Ottawa,  on 
which  he  engaged  in  farming  for  four  years. 
There  he  took  an  active  part  in  public  af- 
fairs, serving  as  school  director,  township 
treasurer  two  years,  and  road  overseer. 
From  Kansas  he  went  to  Walla  Walla 
county,  Washington,  and  for  six  years 
owned  and  operated  two  hundred  acres 
there,  during  which  time  he  filled  the  office 
of  school  director  and  road  commissioner 
and  the  last  year  was  city  marshal  of 
Waitsburg.  Selling  his  property  in  that 
state,  he  started  eastward  on  the  12th  of 
May,  1895,  with  two  wagons,  six  horses, 
and  his  family,  consisting  of  seven  children, 
and  after  three  months  and  a  half  of  travel 
overland  arrived  in  McLean  county,  Ilhnois. 
The  following  year  he  rented  a  half  section 
of  land  of  S.  D.  Oliver,  and  then  located  on 
his  present  farm  in  Bellflower  township, 
comprising  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
on  sections  4  and  21.  In  connection  with 
general  farming  he  is  now  engaged  in  breed- 
ing good  road  horses. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


79i 


On  the  26th  of  June,  1S73,  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, Mr.  Rinehart  married  Miss  Louisa 
Dimm,  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Eve  (Stine- 
ling)  Dimm,  of  that  state,  and  by  that 
union  two  children  were  born:  Mary  J., 
now  the  wife  of  A.  S.  Wickersham.  of  Nez 
Perces  county,  Idaho;  and  Louisa,  wife  of 
Charles  James,  of  Mansfield,  Illinois.  The 
wife  and  mother  died  February  18,  1S76, 
and  Mr.  Rinehart  was  again  married,  Feb- 
ruary 28,  1S78,  his  second  union  being  with 
Miss  Minerva  C.  Cox,  a  daughter  of  David 
B.  Cox,  of  Pennsylvania.  Nine  children 
have  been  born  of  the  second  marriage, 
namely:  Emma  C. ,  wife  of  Charles  Ken- 
nedy, of  Nez  Perces  county,  Idaho;  Fred 
D.,  a  resident  of  the  state  of  Washington; 
Joseph  R.,  a  traveling  salesman;  Isaac  N., 
Pearl,  June  R.,  Randolph,  John  P.  and 
Nell}'  F. ,  all  at  home. 

Religiously.  Mr.  Rinehart  is  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and 
socially  belongs  to  Bellflower  Lodge,  No. 
659,  I.  O.  O.  F.  Politically,  he  is  a  Demo- 
crat, but  at  local  elections  votes  independ- 
ently. In  the  spring  of  1898  he  was  elected 
school  trustee  in  Bellflower  township,  and 
a  year  later  was  elected  to  the  office  of 
supervisor,  which  he  is  now  most  capably 
and  satisfactorilj'  filling. 


FRANK  BISHOP,  a  member  of  the  well- 
known  firm  of  Bishop  &  Weedman, 
dealers  in  grain,  lumber,  coal  and  agricul- 
tural implements  at  Sabina,  Illinois,  is  a 
man  of  good  business  ability,  sound  judg- 
ment and  keen  discrimination,  and  in  his 
undertakings  he  is  meeting  with  well  de- 
served success.  A  native  of  McLean  coun- 
ty, he  was  born  in  West  township  January 
12,  1855,  and  is  a  worthy  representative  of 


one  of  the  oldest  and  best  known  families 
of  the  county,  his  parents  being  Stephen  L. 
and  Catherine  (Craig)  Bishop. 

The  grandfather,  Malon  Bishop,  an  hon- 
ored pioneer  and  prominent  citizen  of  this 
county,  was  born  in  Clark  county,  Ohio, 
December  25,  1810,  and  was  there  married 
March  23,  1831,  to  Miss  Catherine  Foley, 
also  a  native  of  Ohio.  The  ancestors  of 
both  were  from  Virginia.  To  them  were 
born  eight  children,  but  only  three  are  now 
living,  namely:  Nancy  J.,  born  October 
13,  1832,  is  the  wife  of  Mark  M.  Craig,  of 
West  township;  Catherine,  born  April  4, 
1842,  is  the  wife  of  W.  W.  Hammond,  of  Em- 
pire township,  and  Malon,  born  June  13, 
1849,  is  a  resident  of  Le  Roy.  After  his 
marriage  the  grandfather  of  our  subject 
made  his  home  in  Clark  and  Champaign 
counties,  Ohio,  until  the  fall  of  1834,  when 
he  came  to  McLean  county,  Illinois,  and 
first  located  in  Old  Town  township,  but  the 
following  spring  removed  to  Buckles  Grove, 
near  Le  Roy,  having  entered  land  there  the 
previous  January.  In  June,  1835,  the  roof 
of  his  pioneer  home  was  torn  off  by  a  tor- 
nado. He  was  an  active  member  of  society 
and  was  especially  prominent  in  political 
affairs.  The  first  office  he  was  called  upon 
to  fill  was  that  of  justice  of  the  peace,  and 
in  1842  he  was  elected  to  the  state  legisla- 
ture. His  service  in  that  position  was  no- 
table, it  being  during  the  troublesome  times 
of  early  days  when  the  country  was  infested 
with  outlaws,  the  banks  were  in  a  precari- 
ous condition,  the  Mormon  troubles  were 
to  be  considered,  and  the  large  sum  of  one 
million  six  hundred  thousand  dollars  was 
to  be  raised  for  the  completion  of  the  Illi- 
nois &  Michigan  canal.  His  services  through 
this  critical  period  were  most  praiseworthy. 
He  served  as   supervisor  of  his  township  in 


794 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


1863  and  1864.  He  was  a  pronounced 
Democrat  in  politics  and  in  religious  faith 
was  a  Methodist.  He  died  at  home  in  Em- 
pire township,  February,  1882,  honored 
and  respected  by  all  who  knew  him. 

Stephen  L.  Bishop,  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  January  14,  1835,  in  Empire 
township,  where  he  grew  to  manhood,  and 
on  starting  out  in  life  for  himself  located  on 
a  farm  on  section  17,  West  township, 
where  our  subject  was  born.  He  was  three 
times  married,  his  first  wife  being  Miss  Cath- 
erine Craig,  who  died  when  their  only  child, 
our  subject,  was  only  a  year  and  two  months 
old.  Soon  afterward  the  father  broke  up 
housekeeping,  sold  his  farm  and  embarked 
in  merchantile  business  at  Le  Roy,  which 
he  carried  on  for  several  years.  In  the 
meantime  he  married  Cynthia  A.  Rice,  and 
the  only  child  born  to  them  was  Myra,  wife 
of  George  A.  Shrigley,  of  Empire  town- 
ship. Late  in  life  he  was  again  married, 
his  third  union  being  with  Kate  Crumbaugh, 
but  had  no  children  by  that  union.  After 
disposing  of  his  store  in  Le  Roy,  he  again 
engaged  in  farming  in  Empire  township, 
where  he  remained  until  1896,  and  then 
lived  retired  in  Le  Roy  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  December  30,  1898.  He 
was  a  man  of  prominence  in  public  life,  and 
served  his  fellow  citizens  in  the  capacity  of 
assessor  and  collector  for  several  terms.  In 
his  political  views  he  was  a  Republican. 
His  widow  still  resides  in  Le  Roy. 

After  the  death  of  his  mother,  Frank 
Bishop,  of  this  review,  made  his  home  with 
his  paternal  grandparents  until  twenty-three 
years  of  age,  when  he  began  his  business 
career  as  a  farmer  of  Empire  township,  and 
successfully  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits 
until  1895.  He  then  disposed  of  his  land 
and  bought  the  interest  of    Mr.    Sarver,    of 


the  firm  of  Whittaker  &  Sarver,  in  his  pres- 
ent business,  the  name  being  changed  to 
Whittaker,  Bishop  &  Company.  In  1898 
Mr.  Weedman  purchased  Mr.  Whittaker's 
share  of  the  business,  which  has  since  been 
conducted  under  the  style  of  Bishop  & 
Weedman.  They  are  well-equipped  for 
carrying  on  their  business,  having  a  good 
elevator  with  modern  conveniences  for  hand- 
ling and  preparing  grain  for  market;  and  in 
connection  have  a  neat  and  commodious 
office  and  a  warehouse  for  machinery. 
They  are  located  in  the  center  of  McLean 
county's  fertile  grain  belt,  and  the  quan- 
tity lof  grain  handled  by  them  is  truly  sur- 
prising. 

On  the  2d  of  October,  187S,  Mr.  Bishop 
married  Miss  Matilda  E.  Wamslcy,  who  was 
born  in  McLean  county,  February  10,  1857, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  Charles  and  Mary  J. 
(Whittaker)  Wamsley,  natives  of  Kentucky 
and  early  settlers  of  this  county.  Her  par- 
ents now  make  their  home  in  Le  Roy. 
They  have  only  two  children,  the  younger 
being  Thomas,  also  a  resident  of  Le  Roy. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bishop  have  been  born 
four  children,  namely:  Walter  C,  Belle 
K. ,  Charles  L.,  who  was  named  for  both  of 
his  grandfathers;  and  Lester  F.  Frater- 
nally Mr.  Bishop  is  a  Master  Mason,  be- 
longing to  Le  Roy  Lodge,  No.  221,  F.  & 
A.  M.,  and  politically  he  affiliates  with  the 
Republican  party.  He  has  held  a  number 
of  local  offices  since  coming  to  Sabina,  and 
served  as  town  clerk  in  1896  and  1897. 


WILLIAM  T.  BRADBURY,  who  is  now 
living  retired  in  the  village  of  Bell- 
flower,  was  for  many  years  actively  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits  in  this  county, 
and  is  one  of  the  prominent  and  influential 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


795 


citizens  of  his  community,  and  has  been 
continuously  called  upon  to  fill  some  office 
of  honor  and  trust  in  his  township.  He  is 
a  native  of  Ohio,  born  in  Clermont  county, 
June  26,  1830,  and  is  a  son  of  John  E.  and 
Maria  (Thomas)  Bradbury,  natives  of  Maine 
and  Ohio,  respectively.  The  paternal  grand- 
father. Benjamin  Bradbury,  was  also  born 
in  Maine;  from  there  removed  to  New  York, 
and  subsequently  made  his  home  in  Ohio, 
and  finally  in  Perry,  Illinois,  where  he  died 
at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-five  years. 

John  E.  Bradbury,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  1800,  and  in  early  life  re- 
moved to  Ohio,  where  he  first  married  a 
Miss  Cord,  who  died  leaving  no  children. 
His  second  wife  was  the  mother  of  our  sub- 
ject, by  whom  he  had  two  sons  and  one 
daughter:  William  T.,  of  this  review;  James 
W.,  who  spent  the  latter  part  of  his  life  in 
Griggsville,  Illinois;  and  Ruth  A.,  wife  of 
Rev.  Caleb  B.  Mock,  a  member  of  the 
Northwestern  Indiana  conference,  and  now 
pastor  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at 
Lafayette.  In  the  springof  1836  the  family 
removed  to  Morgan  county,  Illinois,  and 
settled  near  Jacksonville,  where  the  father 
died  the  following  August.  They  then  re- 
turned to  Ohio,  where  the  mother  subse- 
quently married  William  McMahan,  and  for 
some  years  thereafter  the  family  made  their 
home  in  Marion  county,  Indiana.  In  1857 
they  returned  to  Illinois,  and  this  time  lo- 
cated in  Griggsville,  where  both  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  McMahan  died.  Three  children  were 
born  to  them:  Levi  W. ;  Harriet,  wife  of 
James  Shinn;  and  George  M. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  only  six 
years  old  when  he  was  left  fatherless.  Al- 
though he  continued  to  make  his  home 
with  his  mother,  he  worked  out  most  of  the 
time.      When  ten  years  of  age,  during  the 


log-cabin  and  hard-cider  campaign,  he  re- 
moved with  his  family  to  Marion  county, 
Indiana,  and  a  few  years  later  went  to  Hen- 
dricks county,  that  state,  where  he  was  em- 
ployed on  a  farm.  His  education  was 
principally  received  in  the  chimney  corner 
by  the  light  of  hickory  bark;  but  at  the  age 
of  seventeen  he  was  well-fitted  to  engage 
in  teaching,  and  successfully  followed  that 
professfon  for  several  years,  having  charge  of 
the  school  in  his  home  district  for  two  years. 

In  Boone  county,  Indiana,  April  4,  1852, 
Mr.  Bradbury  led  to  the  marriage  altar 
Miss  Tempa  E.  Gibson,  who  was  born  in 
that  county,  December  11,  1834,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Gillett) 
Gibson,  natives  of  Virginia  and  North  Car- 
olina, respectively.  Nine  children  were 
born  of  this  union,  namely:  John  E.,  who 
resides  on  the  home  farm  and  is  usually 
known  as  Dick;  Louisa,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy; Hattie  E. ,  who  married  N.  B.  Car- 
son, county  coroner  of  McLean  county, 
and  died  leaving  four  children;  Edward  and 
Edgar,  twins,  the  former  of  whom  married 
Katie  Kriete,  the  latter  Ida  Smith;  Myrtis 
M. ,  wife  of  W.  Douglas  Barnhart,  a  farmer 
of  North  Loop,  Valley  county,  Nebraska; 
James  M.,  who  died  June  13,  1894,  in  his 
twenty-fourth  year;  Nellie,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy; and  Thomas  W. ,  who  married  Ida 
Burnette.  Three  of  the  sons  live  on  the 
home  farm. 

For  about  four  years  after  his  marriage 
Mr.  Bradbury  was  engaged  in  mercantile 
business  with  his  brother-in-law,  Mr.  Mock, 
at  Carpentersville,  Indiana,  but  was  forced 
to  retire  from  that  business  on  account  of 
poor  health.  During  the  following  two 
years  he  engaged  in  farming  in  that  state, 
and  in  the  fall  of  i860  came  to  McLean 
county,    Illinois.      After  renting  a  farm  in 


79^ 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Cheneys  Grove  township  for  one  season,  he 
removed  to  Bellflower  township,  where  he 
rented  the  Philip  Hyatt  farm  until  1869, 
when  he  purchased  eighty  acres  there.  A 
year  later  he  sold  that  place  and  bought 
eighty  acres  on  section  17,  which  was  par- 
tially improved.  In  his  farming  operations 
here  he  met  with  most  excellent  success, 
and  is  now  the  owner  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  on  section  17,  a  like  amount  on 
section  18,  and  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  on  section  9,  Bellflower  township,  all 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  well 
improved.  He  followed  general  farming 
and  stock  raising  until  1892,  when  he 
turned  over  the  management  of  the  farm  to 
his  sons  and  removed  to  the  village  of  Bell- 
flower,  where  he  is  now  living  retired,  but 
for  two  years  of  his  residence  here  he  was 
interested  in  the  grain  business  at  Delaney. 
Since  casting  his  first  presidential  ballot 
for  Fremont  in  1856,  Mr.  Bradbury  has 
been  a  stanch  Republican,  and  he  has  most 
creditably  and  acceptably  filled  a  number 
of  local  offices.  He  was  elected  supervisor 
in  1864,  in  which  capacity  he  served  for 
one  year;  in  1883  was  re-elected  and  served 
for  fifteen  consecutive  years;  in  1867  was 
elected  township  treasurer  and  filled  that 
office  for  the  long  period  of  thirty-two 
years;  was  township  collector  seventeen 
years;  assessor  two  years;  commissioner  of 
highways  two  years;  and  school  director 
for  several  years.  He  has  ever  discharged 
his  official  duties  with  promptness  and 
fidelity,  worthy  of  all  commendation,  and 
his  life  has  ever  been  such  as  to  win  for  him 
the  respect  and  esteem  of  all  with  whom  he 
comes  in  contact.  He  and  his  wife  are 
both  faithful  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  and  for  many  years  he 
has  served  as  one  of  its  trustees. 


EM.  MERRITT,  who  has  a  fine  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  ninety-seven  acres 
on  section  32,  Cheney's  Grove  township, 
which  is  kept  under  a  high  state  of  cultiva- 
tion, is  a  native  son  of  Illinois,  being  born 
in  LaSalle  county,  near  Mendota,  January 
2,  1862.  His  father,  Henry  M.  Merritt, 
was  born  in  Cayuga  county,  New  York,  and 
there  spent  his  boyhood  and  youth,  coming 
to  Illinois  in  early  manhood  and  locating  in 
LaSalle  county.  He  there  married  Miss 
Anna  Eliza  Freeland,  a  native  of  Indiana, 
and  daughter  of  Richard  Freeland.  In 
1872  he  came  with  his  family  to  McLean 
county  and  located  in  Bellflower  township, 
where  he  purchased  a  partly  improved  farm 
of  two  hundred  and  eighty  acres.  On  that 
farm  he  remained  for  a  number  of  years, 
adding  to  its  area,  however,  by  the  addition 
of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  He  was  a 
good  farmer  and  everything  about  his  place 
denoted  the  thrift  of  the  owner.  He  later 
moved  to  Saybrook,  where  his  death  oc- 
curred in  December,  1897.  His  wife  died 
in  the  same  place  in  January,  1894. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  ten  years 
old  when  he  came  with  his  parents  to 
McLean  county,  and  on  the  home  farm  in 
Bellflower  township  he  grew  to  manhood, 
in  the  meantime  assisting  his  father  in  the 
cultivation  of  the  farm,  and  attending  the 
district  schools  as  the  opportunity  was  af- 
forded him.  He  also  attended  the  high 
school  at  Saybrook,  and  thus  secured  a 
good  practical  education,  which  has  stood 
him  well  in  life. 

On  the  i8th  of  October,  1882,  in  Old 
Town  township,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Elizabeth  McBarnes,  who  is  a 
native  of  McLean  county,  a  daughter  of  D. 
McBarnes,  a  substantial  farmer  of  Old 
Town  township.      After  attending   the  dis- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


797 


trict  school,  she  entered  Wesleyan  Univer- 
sity and  took  a  special  course,  and  after 
leaving  that  school  engaged  for  a  time  in 
teaching  in  the  public  schools  of  the  county. 
By  this  union  two  children  were  born — 
Dickey  and  Nellie. 

Soon  after  his  marriage,  Mr.  Merritt 
began  farming  in  Bellflower  township,  a 
place  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  and 
there  remained  seven  years.  In  1890,  he 
purchased  one  hundred  and  seventeen  acres 
of  his  present  farm,  to  which  he  later  added 
eighty  acres.  Since  removing  to  the  place 
he  has  made  some  permanent  improve- 
ments, and  the  farm  is  one  of  the  most 
productive  ones  in  the  county. 

Politically  Mr.  Merritt  is  a  stanch  Re- 
publican, and  has  been  an  earnest  advocate 
of  the  principles  of  the  party  since  casting 
his  first  presidential  vote  for  James  G. 
Blaine  in  1884.  He  has  always  taken  an 
active  interest  in  local  political  affairs  and  has 
been  a  delegate  to  various  conventions  of  his 
party.  He  was  elected  and  served  one 
term  as  commissioner  of  highways,  and  in 
1898  was  elected  a  member  of  the  county- 
board  of  supervisors  for  the  term  of  two 
years.  He  is  serving  on  several  committees, 
the  most  important  being  the  committee  on 
equalization  of  taxes.  He  has  taken  a 
commendable  interest  in  educational  affairs, 
and  has  been  for  some  time  a  member  of 
the  school  board.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  Saybrook, 
his  wife  being  a  member  of  the  same  church. 
Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  the  Knights 
of  Pythias.  As  a  citizen  he  is  enterprising, 
always  ready  to  advocate  and  do  his  part 
in  any  enterprise  calculated  to  build  up  his 
adopted  county,  and  especially  his  town- 
ship. Both  he  and  his  wife  are  held  in 
high  esteem  by  all  who  know  them. 


HLINDSEY  HARRIS,  M.  D..  is  a 
physician  of  acknowledged  skill  and 
ability,  having  a  wide  practice  throughout 
the  section  of  country  in  which  he  lives,  es- 
pecially in  diseases  of  women,  and  in  all 
rectal  troubles,  having  for  twenty-five  years 
made  a  specialty  of  those  diseases,  and  in 
the  treatment  of  which  he  has  met  with 
great  success.  He  is  a  native  of  Kentucky, 
born  in  Nicholasville,  Jessamine  county, 
August  29,  1846,  and  is  the  son  of  Milton 
and  Sarah  (Phillips)  Harris,  both  of  whom 
were  natives  of  the  same  county  and  state. 
The  paternal  grandfather,  Thomas  Harris, 
was  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  Kentucky.  He  was  one  of 
a  large  family  of  brothers,  and  was  a  Meth- 
odist minister  throughout  his  life.  The 
father  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  the 
only  one  of  a  large  family  of  boys  but  was 
a  minister  or  physician. 

Milton  Harris  came  with  his  father  to 
McLean  county  when  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  but  six  months  old,  coming  by 
way  of  the  Ohio,  Mississippi  and  Illinois 
rivers  to  Pekin,  thence  by  teams  to  Bloom- 
ington.  He  engaged  in  farming  in  McLean 
county  and  continued  to  be  thus  employed 
here  until  18C6,  when  he  removed  to  Toron- 
to, Kansas,  where  he  is  yet  living  at  the  age 
of  seventy-six  years. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  on 
the  home  farm,  and  remained  with  his  par- 
ents until  in  August,  1864,  when  he  enlisted 
in  Company  C,  Twentieth  Illinois  Volun- 
teer Infantry,  and  served  until  the  close  of 
the  war,  taking  part  with  his  regiment  in  all 
the  engagements  in  which  it  participated 
from  Atlanta  until  its  final  muster  out.  At 
Atlanta  the  regiment  went  into  the  engage- 
ment one  hundred  and  sixty  strong,  and  at 
the  close  of  the  day's   fighting   but   sixteen 


798 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


men  answered  to  roll  call.  That  night  they 
were  selected  by  General  Leggett  to  be  his 
body  guard.  The  Twentieth  Illinois  Volun- 
teer Infantry  was  one  of  the  best  regiments 
in  the  service. 

On  his  return  from  the  war,  our  subject 
entered  Eureka  College  and  spent  two  years. 
His  funds  becoming  exhausted,  he  com- 
menced teaching  to  replenish  them,  and  while 
teaching  read  medicine  under  the  direction 
of  Dr.  J.  W.  Waters,  of  Lexington,  Illinois. 
He  continued  his  reading  and  teaching  until 
the  fall  of  1 8/2,  when  he  went  to  Chicago 
and  entered  Rush  Medical  College,  from 
which  he  graduated  in  the  class  of  1875.  In 
May  of  that  year  he  went  to  Foosland, 
Champaign  county,  Illinois,  opened  an  office 
and  engaged  in  practice.  After  remaining 
there  for  eleven  years,  he  moved  to  Say- 
brook,  McLean  county,  where  he  remained 
until  March,  1890,  and  then  moved  to  Bell- 
flower,  where  he  has  since  remained,  having 
built  up  an  extensive  practice.  For  the 
past  ten  years  he  has  made  a  specialty  of 
the  treatment  of  the  diseases  of  women  and 
of  all  rectal  troubles.  His  success  has  been 
remarkable,  and  many  persons  who  were 
afflicted  unhesitatingly  make  the  statement 
that  they  owe  their  lives  to  his  treatment. 
He  does  not  profess  to  be  a  cure-all,  and 
will  not  take  a  case  that  he  believes  to  be 
incurable.  After  an  examination,  he  tells 
the  patient  frankly  what  he  thinks  of  the 
case,  and  whether  he  believes  that  he  can 
be  of  service  or  not.  He  thus  inspires  con- 
fidence in  the  patient,  and  as  stated,  the 
cures  effected  are  remarkable,  indeed. 

The  Doctor  is  no  politician,  in  the  cur- 
rent acceptation  of  the  term,  and  believes 
in  giving  his  time  and  best  efforts  to  his 
profession.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Chris- 
tian church,  and  was  one  of  the  organizers 


of  the  church  in  Belltlower.  He  has  always 
taken  an  interest  in  its  work,  and  has  been 
a  teacher  in  the  Sunday  school.  Frater- 
nally he  is  a  Royal  Arch  Mason,  and  has 
passed  all  the  chairs  in  the  blue  lodge  and 
chapter.  Since  residing  in  Bellflower  he 
has  been  the  local  surgeon  of  the  Illinois 
Central  Railroad,  and  is  now  a  member  of 
the  National  Association  of  Railroad  Sur- 
geons. 

On  the  2d  of  April,  1868,  Dr.  Harris 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Lucretia 
Henline,  daughter  of  Martin  and  Ferby 
(Cunningham)  Henline,  early  settlers  of 
McLean  county,  to  which  they  came  from 
Kentucky.  She  is  a  native  of  McLean 
county,  and  was  born  in  May,  1849.  One 
daughter  came  to  bless  their  union,  Ella, 
now  the  wife  of  August  Rhodes,  a  farmer  of 
Bellflower  township. 

The  Doctor  and  his  wife  are  held  in 
high  esteem  wherever  known,  and  their 
friends  are  many  in  McLean  and  adjoining 
counties,  where  almost  their  entire  lives 
were  spent.  The  Doctor  has  a  neat  resi- 
dence in  the  village  of  Bellflower,  together 
with  eight  lots. 


ELIJAH  W.  CLARK  is  an  enterprising, 
progressive  and  successful  business  man 
of  Delana,  Illinois,  carrying  on  operations 
as  a  dealer  in  grain,  coal  and  live  stock.  He 
is  a  native  of  McLean  county,  born  Novem- 
ber 3,  1864,  on  his  father's  farm  on  section 
22,  West  township,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and 
Elizabeth  (Seaborn)  Clark,  natives  of  Illi- 
nois and  Somersetshire,  England,  respect- 
ively. The  father  was  born  July  31,  1833, 
and  in  1846  came  to  America  with  his  par- 
ents, Sampson  and  Susan  (Irish)  Clark,  lo- 
cating on  a  farm  in  Pike   county,  Illinois, 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


799 


where  he  grew  to  manhood  and  was  married. 
He  came  to  McLean  county  and  settled  on 
a  farm  on  section  28,  West  township,  but 
after  a  short  time  spent  here  he  returned  to 
Pike  county.  After  his  marriage  he  again 
came  to  this  county  and  made  his  home  on 
section  22,  West  township,  until  1891,  when 
he  removed  to  Umatilla,  Florida,  where  he 
now  resides.  He  was  one  of  the  best-known 
and  most  highly-respected  citizens  of  this 
locality,  and  was  noted  for  his  benevolence 
and  readiness  to  assist  by  counsel  or  pecun- 
iary aid  those  in  need.  He  was  a  consistent 
and  conscientious  man,  was  a  Democrat  in 
political  sentiment  and  most  creditably  filled 
a  number  of  local  offices.  In  business  he 
prospered  and  became  quite  well-to-do. 
His  wife  died  in  1865,  leaving  two  children: 
Belinda,  who  married  Richard  F.  Rice,  of 
Florida,  and  is  now  deceased;  and  Elijah 
W. ,  of  this  review. 

Our  subject  was  reared  upon  his  father's 
farm,  and  was  educated  in  the  district 
schools  and  Wesleyan  College  of  Blooming- 
ton.  On  starting  out  in  life  for  himself  he 
first  engaged  in  farming,  but  in  1891  became 
interested  in  the  mercantile  and  grain  busi- 
ness at  Delana  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Daniels,  Irish  &  Clark,  but  since  1895  has 
been  alone  in  business  as  a  dealer  in  grain, 
coal  and  live  stock.  He  also  owns  and 
operates  a  fine  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
si.xty  acres  on  section  27,  West  township. 

On  the  13th  of  January,  1886,  Mr.  Clark 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Martha  E. 
Daniels,  who  was  born  in  Heyworth,  Mc- 
Lean county,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Ale.x- 
ander  and  Esther  (Kinsey)  Daniels.  They 
now  have  an  interesting  family  of  four  chil- 
dren, namely:  Arthur  L.,  Elizabeth  A., 
John  D.  and  Lena  A.  In  his  political  views 
Mr.    Clark  is  a  stanch   Democrat,   and    in 


1 891  he  was  appointed  to  the  office  of  super- 
visor of  his  township.  Religiously,  he  is  a 
member  of  Center  Chapel  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church,  and  socially,  belongs  to  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  Lodge,  at  BellHower, 
the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America  and  the 
Loyal  Sons  of  America. 


THOMAS  L.  PAULLIN.  Ohio  has  fur- 
nished to  this  county  many  of  its  best 
and  most  progressive  citizens,  and  among 
the  number  must  be  mentioned  the  subject 
of  this  interview,  who  now  resides  on  sec- 
tion 20,  Bellflower  township,  where  he 
owns  and  operates  a  valuable  farm  of  two 
hundred  acres.  He  was  born  in  Greene 
county,  Ohio,  September  8,  1849,  a  son  of 
Jacob  H.  and  Martha  A.  (Colvin)  Paullin. 
The  father  was  born  in  the  same  county  in 
1824,  and  died  December  25,  1889,  while 
the  mother  was  born  near  Winchester,  Vir- 
ginia, in  about  1822,  and  died  July  21,  1884. 
They  were  married  in  Ohio.  In  1848  the 
father  made  a  trip  through  Illinois  in  search 
of  a  location,  and  three  years  later  settled 
near  Atlanta,  Logan  county,  becoming  one 
of  the  pioneers  of  that  locality.  He  broke 
many  acres  of  land  with  four  and  six  ox 
teams,  and  took  an  active  and  prominent 
part  in  the  development  of  the  county.  He 
was  an  extensive  land  owner,  and  also  fed 
and  handled  a  great  deal  of  stock.  In 
his  family  were  seven  children,  namely: 
Thomas  L.,  our  subject;  Charles  E.,  a 
merchant  of  Springfield,  Illinois;  David  C, 
a  resident  of  Newkirk,  Oklahoma;  John  M., 
who  lives  on  the  old  homestead  in  Logan 
county;  Laura  E.,  a  celebrated  physician 
in  the  Prince  Sanitarium  of  Springfield; 
Abraham,  a  resident  of  Ridgeway,  Missouri; 
and  George  W.,  who  is  also  living  on    the 


8oo 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


old  homestead  in  Logan  county.  The 
paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject,  Jacob 
Paullin,  was  a  pioneer  of  Greene  county, 
Ohio,  and  helped  erect  the  block-house 
there  for  protection  from  the  Indians. 

Our  subject  was  but  two  years  of  age 
when  the  family  removed  to  Logan  county, 
Illinois,  and  there  he  grew  to  manhood,  re- 
ceiving a  liberal  education  in  the  common 
schools  and  the  Normal  Institute.  On  the 
1 1  th  of  December,  1870,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Nannie  J.  Constant,  a 
daughter  of  William  N.  and  Elizabeth 
(Walker)  Constant.  The  children  born  to 
them  were  Ernest,  who  died  in  infancy; 
Edna  L. ,  now  the  wife  of  Charles  P.  Guest, 
who  is  connected  with  the  Smith  Wholesale 
Grocery  Company  of  Springfield;  John  W. ; 
Wilbur  J. ;  and  Roy  E. 

For  two  years  after  his  marriage,  Mr. 
Paullin  engaged  in  farming  upon  his  father's 
land  in  Logan  county,  and  then  came  to 
McLean  county  where  his  father  had  pur- 
chased land  for  grazing  purposes,  being  ex- 
tensively engaged  in  the  stock  business. 
Our  subject  located  upon  this  place,  and 
with  a  breaking  plow  turned  many  acres  of 
virgin  soil.  For  thirteen  years  he  continued 
the  work  of  improvement  and  cultivation  and 
then  removed  to  Normal,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged in  the  coal  and  agricultural  implement 
business  until  1887,  when  he  went  to  Sanga- 
mon county.  There  Mrs.  Paullin  owns  prop- 
erty inherited  from  her  mother's  estate,  con- 
sisting of  a  valuable  farm  of  two  hundred  and 
forty  acres  near  Springfield  and  a  residence 
in  the  city.  Upon  that  farm  they  made 
their  home  until  the  spring  of  1899,  when 
they  returned  to  McLean  county,  Mr. 
Paulin  now  devotes  his  time  and  attention 
to  the  operation  of  his  farm  on  section  30, 
Bellflower  township,   and   is   meeting  with 


most  gratifying  success.  Besides  his  prop- 
erty here  he  also  owns  a  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  si.xty  acres  in  Shelby  county.  His 
home  farm  is  thoroughly  tiled  and  otherwise 
well  improved,  and  is  one  of  the  most  de- 
sirable farms  of  its  size  in  the  township. 

Mr.  Paullin  has  led  too  busy  and  active  a 
life  to  devote  much  time  to  political  affairs, 
but  is  a  stanch  Republican  from  principles, 
and  his  interest  in  educational  matters  has 
led  him  to  serve  as  school  director  for 
twelve  or  fifteen  years.  Socially,  he  is  a 
Master  Mason,  and  religiously,  he  and  his 
family  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church.  The  family  is  one  of  promi- 
nence in  the  community  where  they  reside, 
and  their  hospitable  home  is  always  open 
for  the  reception  of  their  many  friends. 

Mrs.  Paullin  was  born  in  Sangamon 
county,  March  21,  1854,  and  is  the  sixth 
in  order  of  birth  in  a  family  of  seven  chil- 
dren, the  others  being  as  follows:  Hiram, 
who  at  the  time  of  his  death,  January  20, 
1889,  was  serving  as  mayor  of  Hutchinson, 
Kansas,  and  his  wife  as  city  treasurer;  Sarah 
E.,  widow  of  William  E.  Graeser,  and  a 
resident  of  Springfield,  Illinois;  Jesse,  who 
is  engaged  in  the  dairy  business  in  St.  Louis, 
Missouri;  Edward,  a  ranchman  of  Both- 
ell,  Washington;  and  Jonathan  and  Willie, 
who  both  died  in  childhood.  The  father  of 
these  children,  William  N.  Constant,  was 
born  in  Clermont,  Ohio,  in  18 19,  and  was 
a  lad  of  six  years  when  he  removed  with 
his  family  to  Sangamon  county,  Illinois. 
His  father,  Jacob  Constant,  was  a  native  of 
France  and  was  an  officer  in  the  French 
army.  When  that  country  extended  aid  to 
the  colonies  in  their  struggle  for  independ- 
ence,he  was  sent  here  in  command  of  troops 
or  in  some  position  of  authority.  After  the 
war  he   received   a  soldier's  warrant  for  fif- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


80 1 


teen  hundred  acres  of  land,  which  he  located 
within  seven  miles  miles  of  Boonesboro, 
Kentucky,  where  a  fort  had  been  estab- 
lished, which  he  assisted  a  Mr.  Stroud  in 
commanding.  He  married  Miss  Eleanor 
Clinkerbeard.  In  18 14  they  sold  their  prop- 
erty in  Kentucky  and  removed  to  Cler- 
mont county,  Ohio,  where  he  purchased  a 
tract  of  fifteen  hundred  acres,  remaining 
there  until  coming  to  Illinois  in  1825  with 
a  colony  of  thirty  families,  who  located  ten 
miles  east  of  the  present  city  of  Springfield. 
Indians  at  that  time  were  still  very  numer- 
ous in  the  locality  and  wild  game  of  all  kinds 
abounded.  In  Sangamon  county  he  en- 
tered land  for  his  twelve  children,  but  he  was 
not  long  permitted  to  enjoy  his  new  home 
and  he  died  within  two  years  of  his  arrival 
here.  William  Constant  continued  his  res- 
idence in  Sangamon  county  until  1854, 
when  he  sold  his  property  there  and  re- 
moved to  Bloomington,  where  he  purchased 
land  and  was  engaged  in  active  business  for 
many  years,  but  is  now  living  retired  at  the 
age  of  eighty  years  with  his  daughter,  Mrs. 
Paullin.  In  politics  he  was  first  a  Whig 
and  later  a  Republican,  and  cast  his  first 
presidential  vote  for  W.  H.  Harrison. 
Since  the  age  of  sixteen  years  he  has  been  a 
zealous  and  faithful  member  of  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  church,  and  is  honored  and 
esteemed  wherever  known. 


THOMAS  U.  IRISH.  As  an  enterpris- 
ing and  wide-awake  business  man  of 
Delana,  and  one  who,  through  his  own  ef- 
forts, has  achieved  success,  we  take  pleas- 
ure in  giving  a  brief  biography  of  the  gen- 
tleman whose  name  stands  at  the  head  of 
this  sketch.  Under  the  firm  name  of 
Thomas  D.  Irish  &  Co.  he  is  engaged  in 


general  merchandising  at  Delana,  carrying 
a  large  and  complete  stock  of  dry  goods, 
groceries,  boots,  shoes,  hats,  caps,  notions, 
family  medicines,  agricultural  implements, 
and,  indeed,  almost  everything  people  wish 
to  buy.  He  also  handles  all  kinds  of  coun- 
try produce  which  they  wish  to  sell. 

Mr.  Irish  was  born  in  Somersetshire, 
England,  August  11,  1854,  a  son  of  John 
and  Mary  (Driver)  Irish,  the  former  also  a 
native  of  Somersetshire,  the  latter  of  Scot- 
land. They  were  married  in  England,  and 
the  father,  who  was  a  land  owner,  followed 
the  occupation  of  farming  there  throughout 
life.  The  grandfather,  Josiah  Irish,  was 
also  a  native  of  Somersetshire,  where  the 
family  have  made  their  home  for  many 
generations.  Our  subject  is  one  of  six  chil- 
dren, of  whom  only  two  came  to  America, 
the  other  being  James,  who  for  twenty  years 
has  served  in  the  United  States  regular 
army,  enlisting  at  Detroit,  Michigan. 

Thomas  D.  Irish  was  educated  in  the 
schools  of  his  native  land,  and  remained  in 
that  country  until  1874,  when  he  emigrated 
to  Canada.  Two  years  later  he  went  to 
Chicago,  and  from  there  engaged  in  boating 
on  the  lakes  for  three  years  and  a  half. 
During  the  following  year  he  was  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits  in  McLean  county, 
and  then  returned  to  England.  For  a  year 
and  a  half  he  engaged  in  sailing  on  a  line  of 
vessels  running  from  Glasgow,  Scotland, 
his  first  voyage  being  to  Australia,  around 
Cape  Horn,  and  back  to  Limerick,  Ireland. 
Returning  to  America  in  1881,  he  located 
in  McLean  county,  where  for  twelve  years 
he  engaged  in  farming,  but  in  June,  1892, 
in  company  with  Messrs.  Clark  and  Daniels, 
he  embarked  in  his  present  business  at  De- 
lana under  the  firm  name  of  Daniels,  Irish 
&  Clark,  and,  in  addition  to  general  mer- 


802 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


chandise,  they  handled  grain  for  a  time. 
At  the  end  of  nine  months,  Mr.  Daniels 
withdrew,  and  the  firm  became  Irish  & 
Clark.  It  was  again  changed  in  1895,  when 
the  grain  business  was  dropped,  becoming 
Thomas  D.  Irish  &  Co.,  and  our  subject 
now  conducts  the  business  alone,  with  good 
success. 

On  the  lOth  of  August,  1880,  at  Bris- 
bane, Australia,  Mr.  Irish  wedded  Miss 
Mary  Lowther,  a  native  of  County  Tyrone, 
Ireland,  and  a  daughter  of  Walter  and 
Eliza  (Jack)  Lowther,  and  by  this  union 
were  born  four  children:  Janie,  Harry, 
Percy  and  Vera.  Janie  was  born  on  the 
South  Pacific  ocean.  The  other  three  were 
born  in  West  township,  McLean  county, 
Illinois.  Socially,  Mr.  Irish  is  a  member  of 
the  Knights  of  Pythias  lodge  at  Bellfiower, 
and  the  Modern  Woodmen  camp  at  Delana, 
while  politically  he  is  identified  with  the 
Republican  party.  He  is  serving  as  post- 
master at  Delana,  and  in  1899  was  elected 
supervisor  of  West  township,  a  position  he 
is  now  most  creditably  and  acceptably  fill- 
ing. He  is  an  upright  and  reliable  business 
man  and  commands  the  confidence  and  re- 
spect of  all  with  whom  he  comes  in  contact. 


EDWARD  PATTON,  a  prominent  agri- 
culturist and  highly-respected  citizen  of 
Dry  Grove  township,  who  owns  and  oper- 
ates a  fine  farm  of  two  hundred  acres  on 
section  9,  was  born  in  Maryland,  August  3, 
1848,  a  son  of  Henry  and  Annie  E.  (Kin- 
singer)  Patton.  The  father  was  born  in 
Somerset  county,  Pennsylvania,  May  9, 
1820,  a  son  of  Robert  and  Eve  (Glotfelty) 
Patton,  also  natives  of  the  Keystone  state, 
and  the  former  a  farmer  and  shoemaker  by 
occupation.      Robert  Patton  died  in  Penn- 


sylvania at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years, 
his  wife  at  the  age  of  si.\ty-two.  Henry 
Patton,  father  of  our  subject,  was  the  oldest 
of  their  eleven  children.  On  the  5th  of 
February,  1844,  he  married  Miss  Annie  E. 
Kinsinger,  a  native  of  Germany,  and  soon 
afterward  moved  to  Maryland,  where  they 
made  their  home  for  nine  years.  The  fol- 
lowing year  was  passed  in  Pennsylvania, 
and  in  1854  they  came  to  Illinois,  locating 
first  in  Woodford  county,  where  the  father 
operated  rented  land  for  two  years.  At  the 
end  of  that  time  thej'  came  to  McLean 
county,  and  in  1864  purchased  three  hun- 
dred and  twenty-two  acres  of  land  on  sec- 
tion I,  Dry  Grove  township,  where  the 
father  died  in  about  1888,  and  the  mother 
one  year  later.  Both  were  consistent  and 
faithful  members  of  the  German  Reformed 
church,  and  in  politics  he  was  a  Republican. 

Our  subject,  who  is  the  third  in  order  of 
birth  in  a  family  of  ten  children,  accom- 
panied his  parents  on  their  removal  to  this 
state,  and  his  education  was  mostly  acquired 
in  Woodford  and  McLean  counties.  He 
remained  under  the  parental  roof  until 
twenty-two  years  of  age,  and  was  then  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Sophronia  Eyer,  a  native  of 
Ohio  and  a  daughter  of  Rudolph  Eyer,  who 
came  to  this  county  at  an  early  day  and 
first  settled  in  White  Oak  township,  but 
spent  the  last  year  of  his  life  in  Dry  Grove 
township.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Patton  have 
been  born  three  children:  Albert  H.,  who 
is  at  home  with  his  father;  Leonard  B., 
who  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen  months; 
and  Cora  Edna,  at  home. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Patton  at  first 
rented  land  of  a  Mr.  Rhodes,  in  White  Oak 
township,  and  then  purchased  eighty  acres 
of  his  present  farm  on  section  9,  Dry  Grove 
township,  to  which  he  has  since  added   one 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


803 


forty  and  another  eighty  acre  tract,  making 
two-hundred  acres  in  one  body.  This  he  has 
placed  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  has 
thoroughly  tiled,  has  erected  good  build- 
ings thereon  and  made  all  necessary  im- 
provements, so  that  he  now  has  one  of  the 
best  farms  of  its  size  in  the  locality.  He 
also  owns  twelve  acres  of  timberland  in 
Kansas  township,  Woodford  county.  His 
time  and  attention  are  principally  devoted  to 
general  farming,  and  is  meeting  with  most 
gratifying  success.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Mutual  Insurance  Company  of  Stanford, 
and  give  his  support  to  every  enterprise 
which  he  believes  is  calculated  to  prove  of 
public  benefit.  Politically  he  is  identified 
with  the  Republican  party,  and  for  eighteen 
consecutive  years  he  has  most  efficiently 
served  as  school  director  in  his  district. 
Religiously  he  and  his  wife  and  son  are  all 
earnest  members  of  the  Mennonite  church, 
and  in  the  best  social  circles  of  the  com- 
munity they  occupy  an  enviable  position. 


HENRY  WINN,  a  well-known  farmer 
and  stock  raiser,  residing  on  section 
II,  Dry  Grove  township,  is  the  owner  of 
one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  well-im- 
proved land,  on  which  he  has  lived  for  many 
years.  He  was  born  in  Ireland,  February 
28,  1 8 16,  and  is  the  son  of  Thomas  and 
Mary  (Prescott)  Winn,  both  of  whom  were 
natives  of  Ireland,  and  who  came  to  the 
United  States  shortly  after  their  marriage. 
On  coming  to  America,  Thomas  Winn  lo- 
cated in  Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  where 
he  purchased  land,  and  followed  farming 
during  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  died 
in  1838  or  1839.  His  wife  survived  him 
twenty  years,  dying  at  the  age  of  eighty 
years.     They    were    the    parents    of    eight 


children — Edward,  Henry,  Thomas,  Anna, 
William,  Robert,  Mary  and  John.  Of  these, 
our  subject  and  Mary  are  the  only  ones  now 
living.  In  politics,  Thomas  Winn  was  a 
Democrat.  His  wife  was  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  grew  to  man- 
hood in  his  native  state,  and  was  educated 
in  the  subscription  schools,  before  the  era 
of  free  schools.  When  he  was  about  twenty 
years  old  he  left  school,  and  worked  by  the 
month  for  about  four  years.  In  1840  he 
came  to  McLean  county,  and  remained  there 
about  si.\  months;  but  thinking  the  land  was 
of  little  value,  he  returned  to  Ohio,  where 
he  was  soon  afterward  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Caroline  Standiford,  a  native  of 
Ohio,  and  daughter  of  Skelton  and  Nancy 
Standiford,  residents  of  Muskingum  county, 
where  the  former  was  engaged  in  farming. 
By  this  union  there  was  one  son,  William  S. , 
who  grew  to  manhood,  and  during  the  civil 
war  enlisted  in  an  Illinois  regiment,  and 
died  at  New  Orleans,  shortly  after  the  sur- 
render of  Vicksburg,  and  after  serving  about 
one  year. 

In  1846  Mr.  Winn  thought  that  he  would 
once  more  try  Illinois,  and  with  his  wife  and 
child  came  to  McLean  county  and  located 
in  Dry  Grove  township,  where  he  rented 
land  for  three  years,  and  then  purchased  a 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  In 
his  youth  he  learned  the  carpenter's  trade, 
an  occupation  that  he  followed  for  many 
years,  both  in  Ohio  and  after  coming  to 
McLean  county.  He  did  a  large  amount  of 
contracting  and  building  of  dwellings  and 
barns  after  his  coming  to  this  county,  fol- 
lowing the  business  in  connection  with  farm- 
ing. 

For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Winn  chose 
Miss  Celia  Garrett,  a  native  of    Tennessee, 


8o4 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


and  daughter  of  John  Garrett,  who  was  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  his  native  state.  By 
this  marriage  there  were  two  children. 
Annel  married  Martin  Curtis,  and  they  have 
three  children,  Lydia  A.,  Nora  M.  and  Re- 
becca. They  make  their  home  in  Wood- 
ford county,  Illinois.  The  second  born 
died  in  infancy.  Mrs.  Winn  died  January 
9,    1887. 

In  early  life  Mr.  Winn  was  an  advocate 
of  Whig  principles,  and  cast  his  first  pres- 
idential vote  for  William  Henry  Harrison 
in  the  memorable  campaign  of  1840.  On 
the  organization  of  the  Republican  party, 
he  became  an  adherent  of  the  new  organi- 
zation. In  the  fifty-five  years  that  he  has 
been  a  resident  of  McLean  county  he  has 
witnessed  changes  in  the  political,  social 
and  material  world  such  as  never  could 
have  been  conceived  by  mortal  man.  He 
has  always  been  a  true  and  loyal  citizen, 
one  ready  to  do  his  part  in  everything  that 
would  be  beneficial  to  his  adopted  county 
and  state,  and  all  who  have  the  pleasure  of 
his  acquaintance  have  for  him  unbounded 
respect. 

MRS.  DELLA  H.  RIGBY,  C.  S.  B. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born 
in  Bloomington,  Illinois,  September,  1858. 
Her  father  was  of  Scotch  descent,  and  her 
mother's  ancestors  were  Virginians.  Her 
father  failing  in  business  while  she  was  yet 
in  her  'teens,  and  being  of  an  energetic,  in- 
dependent nature,  she  determined  to  fit 
herself  for  a  teacher.  For  this  calling  she 
showed  marked  aptitude  at  an  early  age. 
Her  favorite  role  when  playing  with  other 
children  was  that  of  a  teacher,  and  she  was 
never  happier  than  when  imparting  to  oth- 
ers something  she  had  learned.  She  grad- 
uated in  the  ward  schools  at   an  early  age, 


and  to  better  fit  herself  for  her  chosen  call- 
ing, she  attended  the  Normal  University, 
and  afterward  a  Business  College.  The 
following  letter  from  Miss  Sarah  E.  Ray- 
mond, then  city  superintendant  of  public 
schools,  shows  her  standing  as   a  teacher  : 

"This  is  to  certify  that  Mrs.  Delia  H. 
Rigby  was  a  highly  valued  teacher  in  the 
public  schools  of  this  city  for  ten  years. 
She  had  a  high  appreciation  of  her  profes- 
sion, was  successful  both  in  discipline  and 
instruction,  and  was  loyal  to  all  the  highest 
interests  of  the  school,  considering  the 
individual  interests  and  peculiarities  of  her 
pupils.  Her  sunny  disposition  won  for  her 
the  universal  regard  of  her  pupils  and  asso- 
ciates. All  her  conduct  was  regulated  by 
the  highest  Christian  principles. 

Sakah  E.  Raymond, 
Superintendent  of  Public  Schools." 

She  was  a  member  of  the  First  Meth- 
odist church,  and  a  valued  worker  in  all  its 
various  activities,  receiving  the  appointment 
of  conference  organizer  for  the  Home  Mis- 
sionary Society  from  its  leading  members. 
Later  she  identified  herself  with  the  Wo- 
man's Christian  Temperance  Union  work  of 
this  city,  presiding  over  its  suffrage  depart- 
ment, for  which  she  worked  enthusiastic- 
ally, keenly  feeling  the  injustice  of  state 
laws  towards  women  and  hoping  to  do  her 
part  towards  righting  them.  While  there  is 
nothing  morbid  or  pessimistic  in  Mrs.  Rig- 
by's  make-up,  she  has  unusual  intuitional 
and  spiritual  qualities  of  character  and  is  of 
a  deeply  religious  nature.  These  qualities 
led  her  to  look  beyond  the  letter  of  the 
Scriptures  and  study  the  deeper  meanings  of 
the  inspired  word.  Always  delicate  and 
frail  of  physique,  and  having  sought  healing 
of  various  physicians  without  avail,  she 
asked  for  the  prayers  of  her  pastor  and  his 


MRS.   DELLA  H.    RIGBY. 


or    TK'p 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


807 


estimable  wife,  as  well  as  some  of  the  more 
spirituall)'  inclined  of  her  co-workers  in  the 
church.  These,  too,  failed  to  bring  her  the 
much  desired  boon.  It  was  then  that  her 
attention  was  called  to  Christian  Science  as 
the  cure-all  for  human  ills.  She  tested  its 
merits  and  realized  physical  healing.  Her 
chronic  as  well  as  acute  ailments  vanished 
as  vapor  before  the  morning  sun.  She  found, 
too,  that  this  scientific  Christianity  uplifted 
one  morally  and  spiritually,  and  with  "  Sci- 
ence and  Health,"  by  Mary  Baker  Eddy, 
the  discoverer  and  founder  of  Christian 
Science,  Mrs.  Rigby  at  once  began  healing, 
and  her  success  was  phenomenal.  Being 
dissatisfied  with  an  inadequate  knowledge  of 
this  wonderful  curative  art,  she  went  to  Chi- 
cago to  take  a  primary  course  of  Mrs.  Caro- 
line B.  Noyes,  one  of  Mrs.  Eddy's  oldest 
students,  and  on  her  return  devoted  ail  her 
time  and  energies  to  the  study  and  practice 
of  Christian  Science. 

A  few  years  later  she  was  admitted  to 
the  Massachusetts  Metaphysical  College,  its 
president  being  the  Rev.  Mary  B.  G.  Eddy, 
taking  the  normal  course  and  fitting  herself 
for  the  teaching  of  Christian  Science.  She 
has  ever  since  been  the  recognized  leader  of 
the  work  in  Bloomington.  Through  her  ef- 
forts a  church  has  been  organized  under  the 
laws  of  the  state,  she  being  its  first  and  only 
pastor. 

The  order  of  e.xercises  has  now  been 
changed  to  the  reading  of  the  Scriptures  and 
correlative  passages  from  "Science  and 
Health,  with  Rey  to  the  Scriptures,"  by 
Mary  Baker  G.  Eddy.  Mrs.  Rigby  is  first 
reader  in  this  church,  situated  on  the  corner 
of  Monroe  and  Prairie  streets,  which  build- 
ing is  owned  by  the  Christian  Scientists. 

Mrs.  Rigby  has  for  many  years  been 
president    of    the    Bloomington    Christian 


Science  Institute,  with  a  large  following  of 
students  whom  she  has  fitted  for  the  work 
of  healing  the  sick,  and  casting  out  sin  in 
self  and  others,  thus  practically  carrying 
out  the  commands  of  the  great  Teacher, 
who  "spake  as  never  man  spake. "  emphat- 
ically asking  his  disciples  "  to  observe  all 
things  whatsoever  I  have  commanded  you," 
chief  among  these  commands  was,  "heal 
the  sick,  cleanse  the  lepers,  raise  the  dead 
cast  out  devils. " 

Mrs.  Rigby,  as  all  of  her  cult,  firmly  be- 
lieve that  this  command  is  as  binding  on 
the  followers  of  Christ  now  as  nineteen  hun- 
dred years  ago.  Few  realize  what  spiritual 
strength  and  stamina  of  character  is  required 
to  carry  on  a  pioneer  work,  against  the 
predjudices  and  opposition  of  a  community. 
With  a  few  faithful  workers,  who  began 
their  first  Christian  Science  meetings  in  her 
parlor,  the  work  has  steadily  increased  un 
til  its  adherents  fill  the  church. 

Mrs.  Rigby  was  married  to  Amos  W. 
Rigby,  June,  1882.  Her  husband  is  a  fine 
business  man,  respected  by  all  who  know 
him,  for  his  sterling  uprightness  of  character, 
being  also  a  firm  believer  in  the  faith.  They 
have  no  children.  This  enables  Mrs.  Rigby 
to  devote  all  her  time  to  her  beloved  Chris- 
tian Science  work.  Her  wise  counsel  and 
help  is  much  sought  after  by  those  who  are 
heavy  laden,  and  one  seldom  finds  her  alone 
at  her  home  207  East  Jefferson  street. 


JE.  OTTO,  a  progressive,  energetic  and 
successful  farmer  residing  on  section 
10,  Dry  Grove  township,  is  a  native  of  Mc- 
Lean county,  born  February  17,  1858,  in 
Allin  township,  and  is  a  son  of  D.  J.  Otto. 
During  his  childhood  he  removed  with  the 
family  to  Champaign  county,  Illinois,  where 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


he  attended  the  public  schools  for  six  years, 
and  after  their  return  to  this  county  was  a 
student  in  Evergreen  Business  College,  of 
Bloomington,  for  a  time.  On  the  comple- 
tion of  his  education  he  returned  to  the 
home  farm  in  Dry  Grove  township  and  as- 
sisted in  its  operation  until  about  twenty-five 
years  of  age. 

On  the  14th  of  February,  1883,  Mr.  Otto 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  E. 
Bohrer,  who  was  born  August  8,  1857,  a 
daughter  of  F.  C.  Bohrer,  of  Bloomington, 
of  whom  more  extended  mention  is  made  in 
the  sketch  of  J.  A.  Bohrer,  on  another  page 
of  this  volume.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Otto  have 
become  the  parents  of  five  children,  namely: 
Gertie  B.,  born  November  19,  1883;  Lillie 
L. ,  born  October  20,  1884;  Hattie  I.,  born 
November  24,  1885;  Ida  May,  who  died  in 
infancy;  Elsie  P.,  born  October  30,  1888. 
They  are  all  attending  the  local  schools. 

On  the  ist  of  March,  1883,  soon  after  his 
marriage,  Mr.  Otto  located  upon  his  present 
farm,  which  he  rented  from  his  father  for 
seven  years,  and  in  1890  purchased  it.  This 
place  comprises  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
of  rich  and  arable  land,  which  he  has  placed 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  and  he  also 
owns  another  tract  of  eighty  acres  on  sec- 
tion 15,  the  same  township,  which  he  pur- 
chased in  March,  1896,  of  Isaac  Livingston, 
of  Bloomington.  He  has  remodeled  the 
residence  upon  his  home  farm,  erected  a 
fine  barn  and  good  outbuildings,  and  made 
many  other  useful  and  valuable  improve- 
ments on  the  place,  so  that  it  is  now  one  of 
the  most  pleasant  country  homes  of  the  lo- 
cality. He  has  greatly  improved  the  pro- 
ductiveness of  his  land  by  laying  thirty-five 
hundred  rods  of  tiling  on  his  farm,  and  has 
a  good  system  of  waterworks,  with  a  one 
hundred  and  fifty  barrel  cypress  tank  in  his 


barn,  and  six  hydrants.  His  specialty  is 
stock-raising,  and  he  has  never  sold  a  bushel 
of  corn  since  he  commenced  farming,  but 
has  fed  it  all  to  his  stock,  shipping  on  an 
average  of  three  carloads  of  cattle  and  two 
of  hogs  annually.  He  raises  horses  only  for 
his  own  use.  He  is  a  good  business  man  of 
pronounced  ability,  is  wide-awake  and  en- 
ergetic, and  is  meeting  with  well-deserved 
success  in  his  chosen  occupation.  He  is 
also  a  stockholder  in  the  Home  Telephone 
Company,  and  has  a  line  connecting  his 
house  with  Bloomington.  Politically  he  is 
an  ardent  Republican,  and  with  his  wife  and 
their  two  oldest  children  holds  membership 
in  the  Congregational  church  at  Danvers. 


WL.  HORN,  M.  D.,  a  popular  and 
successful  physician  and  surgeon 
of  Arrowsmith,  Illinois,  is  a  native  of  Mc- 
Lean county,  his  birth  having  occurred  in 
Mt.  Hope  township,  November  5,  i860. 
His  parents  were  Valentine  and  Catherine 
(Taylor)  Horn,  both  natives  of  Ohio,  the 
former  born  in  Madison  county,  June  14, 
1830,  the  latter  in  Ross  county,  April  13, 
1837.  The  maternal  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  Alexander  Taylor,  was  a  farmer  of 
Ohio  in  early  life,  and  later  lived  for  some 
time  with  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Horn,  in  Ne- 
braska, but  finally  returned  to  Ohio, 
where  his  death  occurred.  She  was  the 
second  in  order  of  birth  in  his  family  of  five 
children.  Our  subject's  paternal  grand- 
parents were  John  M.  and  Margaret  Horn, 
natives  of  Virginia,  and  the  former  a  son  of 
a  Revolutionary  soldier.  John  Horn  fol- 
lowed the  occupation  of  farming  both  in 
Virginia  and  Ohio,  and  died  in  the  Old 
Dominion,  but  the  death  of  his  wife  occurred 
at  the  home  of  a   daughter  in  Illinois.     To 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


809 


them  were  born  five  children,  of  whom  \'al- 
entine  is  the  fifth  in  order  of  birth.  He 
grew  to  manhood  in  Ohio  and  there  followed 
farming  until  December,  1859,  when  he 
came  to  Illinois  and  located  in  Mt.  Hope 
township,  McLean  county,  making  his  home 
there  until  March,  1883,  since  which  time 
he  and  his  wife  have  lived  in  Hamilton 
county,  Nebraska.  To  them  were  born  ten 
children,  of  whom  eight  reached  man  and 
womanhood,  namely:  James,  a  farmer  of 
Mt.  Hope  township;  Willis,  a  farmer  of 
Logan  county,  Illinois;  Elizabeth,  who 
married  D.  C.  Price,  of  Phillips,  Nebraska, 
and  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-nine  years; 
Wallace  L. ,  our  subject;  John  W.,  a  farmer 
of  Frankfort,  Ohio;  Maggie,  wife  of  Dr.  E. 
H.  Ball,  of  Tama  City,  Iowa;  Lewis  T., 
who  was  drowned  in  the  Platte  river  in  Ne- 
braska, July  22,  1S83,  at  the  age  of  four- 
teen years,  four  months  and  twelve  days; 
George,  who  is  living  with  his  parents  in 
Nebraska;  Delia,  wife  of  Harry  J.  Peard; 
and  Ira  B.,  residing  with  his  parents. 

Dr.  Horn  received  his  primary  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  McLean,  and  for  a 
year  and  a  half  he  was  a  student  at  Wes- 
leyan  College,  Bloomington.  Subsequently 
he  engaged  in  farming  in  Mt.  Hope  town- 
ship for  a  few  years.  For  one  year  he 
studied  medicine  with  Dr.  C.  M.  Noble,  of 
McLean,  and  in  1891  entered  Jefferson 
Medical  College,  Philadelphia,  from  which 
he  was  graduated  May  15,  1894.  Immedi- 
ately afterward  he  opened  an  office  in  Ar- 
rowsmith,  this  county,  and  was  not  long  in 
building  up  the  large  and  lucrative  practice 
which  he  still  enjoys.  His  skill  and  ability 
in  his  chosen  profession  are  widely  recog- 
nized, and  he  has  met  with  most  excellent 
success. 

On  the  13th  of  March,  1884,    Dr.  Horn 


wedded  Miss  Mary  F.  Brock,  who  was  born 
in  this  state  October  3,  1866,  a  daughter  of 
William  Brock,  a  retired  farmer  of  Mt. 
Hope  township.  She  is  the  youngest  in  a 
family  of  five  children.  Two  children  were 
born  to  our  subject  and  his  wife,  but  both 
died  in  infancy. 

The  Doctor  is  a  member  of  the  McLean 
County  Medical  Society,  also  of  Arrowsmith 
Lodge,  No.  737,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Orange 
Chapter  No.  288,  Eastern  Star,  to  which 
his  wife  also  belongs,  and  Arrowsmith 
Camp,  No.  2343,  M.  W.  A.  Politically  he 
is  a  Republican  and  religiously  both  he  and 
his  wife  belong  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church. 

SILAS  HUBBARD,  M.  D.,  of  Hudson, 
Illinois,  traces  his  ancestry  back  to 
George  Hubbard,  born  in  1595,  who  came 
from  England  and  settled  in  the  New  Eng- 
land states  in  1633.  He  was  the  father  of 
George  Hubbard,  Jr.,  born  in  1620,  and 
the  latter's  son,  Daniel  Hubbard,  was  born 
in  1645.  He  had  a  son,  Daniel,  born  in 
1673,  who  also  had  a  son  Daniel,  born  in 
1 70 1.  The  fourth  of  that  name  was  born 
in  1729.  He  married  Eunice  Clark,  and 
they  were  the  parents  of  Solomon  Hubbard, 
Sr.,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
the  latter  being  born  near  Mayville,  Cha- 
tauqua  county.  New  York,  May  9,  1821. 
He  was  the  youngest  of  eleven  children,  of 
whom  but  one  brother,  Solomon,  is  yet 
living,  besides  himself.  Solomon  Hubbard, 
Jr.,  was  born  in  Durham,  Green  county. 
New  York,  October  22,  18 17. 

Silas  Hubbard,  M.  D.,  was  reared  on  a 
farm  until  he  was  ten  years  old,  when  he 
removed  with  his  mother  to  Buffalo,  New 
York,  his  father  having  died  when  he  was 
but  two  years  old.     When  he  was  thirteen 


8io 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


years  old,  his  mother  died  of  cholera,  and 
his  care  devolved  on  his  oldest  brother, 
Elias,  who  was  twenty-three  years  his 
senior.  He  attended  the  Lima,  New  York, 
Seminary  two  years,  and  Allegheny  College, 
Meadville,  Pennsylvania,  one  year,  until  he 
was  eighteen  years  of  age,  when  he  began 
the  study  of  medicine  and  surgery  with  Dr. 
William  Butler,  in  Lima,  New  York.  In 
the  spring  of  1840  he  attended  a  course  of 
medical  lectures  in  the  Castleton,  Vermont, 
Medical  College,  and  in  the  fall  of  the  same 
year  he  removed  to  Buffalo,  New  York,  and 
continued  his  studies  with  Noah  Warner, 
M.  D.  In  the  fall  of  1842  he  attended 
another  course  of  lectures  at  Castleton, 
Vermont,  and  received  his  diploma,  being 
then  but  twenty-one  years  old.  He  im- 
mediately began  the  practice  of  medicine  in 
all  its  branches  in  Buffalo,  New  York,  and 
in  the  summer  and  fall  of  1843,  having  be- 
come an  adept  in  the  knowledge  and  prac- 
tice of  phrenology,  he  lectured  four  months 
on  the  science  through  Ohio,  Indiana  and 
Kentucky.  He  was  the  first  to  publish  his 
discovery  and  description  of  consciousness 
in  the  Buffalo  Commercial  Advertiser  and 
Journal,  March  16,  1843.  He  was  the  first 
to  discover  and  define  the  organ  of  conju- 
gal love,  in  the  Buffalo  Daily  Gazette,  Jan- 
uary 17,  1845. 

With  the  exception  of  the  four  months 
lecturing  on  phrenology.  Dr.  Hubbard  con- 
tinued in  the  practice  of  medicine  in  all  its 
branches  in  Buffalo  for  thirteen  years,  or 
until  he  was  thirty-four  years  old,  having 
during  the  meantime,  when  he  was  twenty- 
eight  years  of  age,  married  Miss  Frances  J. 
Read  September  27,  1849.  She  was  born 
in  New  York  city  November  16,  1829.  By 
this  union  eight  children  were  born,  as  fol- 
lows:    Charles  Silas,  born  July  21,  1850,  in 


Buffalo,  New  York,  died  in  Hudson,  Illi- 
nois, February  29,  i860.  Hannah  Frances, 
born  June  10,  1853,  married  John  D.  Lar- 
kin  May  10,  1874,  in  Hudson,  Illinois.  Mr. 
Larkin  owns  and  manages  a  large  factory 
on  Larkin  street,  Buffalo,  New  York.  They 
have  an  interesting  family  of  five  children, 
three  sons  and  two  daughters.  Their  old- 
est daughter  married  Harold  Esta  in  Buf- 
falo, New  York,  in  June,  1899.  Elbert 
Green  Hubbard  was  born  June  19,  1856,  in 
Bloomington,  Illinois.  He  is  married  and 
has  three  sons  and  one  daughter.  He  has 
been  honored  in  literature  and  art,  and  from 
a  Chicago  paper  bearing  date  June  24,  1899, 
the  following  extract  is  taken:  "  The  trus- 
tees of  Tuft's  College  have  conferred  on 
Elbert  Hubbard,  proprietor  of  the  Roycroft 
shop  at  East  Aurora,  New  York,  the  degree 
of  master  of  arts  in  recognition  of  his 
achievements  in  literature  and  in  the  line  of 
artistic  bookmaking.  Mr.  Hubbard  is  be- 
ing congratulated  by  the  American  immor- 
telles, who  hail  the  editor  of  the  Philistine 
as  the  William  Morris  of  America."  Will- 
iam and  Edward  Hubbard  were  twins,  born 
December  5,  1858.  Edward  died  Decem- 
ber 6  and  William  died  December  9,  1858. 
Daisy  Anna  Mirenda  Hubbard,  born  De- 
cember 10,  i860,  in  Hudson,  Illinois,  is 
well  known,  especially  among  the  Women's 
Christian  Temperance  Union  women  of  the 
nation.  She  led  the  noonday  prayer  meet- 
ing in  Chicago  for  one  year,  and  has  lec- 
tured much  on  temperance  in  different 
states.  She  married  Rev.  F.  S.  Pollitt, 
and  now  lives  with  her  family  in  Harrods- 
burg,  Kentucky.  They  have  three  sons  and 
one  daughter.  Mary  Elizabeth  Hubbard 
was  born  April  15,  1864,  in  Hudson,  Illi- 
nois. After  teaching  school  a  number  of 
years,  she  married  Willing  R.    Heath,  who 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


8it 


is  a  lawyer,  and  has  achieved  success  in 
Chicago  and  in  Buffalo,  New  York,  where 
they  now  reside  at  170  Lancaster  avenue. 
They  have  three  sons  and  one  daughter. 
Honor  Amelia  Hubbard,  born  November  26, 
1868,  in  Hudson,  Illinois,  like  her  sisters, 
Daisy  and  Mary,  graduated  in  the  Normal 
University,  at  Normal,  Illinois,  and  was 
valedictorian  on  that  occasion.  She  taught 
school  three  years  and  married  Louis  B. 
Easton  at  Hudson,  Illinois.  Mr.  Easton  is 
now  a  teacher  of  chemistry  in  the  high 
school  at  Austin,  Illinois.  They  have  two 
promising  daughters. 

In  1855  Dr.  Hubbard  moved  with  his 
family  from  Buffalo,  New  York,  to  Bloom- 
ington,  Illinois,  where  he  practiced  medi- 
cine for  three  years,  and  in  185S  moved  to 
Hudson,  Illinois,  where  he  has  since  en- 
gaged in  practice,  a  period  of  forty-one 
years.  He  has  been  a  frequent  contributor 
to  the  leading  medical  jonrnals  of  the  day, 
and  has  published  at  least  one  hundred  and 
fifty  articles  on  various  medical  subjects, 
from  1850  to  the  present  time.  While  in 
Buffalo,  he  was  vice  president  of  the  Buf- 
falo City  Medical  Society  in  1852,  and  in 
that  year  was  sent  by  that  society  as  a  del- 
egate to  the  American  Medical  Association, 
which  met  in  Richmond,  Virginia.  Accord- 
ing to  appointment,  in  18  50  he  read  an  orig- 
inal article  on  the  constitutions  and  tem- 
peraments, before  the  Erie  County  Medical 
Society,  of  which  he  was  a  member.  For 
seven  years  prior  to  his  leaving  Buffalo, 
New  York,  Dr.  Hubbard  was  a  physician 
and  the  secretary  of  the  Buffalo  City  Dis- 
pensary. After  coming  to  Illinois  he  be- 
came a  member  of  the  McLean  County 
Medical  Society,  and  continued  as  such  un- 
til he  honorably  resigned. 

Dr.  Hubbard  is  an  active  member  of  the 


Baptist  church  of  Hudson,  and  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  was  the  teacher  of  the  senior 
Bible  class.  He  has  been  a  Republican 
since  the  party  wa^  formed.  He  belongs  to 
no  secret  sociaty. 

Dr.  Hubbard's  father  and  grandfather 
were  farmers,  and  they  and  all  their  chil- 
dren were  born  in  the  eastern  part  of  New 
York,  with  the  exception  of  the  Doctor. 
One  of  his  father's  brothers,  Matthew  Hub- 
bard, died  while  serving  in  the  Revolution- 
ary army.  They  were  all  patriots.  His 
mother  was  born  on  Long  Island,  and  when 
twelve  years  old  she  witnessed  a  Revolution- 
ary battle,  in  which  her  father  was  assisting. 
Her  father  was  a  native  of  England,  a  ship 
carpenter  by  trade,  and  was  the  owner  of 
some  ships. 


HOWARD  OGG,  a  well-known  farmer 
and  stock-raiser,  residing  on  section 
12,  Cheney's  Grove  township,  about  five 
miles  northeast  of  Saybrook,  has  had  a  pros- 
perous career  since  coming  to  McLean 
county  in  1867.  He  was  born  in  Madison 
county,  Kentucky,  February  14,  1840,  and 
is  the  son  of  Jonathan  Ogg,  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia, who  went  to  Kentucky  in  childhood 
with  his  parents,  who  settled  in  Madison 
county,  and  there  engaged  in  farming.  In 
that  county  he  grew  to  manhood  and  mar- 
ried Miss  Sally  McWilliams,  a  native  of 
Kentucky,  who  died  when  Howard  was  a 
child.  They  were  the  parents  of  six  child- 
ren, Howard  being  the  only  son.  Martha 
Jane  died  a  single  lady.  Miranda  is  the 
widow  of  James  Walkup,  and  resides  on  the 
old  Ogg  homestead  in  Kentucky.  Leah 
married  Ed.  Jackson,  of  Madison  county, 
Kentucky,  a  brother  of  H.  L.  Jackson,  a 
sketch    of    whom    appears     in     this   work. 


8l2 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Tabitha  is  the  widow  of  Stapp  Galaway, 
and  resides  near  the  old  home  farm  in  Madi- 
son county,  Kentucky. 

On  the  home  farm  in  Madison  county, 
Kentucky,  Howard  Ogg  spent  his  boyhood 
and  youth,  and  was  early  learned  to  do  his 
share  in  the  farm  work.  He  is  wholy  self- 
educated,  having  no  educational  advantages 
in  his  younger  years.  In  1867  he  came  to 
McLean  county,  joining  some  friends  who 
were  living  in  the  county.  On  his  arrival 
he  secured  employment  on  a  farm  in  Funk's 
Grove  township,  where  he  worked  by  the 
month  for  one  year.  He  then  rented  a 
farm  in  that  township,  which  he  cultivated 
for  one  season. 

On  the  20th  of  July,  1870,  he  married 
Miss  Sarah  Crusenberry,  a  native  of  Mc- 
Lean county,  Illinois,  and  by  this  union 
there  were  nine  children,  seven  of  whom 
are  now  living.  May  is  residing  at  home. 
Frank  is  married  and  is  engaged  in  farming 
in  Cheney's  Grove  township.  William  is 
also  married  and  is  engaged  in  farming  in 
Ford  county.  Albert,  Jennie,  Lewis  and 
Cordie  are  at  home.  Grover  died  when  seven 
years  old,  and  Johnnie  died  in  infancy. 

For  six  years  after  his  marriage,  Mr. 
Ogg  engaged  in  farming  rented  land.  In 
1876  he  came  to  Cheney's  Grove  township, 
purchased  the  place  where  he  now  resides, 
and  which  then  contained  but  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres.  The  farm  was  fairly  well 
improved,  but  in  due  time  he  erected  a  more 
substantial  residence,  put  out  some  fruit  and 
shade  trees,  which  added  materially  to  the 
looks  and  value  of  the  place.  Later  he 
purchased  one  hundred  acres  adjoining  his 
farm,  and  still  later  a  farm  of  eighty  acres 
in  Ford  county,  Illinois,  which  was  well  im- 
proved. 

While   he  commenced    life  in  McLean 


county  without  means,  Mr.  Ogg  had  the 
determination  to  succeed,  without  which 
success  is  impossible.  He  toiled  early  and 
late,  and  the  result  is  shown  in  the  two  fine 
farms  which  he  now  owns  and  which  are 
well  stocked  with  a  good  variety  of  the  best 
cattle  and  hogs.  In  the  raising  of  stock  he 
has  met  with  good  success,  and  now  raises 
and  ships  a  large  number  of  cattle  and  hogs 
per  year. 

Mr.  Ogg  has  been  a  stanch  Democrat 
during  his  entire  life,  but  he  has  never  been 
one  of  the  kind  that  sought  public  office,  or 
a  politician  for  the  sake  of  the  spoils.  Fra- 
ternally, he  is  a  Master  Mason,  holding 
membership  in  the  lodge  at  Saybrook.  He 
is  a  good  and  loyal  citizen,  one  who  will 
bear  his  part  in  any  enterprise  for  the  public 
good.  All  who  know  him  have  for  him  un- 
bounded respect. 


JOHN  STILES,  residing  on  section  24, 
Cheney's  Grove  township,  owns  and 
operates  a  farm  of  eighty  acres,  and  which 
lies  within  two  and  a  half  miles  of  Say- 
brook.  He  was  born  in  Guernsey  county, 
Ohio,  December  12,  1833,  and  is  the  son  of 
Stephen  and  Eliza  (Linn)  Styles,  both  of 
whom  were  natives  of  the  same  state,  the 
former  born  in  1805.  Stephen  Stiles  was 
a  farmer  by  occcupation,  and  in  that  line 
spent  his  entire  life.  His  wife  died  about 
1835,  leaving  two  children — John,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch;  and  Fanny,  who  grew  to 
womanhood,  married,  but  is  now  deceased. 
After  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  Stephen 
Stiles  was  again  married,  and  by  his  second 
union  had  seven  children,  of  whom  two 
only  are  now  living,  George  and  Reuben, 
who  reside  in  Guernsey  county,  Ohio.     His 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


8«3 


death  occurred  in  i8S6,  at  the  age  of  eigh- 
ty-one years. 

In  his  native  county,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  grew  to  manhood,  and  in  the  com- 
mon schools  received  a  Hmited  education. 
In  his  youth  he  was  afflicted  with  white 
swelling  in  one  of  his  limbs,  which  rendered 
him  a  cripple  for  life.  He  was  married  in 
Guernsey  county,  Ohio,  January  i6.  1862, 
to  Miss  Isabella  Stiles,  daughter  of  Jacob 
Stiles,  of  Ohio.  One  daughter,  Adaline, 
was  born  of  this  union.  She  married  Al- 
bert Thompson,  now  deputy  sheriff  of  Mc- 
Lean county,  and  they  make  their  home  in 
Saybrook.  They  have  four  children,  Mabel, 
Lee,  Charles  and  Susie. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Stiles  rented  a 
farm  in  Guernsey  county,  Ohio,  and  there 
engaged  in  farming  for  two  years,  In  the 
summer  of  1864  he  removed  to  Grant  coun- 
ty, Indiana,  and  there  rented  a  farm,  and 
in  the  season  of  1865  raised  a  crop.  Not 
being  satisfied  with  the  locality,  and  be- 
lieving he  could  better  himself  in  Illinois, 
in  the  spring  of  1866  he  came  to  McLean 
county,  and  located  on  the  line  dividing  it 
from  Livingston  county.  There  he  re- 
mained for  sixteen  years,  and  in  the  spring 
of  1882  he  purchased  the  farm  of  eighty 
acres  where  he  now  resides.  The  place 
was  fairly  well  improved,  but  there  is  no 
place  so  well  improved  but  that  it  can  be 
made  better,  and  to  that  end  Mr.  Stiles 
made  further  improvements  on  the  place  by 
tiling  the  land,  and  the  erection  of  a  good 
dwelling  and  barn. 

Politically  Mr.  Stiles  is  a  life -long  Re- 
publican, his  first  presidential  vote  being 
cast  for  the  great  "  Pathgnder, "  John  C. 
Fremont,  in  1856.  He  has  continued  to  vote 
the  party  ticket  from  that  time  to  the  pres- 
ent, and    sees  no    good    reason    why    he 


should  make  a  change.  He  has  never 
asked  for  public  office,  consquently  he  feels 
to  act  independently  and  vote  as  his  best 
judgment  dictates.  For  thirty-three  years 
— a  third  of  a  century — he  has  been  a  resi- 
ident  of  this  section,  and  he  feels  a  just 
pride  in  the  advancement  that  has  been 
made,  and  has  the  satisfaction  of  knowing 
that  in  it  all  he  has  done  his  part  as  best  he 
could.  He  is  a  good  neighbor  and  friend, 
and  has  the  respect  and  confidence  of  those 
with  whom  he  has  been  associated  for  so 
long  a  period  of  time. 


JOHN  M.  STIPP.  one  of  the  gallant 
>J  defenders  of  the  Union  during  the  civil 
war,  and  an  honored  citizen  of  Arrowsmith, 
Illinois,  who  is  now  living  practically  re- 
tired from  business  cares,  was  born  in  Parke 
county,  Indiana,  November  2,  1842,  and 
was  about  nine  years  of  age  when  brought 
to  this  county  by  his  father,  Henry  Stipp. 
His  mother,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Martha  Meddley,  was  a  native  of  Indiana, 
and  died  when  our  subject  was  about 
eighteen  months  old.  The  father  was  born 
in  Ohio  in  1S09,  and  was  a  son  of  John 
Stipp,  a  farmer  of  Pickaway  county,  that 
state,  who  removed  to  Parke  county,  In- 
diana, when  the  son  was  a  lad  of  fifteen 
years  and  there  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
life.  There  Henry  Stipp  grew  to  manhood, 
and  followed  the  occupation  of  farming 
until  coming  to  McLean  county,  Illinois,  in 
March,  1852.  Prior  to  this  he  had  made  a 
trip  to  New  Orleans  on  a  ilatboat,  being 
interested  in  a  trading  venture.  After  com- 
ing to  this  county  he  first  operated  rented 
land  in  Dawson  township,  and  in  1858  re- 
moved to  Arrowsmith  township,  where  he 
continued  to  make  his  home  until  his  death 


8i4 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


in  1 87 1 .  By  his  first  wife  he  had  two  chilldren 
but  one  died  in  infancy,  the  other  being  our 
subject.  His  second  union  was  with  Cyn- 
thia Ann  Meddley,  a  cousin  of  his  former 
wife,  and  by  her  he  had  nine  children,  five 
sons  and  four  daughters,  eight  of  whom 
reached  years  of  maturity.  She  is  still  liv- 
ing in  Arrowsmith  township  at  the  age  of 
seventy-five  years. 

John  M.  Stipp,  of  this  review,  is  in- 
debted principally  to  the  public  schools  of 
McLean  county  for  his  educational  advan- 
tages. When  the  south  attempted  to  se- 
cede, he  was  one  of  the  first  to  offer  his 
services  to  the  government  to  assist  in  sup- 
pressing the  rebellion,  enlisting  April  15, 
1 86 1,  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years,  in 
Company  K.,  Eighth  Iliinois  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, under  command  of  Captain  Harvey 
and  Colonel  Oglesby.  He  went  at  once  to 
Springfield,  Illinois,  and  from  there  to 
Cairo  and  on  to  Big  Muddy  Bridge.  His 
three  months'  term  of  enlistment  having 
expired,    he    was    mustered    out    July    25, 

1 86 1,  but  he  re-enlisted  November  28, 
the  same  year,  in  Company  A,  First  Illinois 
Cavalr}',  under  Captain  McNulty  and  Col- 
onel Marshall.  With  that  command  he 
participated  in  a  number  of  skirmishes.  He 
was    mustered  out   as   corporal,    July   14, 

1862,  and  three  days  later  again  enlisted, 
this  time  as  sergeant  in  Company  F,  Ninety- 
fourth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry.  After  a 
short  time  spent  at  Benton  Barracks,  the 
regiment  went  to  Springfield,  Missouri, 
where  they  remained  until  the  12th  of  Nov- 
ember, fortifying  the  city  and  drilling. 
Later  at  Twin  Springs  the  regiment  was 
assigned  to  the  Second  Brigade,  Third  Div- 
ision, Army  of  the  Frontier,  and  with  that 
department  Mr.  Stipp  participated  in  the 
following    notable    engagements  :     Prairie 


Grove,  Arkansas,  December  7,  1862;  the 
raid  to  Van  Buren,  Arkansas,  December  27, 
1862;  the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  Mississippi, 
from  June  13  to  July  4,  1863;  the  capture 
of  Yazoo  City,  July  14,  1863;  the  skirmish 
at  Ackafaloya,  Louisiana,  September  7, 
1863;  the  capture  of  Brownsville,  Texas, 
November  5,  1863;  the  siege  and  capture 
of  Fort  Morgan,  Alabama,  in  August,  1864; 
the  skirmish  at  Litie,  Alabama,  December 
22,  1864;  and  the  siege  and  capture  of  Span- 
ish Fort,  Alabama,  in  April,  1865.  In  these 
engagements  Mr.  Stipp  served  as  color 
bearer,  but  was  mustered  out  as  second  lieu- 
tenant, being  promoted  to  that  rank  on 
account  of  his  valor  and  meritorious  service. 
He  is  also  in  possession  of  a  complimentary 
letter  from  his  colonel,  who  was  afterward 
General  McNulta.  He  was  mustered  out 
July  17,  1865,  and  finally  discharged  Au- 
gust 9,  1865,  just  three  years  to  a  day  from 
his  last  enlistment. 

On  his  return  to  civil  life  Mr.  Stipp  took 
up  the  vocation  of  a  farmer  and  stock  raiser, 
having  during  his  military  service  saved 
enough  to  make  a  payment  on  eighty  acres 
of  land  in  Arrowsmith  township.  After  re- 
siding thereon  for  two  years  he  sold  the 
place  and  removed  to  Lynn  county,  Kan- 
sas, but  about  eight  months  later  he  re- 
turned to  McLean  county,  Illinois,  and  again 
took  up  his  residence  in  Arrowsmith  town- 
ship, where  he  rented  land  for  two  years. 
He  then  bought  an  eighty-acre  tract,  to 
which  he  has  added  from  time  to  time, 
until  he  now  has  two  hundred  acres  in  one 
body  in  Arrowsmith  township,  all  under  a 
high  state  of  cultivation,  and  also  five  acres 
of  timber  land.  While  residing  on  his  farm 
he  gave  considerable  attention  to  stock  rais- 
ing and  shipping  to  the  Chicago  market, 
and  that  branch  of  his  business  proved  quite 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


815 


profitable.  On  the  15th  of  November,  1S97, 
he  removed  to  the  village  of  Arrowsmith, 
and  has  since  lived  retired,  surrounded  by 
all  the  comforts  and  many  of  the  luxuries 
of  life  which  have  been  secured  by  former 
years  of  toil. 

On  the  4th  of  March.  1866,  Mr.  Stipp 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Ellen  L. 
Wirt,  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of 
James  and  Margaret  (Newman)  \^'irt,  also 
natives  of  the  Buckeye  state.  By  occupa- 
tion her  father  was  a  farmer  and  mason. 
Mrs.  Stipp  is  the  fourth  in  order  of  birth  in 
a  family  of  nine  children.  Of  the  six 
children  born  to  our  subject  and  wife,  Mar- 
garet, the  eldest,  died  in  infancy;  Minnie  is 
at  home;  Florence  is  the  wife  of  H.  E. 
Bingham,  of  Bloomington,  by  whom  she 
has  two  children,  Warren  W.  and  Dimple; 
Claiborne,  who  operates  his  father's  farm 
on  sections  19  and  20,  Arrowsmith  town- 
ship, married  Harriet  Birgham,  and  has  two 
children,  May  and  Claiborne;  John  W.  is 
with  his  brother  on  the  farm;  and  Nellie 
lives  with  her  parents  in  Arrowsmith.  The 
wife  and  daughters  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  the  family- 
is  one  of  social  prominence  in  the  com- 
munit}-. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Stipp  is  a 
strong  Republican,  and  he  has  ever  taken  a 
very  active  and  prominent  part  in  public 
affairs,  having  served  as  supervisor  in  Arrow- 
smith  township  for  seven  years;  assessor 
two  terms;  collector  one  te«"m,  and  school 
director  for  a  number  of  years.  Since  his 
removal  to  the  village  he  has  also  been  a 
member  of  the  board  of  education.  He 
has  proved  a  most  capable  and  satisfactory 
official,  and  has  ever  been  found  willing  to 
discharge  all  duties  devolving  upon  him  with 
the  same  promptness  and  fidelity  with  which 


he  responded  to  his  country's  call  for  aid 
during  the  dark  days  of  the  rebellion.  So- 
cially, he  is  a  worthy  member  of  Arrow- 
smith  Lodge,  No.  737,  F.  &  A.  M. ;  and 
Orange  Chapter,  No.  28S,  O.  E.  S.,  and 
was  also  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army 
Post,  No.  I  5,  during  its  existence.  He  is 
a  man  honored,  respected  and  esteemed 
wherever  known  and  most  of  all  where  he 
is  best  known. 


DANIEL  WEBSTER  KRAFT,  one  of 
the  young  and  enterprising  farmers  of 
Towanda  township,  is  a  native  of  the  town- 
ship, born  on  his  father's  farm,  in  section  3, 
November  29,  1S63.  He  is  a  son  of  Tim- 
othy and  Walberg  (Hurley)  Kraft,  both  of 
whom  are  natives  of  Germany.  Timothy 
Kraft  was  born  in  Atteneau,  Baden,  Ger- 
many, July  2,  1832,  and  is  a  son  of  Joseph 
and  Mary  (Fordenbarck)  Kraft,  who  were 
also  natives  of  Germany,  but  who  never 
left  the  fatherland.  Joseph  Kraft  was  a 
weaver  by  trade,  and  served  six  years  in  the 
German  cavalry. 

Timothy  Kraft,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  the  youngest  of  four  children.  He 
grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  land,  and 
there  learned  the  potter's  trade.  In  1854 
he  came  to  the  United  States,  with  a  view 
of  bettering  his  condition  in  life,  and  for 
five  years  was  a  resident  of  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio,  where  he  was  married  March 
5,  1856,  to  Walburg  Hurley,  daughter  of 
Cornelius  and  Noteburg  (Schneider)  Hur- 
ley, natives  of  Baden,  Germany,  where 
their  daughter  was  born,  November  28, 
1835.  In  the  fall  of  i860  he  came  to  Mc- 
Lean county  and  bought  eighty  acres  of 
land  on  section  3,  Towanda  township,  and 
there  made  his  home  until  about  1 887,  when 


8i6 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


he  le(t  the  farm,  moving  to  Bloomington, 
where  he  has  since  lived  a  retired  life.  He 
was  a  very  successful  farmer,  and  from  the 
humble  beginning  in  which  he  commenced 
ill  tliis  county  he  added  to  his  possessions 
until  he  was  the  owner  of  some  six  hundred 
acres  of  as  fine  land  as  one  would  wish  to 
see.  His  family  consisted  of  seven  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  Sarah  A.,  wife  of  H.  Kee 
Hayes,  of  Bloomington  township;  Charles, 
of  Towanda  township;  Daniel  W.,  our  sub- 
ject; Cornelius,  who  resides  on  the  old 
homestead;  William  T.,  of  Towanda  town- 
ship; Frank,  who  died  at  the  age  of  three 
years;  and  Lulu  M.,  who  resides  with  her 
parents  in  Bloomington. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  spent  his  boy- 
hood and  youth  on  the  home  farm,  and  as 
soon  as  his  age  would  permit,  he  was  as- 
signed his  daily  task  in  farm  work,  contin- 
uing to  be  thus  employed  until  after  he  at- 
tained his  majority.  His  primary  education 
was  obtained  in  the  public  schools  of  his 
township,  and  this  was  supplemented  by 
a  course  in  Wesleyan  University,  at  Bloom- 
ington. After  leaving  school,  he  commenced 
life  for  himself  by  renting  a  portion  of  the 
home  place,  and  engaging  in  general  farm- 
ing. On  the  29th  of  February,  18SS,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Clara 
Mickens,  daughter  of  Asa  and  Martha  (Johns) 
Mickens.  She  was  third  in  their  family  of 
live  children,  the  others  being  Sarah,  wife 
of  Frank  Boling,  of  Normal,  Illinois;  Liz- 
zie, wife  of  Jay  C.  Freeman,  of  Austin, 
Illinois;  Ethel  and  Charles  E.,  the  latter 
now  living  in  Mobile,  Alabama.  Mrs.  Kraft 
was  born  in  McLean  county. 

For  three  years  after  his  marriage,  Mr. 
Kraft  resided  on  one  of  his  father's  farms, 
and  in  1892  purchased  what  was  known  as 
the  Lormier    farm  on    section  3,  Towanda 


township,  which  consisted  of  one  hundred 
and  twenty-five  acres.  In  1896  he  added 
forty  acres  to  his  farm,  and  now  has  a  fine 
place  of  one  hundred  and  si.xty-five  acres, 
all  of  which  is  under  excellent  improvement. 
He  has  followed  general  farming  and  stock- 
raising,  and  his  success  has  equaled  his  ex- 
pectations. 

Three  children  came  to  bless  the  union 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ivraft,  one  of  whom,  Har- 
land,  died  in  infancy.  The  living  are  Eva 
May  and  Helen  M.  In  politics  Mr.  Kraft  is 
a  Republican,  and  religiously  he  is  identified 
with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  To- 
wanda. Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of 
Success  Lodge,  No.  480,  K.  P.,  of  To- 
wanda. Socially  he  is  well  esteemed  by  his 
friends  and  neighbors,  with  whom  he  has 
spent  his  entire  life.  With  the  thrifty  hab- 
its of  the  German  race,  he  combines  the 
push  and  energy  of  the  American,  and  while 
yet  jouiig,  he  has  been  quite  successful  in 
life.  

THOMAS  FOSTER  TIPTON  was  born 
near  Harrisburg,  Franklin  county, 
Ohio,  about  ten  miles  from  Columbus,  Au- 
gust 29,  1833.  He  is  a  descendant  of  the 
Tipton  family,  the  parent  stem  of  which 
located  in  Frederick  county,  Maryland,  at 
a  pre-revolutionary  period  and  was  com- 
posed of  four  brothers,  Joshua  and  Sylvester 
Tipton;  the  names  of  the  other  two  are  un- 
known to  the  writer;  they  were  of  Scotch- 
Irish  extraction  and  came  originally  from 
that  sterling  race  of  Highlanders  whose  rep- 
resentative was  the  famous  John  Knox  of 
the  Reformation.  Sylvester  Tipton,  the 
grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  re- 
moved from  Maryland,  about  1790,  to  what 
was  then  known  as  the  Northwest  territory, 
but  subsequently  became  the  state  of  Ohio, 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


817 


settling  temporarily  in  Chillicothe,  Ross 
county,  and  later  in  what  is  now  known 
as  Franklin  county.  Here  he  followed  the 
vocation  of  school  teachiiij^j  until  he  was 
nearly  eighty  years  of  age.  He  was  a  man 
of  very  limited  means,  but  had  a  fair  edu- 
cation, and,  better  than  all  else,  possessed 
a  good  name.  He  was  small  in  stature, 
but  had  a  good  constitution  and  lived  to 
a  ripe  old  age,  dying  at  the  age  of  ninety 
years. 

Joshua  Tipton,  the  other  brother,  also 
removed  from  Mar^-land  to  eastern  Ten- 
nessee at  the  close  of  the  Revolution,  where, 
April  1 8,  1793.  he  was  murdered  by  the 
Indians.  The  support  of  the  family  was 
thus  thrown  upon  the  only  son,  John,  then 
seven  years  old,  who  at  the  same  time  be- 
came imbued  with  the  idea  of  revenging  his 
father's  death.  In  1807  the  family  moved 
to  Brinley's  Ferry,  Harrison  count}*,  In- 
diana, and  settled  on  a  farm  of  fifty-five 
acres,  paying  for  it  by  splitting  rails.  In 
1S09  he  joined  the  "Yellow  Jackets,"  a 
military  organization  commanded  by  Cap- 
tain Spier  Spencer,  and  soon  after  became 
ensign,  serving  through  the  campaign  that 
followed  which  terminated  in  the  battle  of 
Tippecanoe,  November  7,  181 1.  During 
this  conflict  he  succeeded  to  the  command 
of  the  company  by  the  death  of  his  captain, 
and  later  was  elevated  to  the  rank  of  briga- 
dier-general of  militia.  During  his  life  he 
was  elected  to  the  office  of  sheriff,  repre- 
sentative in  the  legislature,  United  States 
Indian  commissioner  and  United  States 
senator,  in  many  of  which  offices  he  served 
more  than  one  term.  He  was  also  actively 
engaged  in  all  public  enterprises  where  the 
support  of  the  community  was  essential  to 
their  progress,  and  took  also  a  personal  in- 
terest in  the  educational  and  philanthropic 


organizations  in  the  state.  The  city  of 
Columbus  was  located  upon  his  land,  and 
for  a  time  was  called  Tiptonia  in  honor 
of  him. 

Sylvester  Tipton  reared  a  familj-  of  eight 
children — four  sons  and  four  daughters. 
His  wife  was  a  woman  of  more  than  ordinary 
strength  of  character.  Her  maiden  name 
was  Mary  Stark,  a  niece  of  General  Stark 
of  Revolutionary  fame.  She  was  tall  and 
dignified  in  appearance,  and  being  unusually 
intelligent,  occupied  a  conspicuous  place  in 
the  communities  where  she  resided.  The 
sons  were  Captain  Thomas,  Jonathan,  John 
and  Hiram. 

Of  the  immediate  family  Jonathan  re- 
moved to  Kno.\  county,  Illinois,  in  1840,  and 
in  1851  moved  to  Washington  count}-,  Iowa, 
where  his  descendants  still  live  and  where 
his  son  Basil  has  represented  his  district  in 
the  legislature.  Thomas  secured  an  educa- 
tion and  grew  to  manhood  in  his  home  vicin- 
ity, and  during  the  war  of  1812  became  a 
captain,  in  which  he  served  with  distinction. 
He  died  September  13,  1864,  at  Pleasant 
Ridge  Farm,  leaving  an  estate  of  one  thous- 
and acres,  near  Harrisburg,  Ohio.  John,  the 
third  brother,  moved  to  Fulton  county,  Illi- 
nois, in  1841,  where  he  lived  until  1866, 
when  he  was  accidentally  killed  by  a  tree 
falling  upon  him.  The  famil}'  later  resided 
in  Peoria. 

Hiram  Tipton,  the  youngest  son,  and 
who  was  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  born  in  Franklin  county,  Ohio, 
in  1802  and  devoted  his  life  to  agricultural 
pursuits.  In  1827  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Deborah  Ogden,  daughter  of  Albert 
Ogden,  of  Fayette  county,  Ohio.  In  1S37 
he  removed  to  Pickaway  county,  Ohio,  and 
in  the  fall  of  1S44  to  McLean  county,  Illi- 
nois,   and    settled    in  what  is  now  Money 


8i8 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Creek  township,  where  the  famih'  resided 
several  years  after  the  father's  death  on 
March  20th,  the  year  following  their  arrival, 
leaving  his  widow  and  three  small  children: 
Thomas  F. ,  subject  of  this  sketch;  John  re- 
siding in  Saybrook,  and  Jane,  the  widow  of 
William  S.  Tuttle,  also  of  Saybrook. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  began  life  in 
an  humble  cottage  constructed  of  poles  and 
thatched  with  buck-wheat  straw.  He  be- 
gan his  individual  efforts  in  life  at  the  early 
age  of  twelve  jears,  living  with  his  uncle, 
John  Ogden,  and  devoting  his  time  during 
the  summer  months  to  work  on  the  farm, 
while  in  the  winter  he  was  enabled  to  attend 
the  district  schools.  Farm  life  was  not  con- 
genial to  young  Tipton  and  whatever  was 
done  was  not  a  labor  of  love.  Reading 
books  was  more  to  his  taste  than  plowing 
corn.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  entered  the 
school  at  Lexington  under  the  tutorage  of 
Col.  Wm.  N.  Calor,  where  he  remained  un- 
til he  was  eighteen,  when  he  entered  the 
ofifice  of  Dr.  Lindley  and  began  the  study  of 
medicine.  At  the  end  of  a  month  he  con- 
cluded that  the  study  of  medicine  would  be 
distasteful  and  he  made  ready  to  prepare 
himself  for  the  study  of  that  profession 
which  his  ambition  had  lead  him  to  adopt 
for  a  life  vocation.  With  some  assistance 
from  his  guardian,  James  Vandolah,  he  pur- 
chased Blackstone  and  Kent's  Commen- 
taries, and  began  the  study  of  law.  Later 
he  taught  school  for  a  year,  and  read  law 
in  the  office  of  H.  N.  Keightley,  a  prom- 
inent attorney  of  Knoxville,  Illinois,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  practice  of  law,  June  6, 
1854,  being  then  in  his  twenty-first  year. 
He  opened  an  ofifice  in  Le.xington  at  once, 
and  entered  vigorouslj'  upon  the  practice  of 
his  profession,  retaining  his  residence  in 
Lexington   for  seven  years,  and  gaining  no 


little  prestige  by  reason  of  his  ability  and 
determined  efforts.  In  January,  1862,  he 
removed  to  Bloomington,  where  a  few 
months  later  he  became  associated  with 
Judge  R.  M.  Benjamin,  one  of  the  framers 
of  the  constitution  of  1S70.  In  1S68  Hon. 
Lawrence  Weldon,  who  aftervyard  became 
one  of  the  judges  of  the  United  States  court 
of  claims,  was  admitted  to  membership  in 
the  firm,  which  gained  recognition  as  one 
of  the  ablest  legal  associations  in  central 
Illinois. 

In  1866  Mr.  Tipton  was  appointed  by 
Governor  Oglesby  states  attorney  of  the  8th 
judicial  district,  which  he  held  for  a  term  of 
two  years.  In  1870  he  was  elected  judge  of 
the  circuit  court  (8th  circuit),  which  he  held 
until  1877,  being  re-elected  to  a  second  term 
in  1873.  In  1876  he  was  elected  to  repre- 
sent his  district  in  the  forty-fifth  congress. 
His  services  in  the  halls  of  congress  were 
characterized  by  that  sterling  wisdom  he 
had  shown  so  perfectly  in  his  professional 
career,  and  was  of  that  discriminating  and 
faithful  order  which  not  only  gained  to  him 
the  endorsement  of  his  constituents,  but 
which  gained  also  the  recognition  as  an  hon- 
est representative  and  a  true  statesman. 

After  his  return  from  congress  Judge 
Tipton  became  again  actively  engaged  in 
the  practice  of  law,  until  1891,  when  he 
was  elected  circuit  judge,  for  which  he  was 
so  eminently  qualified,  both  by  natural  abil- 
ity and  long  experience  in  judicial  functions 
and  in  which  he  continued  until  1897,  since 
which  time  he  has  been  constantly  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession,  the  firm  being  now 
Tipton  &  Tipton  through  the  admission  of 
his  son,  Thomas  W.,  to  a  junior  partnership. 

To  Judge  and  Mrs.  Tipton  seven  chil- 
dren have  been  born,  two  of  which  number 
died  in  infancy.      Harry  V.,  died  March  31, 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


819 


1SS7,  at  the  age  of  twentj-seven  years; 
Belle  E.  is  the  wife  of  E.  E.  Van  Schoick, 
of  Hastings,  Nebraska;  Helen  F.  is  the  wife 
of  William  R.  Bair,  of  Bloomington,  Illi- 
nois; Thomas  W.,  who  married  Miss  Alice 
Searles,  a  daughter  of  Dr.  Searles,  of  Omaha, 
Nebraska,  and  who  now  lives  at  Normal, 
Illinois;  and  Laura  B.,  at  home. 

Judge  Tipton  as  circuit  judge  was  called 
upon  to  decide  manj'  intricate  questions 
growing  out  of  the  construction  of  the  con- 
stitution of  1S70,  which  made  many  changes 
in  the  constitution  of  1S48.  The  case  of 
the  People  ct.  a!  v.  The  Chicago  &  Alton 
Railroad  Company,  the  purpose  of  which 
suit  was  to  determine  whether  or  not  the 
legislature  had  power  under  the  constitution 
to  regulate  and  control  the  rate  of  charges 
for  freight  and  passenger  on  railways.  This 
opinion,  which  was  of  great  length,  discuss- 
ing the  entire  law  on  that  subject,  was  pub- 
lished at  the  time  throughout  the  press  of 
the  state  and  elsewhere  and  was  published 
by  the  Illinois  Railway  and  Warehouse 
Commissioners  in  the  second  volume  of 
their  reports  and  has  ever  been  regarded  as 
the  law  embodying  that  subject  and  it  was 
afterward  sustained  in  principle  by  our  own 
supreme  court  and  the  supreme  court  of  the 
United  States  in  the  Granger  cases. 

Judge  Tipton  has  had  an  extensive 
practice  in  central  Illinois  and  is  well  known 
throughout  the  state  having  held  court  and 
practiced  law  throughout  central  Illinois. 
He  has  tried  either  as  circuit  judge  or  as 
counsel  forty-seven  murder  cases  and  many 
other  important  cases.  Persons  familiar 
with  the  Illinois  Reports  are  necessarily  fa- 
miliar with  the  name  of  Judge  Tipton,  as  he 
appears  as  counsel  or  as  the  circuit  judge 
who  tried  the  cause  in  perhaps  more  cases 
than  any  other  practitioner  in  the  state. 


WILLIAM  WILEY,  deceased,  was  for 
many  years  a  well-known  farmer  and 
stock  raiser  in  Martin  township.  He  was 
born  in  Garrett  county,  Kentucky,  August 
24,  1S13,  and  when  a  small  boy  removed 
with  his  parents  to  Switzerland  county,  In- 
diana, where  he  was  reared  and  received  his 
education  in  the  schools  of  that  early  day. 
He  was  reared  on  a  farm,  and  chose  farm- 
ing as  his  life  work.  When  he  attained  the 
age  of  twenty-one  years  he  left  Indiana  and 
came  to  McLean  county,  Illinois,  locating 
in  Martin  township,  where  he  purchased 
four  hundred  acres  of  land  west  of  where 
the  city  of  Colfax  is  now  located,  two  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres  of  his  purchase,  how- 
ever, lying  in  Lawndale  township.  Upon 
that  part  which  was  in  Martin  township  he 
took  up  his  abode  in  a  log  cabin. 

For  seven  years  he  resided  alone  in  that 
little  cabm,  but  on  the  30th  of  September, 
1 84 1,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Nancy  S.  Hopkins,  a  native  of  Indiana, 
born  in  1823.  By  this  union  there  are  seven 
living  children,  five  sons  and  two  daughters, 
namely:  John  S.,  Robert  M.,  Joseph  S. , 
William  R. ,  James  S.,  Amelia  and  Nancy. 
Of  these  John  S.  was  a  soldier  in  the  civil 
war,  being  a  member  of  Company  K,  Eighth 
Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry.  He  was  hon- 
orably discharged  at  the  close  of  the  war  in 
1S65.  Robert  M.  was  also  a  soldier  in 
Company  K,  Eighth  Illinois  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, and  died  while  in  the  service  of  his 
country,  April  2,  1864.  Joseph  S.  served 
in  the  same  company  and  regiment  until  the 
close  of  the  war.  After  his  return  from  the 
army  John  S.  married  Miss  Missouri  Arnold, 
and  to  them  were  born  three  children,  Lil- 
lian W.,  Arnold  and  Nancy  E.  John  S. 
Wiley  died  June  10,  1874.  Joseph  S.  mar- 
ried   Miss    Melissa    Henline,   of    Lawndale 


I 


820 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


township,  and  they  have  six  children,  five 
sons  and  one  daughter,  Lovetta,  Robert, 
Everett,  Virgil,  Mercer  and  Ray.  They  re- 
side in  Nebraska.  Rev.  William  R.  is  pre- 
siding elder  of  the  Normal  district  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  He  married 
Gertrude  Green,  and  they  have  seven  chil- 
dren, Hamilton  E..  W.  Earl,  Robert  H., 
Lillian,  Elizabeth,  Mildred  and  Ruth.  They 
reside  in  Normal.  James  S.  is  a  resident  of 
Decatur,  Illinois, where  he  is  engaged  in  the 
grain  business.  He  married  Miss  Hattie 
Dennis,  and  they  have  three  children, 
Charles,  Madge  and  Clara.  Amelia  mar- 
ried Stephen  Smith,  and  they  have  nine 
children,  Pearl,  Homer,  Orville,  John,  Mark, 
Stephen,  Elizabeth,  William  and  George  N. 
They  are  now  residing  in  Nebraska.  Lizzie 
married  Lemuel  Finchan,  and  they  have 
five  children,  Lawrence  W.,  James  F.,  Lem- 
uel C. ,  John  R.  and  Gertrude  M.  They 
reside  in  Martin  township. 

In  April,  1891,  Mr.  Wiley  was  called  to 
his  reward,  and  his  death  was  a  sad  blow  to 
the  community  in  which  he  had  so  long 
resided,  and  of  which  he  was  an  honored 
pioneer.  He  was  a  good  man,  and  no  man 
in  the  community  had  more  friends.  In  the 
early  days  he  was  enabled  to  render  timely 
assistance  to  many  whose  means  were  lim- 
ited and  these  all  hold  him  in  grateful 
remembrance.  His  widow  is  yet  living,  and 
is  an  honored  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  in  Colfa.x. 

Robert  Hopkins,  the  father  of  Mrs. 
Wiley,  was  born  in  Delaware  in  1799,  from 
which  state  his  parents  moved  to  Kentucky 
when  he  was  a  small  boy.  In  the  latter 
state  he  received  his  education  and  grew  to 
manhood.  He  married  Miss  Millie  Bar- 
tholomew, and  to  them  were  born  seven 
children:    Nancy  S.,  Mary,  Sarah,  Angelia, 


Joseph,  John,  Robert  and  Henry.  Both 
parents  died  in  1859,  the  wife  four  days 
later  than  her  husband. 


HENRY  B.  JOHNSON,  a  well  known 
and  successful  painter  of  Chenoa,  Illi- 
nois, was  born  in  Germany,  June  21,  1861, 
a  son  of  John  H.  and  Tracey  Johnson,  also 
natives  of  Germany,  who  emigrated  with 
their  family  to  America  in  1867,  and  located 
in  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  where  the  father 
died  si.x  months  after  his  arrival.  The  fam- 
ily continued  to  reside  in  that  city  for  a 
year  and  a  half  and  then  removed  to  Peoria, 
Illinois,  where  the  mother  had  friends  liv- 
ing. There  they  made  their  home  for  a 
few  years. 

Our  subject  is  the  youngest  child  in  the 
family  of  five  children,  all  of  whom  are  still 
living,  and  he  was  only  six  years  old  when 
brought  to  this  country  by  his  parents.  He 
remained  a  resident  of  Peoria  until  eleven 
years  of  age  and  then  came  to  Chenoa, 
where  he  now  resides,  his  education  being 
obtained  in  the  public  schools  of  both 
places.  Later  he  spent  two  years,  1881 
and  1882,  in  Peoria  learning  the  painter's 
trade,  and  when  he  had  thoroughly  mas- 
tered the  business  returned  to  Chenoa, 
where  he  resided  uninterruptedly  for  eight 
years.  Returning  to  Peoria  in  1888,  he 
conducted  a  livery  stable  there  for  about 
eighteen  months  and  later  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  other  pursuits,  remaining  there  for 
four  j'ears.  The  following  two  years  he 
speiit  upon  a  farm  and  then  again  took  up 
his  residence  in  Chenoa,  where  he  has  since 
worked  at  his  trade. 

On  the  17th  of  September,  1890,  Mr. 
Johnson  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Mary   C.    Ringel,  who  was  born   in   Peoria 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


821 


county,  Illinois,  May  2,  i860,  a  daughter 
of  Henry  and  Caroline  Kingel.  Three  chil- 
dren were  born  of  this  union:  Pearl  M., 
and  Bland  B.  and  Blanch  B.,  twins,  now 
deceased.  The  family  have  a  pleasant 
home  in  Chenoa,  purchased  by  Mr.  Johnson 
in  1897.  He  and  his  wife  hold  member- 
ship in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
and  politically  he  is  identified  with  the  Re- 
publican party. 


STEPHEN  M.  SMITH,  of  Anchor  town- 
ship, was  born  near  Morgantown,  Mo- 
nongalia county.  West  Virginia,  October  13, 
1848,  and  is  the  son  of  James  Wat  and  Eliza- 
beth A.  Smith,  who  ars  still  living  on  the 
old  homestead  of  two  hundred  acres  in  Mo- 
nongalia county.  They  are  both  natives 
of  West  Virginia,  the  former  born  in  Marion 
county  in  18 15,  and  the  latter  in  Monon- 
galia county  in  1827.  They  are  of  Irish 
and  Welsh  descent,  and  were  married  in 
1845,  and  went  to  housekeeping  on  the 
same  farm  which  they  now  occupy.  They 
were  never  out  of  their  native  state,  and 
are  the  parents  of  nine  children:  Elza  E. , 
born  November  18,  1846,  unmarried,  and 
still  under  the  parental  roof;  Stephen  M., 
the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Rachel  Y. ,  born 
August  4,  1850,  married  Joseph  Smith,  and 
is  yet  living  in  West  \'irginia;  Edgar  C, 
born  May  7,  1852,  now  living  in  Sedgwick 
county,  Kansas;  Susanna  W. ,  born  Janu- 
ary 4,  1857,  died  in  infancy;  W.  W. ,  born 
May  14,  1864;  James  M.,  born  August  7, 
1861,  at  home;  Thomas  J.,  born  August  7, 
1866;  Elizabeth  M.,  born  July  17,  1870. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  his 
education  under  very  different  circumstances 
and  conditions  from  those  that  exist  at  the 
present   time.       Then  there    were  no  free 


schools  in  West  Virginia,  or  Virginia,  as  it 
was  not  then  separated,  and  but  a  limited 
number  of  subscription  schools  were  taught. 
The  school  house  at  Laurel  Point,  where  he 
attended  school,  was  built  of  logs,  with  one 
log  left  out  for  a  window,  holes  were  bored 
in  the  log  directly  under  the  opening, 
wooden  pins  were  driven  in  and  a  long 
plank  laid  on  the  pins.  A  writing  desk  was 
thus  constructed  that  would  accommodate 
from  fifteen  to  twenty  students.  The 
benches  were  made  of  slabs,  twelve,  four- 
teen or  sixteen  feet  long,  in  which  holes 
were  bored  and  four  wooden  legs  driven  in, 
the  bench  being  then  ready  for  use.  The 
teacher,  books,  and  apparatus  generally 
were  just  as  primitive  as  the  school  houses. 
For  the  benefit  of  the  boys  and  girls  of  to- 
day, Mr.  Smith  would  explain  that  a  slab 
is  the  first  cut  from  the  logs.  In  taking 
logs  to  the  mill,  the  first  thing  the  sawyer 
does  is  to  take  off  four  slabs  to  make  the 
log  square.  A  slab  is  thick  in  the  middle 
and  runs  out  to  a  thin  edge,  and  often  the 
bark  is  left  on.  These  are  some  of  the  dis- 
advantages under  which  he  received  his  ed- 
ucation. However,  he  was  enabled  to  at- 
tend two  winter  terms  of  three  months  each 
in  the  free  schools,  one  term  in  West  Vir- 
ginia, and  three  months  in  Woodford  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  when  he  attended  the  school  of 
Miss  Anna  Harney.  In  1866,  when  the 
free  school  system  was  adopted  in  West 
Virginia,  there  was  not  a  young  man  or 
young  woman  in  the  neighborhood  were  he 
was  reared  capable  of  passing  a  teacher's 
examination,  and  the  first  teachers  in  the 
neighborhood  came  from  Pennsylvania.  In 
speaking  of  his  career  from  this  point  in  his 
life,  Mr.  Smith  says: 

"  I   lived  at  home  and  assisted  my  fa- 
ther on  the  farm  until  I  was  twenty  years  of 


822 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


age.  I  then  looked  around  for  an  opening 
for  myself.  Not  finding  what  seemed  to 
me  an  opportunity  to  do  anything  that 
would  be  remunerative,  I  concluded  to  go 
west.  In  company  with  three  other  young 
men  of  about  my  own  age,  I  started  out  to 
seek  my  fortune.  With  our  satchels  on  our 
backs,  and  very  little  money  in  our  pockets, 
(I  had  eleven  dollars)  we  started  down  the 
old  Monongalia  river  for  Geneva,  at  which 
place  we  arrived  that  night,  wet,  tired  and 
hungry,  about  eleven  p.  m.,  after  our  jour- 
ney of  twelve  miles  on  foot.  The  ne.xt 
morning  we  took  the  boat  for  Pittsburg, 
but  soon  found  that  I  did  not  have  money 
enough  to  pay  for  my  ticket.  I  borrowed 
ten  dollars  of  one  of  my  companions,  and 
at  Pittsburg,  we  took  the  Pittsburg,  Fort 
Wayne  &  Chicago  Railroad  for  Cruger, 
Woodford  county,  Illinois.  This  was  in 
March,  1868.  On  our  arrival  we  found 
nothing  but  mud  and  water  si.x  inches  deep. 
Two  of  my  companions  could  not  stand  the 
prospects  and  at  once  returned  to  their  old 
home.  My  other  friend,  William  Hare, 
and  I  started  for  Low  Point,  which  was 
located  about  ten  miles  north  of  Cruger, 
where  I  found  employment  with  J.  E. 
Dodds.  In  the  fall  of  1868  I  worked  on 
Saturdays  and  did  chores  for  Abner  Bailey 
and  went  to  school  three  months  to  Miss 
Anna  Harney.  In  March,  1869,  I  engaged 
with  E.\-Representative  J.  A.  Ranney  for 
one  year  for  three  hundred  dollars  per  year. 
Mr.  Ranney  and  his  wife  took  a  great  deal 
of  pains  to  make  their  home  pleasant  for 
me,  and  it  is  to  them  that  I  owe  much  for 
counsel,  advice  and  example,  and  was  en- 
abled to  save  up  seven  hundred  dollars." 

On  the  24th  of  December,  1871,  Mr. 
Smith  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Margaret   J.    Mundell,    daughter   of   Abner 


and  Mariah  Mundell,  early  settlers  of  Wood- 
ford county,  Illinois,  from  Ohio.  After 
their  marriage,  Mr.  Smith  rented  land  of 
his  father-in-law  for  seven  years,  after  which 
he  took  a  trip  through  Nebraska  and  Kan- 
sas, but  not  liking  the  country,  he  returned 
and  located  on  his  present  farm  of  four  hun- 
dred and  eighty  acres  in  McLean  county. 
The  home  quarter  he  bought  in  1878,  for 
thirty  dollars  per  acre.  It  was  poorly  im- 
proved, but  with  the  characteristic  energy 
that  he  has  always  displayed,  he  went  to 
work  in  its  further  improvement.  He  next 
bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  adjoin- 
ing the  home  place,  but  lying  in  Cropsey 
township,  for  which  he  paid  sixty  dollars 
per  acre,  and  in  March,  1893,  he  bought 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  adjoining  the 
home  place  on  the  south  for  which  he 
paid  eighty  dollars  per  acre.  All  his  land 
is  tiled  and  well  improved,  and  it  is  all  kept 
under  cultivation,  having  now  the  assistance 
of  his  sons.  They  engage  somewhat  exten- 
sively in  stock  raising,  in  connection  with 
grain,  and  keep  a  standard  grade  of  cattle. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  nine  children 
were  born.  Charles  A.,  born  December  6, 
1872,  was  married  in  Peoria,  but  resides 
near  Anchor,  Illinois.  James  A.,  born  Sep- 
tember 13,  1874,  married  Nora  Hagar,  and 
with  their  son,  Lawrence  H.,  they  live  on 
the  home  place.  Maud  M. ,  born  February 
14,  1877,  is  engaged  in  teaching.  Estella 
E.,  born  November  6,  1879,  married  Ira 
Hinshaw,  and  they  reside  in  Cropsey  town- 
ship. Dainal  W.,  born  March  16,  1882, 
died  in  infancy.  Jesse  S. ,  born  June  18, 
1883;  Samuel  G.,  July  16,  1885;  Ralph  R., 
September  27,  1888;  Mark  E.,  September 
26,  1 891;  and  Edgar  D.,  November  22, 
1893;  are  all  at  home.  The  faithful  wife 
and    mother   departed   this   life    March    5, 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


823 


1895.  For  fifteen  years  she  was  a  member 
of  the  Christian  church,  as  was  also  her 
husband.  In  politics,  Mr.  Smith  says  he  is 
a  Democrat,  but  is  willing  to  listen  to  rea- 
son in  all  things.  He  has  held  several 
township  offices,  the  duties  of  which  he 
always  endeavored  to  discharge  in  a  faith- 
ful and  conscientious  manner. 


JOHN  GAKEE,  who  has  been  an  honored 
resident  of  McLean  county  since  the  fall 
of  185 1,  now  owns  and  successfully  operates 
a  fine  farm  of  eighty  acres  on  section  5, 
Empire  township,  four  miles  south  of  Le 
Roy.  He  was  born  in  Licking  county, 
Ohio,  July  3,  1834,  and  is  a  son  of  Roland 
Garee,  a  native  of  one  of  the  southern 
states,  who  with  his  brother  John  went  to 
Ohio  at  an  early  day,  becoming  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  Licking  county.  There  he  mar- 
ried Hester  Van  Sever,  a  native  of  Franklin 
county,  Ohio.  In  Licking  county  he  cleared 
and  opened  up  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres,  but  after  residing  thereon  for 
ten  or  twelve  years  he  sold  that  place  and 
purchased  six  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
farther  north,  to  the  improvement  and  cul- 
tivation of  which  he  at  once  turned  his  at- 
tention. There  he  died  about  1845,  leaving 
his  widow  with  four  small  children,  two 
sons  and  two  daughters,  of  whom  our  sub- 
ject was  the  oldest.  He  assisted  his  mother 
on  the  farm,  which  when  purchased  was  a 
wild  tract  and  aided  her  in  caring  for  the 
younger  children. 

There  Mr.  Garee  remained  until  he  was 
married  in  Franklin  county,  in  June,  185 1, 
to  Miss  Louisa  Pray,  daughter  of  Daniel 
Pray.  In  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  he  and 
his  bride,  together  with  his  father-in-law  and 
two  other  families  came  to  Illinois  by  team 


and  took  up  their  residence  in  Empire  town- 
ship, McLean  county.  At  two  different 
times  he  had  previously  come  to  the  county 
on  prospecting  tours.  After  locating  here 
he  rented  a  farm  for  several  years,  but  in 
1 86 1  went  to  Missouri  with  the  intention  of 
making  that  state  his  future  home.  He 
rented  a  farm  in  Linn  county,  but  not  being 
pleased  with  the  locality  he  returned  to  Mc- 
Lean county,  Illinois,  in  the  fall  of  the  same 
year.  For  several  years  thereafter  he  rented 
the  Robert  Barr  farm  and  then  purchased 
eighty  acres  on  section  5,  Empire  township, 
where  he  now  resides.  He  has  made  many 
improvements  upon  the  place,  including  the 
erection  of  a  neat  and  substantial  residence 
in  the  spring  of  1879,  and  is  now  success- 
fully engaged  in  general  farming  and  stock- 
raising. 

Mr.  Garee's  first  wife  died  in  1890. 
Nine  children  were  born  to  them,  namely: 
Melissa,  who  died  in  189S;  Mary,  deceased 
wife  of  Andrew  Wells;  Hester,  deceased 
wife  of  William  Champ;  and  Lilly,  deceased 
wife  of  Lee  Walters;  Martha,  wife  of  John 
Smith,  a  farmer  of. Empire  township;  Josie, 
wife  of  Barton  Seveth,  of  the  same  town- 
ship; Elmer,  also  a  farmer  of  Empire  town- 
ship; and  Belle,  wife  of  Frank  Russell,  of 
Clay  county,  Arkansas.  Mr.  Garee  was 
again  married,  in  Bloomington,  in  July, 
1898,  his  second  union  being  with  Mrs. 
Mary  Collins,  who  was  born  in  Kentucky, 
but  was  principally  reared  in  Empire  town- 
ship, McLean  county,  Illinois.  Her  father, 
Joseph  Gilmore,  was  a  native  of  the  same 
state,  and  came  to  this  county  in  i860,  lo- 
cating in  Empire  township  where  he  died 
three  years  later.  His  wife  died  in  1862. 
Mrs.  Garee  first  married  Americus  Collins, 
who  followed  farming  near  Le  Roy  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  March,  18S3.    By 


824 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


that  union  she  had  three  children,  but  two 
died  in  infancy.  The  only  one  now  living 
is  Amanda,  wife  of  Ernest  Silvers,  of  Em- 
pire township. 

Since  casting  his  first  presidential  vote 
for  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  in  i860,  Mr.  Garee 
has  been  a  supporter  of  the  Democratic 
party,  and  for  a  number  of  years  he  has 
been  an  efficient  member  of  the  school 
board.  He  has  taken  an  active  part  in  the 
development  and  upbuilding  of  the  county 
in  the  last  half  century,  and  is  numbered 
among  its  honored  pioneers  and  highly  re- 
spected citizens.  His  estimable  wife  is  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
of  Le  Roy. 


CHARLES  W.  DOOLEY,  a  prominent 
wholesale  and  retail  dealer  in  agricult- 
ural implements  at  Bloomington,  is  a  native 
of  McLean  county,  born  eight  miles  south- 
east of  the  city,  January  8,  1867,  and  is  a 
son  of  James  M.  and  Susan  J.  (Nelson) 
Dooley,  natives  of  Clark  county,  Kentucky, 
where  their  marriage  was  celebrated.  Short- 
ly after  that  event  they  came  to  McLean 
county,  Illinois,  but  after  spending  one 
year  here  they  went  to  Putnam  county,  In- 
diana, where  they  made  their  home  for  ten 
years.  Returning  to  this  county,  the  father 
purchased  the  old  home  farm  in  Old  Town 
township,  on  which  he  resided  for  twenty 
years.  He  was  prominently  identified  with 
that  locality  as  one  of  the  leading  farmers 
and  stock  raisers,  and  served  as  supervisor 
of  the  township  for  a  number  of  years.  In 
his  political  affiliations  he  was  always  a 
Democrat.  Finally  disposing  of  his  farming 
interests  in  1883,  he  removed  to  Blooming- 
ton,  where  for  a  year  or  two  he  lived  re- 
tired.    In  1886  he  was  elected  president  of 


the  Third  National  Bank,  of  which  he  had 
proviously  been  a  director,  and  held  that 
position  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  giving 
his  entire  time  and  attention  to  the  duties 
of  the  position.  He  was  also  one  of  the 
incorporators  and  stockholders  of  the  Manu- 
factured Ice  Company  of  Bloomington,  and 
was  a  most  progressive  and  successful  busi- 
ness man.  He  died  January  14,  1894.  His 
wife  is  still  living  on  the  old  home  on  Wash- 
ington street.  In  their  family  were  eleven 
children,  all  of  whom  are  still  living  and  are 
now  grown,  namely:  Mrs.  Florence  Single- 
ton, a  resident  of  Indiana;  W.  L. ,  of  Mis- 
sissippi; R.  W.,  of  this  county;  Mrs.  Anna 
Brown,  of  Indiana;  Henry  S.  and  Samuel 
C,  both  attorneys  of  Bloomington;  Charles 
W.,  our  subject;  Emma,  wife  of  A.  E. 
Ayers,  who  is  a  partner  of  our  subject  in 
business;  Robert  D.,  who  is  connected  with 
the  Third  National  Bank  of  Bloomington; 
and  Edna  and  Bennie,  both  at  home.  The 
family  attend  and  support  the  Christian 
church,  of  which  the  mother  is  a  consistent 
member.  Our  subject's  paternal  grand- 
father, William  Dooley,  was  born  in  Clark 
county,  Kentucky,  and  continued  to  make 
his  home  there  until  past  middle  life,  when 
he  came  with  the  father  of  our  subject  to 
this  county  and  became  identified  with  the 
early  interests  of  this  locality  as  a  farmer 
and  stock  raiser.  Here  his  death  occurred. 
Our  subject's  maternal  grandfather,  William 
Nelson  spent  his  entire  life  in  Clark  county, 
Kentucky,  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits. 
The  first  sixteen  years  of  his  life  Charles 
W.  Dooley  spent  upon  the  home  farm,  at- 
tending the  country  schools.  He  then 
came  with  the  family  to  Bloomington,  where 
he  became  a  student  in  the  high  school  and 
later  in  the  Wesleyan  University.  After 
teaching  school  for  a  time  he  took  up  the 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


825 


study  of  law  with  his  brother,  Henry  S. , 
and  two  years  later  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  by  examination  at  Springfield,  in  May, 
1S90.  Going  to  Saybrook,  he  purchased  a 
farm  and  carried  that  on  for  two  years,  but 
in  1892  returned  to  Bloomington  and  was 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  law  with  his 
brother  for  a  year.  In  the  spring  of  1893 
he  removed  to  Kankakee,  Illinois,  where  he 
was  interested  in  the  hardware  business  for 
a  year.  In  the  spring  of  1894  he  embarked 
in  the  wholesale  and  retail  implement  and 
vehicle  business  at  Bloomington,  represent- 
ing several  leading  manufacturers.  He 
formed  a  partnership  in  this  business  with 
his  brother-in-law,  Mr.  Ayers,  who  repre- 
sents the  house  on  the  road,  together  with 
two  other  traveling  salesmen,  and  they 
also  have  many  other  agencies.  They 
have  built  up  a  large  and  constantly  in- 
creasing trade,  and  as  wholesale  dealers 
have  met  with  most  excellent  success. 
Politically  Mr.  Dooley  is  a  Democrat  and  a 
supporter  of  the  gold  standard. 

He  married  Miss  Sarah  J.  Burke,  daugh- 
ter of  Samuel  Burke,  who  died  several 
years  ago,  but  her  mother  is  still  living  in 
Bloomington.  They  now  have  three  chil- 
dren: Reed  R. ,  Wallace  K.,  and  Margaret. 
The  family  have  a  beautful  home  on  East 
Jefferson  street,  Bloomington,  and  they  at- 
tend and  support  the  Baptist  church. 


CYREXUS  RUSSELL,  a  leading  fresco 
and  mural  painter  of  Bloomington, 
was  born  in  Marshall,  Illinois,  December 
12,  1862,  a  son  of  Emer  and  Martha  A. 
(Rogers)  Russell.  The  father  was  born  in 
Troy,  New  York,  in  1832,  and  when  a  lad 
of  fifteen  years  came  to  this  State  with  his 
parents,  Abner  and  Mary  Russell,  represent- 


atives of  old  families  of  Troy.  They  set- 
tled near  Peoria  in  1847,  and  there  the 
grandfather  engaged  in  farming  during  the 
remainder  of  his  active  life.  The  father 
was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Troy  and 
Peoria,  and  on  starting  out  in  life  for  him- 
self he  engaged  in  farming  on  his  father's 
place.  In  Peoria  county  he  married  Miss 
Martna  A.  Rogers,  a  native  of  Pittsfield, 
Massachusetts,  where  her  father,  William 
Rogers,  spent  his  entire  life.  Soon  after 
his  marriage  Emer  Russell  removed  to 
Chenoa,  McLean  county,  where,  as  the 
pioneer  furniture  dealer,  he  successfully  en- 
gaged in  business  until  1876,  when  he  took 
up  his  residence  in  Bloomington.  There 
he  is  still  living,  and  has  now  laid  aside 
business  cares,  enjoying  a  well  earned  rest. 
He  is  an  earnest  member  of  the  Christian 
church,  to  which  his  wife,  who  died  March 
17,  1892,  also  belonged. 

Cyrenus  Russell,  of  this  review,  began 
his  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
Chenoa,  and  later  was  a  student  in  the  high 
school  of  Bloomington.  During  his  youth 
he  learned  the  painter's  trade,  serving  a  four 
years'  apprenticeship  with  Barley  Plumb 
and  Kirk  Buffum,  and  then  went  to  Chicago 
to  learn  frescoing  with  one  of  the  leading 
firms  of  that  city,  with  whom  he  remained 
for  seven  years.  Thus  thoroughly  prepared 
for  his  chosen  calling,  Mr.  Russell  returned 
to  Bloomington  and  was  in  the  employ  of 
Kirk  Buffum  until  that  gentleman's  death, 
after  which  George  Buffum  and  our  subject 
purchased  the  business,  which  they  con- 
ducted under  the  firm  name  of  Buffum  & 
Russell  for  two  years.  Our  subject  then 
sold  his  interest  and  started  in  business 
alone  in  1897,  at  No.  163  East  Front  street, 
one  of  the  most  central  positions  in  the 
city.     Here  he  opened  up  a  thoroughly  first- 


826 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


class  paint  store,  and  in  1899  added  to  his 
stock  a  fine  line  of  pictures,  picture  frames, 
etc.  In  fresco  and  mural  painting  he  stands 
at  the  head  in  central  Illinois,  and  has  dec- 
orated all  of  the  best  residences  of  Bloom- 
ington  in  recent  years,  including  the  homes 
of  George  P.  Davis,  Abner  B.  Funk,  James 
Wilcox,  Tim  Wilcox,  George  Cox,  Oscar 
Wakefield,  I.  N.  Phillips,  Vice-President 
Adiai  Stevenson,  Luman  Burr,  Hudson 
Burr,  Mrs.  General  Gridley,  Edward  Grid- 
lep,  Charles  Jones,  B.  S.  Green,  A.  J.  Burr, 
A.  B.  Hoblitt,  Edward  Cole  and  Mrs.  Mer- 
rick. He  also  frescoed  the  Christian  church 
of  Bloomington,  and  has  done  considerable 
work  in  adjoining  towns  as  well. 

On  the  22d  of  July,  1893,  Mr.  Russell 
married  Miss  Carrie  Kennedy,  daughter  of 
J.  Kennedy,  of  Lexington,  Illinois.  Our 
subject  casts  his  ballot  with  the  Republican 
party,  but  has  never  been  an  aspirant  for 
office.  He  stands  high  in  business  circles, 
and  has  the  confidence  and  high  regard  of 
all  who  know  him. 


THIlODORI':  S.  Wn,LIHTE,  one  of  the 
most  energetic,  progressive  and  success- 
ful business  men  of  Colfax,  was  born  in 
Richland  county,  Illinois,  December  12, 
1 86 1,  and  is  a  representative  of  an  honored 
pioneer  family  of  this  state.  The  first  to 
locate  within  its  borders  was  his  grandfather, 
Madison  Willhite,  who  was  born  in  Nash- 
ville, Tennessee,  in  1812,  and  was  a  son  of 
James  Willhite,  a  corporal  in  the  war  of 
181 2,  and  later  a  pensioner  of  the  govern- 
ment. Madison  Willhite  remained  in  his 
native  city  until  sixteen  years  of  age  and 
was  educated  in  its  public  schools.  It  was 
in  1828  that  he  came  to  Illinois,  and  two 
years  later  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 


Miss  Susan  Stewart,  with  whom  he  traveled 
life's  journey  as  man  and  wife  for  the  long 
period  of  fifty-seven  years.  Their  married 
life  was  a  very  happy  one  and  was  blessed 
with  thirteen  children,  five  sons  and  eight 
daughters,  of  whom  four  sons  and  three 
daughters  are  still  living  in  1899.  For  over 
half  a  century  they  made  their  home  in  Rich- 
land county,  Illinois.  The  grandfather  died 
in  1889,  and  his  wife,  who  was  born  in  1816, 
passed  away  in  1887. 

James  C.  Willhite,  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Lawrence  county,  Illinois,  in 
1837,  and  was  the  fourth  in  order  of  birth 
in  the  family  of  thirteen  children.  He  ob- 
tained his  education  in  the  common  schools 
of  his  day,  and  throughout  life  has  followed 
the  honorable  occupation  of  farming.  In 
Richland  county,  he  was  married  March  17, 
1859,  to  Miss  Eliza  J.  Sawyer,  who  died 
September  8,  1876.  By  that  union  he  had 
eight  children,  five  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters, namely:  Alice  E.  married  Frederick 
Moore,  of  Richland  county,  and  they  have 
two  children  living,  Leander  S.  and  Jerome; 
Theodore  S.,  our  subject,  is  the  next  of  the 
family;  Leander  C.  married  Lillie  E.  Christ- 
man,  of  Bloomington,  and  they  have  one 
son,  William;  Hattie  S.  died  in  her  thir- 
teenth year;  Delia  S.  married  Samuel  J. 
Yoder,  of  Danvers;  John  A.  wedded  Mary 
P.  Lighthart,  of  Colfax,  and  they  have  one 
daughter,  Mabel  V. ;  James  E.  married  Anna 
Salisbury  and  their  children  are  Myrtle  and 
Ethel;  and  RosanderC.  died  September  14, 
1876.  The  father  was  again  married,  No- 
vember 25,  1877,  his  second  union  being 
with  Abba  M.  Buckingham,  of  Richland 
county,  by  whom  he  had  four  children: 
Emma  S. ;  Winfield  S. ;  Lillie  M. ;  and 
Laura  B.,  who  died  November  19,  1892. 
The  parents  are  still  living. 


THE   BIOGIL\PHICAL   RECORD. 


S27 


During  his  boyhood  and  youth  Theodore 
S.  Willhite  attended  the  pubUc  school  near 
his  home  and  was  also  a  student  in  the 
Sumner  high  school.  When  out  of  the 
school  room  he  assisted  his  father  in  the 
work  of  the  farm  and  later  learned  the  car- 
penter's trade,  which  as  a  contractor  and 
builder  he  followed  for  some  time,  erecting 
about  fifty  residences  in  Colfa.x.  For  the 
past  four  years  he  has  successfully  engaged 
in  the  real-estate  business  to  the  e.xtent  of 
many  thousand  dollars.  In  1894  he  be- 
came a  promoter  of  the  East  Colfax  coal 
mine,  which  was  sunk  by  Frank  Seymour, 
who  afterwards  sold  his  interest  to  Mr. 
Simpkins,  of  Streator,  Illinois,  who  through 
the  lack  of  necessary  means  to  operate  it 
finally  abandoned  it.  The  mine  filled  with 
water  and  was  in  that  condition  for  three 
years.  In  the  spring  of  1898  Mr.  Willhite 
suggested  a  plan  where  J.  J.  Pitts  and 
James  S.  Ewing,  of  Bloomington,  became 
interested  with  himself  in  the  development 
and  operation  of  the  mine.  In  the  spring 
of  1899  they  organized  a  joint  stock  com- 
pany with  a  capital  of  forty-one  thousand 
dollars,  and  the  following  officers  were 
elected:  W.  G.  Anderson,  president;  G. 
W.  Arnold,  vice-president;  W.  H.  Ander- 
son, secretary  and  treasurer;  and  Theodore 
S.  Willhite,  manager;  while  the  board  of 
directors  consists  of  W.  G.  Anderson,  G. 
W^  Arnold,  J.  J.  Pitts,  W.  D.  Hawk  and 
Theodore  S.  Willhite,  all  of  Colfax  with 
the  exception  of  Mr.  Pitts,  who  is  a  resident 
of  Bloomington.  Under  the  able  manage- 
ment of  our  subject  the  mine  is  now  in  suc- 
cessful operation.  In  business  affairs  he  is 
energetic,  prompt  and  notably  reliable  and 
carries  forward  to  successful  completion 
whatever  he  undertakes. 

On  the  25th  of  September,    18S4,  Mr. 


Willhite  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Alminirie  F.  Shultz,  of  Colfax,  a  daughter 
of  Henry  and  Olive  (Haines)  Shultz,  both 
natives  of  Ohio.  The  mother  died  in  the 
spring  of  1S97,  but  the  father  is  still  living 
and  finds  a  pleasant  home  with  our  subject 
and  his  wife.  He  was  born  in  1S25,  was 
educated  in  the  schools  of  Ohio,  and  came 
to  Illinois  in  1850,  locating  in  Danvers  town- 
ship, McLean  county,  where  he  followed  the 
occupations  of  farming  and  blacksmithing. 
In  his  family  were  seven  children,  four  sons 
and  three  daughters,  namely:  Alice  F., 
McHenrj',  Dora  Gladys,  Frank,  Lydia,  Al- 
minirie F.  and  Charles  E.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Willhite  were  born  five  children,  three  sons 
and  two  daughters:  Ellis,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy; Artie  O. ;  Bessie,  who  died  in  her 
fourth  jear;  Glenn,  who  died  in  infancy; 
and  Howard  T.  The  parents  are  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and 
Mr.  Willhite  affiliates  with  the  Democratic 
party. 


WILLIAM  H.  CLLNE,  the  present  effi- 
cient and  popular  mayor  of  Le  Roy 
and  a  prominent  stock  dealer  of  that  place, 
was  born  December  12,  1835,  in  Cumber- 
land county,  Pennsylvania,  of  which  his 
parents,  George  and  Mary  (Miller)  Cline, 
were  also  natives.  The  father,  who  was  a 
fanner  by  occupation,  continued  to  make 
his  home  in  Cumberland  county  until  about 
1850,  when  he  removed  to  Ohio  and  first 
settled  in  Wayne  county,  where  he  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  wagons  for  a  few 
years.  His  next  home  was  in  Putnam  coun- 
ty, the  same  state,  where  he  purchased 
land,  and  while  his  sons  cleared  away  the 
forest  and  opened  up  a  farm  he  continued 


828 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


to  carry  on  a  wagon  manufactory.  In  1 863, 
with  his  family,  he  came  to  Illinois  and  lo- 
cated on  a  farm  near  Benjaminville,  but  a 
year  later  bought  another  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  in  Old  Town  town- 
ship, on  which  he  made  many  improve- 
ments, including  the  erection  of  a  good  resi- 
dence and  barn.  He  successfully  engaged 
in  its  operation  for  some  years  and  died 
there  in  ICS72.  His  wife  had  passed  away 
in  1S70.  In  their  family  were  five  sons  and 
one  daughter,  namely:  Samuel  E.,  a  resi- 
dent of  McLean  county;  David,  who  is  in 
the  west;  Rev.  George,  a  minister  of  the 
Christian  church,  now  located  in  Findlay, 
Ohio;  William  H.,  our  subject;  Rev.  C.  C, 
also  a  minister  of  the  Christian  church,  now 
located  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio;  and  Emma,  who 
married  William  Spencer. 

William  H.  Chne  passed  his  boyhood 
and  youth  in  Ohio,  obtaining  a  good  prac- 
tical education  in  the  common  schools  and 
assisting  in  the  development  and  improve- 
ment of  the  home  farm.  He  was  a  young 
man  of  eighteen  years,  when,  in  1862,  he 
came  with  the  family  to  McLean  county, 
Illinois,  and  he  remained  with  his  parents 
during  their  declining  years,  giving  his  fa- 
ther the  benefit  of  his  labors.  After  their 
death  he  succeeded  to  the  home  place.  In 
Arrowsmith  township,  this  county,  he  was 
married  in  1870  to  Miss  Mary  F.  Scott,  who 
was  born  in  Iowa,  but  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated in  McLean  county.  Her  father  was 
William  T.  Scott,  a  substantial  farmer  of 
Empire  township. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Cline  continued 
to  reside  upon  the  home  farm  for  two  or 
three  years  and  then  sold  and  purchased 
another  farm  of  eighty  acres.  Still  later  he 
owned  and  operated  a  farm  of  eighty  acres 
east  of  Le  Roy,  and  during  the  several  years 


he  resided  thereon,  he  erected  a  new  barn 
upon  the  place  and  transformed  it  into  one 
of  the  best  improved  farms  of  Empire  town- 
ship. Finally  he  rented  that  farm  and  pur- 
chased the  old  Scott  homestead,  comprising 
one  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  on  which 
he  resided  for  a  time.  In  the  meantime 
Mr.  Cline  became  interested  in  the  stock 
business,  buying,  feeding,  shipping  and 
selling.  He  commenced  in  a  small  way  but 
kept  increasing  the  business  from  year  to 
year. 

In  1 89 1  Mr.  Cline  removed  to  Le  Roy, 
where  he  purchased  residence  property  and 
erected  thereon  one  of  the  largest,  neatest 
and  best  finished  residences  in  Le  Roj', 
which  is  noted  for  its  superior  homes. 
About  1893  he  formed  a  partnership  with 
Nelson  Bishop  in  the  stock  business,  and  it 
was  not  long  before  they  had  built  up  an 
extensive  business,  being  among  the  heav- 
iest shippers  of  stock  in  the  county,  hand- 
ling on  an  average  nearly  four  hundred 
car  loads  of  cattle  and  hogs  annually.  The 
firm  is  now  Cline,  Bishop  &  Caton,  Mr. 
Caton  having  been  admitted  to  a  partner- 
ship in  the  spring  of  1899. 

Since  casting  his  first  presidential  ballot 
f(jr  Gen.  U.  S.  Grant,  in  1868,  Mr.  Celine 
has  never  failed  to  support  the  men  and 
measures  of  the  Republican  party.  He  has 
ever  taken  an  active  and  commendable  in- 
terest in  educational  affairs,  and  for  nine 
years  was  a  member  of  the  district  school 
board,  and  clerk  of  the  district.  On  the 
18th  of  April,  1899,  he  was  elected  mayor 
of  Le  Roy  by  a  nice  majority,  and  is  now 
most  creditably  and  acceptably  filling  that 
office.  He  and  his  wife  hold  membership 
in  the  Christian  church  of  Le  Roy,  and  have 
the  respect  and  esteem  of  all  who  know 
them. 


THE    BIOGR.APHICAL   RECORD. 


829 


JOHN  H.  CREEL,  an  honored  pioneer 
of  Dawson  township,  who  is  successfully 
engaged  in  farming  on  section  30,  was  born 
in  the  Old  Dominion,  and  is  a  son  of  George 
and  Mary  (Ball)  Creel,  natives  of  Warren- 
ton,  Virginia.  In  their  family  were  nine 
children,  namely:  Benjamin,  William, 
Nancy,  Delilah,  Harrison,  Sarah  .-Vnn,  John 
H.,  George  S.  and  Elizabeth.  The  grand- 
father, William  Creel,  made  his  home  in 
Fauquier  county,  Virginia,  until  death,  and 
was  engaged  in  farming  and  stock-raising. 
The  father  also  died  in  that  state,  and  later 
the  mother,  with  four  of  her  children,  came 
to  McLean  county,  Illinois,  in  1848.  She 
made  her  home  with  our  subject  until 
called  from  this  life  in  1S73,  at  the  age  of 
ninety-two  years,  her  remains  being  in- 
terred in  the  Frankberger  cemetery,  this 
county.  She  left  many  friends,  as  well  as 
relatives,  to  mourn  her  loss,  as  she  was  a 
good  mother  and  kind  neighbor.  She  was 
always  ready  to  lend  her  assistance  to  those 
in  need,  and,  many  have  occasion  to  re- 
member her  kindly  ministrations  and  gen- 
tle touch  at  the  sick  bed. 

John  H.  Creel  gained  his  education  in 
the  common  schools  of  his  day,  which  were 
much  inferior  to  modern  institutions  of 
learning,  but  he  made  good  use  of  his  op- 
portunities and  has  become  a  well-informed 
man.  He  belongs  to  that  class  of  sturdy, 
persevering  and  industrious  men  who  braved 
the  hardships  of  pioneer  life  in  order  to  se- 
cure for  themselves  and  families  good 
homes,  and  in  so  doing  materially  advanced 
the  interests  of  county  and  state  by  trans- 
forming the  wild  land  into  valuable  and 
well-improved  farms.  He  has  gained  a 
reputation  as  one  of  the  most  enterprising 
and  successful  farmers  of  his  community, 
and  his  fine  farm  with  its  fertile  fields,  com- 


modious and  substantial  buildings  stand  as 
a  monument  to  his  thrift  and  perseverance. 
On  the  1st  of  March,  1S77,  Mr.  Creel 
married  Miss  Pairlee  M.  Shields,  a  daughter 
of  James  and  Martha  E.  (Mahan)  Shields, 
who  were  born  in  the  blue  grass  region  of 
Kentucky,  near  Lexington.  In  the  Mahan 
family  were  five  children,  namely:  Martha 
Jane,  William  Archibald,  Samuel  Hugh, 
Pairlee  M.  and  Milton  Henry.  Mr.  Mahan 
came  to  McLean  county  at  an  early  day, 
and  here  his  wife  died  in  1892,  being  laid 
to  rest  in  the  Benjamin  Vale  cemetery. 


J.\.  HOUGHAM.  It  is  now  almost 
seventy-five  years  since  the  family  to 
which  this  well-known  citizen  belongs  be- 
came identified  with  McLean  county,  and 
its  various  members  have  won  for  the  same 
an  enviable  distinction  by  their  intelligence 
and  worth.  This  high  reputation  is  in  no 
ways  diminished  in  this  generation,  and  our 
subject,  who  is  numbered  among  the  leading 
agriculturists  of  Funks  Grove  township, 
his  home  being  on  section  6,  displays  in  a 
marked  degree  the  admirable  characteristics 
which  the  name  suggests. 

Runion  Hougham,  the  grandfather  of 
our  subject,  was  a  native  of  England,  and 
on  his  emigration  to  America  first  located 
in  Ohio,  but  in  1S25  came  overland  with  an 
o.\  team  to  McLean  county,  Illinois,  and 
was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Funks 
Grove.  Since  then  the  family  have  taken 
an  active  and  prominent  part  in  the  growth 
and  development  of  the  county,  and  have 
been  numbered  among  its  best  and  most 
highly  respected  citizens. 

Lamon  Hougham,  our  subject's  father, 
was  born  in  Highland  county,  Ohio,  in 
181 7,  and  was  a  lad   of  eight  years   when 


830 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


broufjht  by  his  parents  to  Illinois.  In  1S54 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Pemberton,  a  native  of  Indiana,  who, 
when  a  young  lady,  came  with  her  father, 
James  Pemberton,  to  this  county,  about 
1847.  After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Hougham 
continued  to  reside  upon  and  operate  the 
old  homestead  for  several  years.  He  also 
entered  the  land  where  our  subject  now 
makes  his  home,  and  transformed  the  wild 
tract  into  a  highly  cultivated  and  valuable 
farm.  There  he  spent  his  last  days,  dying 
in  1885.  His  estimable  wife  still  survives 
him. 

J.  A.  Hougham,  of  this  review,  was  born 
in  Funks  Grove  township,  February  10, 
1855,  and  spent  his  boyhood  and  3outh 
upon  his  present  farm,  his  education  being 
obtained  in  the  local  schools.  In  this 
county  he  was  married  December  20,  1876, 
to  Miss  Elizabeth  A.  Dozicr.  a  native  of 
Estill  county,  Kentucky,  and  a  daughter  of 
Ephraim  and  Hulda  (Benton)  Dozier,  who 
were  born,  reared  and  married  in  Madison 
county,  Kentucky.  The  father,  who  was  of 
French  descent,  died  in  Estill  county,  in 
1879,  and  the  mother  in  the  same  state  in 
1865.  At  the  age  of  si.xteen  Mrs.  Hougham 
came  to  McLean  county  fo  live  with  her 
aunt,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Quinn,  and  remained 
with  her  until  her  marriage.  Our  subject 
and  his  wife  have  three  children,  namely: 
Leota,  James  S.  and  Sue  E.,  all  at  home. 
The  two  older  were  educated  in  the  schools 
of  McLean  and  the  youngest  at  the  Bloom- 
ington  high  school  and  Wesleyan  University. 
The  older  daughter  also  took  a  course  in 
music  at  the  Wesleyan  Universitj-. 

Mr.    and    Mrs.     Hougham    began    their 


domestic  life  upon  the  old  homestead  in 
Funks  Grove  township,  which  he  success- 
fully operated  for  several  years.  Later  he 
spent  ten  months  elsewhere  and  then  re- 
turned to  the  farm,  to  which  he  suc- 
ceeded after  the  death  of  his  father.  He 
has  since  made  some  valuable  improve- 
ments upon  it,  rebuilt  and  remodeled  the 
residence,  and  fenced  and  tiled  the  land, 
converting  it  into  one  of  the  finest  farms  of 
the  locality.  In  1889  he  removed  to  Mc- 
Lean, where  he  spent  eight  years,  for  the 
purpose  of  giving  his  children  better  educa- 
tional advantages  than  the  district  schools 
afforded.  In  connection  with  general  farm- 
ing he  is  novv  successfully  engaged  in  rais- 
ing and  feeding  stock,  handling  annually 
one  car  load  of  steers  and  a  large  number 
of  hogs.  He  is  also  interested  in  breeding 
and  dealing  in  standard  bred  road  and  draft 
horses,  and  is  accounted  one  of  the  most 
successful  farmers  and  stockmen  of  the 
county.  His  farm,  consisting  of  two 
hundred  and  eighty  acres,  is  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation. 

In  his  political  affiliations  Mr.  Hougham 
is  an  ardent  Democrat,  casting  his  first  vote 
for  Samuel  J.  Tilden,  in  1876,  and  for  every 
prcsidental  nominee  of  the  party  since  then. 
Socially  he  is  a  Knight  Templar  Mason,  be- 
longing to  the  blue  lodge  of  Shirlej',  in 
which  he  has  filled  several  offices;  and 
Bloomington  Chapter  and  Commandery. 
His  wife  holds  membership  in  the  Christian 
church  of  Shirley,  and  both  are  held  in  the 
highest  respect  and  esteem  by  a  large  circle 
of  friends  and  acquaintances.  The  entire 
family  is  one  of  prominence  in  the  com- 
munity where  tlie\'  reside. 


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